Bus Tour, Alberobello And Matera

Bus Tour, Alberobello and Matera, rated 4.4 across 339 traveller reviews.

Overview

This day trip from Bari bundles two heavyweight sights into a single ten-hour outing: the trulli of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, followed by Matera.

The base product is transport plus orientation. You get roughly three hours in Alberobello and four in Matera, along with information material, digital maps and audio guides that require an internet connection. Guided walking tours, entry to Trullo Sovrano and Casa Grotta, and tastings sit in upgraded packages, so the price tier you pick changes the character of the day considerably. Reviewers who took the guided option, particularly in Matera, consistently rated it the better experience, since one described Matera as a huge area to try to explore on your own. Those who booked the plain bus option generally felt they got what they paid for: a reliable ride and free time.

It suits independent travellers happy to self-navigate, and anyone short on days who wants both towns ticked off without logistics. Expect little structure if you skip the guides, and a long day on the road.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check-in at Corso Cavour, BariMeet at the former terminus 1 and 4, the Apulia Smart Tour bus checkpoint at Corso Cavour 2. Check-in opens at 8:00 and the bus departs at 8:30.
2. Drive to AlberobelloTravel by air-conditioned GT coach, with information material, digital maps and audio guides handed out on board.
3. Trulli of AlberobelloAround 3 hours in the World Heritage trulli town. Admission is free; a Trullo Sovrano ticket and a guided tour come only with the upgraded options.
4. Transfer to MateraThe coach continues to Matera.
5. MateraAbout 4 hours to explore the town. A guided tour, available in Spanish in Matera, and a Casa Grotta ticket are included only in the higher-tier packages.
6. Return to BariThe coach returns to the original meeting point on Corso Cavour, closing out the ten-hour day.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape the day, and they come up again and again in traveller feedback.

• Choose your tier. Multiple reviewers recommended paying extra for the guided tour, especially in Matera, because the historic area is large and hard to decode alone.
• Bring your own earphones. Audio guides are provided digitally and need an internet connection. Headphones are not supplied but are not required either; bringing a pair and a charged phone makes the material easier to use.
• Prepare for heat. One traveller who visited in August advised bringing water and a cap for very hot conditions, and the operator states that good weather is required. Comfortable shoes are a sensible choice for a day built around exploring two towns on foot.
• Plan your own lunch. Food and drink are not included. Several reviewers enjoyed meals and drinks in Alberobello, so leave room in the schedule for eating.
• Big coach format. The transport is a GT air-conditioned coach. One reviewer mentioned travelling on a large double-decker bus with only the driver and no tour leader on board, so note the walking routes and pick-up details carefully.
• Weather matters. The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels for poor conditions, travellers are offered a different date or a full refund.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are fine and infant seats are available. One reviewer found the Matera drop-off and pick-up point far from the historic centre and reported unclear directions on arrival. Another on the basic option expected commentary and found it came with an information booklet instead. The full refund window closes 24 hours before the 8:30 start, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

Common Questions