How tours work in Matera
You can walk the public streets of the Sassi on your own. A guide adds context and the way into some sites, and a few places are visited only on a ticket with a fixed time. Craco, for example, is visited on a reserved, guided ticket. The examples below come from single operators. They show what one product costs, not a market range.
Booking models differ. The Palombaro is visited on your own with no reservation, the Craco visit uses a reserved date with check-in before the start, and the Volo dell'Angelo is booked online with a start point and date. Do not assume one rule for all.
Tour examples compared
Adult prices in 2026. Each row is one operator's product.
| Tour or ticket | How it works | Duration | Adult price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Sasso Caveoso walk | Guide, meet at Via B. Buozzi 91/b | About 1 hour 30 minutes | €20 |
| Rock churches | Self-guided, ticket for 1 to 3 churches | – | €4.50 / €8 / €10 |
| Combined ticket | Self-guided, 8 sites | – | €25 |
| Palombaro Lungo | Self-guided, no reservation | About 15 minutes | €3 |
| Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario | Self-guided, 4 rooms | About 15 minutes for the dwelling | €8 |
| Craco complete ticket | Guided, reserved date | – | €16.20 |
| Murgia path 406 | Self-guided, ticket | About 2 hours | €10 to €15 |
| Volo dell'Angelo | Online booking, start point chosen | – | €36 to €46 |
The guided walk is free for children up to 14 according to the product page. The Murgia price depends on the season: the operator lists €15 from 1 April to 31 October and €10 from 1 November to 31 March.
Our picks: Sassi tours
Three ways to see the Sassi: a walk with a cave house, a walk with three entries and an open-top bus.
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.
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 →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 →
Open-top bus tour of the Sassi
An on-board companion in Italian and English, a stop at Piazza San Pietro Caveoso with free time, Casa Grotta entry and a Sassi map. There is no guide during the free stop.
Check availability →Matera tours and day trips
Sassi walks, food experiences and day trips from Matera and Bari, with live prices and availability.
The tour types in detail
What each one involves.
Guided Sasso Caveoso walk
The walk costs €20 and lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes. It includes Santa Lucia alle Malve, a typical cave house and a free ticket for a guided visit to the immersive museum Vicinato a Pozzo. The product does not clearly name the cave house, so do not assume it is the Vico Solitario house. Children up to 14 are free.
Sassi di Matera guide →Self-guided tickets
The rock churches and the combined ticket let you plan your own route. A single church costs €4.50, three cost €10, and the €25 ticket covers 8 sites. Palombaro, MUSMA and the Vico Solitario house are not in it.
Things to do in Matera →Craco guided visit
The ruins are visited on a reserved 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. Bad weather brings no refund, but another date can be arranged.
Craco guide →Mountain activities
The Volo dell'Angelo runs on published days between 1 May and 8 December 2026. The Ponte Tibetano in Castelsaraceno is a separate attraction with its own ticket. See the Castelmezzano guide for both.
Food tours and day trips
The booking block above lists food experiences and day trips, including trips from Bari. Compare duration, meeting point, language and what the price covers before you choose.
What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Meeting point and time
The guided walk meets at Via B. Buozzi 91/b, 15 minutes before the start. Craco asks you to arrive 30 minutes early, and the Volo asks for check-in one hour before.
Cancellation
Terms differ. The guided walk price is not refundable if you cancel. Rock church tickets are not refundable either. Read the terms of any tour in the booking block before you pay.
Shoes and weather
The walk operator recommends non-slip shoes, water and sun or rain protection. The Murgia path does not allow sandals or flip-flops.
Steps and access
Matera has many steps. Ask the operator about step-free options before you book, and do not assume them.
Proof of booking
Rock church sites ask for your online proof, and Craco asks for the confirmation email. Keep both on your phone.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the tours fit.
Things to do in Matera
Twelve sights with tickets and hours.
Craco
How the guided visit works.
Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa
Volo dell'Angelo and the views.
Getting there
From Bari by train or bus.
If you extend your trip south, Calabria tours are compared on a sister guide, and the Calabria overview covers the region.
Matera tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide in the Sassi?
No. The public streets can be walked on your own. A guide helps with context and with some sites, but Craco is visited only on a guided, reserved ticket.
How much does a guided walk cost?
One operator lists €20 for a guided Sasso Caveoso walk of about 1 hour 30 minutes in 2026. That is one product and not a market range.
Do I need to book in advance?
It depends on the site. The Palombaro has no reservation, Craco uses a reserved date and the Volo is booked online. Check each one.
Is cancellation free?
Terms vary by operator. The guided walk is not refundable if you cancel, so read the terms of any tour before you pay.
Can I do Craco and Matera in one day?
Craco is a separate trip with a reserved time. Plan the timing carefully and check the guide page for the visit rules.