In a nutshell
- Traveling to Basilicata? You absolutely have to stop in Maratea. This small seaside town is a genuine hidden gem — one of Italy’s most under-the-radar beach destinations.
- Maratea sits between steep mountains and crystal-clear water, making it perfect for a beach vacation. It’s rarely truly crowded, so you can actually enjoy it.
- The hotel selection is small, and places fill up fast in peak season. We recommend the Hotel Murmann — great pool and a solid location.
What you should know about Maratea
Maratea isn’t particularly well known — even within Italy — as a beach destination, and that’s pretty much true of the entire Basilicata region. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful. Quite the opposite!
The town is surrounded by mountains that drop steeply into the sea. The whole coastline is seriously reminiscent of Liguria and the Cinque Terre — except it’s far less crowded here.
The water is crystal clear and teeming with marine life — you’ll occasionally snorkel right past an octopus. Because the water is so clean, the coastline earns the Blue Flag award every year.
In summer, Maratea draws a good number of visitors, mostly Italians. Outside of Italy, the town is still largely unknown. A real under-the-radar find!
Things to do in Maratea
What is there to see in Maratea? It’s a village, after all, so you can tick off all the highlights pretty quickly.
But if you don’t want to spend the whole day just snorkeling and sunbathing, here’s everything worth exploring in and around Maratea:
Old Town of Maratea
Maratea’s old town sits on a hill and is full of narrow alleyways and piazzas. There are several trattorias, bars, and shops — a quintessentially Italian village. In summer, the bar terraces fill up and things stay lively well into the night.
One distinctive feature of Maratea is that the old town is quite a distance from the harbor. As the crow flies, it wouldn’t be far at all. But because the road winds down the hillside in zigzag curves, it’s a full five kilometers down to the harbor.
If you want a beach vacation in Maratea, make sure to book your accommodation down by the harbor — or be prepared to drive every day.
Marina
Maratea’s small harbor is the standout of the village. In summer, it buzzes with life.
There are plenty of events, live music, and the restaurants are always hopping. You can rent a boat at the harbor and explore the many underwater caves around Maratea — or simply stroll around with a gelato in hand.
Looking up from the harbor, you can see the Christ of Maratea on Mount San Biagio. It’s an incredibly impressive sight!
Christ of Maratea
The Christ of Maratea stands on the rocky Monte San Biagio. You can reach it on foot via hiking trails, or by car, which is considerably more comfortable.
The statue stands at over 600 meters above sea level and is itself 21 meters tall. It’s hard not to think of the Cristo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro.
From the parking lot at the Basilica di San Biagio, a paved path winds up to the statue, with a breathtaking panorama of the entire Maratea coastline along the way.
Grotta delle Meraviglie
The Grotta delle Meraviglie — which translates to Cave of Wonders — is a small but genuinely impressive cave just outside of Maratea, along the country road heading south.
The cave is not always open: you need to call ahead and make an appointment. On-site, an English-speaking guide will lead you through, past stalactites and stalagmites.
You can park directly along the road, as there’s no official parking lot. The tour takes about 30 minutes and costs 5 euros per person.
Beaches in Maratea
Maratea’s rugged coastline is dotted with small coves and crystal-clear water. Pack a snorkel set — there’s seriously a lot to see underwater here!
Most beaches are pebbly or have very coarse sand. They’re rarely crowded — except during the Settimana di Ferragosto, the week around August 15th.
That’s the one week in Italy when it feels like the entire country heads to the beach at once. We’d honestly avoid a beach vacation anywhere in Italy during that week.
These are the most beautiful beaches in Maratea:
- Spiaggia di Fiumicello: A wide pebble beach with crystal-clear water where a small mountain stream flows into the sea. There are two beach bars and free showers.
- Spiaggia Nera: A small beach with black sand and underwater caves. There’s also a kayak rental.
- Spiaggia Santa Teresa: Several small coves separated by rocky outcroppings. A little outside of Maratea, but rarely crowded as a result.
Where to Stay in Maratea
There aren’t very many hotels in Maratea, so everything fills up quickly during peak season. If you’re visiting Maratea in August, book several weeks in advance.
Compared to the rest of Basilicata, staying in Maratea is fairly expensive — but it’s quite comparable to prices at other beautiful beaches in Italy.
Here are our hotel recommendations for Maratea:
Extra tip: If you want to stay in a truly typical Southern Italian home, check out the Dimore Santojanni. The little house is right on the harbor and has, in our opinion, the best location in all of Maratea.
How to Get to Maratea
Maratea isn’t the easiest place to reach. Your best bet is to fly into Naples and rent a car there — from Naples, it’s about two hours to Maratea.
Note: Starting in 2024, you can also fly to Salerno, which is just 1.5 hours away. However, the airport is tiny and still being expanded — at the moment, there isn’t even a car rental available there.
Maratea is especially worthwhile as part of a Basilicata road trip. If you’re exploring the region, make sure to include Maratea alongside Matera!
