Are Matera cave hotels on your bucket list? Nestled within the rolling hills of southern Italy lies a hidden gem waiting to be discovered – Matera and its breathtaking cave hotels.
With its unique blend of history and luxury, the cave hotels in Matera offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience to stay in the oldest, continuously inhabited city in Italy, in style.
From charming boutique hotels with underground spas to historic guesthouses, we’ve rounded up the 12 best cave hotels in Matera, Italy, each offering its own unique blend of comfort, style, and history.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure here.
Planning your trip to Matera last minute? Here are the tours and hotels we recommend. Matera is one of our favorite cities for a Weekend Break in Italy and it definitely deserves a spot on your Europe Bucket List!
- TOP EXPERIENCES & TOURS IN MATERA
- Matera: Guided Tour of Sassi di Matera – Top guided tour
- Matera: Panoramic Tuk-Tuk Tour – fun Matera activity
- Polignano a Mare: Boat Cave Tour with Aperitif – great day trip activity
- BEST CAVE HOTELS IN MATERA
- Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa – best luxury cave hotel experience
- PIANELLE RESORT – beautiful cave hotel with the best views
- Cenobio Hotel – best cave hotel for families
- PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR MATERA
- Get Travel Insurance for Italy with Safety Wing.
- Check Discover Cars for great car rental prices at BarI International Airport.
- Find the best flight deals to Italy on Skyscanner.
Visiting Sassi di Matera UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sassi di Matera, Italy is the perfect destination for a traveler looking to immerse themselves in history. It is known for its cave dwellings, which have been carved into soft tufa stone over thousands of years.
Considered one of the first human settlements in Italy, Sassi di Matera is the oldest continuously inhabited Sassi (stone villages) in the world,
There are endless possibilities for exploration, with Matera’s stunning scenery, churches carved into rocks, and hidden underground tunnels that have been part of this city’s culture since early civilizations.
The Sassi offer travellers a glimpse into history, with open air museums that tell stories from Neolithic times to the 19th century when Sassi was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Discovering all Sassi di Matera has to offer is sure to make any vacation an unforgettable one, and staying in one of the famous Matera cave hotels can give visitors a truly unique experience of being surrounded by centuries-old architecture.
Where to Stay in Matera
If you are trying to figure out the best place to stay in Matera, just know that, wherever you choose, you can’t go wrong. The town is small enough that wherever you decide to rest your head, it’s always walkable.
There are two cave districts in the area – Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso. They both offer a similar experience of being in this ancient town and each has a labyrinth of little streets and steep walkways that you can explore.
Alternatively, if you’re looking a more modern vibe (i.e. not a 9,000 year old cave), you can stay in Matera City which has easy access to parking, all amenities and still walking distance to the ancient part of town.
We actually booked a hotel last minute that we thought was a cave, that turned out to be one street outside of Sasso Barisano. It had the look of a masserie in Puglia and was only 60 meters from the Sassi.
Hydria Rooms (9.2) is very comfortable, has the pretty elements of Matera Cave Hotels and parking too. It’s a great option for those that have mobility issues or want to have access to their car for day trips.
One of the biggest considerations in choosing where to stay in Matera is you’ll have to carry your luggage the old-fashioned way, plus there are plenty of steps and hills!
Regardless of the Matera hotel that you choose, this is a small city with many captivating sights in walking distance.
What Are Matera Cave Hotels?
Many of the cave dwellings in Matera are old monasteries, churches, and homes that have been restored into cave hotels. These hotels offer a unique and historic experience, as guests can stay in rooms carved out of tufa stone.
While they’re now updated with modern amenities like running water, electricity, and even air-conditioning, they still retain their original architectural features and old-world charm.
Staying in a cave hotel in Matera is a Europe bucket list experience, offering travelers a unique and authentic experience in a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Best Cave Hotels in Matera Italy
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa (Best Luxury Matera Hotel with a Cave Pool)
Just a few minutes’ walk from the historic Matera Cathedral, the 5-star Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & SPA (9.2) is one of the best cave hotels in Italy. Its design is inspired by traditional grottoes with sleek, minimalist rooms carved into rock.
All rooms have bright windows with white-washed modern furnishings that complement the beige stone interior. Suites have espresso machines and sitting areas.
On the property, you’ll have an enchanting indoor cave pool and an adults-only underground spa with saunas and a fitness center. When you’re not out exploring, enjoy the onsite restaurant, courtyard bar, and excellent room service.
Parking is complimentary, as is a tasty breakfast of local and international choices.
