Best Budget Hostels in Matera That Are Actually Worth Staying In

I have spent the better part of a decade sleeping in caves, convents, and converted farmhouses across southern Italy, but nothing quite prepared me for the specific challenge of finding the best budget hostels in Matera. This city, carved into the limestone ravine known as the Sassi, has a way of making you feel like you have stepped into a biblical film set, yet the reality of finding a bed for under 30 euros a night requires a bit of local knowledge. I have personally stayed in or visited every place on this list, and I can tell you that "budget" in Matera does not have to mean "bare bones." In fact, some of the most atmospheric places to sleep in the entire city are the ones that will not break the bank.

The Sassi District: Where History Meets Your Hostel Bed

The Sassi district is the heart of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been continuously inhabited for over 9,000 years. When you are looking for cheap accommodation Matera has to offer, this is where you want to be. Staying here means you are sleeping inside a cave dwelling that was once home to peasants and their livestock, now converted into surprisingly comfortable rooms. The narrow alleyways and staircases that connect the various levels of the Sassi are not just for show; they are the actual streets you will walk every day. The best time to explore is early morning, before the tour groups arrive around 10:00 AM, when the light hits the cave facades and the whole district glows gold.

1. Ostello dei Sassi

Located on Via Casalnuovo in the Sasso Barisano section, this is the first place most backpackers find when searching for a backpacker hostel Matera style. I stayed here on a Tuesday in late September and had an entire six-bed dorm to myself for two nights. The building itself is a restored cave complex, and the common area has a terrace that overlooks the entire Murgia plateau. What most tourists do not know is that the hostel runs a free walking tour every Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM, led by a local guide who grew up in the Sassi and can tell you which caves were still occupied by families as recently as the 1950s.

Local Insider Tip: "Ask the front desk for the key to the rooftop terrace on the third floor. It is technically for staff use, but if you go up at sunset and bring a bottle of local Aglianico wine, you will have the best view in the entire Sassi without paying for a rooftop bar."

The connection to Matera's history here is direct and tangible. You are sleeping in the same type of dwelling that the Italian government forcibly evacuated in the 1950s under Mussolini's orders, when the Sassi were declared unfit for human habitation. The hostel does a good job of explaining this history through photos and plaques in the hallways. I recommend booking a private room if you can stretch your budget by 10 euros more, as the dorm beds are functional but the walls are thin and you will hear every footstep on the stone stairs.

2. La Casa di Lucio

This small hostel sits on Via Buozzi, just a few steps from the main piazza in the Sasso Caveoso section. I visited last month and was struck by how quiet it feels despite being in the center of the tourist zone. The owner, Lucio, converted his grandmother's cave house into a hostel about fifteen years ago and still runs it himself. The breakfast is simple, bread, jam, and coffee, but it is included in the price, which is rare for a place charging under 25 euros a night. The best time to visit is during the week, as weekends in the Sassi Caveoso get crowded with day-trippers from Bari.

Local Insider Tip: "Lucio keeps a hand-drawn map behind the reception desk that shows the old water collection channels under the Sassi. Ask him to explain it. He will, and you will understand how this city survived for millennia without running water."

What makes this place worth recommending is the personal touch. Lucio knows every family in the neighborhood and can point you to the bakery that still uses a wood-fired oven from the 1800s. The hostel connects to Matera's character because it represents the slow, stubborn return of residents to the Sassi after decades of abandonment. When Lucio's grandmother was relocated to the new quarter in the 1950s, she never stopped talking about her cave house. He brought the family back.

The Caveoso Quarter: Deeper Into the Ravine

The Sasso Caveoso is the older, more dramatic half of the Sassi, where the caves descend steeply toward the Gravina ravine. Finding where to stay cheap Matera style in this quarter means accepting that you will climb a lot of stairs, but the payoff is a more authentic experience. The Caveoso is where Matera's most famous churches are carved into the rock, and at night, when the tourists leave, you can hear the wind moving through the ancient tunnels. This is the side of the Sassi that Mel Gibson chose for filming "The Passion of the Christ," and walking through it at dusk, you understand why.

