Best Pet-Friendly Hotels and Stays in Matera for Travelers With Furry Companions

Marco Ferrari has lived in Matera for over a decade, and his mixed-breed rescue dog, Tonno, has trotted through nearly every alley and piazza in the Sassi with him. If you are searching for the best pet friendly hotels in Matera, you are in luck, because this ancient city in Basilicata has quietly become one of the most welcoming destinations in southern Italy for travelers who refuse to leave their four-legged family members behind. The cave dwellings and limestone streets that make Matera so extraordinary also create a naturally cool, shaded environment that dogs genuinely enjoy, even in the warmer months. Over the years, I have personally checked Tonno into more than a dozen properties across the city, and what follows is the honest, ground-level guide I wish someone had handed me the first time I arrived here with a dog and a suitcase.

Dog Friendly Hotels Matera: The Sassi District Options

The Sassi di Matera, the UNESCO World Heritage cave district that draws millions of visitors each year, is also where you will find some of the most atmospheric pet allowed accommodation Matera has to offer. The ancient stone walls of the Sassi stay remarkably cool in summer, which means your dog will be far more comfortable than you might expect wandering these steep, winding streets in July or August. Most of the hotels here are carved directly into the living rock, and the thick tufa walls muffle sound beautifully, so a barking dog is less of the disturbance it might be in a modern thin-walled building.

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

Perched on the edge of the Sasso Barisano, overlooking the dramatic ravine that splits the city, Sextantio is the property most people picture when they think of a cave hotel in Matera. The rooms here are former church caves and medieval dwellings that have been restored with a minimalist, almost monastic aesthetic, raw stone walls, hand-forged iron beds, and candlelit corridors. Dogs are genuinely welcome here, and the staff have always been accommodating when Tonno has visited, providing a water bowl without being asked. The property sits along the trail that leads down into the Murgia Materana parkland, so you have immediate access to one of the best off-leash walking areas within minutes of your front door. One detail most tourists miss is that the small terrace outside the breakfast cave faces east, so if you bring your dog out early, you will catch the first light hitting the opposite cliff face, which is one of the most photographed views in all of Basilicata. The only real drawback is that the steep, uneven stone steps throughout the property can be tricky for older dogs or breeds with joint issues, so keep that in mind if your companion is not as spry as they once were.

Hotel Sant'Angelo

Located right in the heart of the Sasso Barisano on Via D'Addozio, Hotel Sant'Angelo occupies a cluster of restored cave rooms that open onto a shared terrace with a panoramic view across the Sassi and the Gravina ravine. This is a mid-range option that feels personal and unhurried, and the owners have always been relaxed about dogs, which is not something you can take for granted even in a city as pet-friendly as Matera. The breakfast room is carved into the rock, and the coffee is strong and local, served with pastries from a bakery on Via Casalnuovo. I always recommend asking for a room on the lower level if you are bringing a dog, because those rooms open directly onto a small stone patio where your pet can stretch out without navigating the main staircase. A local tip: the narrow alley just behind the hotel leads to a tiny, unnamed viewpoint that almost no tourists find, and it is a perfect spot for a quiet evening walk with your dog when the Sassi crowds thin out after 8 PM.

Pet Allowed Accommodation Matera: The Modern Side of Town

Not every traveler wants to sleep inside a cave, and Matera's newer districts, particularly the area around Via Lucana and the commercial center, offer solid hotels that allow dogs with fewer logistical challenges. These properties tend to have elevators, flat floors, and easier access to the main roads, which matters if you are traveling with a larger dog or one that struggles with stairs. The trade-off is that you lose some of the atmospheric magic of the Sassi, but you gain convenience, and the walk from the center to the old town is only about fifteen minutes on foot.

Best Western Hotel Via Lucana

The Best Western on Via Lucana is the most straightforward, no-surprises option for travelers with pets in Matera. It sits on the main road that connects the train station to the old town, and the staff have a clear pet policy, dogs are accepted with a small supplemental fee, usually around 10 to 15 euros per night, which is standard for the area. The rooms are clean and modern, with tile floors that are easy to clean if your dog tracks in mud from a morning walk along the Gravina. What makes this property worth mentioning is its location relative to the Parco della Murgia Materana, the large regional park that borders the city to the east. From the hotel, you can walk your dog along the perimeter paths of the park in under ten minutes, and the trails there are wide, mostly flat, and shaded by Mediterranean scrub. One thing to know: the street-facing rooms can be noisy during weekday mornings because Via Lucana is a busy arterial road, so request a room on the back side if your dog is sensitive to traffic sounds.