What guests like most: room design, true Matera experience, good location • Consideration: no outdoor pool
Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort (Best Cave Hotel in Matera for Couples)
Made of 21 cave dwellings in a prime area of the Sassi di Matera network, Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort (9.1) offers bright airy rooms with warm and cozy hotel spaces.
Exposed-stone walls and landmark views make these Matera hotel rooms exceptional. Each room, suite, and apartment is unique. Indulge in amenities like oversized luxurious tubs, canopy beds, and pristine balcony views. With its bright balcony and buttery-lit bathroom, the superior suite is one of the most romantic rooms in Matera.
A sleek bar/restaurant is serving local cuisine in a romantic cave setting. There’s also a stunning terrace with panoramic views of ancient Matera. Morning breakfast is also available.
What guests like most: Matera views, cave design, perfect location • Consideration: no pool/spa
Palazzotto Residence & Winery (Best Matera Hotel for Wine Lovers)
Palazzotto Residence&Winery (9.3) offers a unique blend of history and luxury, set in a restored 17th-century stone palazzo near Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista and Matera Cathedral.
Each room or suite is unique and features stone walls, wooden beams, and antique furnishings for that full Matera hotel experience.
Nonetheless, modern amenities such as air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and modern showers ensure a comfortable stay. Some rooms even have private balconies with stunning views of Matera’s charming streets and countryside.
During your stay, enjoy the onsite winery’s handmade wines, produced from grapes grown on the property’s vineyards. We love this pick for wine lovers visiting Matera!
What guests like most: welcome glass of wine, cave room design, nice breakfast • Consideration: some bathrooms offer less privacy
Cenobio Hotel (Best Family Rooms in Matera Caves)
Original stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and elegant modern furniture blend traditional charm with contemporary comfort at Cenobio Hotel (9.2) in Matera.
Each room is different with either marble or abstract-tiled floors. There are rooms and suites available, some with private terraces, balconies, or hot tubs. This Matera hotel is a wonderful choice for both couples of families, as the family suite fits a maximum of 5 guests.
The hotel also offers a terrace with breathtaking views of Matera’s historic center, as well as a restaurant serving delicious local cuisine and breakfast. Plus, Cenobio Hotel has a partnership with a spa offering massages and wellness treatments.
What guests like most: beautiful cave rooms, small hotel, breakfast • Consideration: lack of common areas/amenities
PIANELLE RESORT (Best View Caves of Matera)
Right next to some of Matera’s most iconic sites like Casa Grotta nei Sassi and the Matera Cathedral, the PIANELLE RESORT (9.6) offers exceptional views and a luxurious escape.
All rooms are elegantly styled with comfortable furnishings and modern amenities, including plush bedding, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies or terraces with breathtaking views of the Sassi.
The hotel’s spacious suites offer separate living areas and extra amenities like whirlpool tubs and fireplaces.
Breakfast is available each morning, including a buffet, à la carte, and continental options. Unwind on the terrace, which is exceptional in the evenings with yellow lights brightening the dwellings, or enjoy drinks at the lounge bar.
What guests like most: beautiful hotel, walk-in showers, perfect views • Consideration: some rooms are open plan with exposed bathrooms
Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita (Most Romantic Matera Luxury Cave Hotel)
Nestled among the cave dwellings, Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita (9.6) is one of the best cave hotels in Matera for an intimate stay.
The rooms are simply furnished among the cave and stone floorings, creating a very cozy old-world charm with candlelights and wooden decor.
We love the rooms with free-standing tubs and floor candles for a romantic hotel in Matera. Some quarters add private terraces, and room service and in-room massages are available.
A lovely breakfast is complimentary daily, and dinner is served in a former church with a terrace. Bike rentals are available to explore Matera on two wheels.
What guests like most: authentic experience, candlelights, magical ambiance • Consideration: uneven, historic flooring
Corte San Pietro (Best Luxury Hotel in Matera)
Set in restored cave dwellings around a tufa stone courtyard, Corte San Pietro (9.5) offers beautiful stone rooms with private entrances in a primitive style.
Rooms feel like a time capsule with hand-carved wood and stone items. Suites add a luxurious stone tub, minibars, and living areas.
While the rooms have a very ancient feel, they still benefit from air-conditioning, electric kettles, Wi-Fi, and desk areas with lamps.
With your stay, take advantage of a tour through an underground system of cisterns, an amazing breakfast of sweet and savory options, a handy shuttle service, and bike rentals for exploring around Matera.
