Basilicata in a nutshell
Basilicata lies in southern Italy. Its best-known place is Matera, where the Sassi districts and the park of rock churches are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The listing covers those two areas, not the whole region. On the Tyrrhenian side, Maratea sits on the Gulf of Policastro between Campania in the north and Calabria in the south. Metaponto faces the Ionian Sea. The Pollino National Park straddles the border with Calabria and covers 192,565 hectares in 56 municipalities.
This guide covers Matera and the Sassi, Maratea, the ghost town of Craco, the mountain villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa with the Volo dell'Angelo flight between them, the Greek temple at Metaponto and the Pollino. It is an independent site, not run by a municipality, a park, a museum or a tour operator. Prices are in euros as listed in 2026, and they change. The cheapest way in is usually the train from Bari.
Our picks: Matera and Maratea tours
A Sassi walk with a cave house, a day trip from Bari and a kayak tour to the sea caves of Maratea.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kayak tour to sea caves and a black beach
An experienced instructor, a cave visit and swim stops, with kayak, paddle, dry bag, phone holder and life jacket.
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Alberobello and Matera day trip from Bari
Return transport from Bari by air-conditioned coach, with digital maps and audio guides (internet needed). A live guide and the Trullo Sovrano and Casa Grotta tickets only come with the guided or ticket options.
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Sassi walk with a cave house and a rock church
A licensed guide, entry to a cave house museum and to the rock church of Sant'Antonio Abate, plus a discount coupon.
Check availability →Matera and Basilicata tours
Guided walks through the Sassi, day trips and food experiences, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Start with Matera, then add the coast, the villages or the mountains.
Things to do in Basilicata
Twelve experiences across the region, from the Sassi to the Pollino.
Matera tours compared
Guided walks, a church ticket and what to book ahead.
Matera
Neighborhoods, tickets, hours and how to plan a visit.
The Sassi di Matera
Caveoso, Barisano and the rock churches, with ticket prices.
Things to do in Matera
Twelve places: churches, a cave home, a cistern and a museum.
Matera cave hotels
What a cave hotel is, two real examples and the questions to ask.
Maratea
The Christ statue, the coast, the train and the local tax.
Craco
The ghost town on its hill, visited with a reserved guided slot.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
The Volo dell'Angelo, the villages and the Tibetan bridge.
Metaponto
The Tavole Palatine, the museum situation and the beaches.
Pollino National Park
Hikes, the Pino Loricato and the villages on the Basilicata side.
Getting to Basilicata
Trains, buses and driving from Bari.
Where to stay
Which base suits Matera, the coast, the villages or the park.
Good to know in 2026
Where older guides are out of date.
The walk to the Gravina bridge is controlled
Since 1 March 2026, path 406 from Porta Pistola has had managed access and a tourist ticket. The park authority classes it as EE, for experienced hikers. The operator lists €15 from 1 April to 31 October and €10 from 1 November to 31 March, so confirm the final price when you book.
Things to do in Matera →New Casa Grotta rates
The Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario lists new rates from 4 April 2026: €8 full price and €5 reduced. Children aged 11 to 18 pay €3, and children up to 10 enter free.
Matera planning →MUSMA: check before you go
The museum lists a full price of €10 and daily opening. Another source gives a lower price and a closed Monday, and the operator's own pages show different closing times. Confirm the day and the hours first.
Museums in Matera →Metaponto's main museum is closed
The museum is closed for renovation. A separate exhibition in the depots can be visited by reservation. The temple site of the Tavole Palatine is a different visit.
Metaponto guide →Volo dell'Angelo runs on a 2026 calendar
The operator's Italian calendar runs from 1 May to 8 December 2026 on published days only. An English calendar still online shows 2025 dates and prices, so do not use it.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa →Trains to Matera run on the FAL line
The summer closure between Bari Centrale and Grumo Appula ended on 31 August 2026. Matera has stations on the FAL line from Bari. A mainline connection from Ferrandina is still a construction project, not a service. Coastal roads around Maratea have had closures and time limits this year, so check the current notice before you drive.
Getting there →Beyond Basilicata
The Pollino continues across the border.
The Pollino massif does not stop at the regional line. If you want to continue south, Calabria has its own guide, and its things to do page helps with planning. This site stays with Basilicata.
More independent southern Italy guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one region.
Calabria
Tropea, the Costa degli Dei, Pizzo, Scilla, the Sila and Aspromonte.
Capri
The Blue Grotto, boat trips, Anacapri and ferries from Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
Torre Guaceto
The nature reserve near Ostuni and Brindisi in Puglia: beaches, snorkeling and the marine reserve.
Basilicata: frequently asked questions
Is Basilicata the same as Matera?
No. Matera is one city in the region. The UNESCO listing covers the Sassi and the park of rock churches there, not the whole region. Maratea, Craco, Castelmezzano, Metaponto and the Pollino are separate places with their own pages.
When is the best time to visit?
It depends on the plan. Long-term averages for the province of Matera (1981 to 2010) show July and August highs around 29°C and October highs around 20°C. Autumn and winter get the most rain, 76 to 80 mm a month from October to December. Spring and autumn are less hot for sightseeing. These are province averages, not a forecast.
How do I get from Bari to Matera?
By FAL train or by bus. A sample from the timetable valid from 31 August 2026 shows Bari Centrale at 07:49 and Matera Centrale at 09:37. The single fare for the 70 km band is €6.20 in 2026. A direct FlixBus runs from the airport; fares start from about €10 on a sample day. See getting there.
Can I drive into the Sassi?
Not freely. Traffic in the Sassi is restricted. From 1 July to 15 September the rule applies from 10:00 to 24:00, and from 16 September to 30 June from 10:00 to 20:30. A hotel booking alone is not a permit to drive in, so ask your hotel how arrival works. The Matera page has the details.
Do I need a car for the rest of the region?
A car is not needed in the Sassi, but it is practical for the mountain villages, Craco and the Pollino trailheads. Maratea has a train station, and the coastal road may have restrictions, so check the current notice.
What is the Volo dell'Angelo?
It is a flight between the villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. One ticket covers the outbound and return flights on different lines, plus a shuttle. You choose the start village and the date when you reserve. A single flight needs a minimum age of 14, a height of 135 cm and a weight of 40 to 120 kg, and the check is done on site. The season is 1 May to 8 December 2026 on published days. See the Castelmezzano page.
Is visit-basilicata.com an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to any municipality, park, museum or tour operator.