The options

  • FlixBus: from Tiburtina, about 6 h 30 to 6 h 45, twice a day, from 13 EUR to 55 EUR or more depending on the date. This is the option without a change.
  • Train: Rome Termini to Bari or Altamura, then a connection to Matera Centrale. Between Altamura and Matera the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL) line takes about 30 minutes, with one train an hour according to comparison sites; a FlixBus also links Altamura to Matera in 19 minutes (first departure 5:41am, last 5:46pm on the FlixBus page). Check FAL timetables before leaving.
  • Car: a long drive south, to compare with the bus; it becomes useful if you continue on to Puglia.

To prepare your departure, also read about Termini station and the train strike calendar.

Why sleep there

A day return makes no sense: more than twelve hours of transport for a few hours in the Sassi, the UNESCO-listed district of cave dwellings. A night lets you see them at sunset and again early in the morning.

Matera's tourist tax applies all year: 4 EUR per person per night in 4 and 5-star accommodation, 2 EUR in other accommodation (including B&Bs and rentals), for the first three consecutive nights, children under 14 exempt, according to the municipality's website read on 30 October 2026.

See hotels in Matera on Booking.com. For another southern destination from Rome, see Naples from Rome.

FAQ

Is there a direct train from Rome to Matera? No, you change at Bari or Altamura.

How long by bus? About 6 h 30 from Tiburtina.

How many nights? One at the least, two so you do not rush.

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