Hotel del Campo

Tucked into a quieter residential street just off Via B. Buozzi, Hotel del Campo is a small, family-run property that has been quietly welcoming dogs for years. It is not a cave hotel, but it has a modest garden area out back where guests can sit with their pets in the evening, which is a genuine luxury in a city where outdoor space is rare. The rooms are simple but well-maintained, and the breakfast includes local cheeses and cured meats from producers in the Matera province. The owner, who has run the place for over twenty years, keeps a bowl of water and a few biscuits by the front door for visiting dogs, a small gesture that tells you everything about the atmosphere here. The hotel is about a twelve-minute walk from the entrance to the Sasso Caveoso, and the route passes through a neighborhood where you will see far more locals than tourists, which Tonno and I both prefer. A minor complaint: the Wi-Fi signal is weak in the back rooms, so if you need to work while your dog naps, ask for a front-facing room when you book.

Hotels That Allow Dogs Matera: Boutique and Character Stays

Matera's tourism boom over the past decade has brought a wave of boutique properties, many of which occupy centuries-old buildings in the Sassi and have been converted with real care and design sensibility. Several of these smaller properties are exceptionally dog-friendly, often because the owners themselves are dog people. These are the places where your pet is not just tolerated but genuinely welcomed, sometimes by the hotel's own resident dog.

L'Hotel in Pietra

L'Hotel in Pietra sits on Via G. B. Pentasuglia in the Sasso Caveoso, and it is one of the most architecturally striking small hotels in Matera. The building was carved from a single block of limestone, and the interior feels like a contemporary art gallery set inside a medieval cave. Dogs are welcome here, and the staff have always been warm and accommodating when I have arrived with Tonno. The rooftop terrace is the highlight, a small platform with views across the Caveoso district and the canyon beyond, and it is a wonderful place to sit with your dog in the early evening when the light turns golden and the city goes quiet. The hotel is steps away from the Church of Santa Maria de Idris, one of Matera's most iconic rock churches, and the narrow streets around it are some of the most photogenic in the city. One insider detail: the small café directly across the street opens at 6 AM and serves the best cornetti in the Sassi, so you can grab breakfast and walk your dog along the ridge path before the tour groups arrive. The only downside is that the rooms are compact, so if you are traveling with a large dog, you may feel a bit cramped.

Casa Cisterna

Casa Cisterna is a small guesthouse on Via Casalnuovo, one of the main pedestrian streets that runs through the Sasso Barisano. It occupies a former cistern, a large underground water collection chamber that has been converted into a handful of rooms with vaulted stone ceilings and a cool, cave-like atmosphere. The property accepts dogs, and the location is ideal for pet owners because Via Casalnuovo is a flat, wide street by Sassi standards, making it easy to walk your dog without navigating the steep staircases that characterize much of the old town. The guesthouse is surrounded by artisan shops and small restaurants, and the owners can point you to the nearest veterinary clinic, which is on Via Mentuomo in the new town, about a ten-minute drive. A detail most visitors overlook: the cistern's original water channel is still visible in the floor of the main room, a reminder that this entire district was once an elaborate water-harvesting system, one of the most sophisticated in the medieval Mediterranean. The rooms can feel a bit damp in winter, so if you are visiting between November and February, bring a towel for your dog to lie on.

Il Monastero di San Nicola

This small property in the Sasso Caveoso occupies a former monastery and has been converted into a handful of rooms with a quiet, contemplative atmosphere that feels a world away from the busier parts of the Sassi. Dogs are accepted, and the enclosed courtyard is a real asset, a private outdoor space where your pet can move around freely without you worrying about them wandering into the narrow streets. The monastery dates to the 13th century, and the thick stone walls and small windows create a naturally cool interior that is a relief in summer. The property is located near the bottom of the Sasso Caveoso, close to the point where the district drops down toward the Gravina ravine, and the walking paths along the ravine edge are some of the best in Matera for dogs, wide, mostly flat, and shaded by overhanging rock. A local tip: the small grocery store on the corner of Via Casalnuovo and Via Buozzi stocks dog food and basic supplies, which is useful if you arrive without enough for your stay. One thing to note: the courtyard has a low wall, so if your dog is a jumper, keep an eye on them.

Dog Friendly Hotels Matera: The Murgia and Countryside Options

If you are willing to stay a few kilometers outside the city center, the Murgia Materana plateau and the surrounding countryside offer a completely different experience, one where your dog can roam more freely and the landscape opens up into wide, rolling hills dotted with prehistoric cave churches and ancient sheep tracks. These properties tend to have more outdoor space, and the air is cleaner and quieter than in the Sassi.

