The best months to visit Matera are April, May, June, September and October, when average highs sit in the comfortable range — from 18.3 °C in April up to 29.9 °C in June, with September at 27.1 °C and October at 21.8 °C — and rain stays limited, with just 7 rain days in both June and September. July and August are peak season, bringing school-holiday crowds and the strongest summer heat to the Sassi cave districts. Winter is the quiet low season, cooler and duller but calm and uncrowded.
Best months AprilMayJuneSeptemberOctober
Matera month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sunshine | Days ≥30 °C | Sea | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.7 °C | 2.4 °C | 8 | ●●●●● | – | 15 °C | ●●●●● |
| February | 12.9 °C | 3.5 °C | 7 | ●●●●● | – | 15 °C | ●●●●● |
| March | 14.6 °C | 4.6 °C | 10 | ●●●●● | – | 15 °C | ●●●●● |
| April | 18.3 °C | 7.6 °C | 9 | ●●●●● | – | 16 °C | ●●●●● |
| May | 22.9 °C | 11.9 °C | 11 | ●●●●● | 1 | 19 °C | ●●●●● |
| June | 29.9 °C | 17.5 °C | 7 | ●●●●● | 16 | 24 °C | ●●●●● |
| July | 33.3 °C | 20.2 °C | 3 | ●●●●● | 25 | 28 °C | ●●●●● |
| August | 32.3 °C | 19.8 °C | 5 | ●●●●● | 23 | 28 °C | ●●●●● |
| September | 27.1 °C | 16 °C | 7 | ●●●●● | 6 | 26 °C | ●●●●● |
| October | 21.8 °C | 11.9 °C | 7 | ●●●●● | – | 23 °C | ●●●●● |
| November | 16.3 °C | 8.2 °C | 10 | ●●●●● | – | 20 °C | ●●●●● |
| December | 12.4 °C | 4.3 °C | 7 | ●●●●● | – | 17 °C | ●●●●● |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates. Sunshine is shown relative to the city's own year (modelled data overstates absolute hours).Heat and sea: days with a high of 30 °C or more are averaged over 2016–2025 (ERA5); sea-surface temperature is the monthly mean 2022–2025 at the nearest open-sea grid point within about 20 km (Open-Meteo Marine).Crowds:Relative to an average month in the same region (Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by NUTS 2 region and month) — a measure of season, not of how crowded one city is compared with another. Busiest month August, quietest February; NUTS 2 region ITF5, 2022–2025, Eurostat.
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When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
Ideal for exploring the Sassi on foot before summer heat arrives.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
June is lovely; July and August suit those who don't mind heat and company.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September and October are excellent; November turns duller and wetter.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
For calm sightseeing and atmosphere, if you don't mind the chill.
Notable events
- July
- Festa della Bruna
- Spring (March or April)
- Easter / Holy Week celebrations
- December
- Christmas and living nativity scenes in the Sassi
- Autumn
- Matera Film Festival screenings and cultural events
Frequently asked
Is Matera too hot in August?
August is hot, with average highs of 32.3 °C and lows of 19.8 °C. It's manageable with early starts and shade, but June at 29.9 °C or September at 27.1 °C feel more comfortable.
What is the rainiest month in Matera?
May is the wettest, with 11 rain days, followed closely by March and November at 10 rain days each. July is the driest with just 3 rain days.
Is winter worth visiting Matera?
Yes, if you want quiet. Highs sit around 10.7 °C in January and 12.9 °C in February, and November is the least sunny month, so pack warm layers and expect short, calm days in the Sassi.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Matera area guide →
Areas of Matera
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Matera — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.