What to do in Basilicata at a glance
Basilicata is a region in southern Italy, and its sights are spread out. Matera is the best known, but the UNESCO listing covers the Sassi and the park of the rock churches, not the whole region. The other highlights sit in different corners: the Tyrrhenian coast at Maratea, the Ionian coast at Metaponto, the mountain villages around Castelmezzano and the Pollino.
The list is a selection, not a ranking. Entries 1 to 6 are in and around Matera. Entries 7 to 12 are further out. Prices are for adults in 2026 and can change, and several sights have seasonal hours, so check the operator before you travel.
Matera and its surroundings (1 to 6)
Cave districts, churches carved into rock and a trail across the gorge.
1. Walk the Sassi Caveoso and Barisano
The Sassi are the two historic districts of Matera, with the Civita and the cathedral between them. UNESCO listed the Sassi and the park of the rock churches in 1993. People were moved out of the Sassi in the 1950s, and residents have been coming back since the 1980s, so this is a living town and not an empty ruin. Expect steep steps and uneven stone. The streets are public, while the sites inside charge their own tickets.
Sassi di Matera guide →2. Visit the rock churches
You can choose from Santa Lucia alle Malve, the Madonna de Idris with San Giovanni in Monterrone, and San Pietro Barisano. One church costs €4.50, two €8 and three €10. Hours from 28 March 2026 are 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Santa Lucia and Idris and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for San Pietro. The sites are closed on 2 July and 25 December. Tickets are not refundable, so show your online proof at the door.
All Matera sights →3. Step into the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario
This historic cave dwelling costs €8 since 4 April 2026, with €5 reduced and €3 for ages 11 to 18. Children up to 10 and Matera residents enter free. The ticket covers 4 rooms, 3 of them with an audio guide. The dwelling itself takes about 15 minutes. Daily hours run from 9:30 a.m. in most months, with 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in July and August.
4. Go down to the Palombaro Lungo
This underground water cistern lies beneath Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Adults pay €3 and minors enter free. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You visit on your own in about 15 minutes, with no reservation. Groups are let in in turns, so expect a wait when it is busy. Animals are not allowed.
5. See MUSMA in the Palazzo Pomarici
MUSMA, a museum in the Sasso Caveoso, lists €10 for adults, €7 for FAI members and €5 for ages 7 to 18 and students. Children up to 6 enter free. The operator gives two different closing times for October to March (6 p.m. or 8 p.m.), so plan to arrive well before 6 p.m. Last entry is one hour before closing.
6. Hike the Murgia path 406 to the Gravina bridge
The path starts at Porta Pistola, crosses the Torrente Gravina and climbs to the Murgia Timone. Since 1 March 2026 access is controlled and tourists pay. The park rates it EE, for experienced hikers, and the operator calls it medium and gives about 2 hours. The operator's description lists €15 from 1 April to 31 October and €10 from 1 November to 31 March, with 50 percent off under 25. Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed.
Our picks: things to do in Basilicata
A rock church walk in Matera, an e-bike ride to a Sassi viewpoint and a kayak tour on the Maratea coast.
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.
E-bike ride to the Sassi viewpoint
E-bike hire, helmet, a briefing and a local guide, with a viewpoint stop and savoury and sweet tastings. Riders need to be at least 160 cm tall; hotel transfer and other food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
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.
Check availability →
Sassi walk with three entries
A regionally licensed guide, with entry to Santa Maria de Idris, San Giovanni in Monterrone and the Museum of Peasant Civilization.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in Basilicata
Guided Sassi walks, day trips and food experiences around Matera and the region, with live prices and availability.
Beyond Matera (7 to 12)
Coast, ruins, mountain villages and a national park.
7. Drive up to the Christ statue in Maratea
The Cristo Redentore stands on Monte San Biagio. The municipality names the car park at Madonna degli Ulivi, with the last stretch by shuttle. A local information site lists free access to the statue, parking from €4 for the first hour and a €1.50 return shuttle in the 2026 season. Car access is seasonal and limited in autumn, so check before you drive up. Beaches such as Cersuta, with pebbles, lie along the coast.
