Matera from Bari: Bus, Train or Organised Tour?
Updated October 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Matera is not in Puglia but in the neighbouring region of Basilicata, and there is no fast direct rail link to Bari. That is why there are three ways to go, and why the cheapest is not always the easiest.
The short version: a train or coach gets you there for the price of a lunch, an organised half-day trip costs several times as much, and which one is right depends on what you want to do once you arrive.
The train: FAL from Bari Centrale
The line to Matera is not run by the national operator but by Ferrovie Appulo Lucane (FAL). Its station sits right next to the main Trenitalia station in Bari, and trains run through the day.
Sources disagree slightly on the journey time, from about an hour and twenty minutes to an hour and forty, so check the timetable for the train you will actually take. Fares are low, in the region of €5 each way according to published information, but the operator sets the price, so look at the current fare on the FAL website before you rely on that figure.
The Sassi are hilly, and Matera’s station is not in them, so allow time for the walk. Check the last departure back to Bari before you start your day.
The coach
Several coach companies run between Bari and Matera, including Flixbus and regional operators. For a visit that starts and ends in Bari, coaches can be easier than the train when the times suit you, but the departure points differ by operator. Read the booking page for where the coach leaves and where it drops you off in Matera.
From the airport: a very cheap shared transfer
If you land at Bari airport, there is a one-way shared transfer from Bari Airport to Matera city centre listed from €3.57 per person, 75 minutes, with 486 reviews and 4.3 stars. It is a transfer, not a tour: it only makes sense if you are staying in Matera. Read the booking page for times and the meeting point, since a shared transfer runs to a schedule.
The organised options
Two organised trips go from Bari to Matera alone, without Alberobello:
- Excursion to Matera by bus: €33 per person, six hours, 4.2 stars from 195 reviews. The listing says you can walk the Sassi at your own pace or with a licensed guide, and describes a “comfortable transfer from Bari”.
- Half-day guided tour of Matera: €110 per person, six hours, 4.5 stars from 149 reviews. A local guide, free time in the city and round-trip transfers.
If you want Matera and Alberobello in one day, that is a different trip, covered in Alberobello and Matera from Bari.
Once you are in Matera, a short panoramic tuk-tuk tour of the Sassi lasts 45 minutes, costs €35 and holds 4.2 stars from 397 reviews. The listing calls it suitable for families and first-time visitors, and it includes a visit to a cave house. It is a way to see the steep parts without climbing them.
Which way for whom
| Cost | Time | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (FAL) | around €5 each way, check the fare | about 1h20 to 1h40 each way | Independent travellers with a full day |
| Coach | varies by operator | varies | Anyone whose times fit a coach schedule |
| Bus excursion | €33 | six hours in total | No planning, a short day |
| Guided half day | €110 | six hours in total | Understanding what you are looking at |
The six hours are the length of the whole trip, so the time left in the town is shorter than the headline; ask how much of it is spent in the vehicle. If Matera is the point of your trip, the train is the cheapest and the most flexible, and you decide how long you stay; the bus excursion is the easy answer if you want everything arranged.
And by car
Matera is also an easy drive for those who prefer it. If you are travelling with a group or want to stop on the way, compare car hire for Bari. Traffic in the old centre is restricted, so check the parking before you go.
All of the day trips are listed under day trips from Bari.
