Two days are the sensible minimum: one for the city, one for the landscape around it.
Editorial team: Matera Guide · Updated . Time allowances are planning estimates, not measured walking times.
Planning two days in Matera
Allow one day for the Sassi and another for the Murgia or a museum. Six to eight hours including visits and breaks is a useful allowance for the city day. Choose a few indoor visits: a cistern, a cave dwelling and a rock church reveal different aspects of Matera.
Day one · Day two · Map of the stops
Day 1: from the upper town through the Sassi
Morning: Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Sasso Barisano
Start at Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Check visiting times for the Palombaro Lungo before setting off; a booked slot helps you plan the morning. Continue into Sasso Barisano, leaving time for the lanes and the climb to Matera Cathedral on the Civita.
Time allowance: roughly two and a half to three hours with one indoor visit. Allow longer if you take frequent photo stops or walk slowly on steps.
Midday: a break before the next district
Set aside about an hour for lunch and a seated break. In hot weather, move longer walks to cooler hours and use midday for an indoor visit. Bring a filled water bottle.
Afternoon: Sasso Caveoso and a cave dwelling
Continue through Sasso Caveoso. A Casa Grotta shows the interior of a cave home; Santa Maria de Idris is a possible rock-church visit. Choose according to opening times and your interests rather than fitting in every attraction. Allow another two to three hours including breaks.
Evening: the view from Piazzetta Pascoli
Finish at Piazzetta Pascoli and look back over the Sassi from the upper town. The timing of an evening walk depends on season and weather. Shorten the afternoon if you started early or have had a long journey.
Day 2: a Murgia panorama or a quieter museum day
Belvedere Murgia Timone is the destination for the landscape day. The official Sentiero 406 connects Porta Pistola with the Murgia across the Gravina. Check the park's route information and closures before leaving. Reserve half a day for the outward walk, views, breaks and return; this is a time allowance, not walking directions.
If you prefer not to cross the gorge on foot, arrange transport to the viewpoint and back separately. Confirm your booking and meeting point in advance. The lines on the map below indicate the order of places, not a navigable hiking trail.
In the afternoon, choose MUSMA or Palazzo Lanfranchi according to your interests and current visiting hours. In rain or strong heat, a museum day can replace the walk entirely.
Before you travel
- Arrival: Read how to get from Bari airport to Matera and plan the final leg to your accommodation.
- Car: Choose parking in Matera in advance. Access to the Sassi is governed by the city's restricted traffic zones.
- Visits: Check opening hours, admission and reservations with each venue. This itinerary does not assume guaranteed opening.
- Steps: The route includes gradients and steps. If you have limited mobility or a pushchair, discuss suitable sections with your accommodation or a local guide beforehand.
Questions about a two-day visit
Do I need a car for two days in Matera?
The city day is planned on foot. You can arrange a separate journey to the Murgia; a hire car is one option, rather than a requirement for the whole stay.
What should I skip if time is short?
Keep the Sassi and one viewpoint, and choose just one indoor visit. Two full days give you more flexibility than an afternoon and a morning.
Sources for changing information: Ente Parco, Sentiero 406 and Comune di Matera, ZTL; checked 1 October 2026. The daily plan is an editorial suggestion.
