Getting to Matera and Basilicata
Matera has a rail line, but it is not the national network. The Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) runs from Bari Centrale through Altamura to Matera. Its stations are Matera Serra Rifusa, Villa Longo, Centrale and Sud. The other highlights of the region lie away from the rail lines, so many visitors drive or join a guided trip.
The examples below are single timetable entries and fare snapshots, not guaranteed daily services. Check the current timetable for your day.
Bari to Matera compared
Examples for 2026. Times and fares depend on the day.
| Option | Time | Fare | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAL train, Bari Centrale to Matera Centrale | 1 h 48 min (example) | €6.20 | Runs via Altamura |
| Provincial shuttle, Bari Airport to Altamura and Matera | – | – | Timetable valid since 11 May 2026 |
| Direct bus, Bari Airport to Matera | From 1 h 35 min | From about €10 to €12 | Price changes by date |
| Car | – | – | Traffic zone in the Sassi |
Our pick: a day trip from Bari
If you would rather leave the timetable and the driving to someone else, this bus trip adds Alberobello to Matera and returns to Bari.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Day trips and transfers in Basilicata
Guided day trips and tours that start in Matera or nearby, with live prices and availability.
By train from Bari
The FAL line is the simplest rail link.
Timetable and fare
The FAL timetable valid from 31 August 2026 lists a train from Bari Centrale at 7:49 a.m. that reaches Matera Centrale at 9:37 a.m., which is 1 hour 48 minutes. That is one example and not a promise of a daily through train. The fare table puts Bari to Matera in the 70 km band, with €6.20 for a single trip on the interregional train (tariff status 1 January 2026).
Summer works are over
The closure of the Bari Centrale to Grumo Appula section ended on 31 August 2026, and the regular timetable returned. Old notices about replacement buses do not apply now.
The national network
Do not mix up Ferrandina Scalo with Matera Centrale. A new connection from Ferrandina to Matera La Martella is a project in progress, and RFI lists parts of it as beyond 2029, depending on funding. Do not plan on a Rome to Matera train.
From Bari Airport
The airport is not on the FAL line.
Provincial shuttle
The province of Matera publishes a shuttle timetable for Matera, Altamura and Bari Palese airport, valid since 11 May 2026. Since 25 February 2026 the Pugliairbus, Cotrap and Cotrab shuttles stop at the arrivals forecourt, on the opposite side from the old stop. Check the current timetable and fares before you rely on it. There is no combined ticket with the FAL train.
Direct bus
A private coach runs from Bari Airport to Matera with a published minimum of 1 hour 35 minutes. At the airport it stops at Viale Enzo Ferrari by the bus park at the arrivals terminal. In Matera it stops at Via Don Luigi Sturzo, near the church of San Paolo. A fare snapshot in October 2026 showed prices from about €10 to €12. Prices are dynamic, so check your date.
By car and the Sassi traffic zone
Driving is easy outside the old town and restricted inside.
Traffic zone hours
Ordinance 147/2025 sets the hours for the streets D'Addozio and Buozzi, every year: 10 a.m. to midnight from 1 July to 15 September, and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. from 16 September to 30 June. Other restricted zones follow their own rules.
Hotels and permits
The municipality runs a procedure for authorized entry, including via hotels and garages. A hotel booking alone is not a permit. Ask your hotel how your plate is registered and which route to use. Some Sassi hotels offer a partner garage with a transfer, for example at €40 per night in one case. That is a hotel offer and not a city rate, so do not assume parking is free or available.
Matera cave hotels →To the rest of Basilicata
Coast, mountains and Potenza.
Maratea by train
The RFI timetable for Maratea is valid from 14 June to 12 December 2026. One example is regional train 5578, which leaves Maratea at 7:24 a.m. and reaches Napoli Centrale at 10:18 a.m., a calculated 2 hours 54 minutes. Check the running days for your date. Roads on the Maratea coast have had closures in 2026, so check the municipality's notices before you drive.
Maratea guide →Potenza
The FAL timetable shows Potenza Inferiore Scalo as the end of the line via Gravina. RFI lists an interruption between Rocchetta and Potenza Centrale from 15 December 2024 to 12 December 2027 for electrification and tunnel works. Do not plan a continuous rail trip from Foggia.
Villages, Craco and the Pollino
Craco, Castelmezzano, Pietrapertosa and the Pollino are easier by car or on a guided trip. Check local bus timetables before you rely on them. See the guides to Craco, Castelmezzano and the Pollino.
If you start in Calabria instead, see the Calabria airport guide and the Calabria overview.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to go once you arrive.
Getting to Matera: frequently asked questions
Does Matera have a train station?
Yes. The FAL line serves Matera Serra Rifusa, Villa Longo, Centrale and Sud. It is not part of the national network.
How do I get from Bari Airport to Matera?
The options are a provincial shuttle and a private direct coach, with a published minimum of 1 hour 35 minutes for the coach. There is no FAL station at the airport, so check the current timetables.
How much is the train from Bari to Matera?
The 2026 tariff lists €6.20 for a single trip on the interregional train. It does not apply to the airport shuttle or private coaches.
Can I drive into the Sassi?
Not freely. The old town has a restricted traffic zone with set hours. Ask your hotel about authorized entry and parking before you arrive.
Is there a train from Rome to Matera?
Do not plan on one. The national rail link to Matera is still a project, and the FAL line is the rail connection today.