Where to Stay in Matera

Updated: May 9, 2026 • By Santorini Dave

The magical cave suites at Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita. All the hotels listed below (except for Palazzo Margherita) are an easy walk to the sights of the old town and are great for first-time visitors to Matera.

Matera Hotels: What to Know Before Booking

Matera is one of the most memorable places to stay in Italy, but it is not a normal hotel town. The best hotels are built into caves, palaces, stairways, old monasteries, and restored stone houses spread through the Sassi, Matera’s ancient cave districts. This is what makes the city so special, but it also means that location matters more here than in most Italian towns. Stay in the Sassi or Civita if you want the full Matera experience. Stay on the Piano, the modern upper town, if you want easier access, fewer stairs, better parking, and a more practical base.

Matera Hotels – My Advice

• Best Luxury Hotel: Palazzo Gattini
• Best Boutique Hotel: Il Palazzotto Residence & Winery
• Best Cave Hotel: Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita
• Best Affordable Hotel: Hotel Residence San Giorgio
• Best Hotel for Families: Sassisuite
• Best Villa in Basilicata: Palazzo Margherita
• Best Hotel for Couples: All of the cave hotels and boutique hotels below are excellent for couples and honeymooners. The main decision is whether you want full luxury, cave atmosphere, easier access, or the best view.

Understanding Matera: The Layout

• The Civita: The ridge between the two Sassi districts, crowned by Matera’s Cathedral. This is one of the best areas to stay if you want views, atmosphere, and slightly easier access than the deepest parts of the cave districts. It feels more like a medieval hill town than a cave settlement, with noble palaces, quiet lanes, and sweeping views over both sides of old Matera.
• Sasso Barisano: North of the Civita and generally the more polished, restored, and convenient side of the Sassi. It has many of Matera’s boutique hotels, restaurants, shops, and scenic walking routes. For most first-time visitors, this is the easiest Sassi district to enjoy without feeling too remote.
• Sasso Caveoso: South of the Civita and the more dramatic, rugged, ancient-feeling side of Matera. This is where the city can feel most cinematic, with cave dwellings, rock churches, stone lanes, and big views across the ravine. It is beautiful, but some hotels here involve more steps and less convenient access.
• The Piano: The modern upper town around Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Via Lucana. It is flatter, easier for taxis and parking, and more convenient for travelers with heavy luggage or mobility concerns. You lose some cave-hotel atmosphere, but you are still only a short walk from the Sassi viewpoints and main sights.

Where Should You Stay in Matera?

• For the classic Matera experience: Stay in a cave hotel in Sasso Barisano, Sasso Caveoso, or the Civita. This is what most people are imagining when they picture Matera: stone rooms, vaulted ceilings, candlelit courtyards, and views across the Sassi.
• For luxury: Stay in the Civita or upper Sassi, where you get better views and a little more elegance without being buried too deep in the maze of steps.
• For convenience: Stay near Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Via Lucana, or the upper edge of the Sassi. This is a good compromise if you want atmosphere but do not want to wrestle with luggage, parking, and long stair climbs.
• For families: Look carefully at room layout, stairs, and access. A large cave suite can be wonderful, but not every beautiful hotel is practical with kids, strollers, or lots of bags.
• For mobility issues: Avoid hotels deep in Sasso Caveoso unless the hotel confirms easy access in writing. The Piano or upper Civita is a safer choice.

Key Tips for Staying in Matera

• Pack light: This is the most important Matera hotel tip. The Sassi are full of stone staircases, uneven lanes, and pedestrian-only areas. Cars and taxis cannot reach many hotel entrances. A small rolling bag or light suitcase makes a huge difference.
• Ask your hotel about arrival instructions before you get there: The best hotels are used to helping guests with transfers, luggage, parking, and nearest drop-off points. Do not just follow Google Maps to the front door. In Matera, that often ends with stairs, confusion, and sweating.
• Driving is useful for Basilicata, not inside Matera: If you have a rental car, plan to park outside the Sassi in the modern town. Secure garages around Via Lucana and the upper town are the most practical option. From there, walk, taxi, or arrange hotel assistance.
• Cave hotels are atmospheric, not always easy: Many Matera hotels are alberghi diffusi, meaning rooms are spread across restored cave dwellings and stone buildings rather than stacked inside one standard hotel. It can be magical, but breakfast, reception, and your room may not all be in the same building.
• Views and convenience are often a tradeoff: The most atmospheric rooms can involve stairs and awkward access. The easiest hotels may not feel quite as ancient. For a short stay, I lean toward atmosphere. For a longer stay, heavy luggage, older travelers, or families, convenience matters more.
• One or two nights is enough for most visitors: Matera is unforgettable, especially overnight after the day-trippers leave. One night is good, two nights is better, and three nights makes sense if you want a slower pace or plan to explore nearby Basilicata and Puglia.

The 10 Best Hotels in Matera, Italy

1. Palazzo Gattini – Civita / Duomo

The best modern luxury hotel in Matera with beautiful suites (some have private hot tubs), stunning views, and a great location right beside the Duomo. The spa and Turkish bath are wonderful.

2. Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita – Civita

The most romantic cave hotel in Matera. Absolutely stunning. The original cave dwellings have been restored to luxurious perfection.

3. Il Palazzotto Residence & Winery – Sasso Barisano

Magical! These original cave houses were redone by a local architect and one of the most atmospheric boutique hotels in Matera. If forced to choose, I’d say this is the best boutique hotel in Matera. (The Family Apartment is huge and sleeps a family of four.)

4. Corte San Pietro – Sasso Caveoso

Beautiful cave hotel located in the ancient Sasso Caveoso and surrounded by impossibly tangled alleys and stairwells. (The Junior Suite with Terrace sleeps four and is one of the better cave rooms in Matera for families.)

5. Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort – Sasso Caveoso

Beautiful cave suites in the heart of the Sassi of Matera and within an easy walk of the major landmarks.

6. Palazzo Viceconte – Civita

A converted aristocratic residence with a splendid courtyard and ideal location. Perched high above the Sassi with some of the best views of any hotel in Matera.

7. L’Hotel In Pietra – Sasso Barisano

Once a church, then an aristocratic house, and now a boutique hotel. Located in the Sasso Barisano and within walking distance of all of central Matera. Several suites have private indoor hot tubs.

8. Sassisuite – Sasso Barisano

A classic Italian-style B&B but with plenty of luxury. Beautiful views over the Sassi and Old Town. (The Standard Suite sleeps a family of five or six. The One-Bedroom suites sleeps a family of four.)

9. Palazzo Del Duca Luxury Hotel – Civita / Sasso Barisano

Brand new 4-star hotel stylishly detailed and decorated. The cave breakfast room is the something out of a dream. The suites with private jacuzzis and plunge pools are worth the upgrade.

10. Palazzo Margherita – Bernalda

Located a 45 minute drive from Matera this idyllic hilltop setting in the village of Bernalda feels more like a country home than a hotel. Francis Ford Coppola discovered the forgotten palazzo while visiting his grandfather’s hometown and restored it to stunning perfection – though keeping all the original art work and furnishings. Suites are huge and there’s a nice swimming pool. Meals are marvelous homemade creations and one of the highlights of staying here. Free parking.