In a nutshell
- If you’re visiting Matera, you absolutely have to stay in the Sassi neighborhood — the cave hotels here have seriously stunning design.
- We’ve picked out the five best cave hotels in Matera for you: top reviews, beautiful interiors, and great value for money.
- We stayed at the Palazzotto and can highly recommend it — in the off-season, the value for money is unbeatable.
- We’re also big fans of the Palazzo degli Abati and its incredible terrace — unfortunately it was fully booked when we were looking. Book early!
Palazzotto Residence & Winery
Architect and interior designer Katia Vitale bought this 16th-century palazzo — caves and all — and transformed it into what it is today: a true designer cave hotel.
The caves are divided into large suites and narrower double rooms, each with a private entrance. There’s also a 90-square-meter cave apartment, making it a great option for a family stay.
Nightly rates aren’t cheap, but they’re seriously affordable in the off-season: we stayed in the suite, which in February was even less expensive than a standard double room in summer.
For the off-season, the value for money here is honestly hard to beat!
Book Palazzotto Residence & Winery
Palazzo degli Abati
Palazzo degli Abati has the most beautiful terrace of any of the cave hotels in Matera.
Breakfast is served there every morning, or you can enjoy an aperitivo at sunset with views over the Sassi. It’s a seriously special setting.
There are eight suites in total, spread across cave rooms and regular rooms. They’re beautifully appointed — minimal and modern, yet perfectly in tune with the atmosphere of the place.
Even in the off-season, the hotel is fully booked two weeks out — during peak season, you’ll need to plan even further ahead.
We’ve never managed to snag a room ourselves, but we’d absolutely love to stay there one day and have breakfast with that view!
Ai Maestri
Ai Maestri is a super stylish bed & breakfast with just four rooms. You can choose between regular rooms with windows or cave rooms.
The moment you see the décor, you can tell a seriously talented interior designer was behind it. Modern light fixtures and minimalist furniture sit alongside works of art and tuff stone walls — it’s a really striking combination.
The standard double room is a regular room; the deluxe rooms are the caves.
When booking, make sure to check the room photos carefully if staying in a cave is a must for you.
Antico Convicino
Antico Convicino is one of the very few cave hotels in Matera that also has a spa area.
It’s housed in a separate cave with dimmed lighting, a whirlpool, sauna, and tea service — and you use it either alone or with your partner, so you never have to share the space with strangers.
The hotel has two double rooms and six different suites — one of which even has an 80-square-meter private terrace.
Corte San Pietro
Corte San Pietro is a luxury-level cave hotel, and the nightly rates reflect that — expect to pay above average.
“Corte” means “courtyard” in Italian, and that’s exactly how the hotel is laid out: its 13 rooms are arranged around two inner courtyards, each with its own private entrance.
The rooms have a clean, light aesthetic — linen bedding, hand-crafted wooden elements, and subtle lighting that gives the whole place a wonderfully restorative feel.
The hotel also offers a babysitting and massage service, plus a pickup service from the parking garage or directly from the airport.
Hotels in the New Town
Of course, there are also more conventional places to stay in Matera — mostly small guesthouses and B&Bs.
These are located in the new town, which makes them easier to reach. They’re also usually more affordable than staying in the Sassi.
Our recommendations for accommodation in the new town:
What You Should Know About Staying in Cave Hotels
- The best cave hotels in Matera are located in the car-free Sassi district. You’ll need to leave your car in one of the parking garages in the new town and walk down to your hotel. Some cave hotels offer a complimentary pickup service — if you’re arriving with a lot of luggage, we’d definitely recommend taking them up on it.
- The alleyways of the Sassi are very uneven, so wear flat, sturdy shoes when you arrive.
- All the caves have ventilation systems installed to manage moisture. That said, humidity levels are still a bit higher than in a regular room. If you’re particularly sensitive to that, a room in the new town might be the smarter choice.
