By Air:
The most convenient airport is Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), located about 54-65 km from Matera.
Getting There and Away
Matera is primarily served by Matera Centrale, its main train station, and a central bus terminal, though the closest major airport is Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), approximately 60 kilometers away.
From Bari Airport to Matera:
- Bus:: Direct shuttle services like Cotrab, Miccolis, Pugliairbus, Itabus, and Grassani E Garofalo connect Bari Airport to Matera. The journey typically takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes and can cost from €3 to €9.
- Car Rental:: Rental services are available at Bari Airport, and the drive to Matera takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours via the SS96 and SS99 highways.
By Train:
Matera Centrale is connected to Bari Centrale via the private Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) line.
- From Bari Centrale to Matera Centrale:: Take a FAL train from Bari Centrale. The journey is about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with tickets starting from approximately €9.99. Some routes may require a change at Altamura.
- From Major Italian Cities:: Travelers from cities like Rome, Milan, Florence, or Venice typically take a Trenitalia or Italo train to Bari Centrale, then transfer to the FAL line or a bus to Matera. Some services, like Italobus from Naples Centrale or Freccialink from Rome via Salerno, offer combined train and bus tickets.
By Bus (from other Italian cities):
Numerous bus companies offer direct connections to Matera from various cities across Italy.
- From Rome:: Bus services like FlixBus, Itabus, Marozzi, and Liscio connect Rome to Matera, with journeys typically taking 5-6 hours and tickets starting from around €21.99.
- From Naples:: Marino coaches, Itabus, and Miccolis offer connections from Naples to Matera, with travel times around 4 hours.
- From Lecce/Brindisi/Taranto/Salerno:: Miccolis, FlixBus, and MarinoBus provide routes to Matera, with travel times ranging from 1 to 3 hours depending on the origin.
By Car:
Matera is accessible by car. Renting a car offers flexibility for exploring the region, with various rental companies available in Matera and at Bari Airport. Driving from Bari takes about an hour. Parking is available in designated areas outside the historic Sassi district, as driving within the Sassi is not recommended.
