Best Hotels in Matera: Sleeping in the Sassi Cave Dwellings

Matera has one of the most distinctive accommodation offers in Italy — cave hotels (sassi hotels or “cave hotels”) converted from the rock-cut dwellings that were evacuated in the 1950s. Staying in a converted sassi cave in Matera is genuinely unusual: rock walls, carved stone, sometimes with the original cistern or grain store visible, with views from the terrace across the Sassi to the opposite cliff face.

Sassi cave hotels

The converted cave dwellings of the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso are the distinctive accommodation category. These are genuine cave rooms — the walls are tufa stone, the spaces are intimate, and the quality ranges from basic to extremely luxurious.

Budget cave rooms (€70–120/night): Basic B&Bs in the Sassi. Smaller, often without air conditioning (not usually needed — the rock maintains a stable temperature). Some have shared bathrooms.

Mid-range (€120–200/night): Good cave hotels with private bathrooms, often with terrace or balcony views over the canyon. The Sasso Caveoso tends to have slightly better views than the Sasso Barisano. Several well-regarded options in this range.

Top-end (€200–500+/night): Luxury cave hotels with remarkable design interventions — infinity pools cut into the rock, contemporary interiors within ancient cave structures, Michelin-starred restaurants. Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita (a converted former sassi neighbourhood), Palazzo Gattini, and the Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa are the main luxury options. These are some of the most remarkable hotels in Italy.

Upper city (Civita)

The upper town above the Sassi — the historic medieval and modern city — has conventional hotel accommodation. Less dramatic than the cave hotels but less expensive and more comfortable by conventional standards.

Mid-range hotels in the Civita: €80–160/night.

Booking tips

• Book early: Matera has been growing rapidly as a destination since its European Capital of Culture designation (2019). Cave hotels are limited in number and fill up several weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
• Stairs: The Sassi involve significant stair-climbing — ask about accessibility if this matters.
• Car parking: Most cave hotels have no parking in the Sassi (no vehicles). Hotels arrange luggage drop-off; parking is outside the Sassi area. Confirm logistics when booking.
• Summer (July–August): The cave temperature is naturally stable (around 16–18°C inside). This makes them cool in summer — a real advantage in a region where surface temperatures reach 35°C+.

Named hotel recommendations

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita (Via Civita 28) — The most distinctive cave hotel in Matera. Eighteen rooms restored with minimal intervention — original stone walls, candle-lit corridors. Doubles from approximately €200/night as of 2026. The atmosphere is extraordinary.

Palazzo Gattini (Piazza Duomo 13-14) — A five-star in a converted palazzo overlooking the Cathedral. Modern spa, rooftop terrace with Sassi views. Doubles from approximately €180/night. The most full-service hotel in Matera.

L’Hotel in Pietra (Via San Giovanni Vecchio 22) — A boutique cave hotel with 8 rooms carved into rock. Doubles from approximately €120/night. Atmospheric and well-managed.

Corte San Pietro (Via San Pietro Caveoso 16) — Cave dwellings near the best viewpoint. Doubles from approximately €90/night. Good value for a genuine cave experience.

B&B del Corso (Corso XX Settembre) — In the upper town rather than the Sassi. Doubles from approximately €50/night. The best budget option.

Arriving and getting to your hotel

Matera has no train station on the national network. The closest mainline station is Bari Centrale (approximately 70 minutes by FAL regional train or approximately 1 hour by SITA bus, approximately €5). An airport transfer from Bari airport direct to your Matera hotel is the most practical option if arriving by air. If arriving by car, park in the free lots at Via Aldo Moro or the paid garage near Piazza Vittorio Veneto (approximately €10/day) — vehicles cannot enter the Sassi. Most Sassi hotels involve steep steps and narrow lanes with luggage; confirm access instructions with your hotel before arrival.

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For the full Matera travel guide covering the Sassi cave districts, rock churches, and how to get there. For things to see in Matera, see things to do in Matera. For Matera food — pane di Matera, peperoni cruschi, and lamb dishes — see the Matera food guide. For day trips to Alberobello, Bari, and the Puglia coast, see day trips from Matera. Matera fits into the southern Italy itinerary connecting Naples, Puglia, and Basilicata. Bari is the main transport hub — our Bari guide covers the connection.