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Transportation help Salerno - Matera - Bari

I apologize if this is a double post…it didn't appear to me as if the initial one went through.

My daughter in law and I departing from CA to Italy June 19th or 20th, 2024, to Rome or Naples. She only has 9 days, MAYBE 10 if we push it, including travel time then she will be meeting up with my son in Split, Croatia for a cruise they have planned. Absolute deadline for her to be in Split is by noon, June 29th.

Plan is to arrive Rome or Naples then on to Salerno, Matera, Bari. The reason for ending our trip in Bari is to (hopefully) make it "easy" for her to ferry or fly to Split.

I’ve researched several blogs / transportation sites, appears to be bus or bus / train combo Salerno - Matera - Bari (?) and/or possibly limited # of departures, overnights, connections etc. On Trenitalia I saw an option of Salerno to Matera 14:26 – 17:41 but underneath it states “FrecciaLink not sellable with this connection”. I searched Napoli Centrale to Matera and it stops in Salerno then on to Matera. At the risk of sounding stupid, would I then need to train from Salerno to Naples first, then purchase a ticket Naples – Salerno – Matera ? I’m confused.

Any tips / help on the best public transportation Salerno – Matera – Bari would be GREATLY appreciated !! Here’s the ‘basic’ plan, thanks MUCH !!

Day 1 20-Jun Travel Day to Italy
Day 2 21-Jun Italy arrival - train to Salerno stay 3 nights
Day 3 22-Jun Day trip to Paestum via train
Day 4 23-Jun Day trip to Amalfi / Positano via ferry
Day 5 24-Jun Depart for Matera, DIL wants to stay 1 night in cave hotel
Day 6 25-Jun Explore Matera
Day 7 26-Jun Depart for Bari, stay 2 nights
Day 8 27-Jun Day trip to Alberobello
Day 9 28-Jun Depart Bari

Posted by
4105 posts

Try Salerno to Matera centrale on the same day of the week next month. 5 to 10 minute walk from the station to Matera.

There are 2 trains around 9 and 14:00.

Posted by
1721 posts

Matera is one of the few places in Italy not linked to the national rail service. There is a combined Trenitalia service Rome-Salerno on Frecciarossa plus Salerno-Matera on Freccialink (a minibus); the two tickets must be bought at the same time as the minibus is considered as a sort of feeder service to the train. There was a corresponding train+bus service on Italo but I cannot find it now and I suspect it could have been discontinued.

Matera has a rail link to Bari on Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, a narrow gauge line; the service is slow and usually requires a change in Altamura (be sure to ask the ticket inspector as in Altamura trains meet to three different destinations and it is easy to end on the wrong train); but the railcars are new and the trip is said to be pleasant.