3. B&B La Grotto dell'Abbondanza

Technically a bed and breakfast rather than a hostel, this place on Via Casalnuovo offers dorm-style rooms at hostel prices, around 22 euros per night in the low season. I stayed here in November, which is the best month to visit Matera if you want solitude and lower prices. The "grotta" in the name is literal; your room is a cave with a vaulted stone ceiling that stays cool in summer and holds warmth in winter. The owner serves a breakfast of local cheeses and cured meats that is worth the stay alone. Most tourists do not realize that the small window in your cave room was originally designed for ventilation and light in a space that once housed an entire family of eight.

Local Insider Tip: "Walk 200 meters down the path behind the B&B toward the ravine. There is a small, unmarked cave church called Santa Maria de Idris that most guidebooks skip. Go at 7:00 AM and you will have it completely to yourself, with the sunrise lighting up the frescoes."

The connection to Matera's past is everywhere in this quarter. The B&B sits on a street that was once a main thoroughfare for shepherds moving their flocks through the Sassi. The stone under your feet has been worn smooth by centuries of footsteps, hooves, and cart wheels. I recommend this place for travelers who want the cave experience without the party atmosphere of a larger hostel. The only downside is that the Wi-Fi signal drops out in the deepest cave rooms, so if you need to work, ask for a room closer to the reception area.

4. Hostel Matera

Located on Via Lucana, just at the edge of the Sassi district, this is the most "modern" budget option on the list. I visited in early October and found it clean, well-organized, and staffed by young locals who speak excellent English. The dorms are in a building that was a 19th-century palazzo, not a cave, so you get proper windows and higher ceilings. The price hovers around 28 euros for a dorm bed, which is slightly higher than the cave hostels, but you get a swimming pool in the summer months, a rarity for cheap accommodation Matera offers. The best time to book is midweek, when the pool is empty and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Local Insider Tip: "The staff here have a group chat for guests where they post about free events, concerts, and the weekly market in Piazza San Pietro Barisano. Ask to be added when you check in. Last time I was there, someone posted about a free jazz night at a bar that was not listed on any tourist website."

This hostel connects to Matera's broader story because it represents the city's ongoing reinvention. The building was a family home, then a warehouse, then abandoned for years before being converted. That cycle of use, abandonment, and reuse is the defining pattern of Matera's architecture. I recommend this place for travelers who want a social hostel experience with a pool and do not mind being a ten-minute walk from the Sassi center. The walk itself is beautiful, passing through the Civita quarter with its cathedral and panoramic viewpoints.

Beyond the Sassi: Budget Stays in the New Quarter

Not everyone wants to sleep in a cave, and honestly, the new quarter of Matera, the Piano, has its own appeal. The streets are wider, the cafes are cheaper, and you are closer to the train station. When backpackers ask me about where to stay cheap Matera wide, I always mention the Piano as an option. The trade-off is that you lose the immediate magic of the Sassi, but you gain convenience and often better amenities. The Piano was built in the 16th and 17th centuries as the "civilized" alternative to the cave dwellings, and its churches and palazzi are impressive in their own right.

5. B&B Il Giardino dei Sassi

Situated on Via San Rocco in the Piano district, this B&B offers private rooms starting at around 45 euros and a small dorm room for about 26 euros. I stayed here in August, which is the hottest month in Matera, and the air conditioning was a lifesaver. The garden in the name is real and surprisingly lush, with lemon trees and a shaded seating area where breakfast is served. Most tourists do not know that the building sits on the site of a former Jesuit college, and some of the stone walls in the basement date to the 1600s.

Local Insider Tip: "The owner's mother runs a trattoria two streets over on Via San Biagio. Tell her you are staying at the B&B and she will give you a plate of orecchiette with broccoli rabe that is not on the menu. It is the best 6 euros you will spend in Matera."