Maratea guide →8. Take a guided visit to Craco
Craco is visited with a reserved, guided ticket that starts at the Convento di San Pietro in Craco Vecchia. Arrive 30 minutes early. A helmet is required, and you can rent one for €2. The complete ticket for the museum park and the emotional museum costs €16.20. From 1 April to 31 October it runs daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There is no refund for bad weather, but the operator says another date can be arranged.
Craco guide →9. Fly the Volo dell'Angelo
The zip line links Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. A ticket includes the flight in both directions on different lines plus a shuttle. The 2026 season runs from 1 May to 8 December on published days, August daily, October on weekends. A single flight costs €36 on weekdays in July and September and €46 otherwise, and a pair costs €66 or €79. You need to be 14, at least 135 cm and 40 to 120 kg. Check in one hour early. Flights depend on conditions.
Castelmezzano guide →10. Cross the Ponte Tibetano in Castelsaraceno
This is a separate bridge, 586 m long and 80 m high, in Castelsaraceno. It is not part of the Volo ticket and not between Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa. In 2026 a single ticket costs €25 online or €30 at the ticket office. Ages 7 to 17 pay €15 or €20. The minimum height is 120 cm. The ticket is valid for the chosen day and slot and includes a guided visit to the Museo della Pastorizia.
11. See the Tavole Palatine in Metaponto
The remains of a Doric temple of Hera stand outside the ancient city, with 15 surviving columns, 10 on the north side and 5 on the south. The museum lists Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., last entry 7 p.m., closed on Monday. Admission is listed as free on one museum page and as €5 for the park on another. The main museum is closed for renovation.
Metaponto guide →12. Hike in the Pollino National Park
The park spans Basilicata and Calabria, with 56 municipalities and 192,565 hectares, and was founded in 1993. Its emblem is the Pino Loricato, a pine whose old bark forms armor-like plates. Catalog routes include path 931 from Madonna di Pollino to Serra di Crispo (6,020 m, E) and path 923 (6,134 m, EE). The park recommends official guides. See the Calabrian side at Visit Calabria.
Pollino guide →Prices at a glance (2026)
Adult prices from the operators. Each row covers one site.
| Experience | Adult price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rock churches | €4.50 / €8 / €10 | 1, 2 or 3 churches |
| Combined ticket | €25 | 8 Matera sites, €16 reduced |
| Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario | €8 | Not included in the combined ticket |
| Palombaro Lungo | €3 | Pay on site, cash or card |
| MUSMA | €10 | Guided visits cost extra |
| Craco complete ticket | €16.20 | Helmet rental €2 |
| Volo dell'Angelo | €36 to €46 | Single flight, by date |
| Ponte Tibetano | €25 / €30 | Online / ticket office |
| Tavole Palatine | – | Free or €5, see entry 11 |
Plan your trip
Where to go next.
Things to do in Matera
Twelve sights inside the city, with tickets and hours.
Matera
How to plan a visit to the Sassi.
Maratea
The Christ statue and the Tyrrhenian coast.
Craco
Guided visits and what to bring.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
The Volo and the Lucanian Dolomites.
Pollino National Park
Trails, pines and mountain villages.
To reach these places, see getting there. Many sights are far apart, so allow time for the drives.
Things to do in Basilicata: frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to do in Basilicata?
That depends on your interests. The Sassi of Matera suit history, Maratea suits coast and views, and the Volo dell'Angelo suits those who want action. The list above is a selection and not a ranking.
How many days do I need?
Matera alone fills one to two days. The other places lie in different parts of the region, so most visitors pick two or three of them. A car makes the villages and the Pollino much easier.
Is there a single ticket for Basilicata?
No. The prices belong to each site or operator. A combined €25 ticket covers 8 Matera sites, but it does not include the Palombaro, MUSMA or the Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario.
Is the Volo dell'Angelo open all year?
No. The 2026 season runs from 1 May to 8 December on published days. Check the operator's calendar and the weather before you plan around it.
Can I walk into Craco on my own?
No. The ruins are visited on a reserved, guided ticket. Do not enter closed areas.