Agriturismo I Dolci Grappoli

About six kilometers from the center of Matera, along the road toward the Murgia plateau, Agriturismo I Dolci Grappoli is a working farmstay that welcomes dogs without hesitation. The property is surrounded by olive groves and open fields, and your dog can explore the grounds freely, which is a rare luxury in a city where most outdoor space is shared with tourists and narrow stone steps. The rooms are simple and rustic, with tile floors and wooden beams, and the breakfast features products from the farm, including fresh eggs, local honey, and bread baked on-site. The agriturismo is close to several of the Murgia's rock churches, including San Falciano and the Lopardi cave, and the walking trails around them are quiet and dog-friendly. One detail that most tourists do not know: the owner keeps a small vineyard, and in late September, guests are welcome to help with the grape harvest, an experience that Tonno and I have enjoyed more than once. The only real drawback is that you will need a car to stay here, as public transport to this area is essentially nonexistent, and the walk into Matera along the main road is not pleasant or safe for pedestrians, let alone dogs.

Masseria Torre Spagnola

Located about eight kilometers south of Matera, near the town of Miglionico, Masseria Torre Spagnola is a restored 18th-century farmhouse set in open countryside. Dogs are welcome, and the property has extensive grounds, including a garden and a small pool area, where your pet can stretch out in the sun. The masseria has been carefully restored, with original stone walls and wooden ceilings preserved, and the rooms are spacious enough to comfortably accommodate a dog bed alongside your own. The property is close to the Gravina di San Giorgio, a deep canyon that offers spectacular walking trails, and the area is rich in history, with traces of prehistoric settlement visible in the rock faces. A local tip: the small town of Miglionico, about three kilometers away, has a weekly market on Wednesday mornings where you can buy local produce, and the town's castle, the Castello del Malconsiglio, is worth a visit. One thing to be aware of: the nearest veterinary services are in Matera itself, so if your dog has a medical issue, you are looking at a fifteen to twenty-minute drive.

When to Go and What to Know

Matera is a year-round destination, but the best time to visit with a dog is spring, from mid-April through early June, or autumn, from late September through October. Summer temperatures in the Sassi can exceed 35 degrees Celsius, and the stone streets radiate heat well into the evening, which can be uncomfortable for dogs, particularly thick-coated breeds. Winter is mild by Italian standards, but rain can make the stone steps slippery, and some of the smaller guesthouses can feel damp and cold. Always carry water for your dog, even in spring, because the Sassi has very few public water fountains compared to other Italian cities. Leash laws in the Sassi are loosely enforced, but keeping your dog on a leash is courteous in the narrow streets, especially during the busy midday hours when tour groups fill the alleys. Most restaurants in Matera with outdoor seating will allow dogs, and many will bring a water bowl without being asked, a small but telling sign of how deeply pet-friendly this city has become.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Matera is a compact city, and the Sassi districts are almost entirely pedestrian, so walking is the primary mode of getting around. The city center is small enough that most key sights are within a fifteen to twenty-minute walk of each other. For longer distances, such as reaching the Murgia plateau or the train station, local buses operated by Sita Sud run regular routes, and a single ticket costs about 1.10 euros. Taxis are available but not always easy to hail on the street, so using a local phone number or asking your hotel to call one is more reliable. Rideshare apps like Uber do not operate in Matera.

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 shops in the Sassi and the city center. However, smaller trattorias, market stalls, and some artisan shops still operate on a cash-only basis. It is wise to carry at least 50 to 100 euros in cash for daily expenses, particularly if you plan to eat at smaller, family-run establishments or shop at the weekly market. ATMs are available in the new town along Via Lucana and near the Piazza Vittorio Veneto.

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

Most restaurants in Matera include a "coperto," a cover charge of 1.50 to 2.50 euros per person, which appears on the bill automatically. Beyond the coperto, tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated, rounding up the bill or leaving 5 to 10 percent for good service is standard practice. In smaller, family-run trattorias, tipping is less expected but always welcomed. Service charge, or "servizio," is occasionally included in the bill at higher-end restaurants, in which case no additional tip is necessary.

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

A mid-tier daily budget for Matera, excluding accommodation, runs approximately 60 to 90 euros per person. This covers two meals at trattorias, 15 to 25 euros per meal including a drink, a couple of coffees or snacks at 3 to 5 euros total, and minor expenses like bus tickets or small entrance fees. Accommodation for a double room in a mid-range hotel or guesthouse ranges from 80 to 150 euros per night depending on the season, with peak rates in July, August, and during the Christmas period. Adding a pet supplement of 10 to 15 euros per night is common at dog-friendly properties.

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. A cappuccino or latte ranges from 1.50 to 2.00 euros. Specialty coffee drinks, such as those served in the more tourist-oriented cafés in the Sassi, can cost 2.50 to 3.50 euros. Herbal teas and local infusions, often made with herbs from the Murgia plateau, typically cost 2.00 to 3.00 euros. Prices in the new town are generally 10 to 20 percent lower than in the Sassi.