This place connects to Matera's history through its location in the Piano, which was always the wealthier, more "respectable" part of the city. The social divide between the Piano and the Sassi was stark for centuries, and staying here gives you a different perspective on the city. I recommend this B&B for travelers who want a quieter, more residential experience. The only complaint I have is that the walk up to the Sassi takes about 15 minutes and involves a steep hill, which can be brutal in summer heat.

6. Residenza del Casale

This small guesthouse on the outskirts of Matera, near the road to Altamura, is the most remote option on the list. I visited in late spring and found it peaceful almost to the point of silence. The rooms are basic but clean, and the price, around 35 euros for a private room, is hard to beat. The building is a converted masseria, a traditional fortified farmhouse, and the surrounding land is still used for growing wheat and olives. Most tourists never make it this far from the center, which is exactly why I like recommending it.

Local Insider Tip: "Ask the owner to show you the old grain storage pits in the basement. They are original to the masseria and date back at least 200 years. He is proud of them and will explain how the family survived on stored grain during the winter months when the roads to Matera were impassable."

The connection to Matera's agricultural past is strong here. Before the city became a tourist destination, it was a farming community, and the masserie in the surrounding countryside were the economic backbone. Staying at Residenza del Casale gives you a sense of that older, slower Matera. I recommend this place for travelers with a car or those who do not mind taking a bus into the center. The bus runs every hour, and the ride takes about 12 minutes. The downside is that there is nothing to do in the immediate vicinity after dark, so you are dependent on transportation for dinner and evening activities.

The Barisano Quarter: Where Backpackers Gather

Sasso Barisano is the "upper" section of the Sassi, facing toward Bari, and it has become the unofficial backpacker hub of Matera. The streets here are slightly wider than in the Caveoso, and there is a concentration of hostels, cheap eateries, and tour operators. If you are looking for a backpacker hostel Matera style with a social atmosphere, this is your neighborhood. The energy here is younger and more international, and you will meet travelers from every corner of the world. The trade-off is that it can feel a bit "touristy" compared to the quieter parts of the Sassi, but the convenience and the community are real.

7. Hostel Sassi di Matera

Located on Via Fiorentini in the Sasso Barisano, this is one of the most established hostels in the city. I stayed here in July, which is peak season, and the dorm was full but well-managed. The price was 30 euros per night, which is at the top of the budget range, but the facilities justify it. There is a large common kitchen, a rooftop terrace with views over the Sassi, and organized pub crawls twice a week. The best time to visit is during the Festa della Bruna in early July, when the entire city erupts in celebration and the hostel organizes group outings to the festivities.

Local Insider Tip: "The pub crawls are fun, but the real party is at the free outdoor concerts in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The hostel staff know the schedule and will tell you which nights have the best acts. Last summer, a local band played Pugliese folk music that was better than anything I heard in a club."

This hostel connects to Matera's transformation from a "national shame," as it was called in the mid-20th century, to a cultural capital. The young travelers who fill its dorms are part of that story, bringing energy and money back to a city that was once emptied out. I recommend this hostel for solo travelers who want to meet people and do not mind a bit of noise. The one real complaint I have is that the shared bathrooms can get crowded in the morning between 7:30 and 8:30 AM, so either wake up early or be prepared to wait.

8. B&B Aria di Casa

Tucked away on a small street off Via San Giovanni Vecchio in the Sasso Barisano, this B&B is easy to miss but worth finding. I visited in April and found it to be the quietest budget accommodation I have experienced in Matera. The rooms are in a restored cave house, and the owner has decorated them with antique furniture collected from local markets. The price for a private room is around 40 euros, and while there is no dorm, the value is excellent for couples or solo travelers wanting privacy. Most tourists walk right past the entrance because there is no large sign, just a small brass plate by the door.

Local Insider Tip: "The owner's neighbor is a retired stone mason who still carves decorative door frames for local buildings. If you are interested, ask the owner to introduce you. He works in a workshop behind his house and will show you how the Sassi were actually carved out of the rock using hand tools. It is a 20-minute conversation that will change how you see this entire city."