What guests like most: historic feel, best breakfast, comfy beds • Consideration: caves rooms have less natural light
Palazzo degli Abati (Best Matera Hotel with a Panoramic Terrace)
Beautifully positioned in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palazzo Degli Abati (9.4) is one of the best Matera hotels for panoramic views.
The cozy, air-conditioned rooms each feature a flat-screen TV and a bathroom with a modern shower. Depending on your choice, rooms also have a terrace, glass-floor panels, private entrances, petite balconies, or free-standing tubs.
A buffet breakfast is served in the dining room. The dreamiest feature of this Matera hotel is its balcony with bar drinks, offering some of the most exquisite views.
What guests like most: amazing location near Caveoso cave churches, unique rooms, helpful staff • Consideration: need to carry luggage up from the nearby parking lot
Le Dimore Dell’ Idris (Best Matera Caves with Spacious Rooms)
Right next to the 12th-century San Pietro Caveoso cave church, Le Dimore Dell’ Idris (9.2) guesthouse offers exquisite cave dwellings with vaulted ceilings and stone or terracotta floors.
Carved rooms are individually furnished rooms with a private entrance, flatscreen TV, minibar, and a bathroom with sensory shower. Some add free-standing bathtubs, balconies, and glass-panel flooring.
Even more, a couple of rooms are actually under the Church of Santa Maria de Idris itself.
Breakfast is served daily in a cozy dining room, and there’s a bright terrace to enjoy sweeping views. The position is perfect for exploring the best of Matera.
What guests like most: great views, Matera ambiance, terrace • Consideration: not all rooms are former cave dwellings
L’Hotel In Pietra (Best Cave Hotel with Private Hot Tub + Best Value)
If you’re looking for a luxury room in Matera packed full of amazing amenities, L’Hotel In Pietra (9.1) is your perfect pick.
Set in a reformed monastery in a prime location with outstanding cave rooms, this is easily one of the top Matera hotels.
Choose between suites or rooms, each offering a slice of history with modern features. Upgraded rooms/suites benefit from bubbly hot tubs and/or private saunas and terraces.
Other onsite amenities consist of breakfast, a lounge bar, and 24-hour reception. Something we also love is, offering a range of room sizes, this hotel can cater to a variety of budgets – especially for solo travelers.
What guests like most: great location, single room, private hot tub/sauna • Consideration: parking garage isn’t extremely close
Antico Convicino Rooms Suites & SPA (Best Value Hotel by the Sassi)
Antico Convicino Rooms Suites & SPA (9)
Antico Convicino Rooms Suites & SPA (9) is a charming hotel offering a warm and inviting environment at the heart of Matera’s historic Sassi.
Rooms and suites are carved out of ancient tuff stone and spacious with elegant furnishings. Modern intertwines the rooms with air conditioning, bathroom amenities, and a minibar.
If you’re looking for a relaxing getaway, unwind in the hotel’s on-site spa, which features a variety of treatments and massages along with a romantic jacuzzi.
A sweet and savory breakfast is offered daily and is served in a lovely cave setting. This hotel also offers amazing prices cozy double-bed rooms to spacious suites.
What guests like most: spacious and unique rooms, impressive breakfast, terrace with views • Consideration: spa access is not included in price
Locanda Di San Martino Hotel & Thermae Romanae (Best Cave Hotel Spa with Thermal Baths)
Embrace the ancient atmosphere of the Matera cave dwellings when you stay at Locanda Di San Martino Hotel & Thermae Romanae (8.8).
This storied hotel and thermal baths are within a former church and cave homes, all linked by external staircases. Plus, being just a few minutes from the Matera Cathedral, it offers a splendid location.
All rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning, televisions, and high-speed WiFi. Suites are equipped with spa baths, and some rooms boast terraces or balcony windows with stunning Matera views.
A breakfast buffet is available. There’s a bar and terrace overlooking the town.
One of the best perks, however, is the underground adults-only spa, It dates back to ancient Roman times, and is beautifully equipped with a massage room, sauna, hammam, and natural pools.
What guests like most: historic space, natural spa, excellent facilities • Consideration: thermal baths cost extra
Final Thoughts About Matera Cave Hotels
Matera, Italy hotels offer some of the most unique accommodation experiences in the country. Make the most of a visit to this ancient city by staying overnight in one of the best cave hotels in Matera. It’s definitely a bucket list experience!
Save the Best Matera Cave Hotels for later? Pin it!
No Comments