Two friends and I need to travel from Naples to Matera on November 3rd. We don't want to drive so have been looking into bus and train options. We could take a train to Bari and from there take a bus to Matera. A simpler option would be to take a bus from Naples to Matera -- it would be faster and cheaper. Has anyone had experience with taking a bus from Naples to Matera? Is it an okay way to travel? I've been using the omio.com site and there seem to be three different companies offering this route -- Italo, Marinobus and Frecciarossa. Is one company better than the others?
Many thanks for any advice!
Posted by
Chicago
8046 posts
Having used Italotren and Flixbus and looking at the time it takes from Naples to Matera using both I would go with the train bus combo if it is in your budget https://www.italotreno.it/en/destinations-timetable/naples-matera-tickets
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Try this one. It might take 30 minutes longer, but you don't have to change modes of transport. https://shop.flixbus.com/search?departureCity=5408&arrivalCity=8808&route=Naples-Matera&rideDate=03.11.2019&adult=1&_locale=en_US&wt_eid=2156787976300011593&wt_t=1571953317127&affiliate=%28not+set%29&_ga=2.189978857.379993528.1571953263-130529019.1567879764&atb_pdid=615fdd5e-2e84-46bf-bc0c-f919eda2d751&_sp=2cc1ac8a-8e57-43a5-be77-a03a589ce1ee
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
I took the Marinabus line from Bari to Naples 2/weeks ago. It was very good and a bargain. As we are seniors. The buses are new, clean with wc. It did not stop along the way. I would not hesitate to do the Naples to Matera based on my positive experience. Naples bus station u may know is the gritty part, so be aware of your personal safety. Flixbus is cheaper but the riders seemed to be more backpacker types.
Hope u find that the bus is ok.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Both Trenitalia and italotreno sell a combo ticket: High Speed train to Salerno, bus from Salerno to Matera
Going up to Bari would mean backtracking.
Forget about strange sites and use the official webpages of the companies running train and buses: trenitalia.com and italotreno.it/en
Frecciarossa Is not a company, it's the marketing name of Trenitalia's fastest trains.
Posted by
San Mateo, CA, USA
257 posts
I totally agree with Dario. Take the Italo or Trenitalia combo ticket so they know you are coming. Naples to Salerno, then bus to Matera, all on one ticket. And BTW Matera is lovely and magical in the evening. Really enjoyed staying there on the Rick Steves South Italy tour at the spa at Locando di San Martino.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Many thanks for the replies! I will look into the train/bus combination as a means of getting from Naples to Matera -- although it does seem that just getting and staying on a bus would be simpler than switching transportation modes. And I will heed the advice to book directly through the company rather than going through a third-party site.