This B&B connects to Matera's artisanal tradition, which is often overshadowed by the cave dwellings themselves. The stone work in the Sassi is not just functional; it is decorative, with carved symbols, dates, and family marks on doorways throughout the district. Staying here puts you in touch with that craft tradition. I recommend Aria di Casa for travelers who want a peaceful, beautiful base and are willing to pay a few extra euros for privacy. The only issue is that the entrance is up a narrow staircase that is not suitable for anyone with mobility challenges.

When to Go and What to Know

Matera is a year-round destination, but the experience varies dramatically by season. Summer, June through August, is hot, often exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, and the Sassi are packed with tourists. Budget hostel prices rise by 10 to 15 euros per night during this period. Spring, April and May, and autumn, September and October, are the sweet spots. The weather is mild, the crowds thin out, and prices drop. Winter is the quietest and cheapest time, but some hostels reduce their hours or close entirely between November and February. Always check ahead.

The Sassi are not car-friendly. There are no roads in the traditional sense, just stone paths and stairs. If you are staying in a hostel in the Sassi, you will carry your luggage. Pack light. The nearest parking is in the Piano district, and from there it is a 10 to 15 minute walk down into the caves. Most hostels will meet you at a designated point to help with bags if you call ahead.

Water is important. The Sassi were historically a water-scarce environment, and while modern plumbing has solved that problem, the stone caves can feel dry and warm in summer. Bring a refillable water bottle and fill it at the public fountains scattered throughout the district. The water is safe and cold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Matera?

Tipping in Matera is not obligatory, and most restaurants include a "coperto," a cover charge of 1.50 to 2.50 euros per person, which functions as a built-in service fee. If the service is exceptional, leaving an additional 5 to 10 percent is appreciated but not expected. In bars and cafes, rounding up the bill by 20 to 50 cents is common practice. Hostel staff do not expect tips, but a small gesture of 1 to 2 euros for help with luggage or local recommendations is always warmly received.

Are credit cards widely accepted across Matera, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, larger restaurants, and supermarkets in Matera, but many small trattorias, street vendors, and some budget hostels still operate on a cash-only basis. It is advisable to carry at least 40 to 60 euros in cash per day for small purchases, bus tickets, and tips. ATMs are available in the Piano district along Via delle Beccherie and near the train station, but there are no ATMs inside the Sassi itself.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Matera?

A standard espresso at a bar in Matera costs between 1.00 and 1.30 euros if consumed standing at the counter, which is the local custom. Sitting at a table in a cafe in the Sassi can raise the price to 2.00 or 2.50 euros. A cappuccino ranges from 1.50 to 2.50 euros depending on the location. Local herbal teas, often made with herbs from the Murgia plateau, are available at specialty shops for around 3.00 to 4.00 euros per cup.

Is Matera expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

A mid-tier daily budget in Matera runs approximately 60 to 80 euros per person. This includes 25 to 35 euros for a hostel bed, 15 to 20 euros for meals, combining a cheap lunch with a sit-down dinner, 5 to 10 euros for attractions and museum entries, and 5 to 10 euros for transportation, coffee, and miscellaneous expenses. Travelers who cook in hostel kitchens and eat at local bakeries can reduce food costs to around 10 euros per day, bringing the total closer to 45 to 55 euros.

What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Matera as a solo traveler?

Walking is the primary and most reliable way to get around Matera, as the entire Sassi district is pedestrianized and compact enough to cross in 15 to 20 minutes. For connections to the train station or nearby towns, the local SITA bus service runs regularly from Piazza Matteotti in the Piano district. Taxis are available but expensive, with a minimum fare of around 7 euros. The city is generally very safe for solo travelers, including at night, though the unlit paths in the Sassi can be disorienting after dark, so carrying a small flashlight or using your phone's light is recommended.