I am looking to tour Southern Italy by public transportation. Plan to travel from Naples to Maratea by train. Most of the info seems to be traveling by car. i would like to stay for 2-3 nights but am unsure as there seems to be a city center in the hills and Marina Maratea. Any insight? Any recommendations for hotels or apts? Looking at November. Will head to Tropea after Maratea. Thanks

You are right. Seen from the railway station, the port and the beaches (closed in November) are downhill whereas the old city is uphill.

Just watched about a dozen youtube videos but all by car, most focusing on the statute. I found the bus schedule but it seems only to run July to Sept and I am traveling in November. I am thinking I may have to skip Maratea as I can't seem to figure out how to get from the train station to Maratea in the hills. Anyone have any insight?

According to Google Maps, it seems to be a 30 minute walk or a 7 minute cab ride.

I would NOT plan a visit to Maratea in November unless you have a compelling reason, like finding family. The town of Maratea IS in the hills above the coast and even with a car, it is not all that simple to access the coastal stretch of Marina di Maratea, which stretches for quite a few miles and includes towns with other names. It might be as close as a 30-minute walk to the coast but I would not bet on that, nor would I want to take the walk uphill back to Maratea town. Even in late September, the town is pretty quiet, devoid of most tourists.

What is your general trip plan and what kind of stops are you seeking out?? For beaches, for sea swimming, for food, food architecture, etc. My opinion is that this is one of the lesser known areas of Italy as far as tourism goes....Look at the town of Pisciotta, for one example.

In November, there are 6 buses daily between Maratea Piazza Vitolo (city center) - railway station and harbour. https://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/orar...licata/maratea
There is no service on Sundays and holidays.

I defer to Neckervd as usual.

Well, I travel to europe 2x a year. Generally once in November as it is my birthday month and one day just doesn't cut it! Been to 72 countries, some more than once, completed my bucket list years ago, so now just go. Did Northern Italy last Nov where all the family is except paternal grandmother in Capua so will return to Naples. Then saw/read/youtubed about wonderful/charming/quaint small towns in Southern Italy. Maratea was one.

I was heading to Tropea after that and Maratea was a good halfway stop.

I am certainly open to suggestions for easier destinations. Love architecture, wandering the Old towns, strolling around, not into hiking and live in a small beach town, so that is not important. Suggestions really appredciated.

it’s a little detour but if you have never been to Matera I would surely consider visiting one of the most fascinating, and unusual, towns in Italy. I would recommend three nights there. Bus or train, with train service to a nearby town, not to Matera itself as far as I know. How much time do you have in full??

can you fly into Naples and return via another airport, maybe Bari or Lamezia??

Already staying in Matera, Lecce, Monopoli. Concern is still Maratea access and whether it is worth it in November. My visit there is strictly strolling the Old Town and have one half to one whole day to stroll down to the beach, see what it is like and get back up to the Old Town. After I do very short stays in the south will go back to Naples for 2 weeks.

Maratea beaches are spread out along the coast, so there is not ONE single beach. Honestly I would check out some alternative places for November.

I liked Amantea for one night..lovely small hill town, with a beach below.

Does anyplace in Campania's Cilento region sound appealing? Pisciotta..hill town with Marina beach area below town and within walking ditance from the upper town. Very good restaurant in the marina area. I've stayed in those town but there are others, too....Camerota?

I subscribe to an italian travel magazine. I received the latest issues this morning and they reprinted an 2019 article about how difficult it was to travel by public transportation and that even conductors on the Italian sud line don't know where they are stopping next!

I know it was 2019 but even though I seem to find train/bus connections am concerned about being stuck. I've looked at towns you mentioned ek but a little fearful.

"how difficult it was to travel by public transportation and that even conductors on the Italian sud line don't know where they are stopping next!"
Do you really believe such a nonsense?

It seems that the #1 reason to visit Maratea is the coast and the swimming holes that dot the rocky shore, not the 'Old Town' which looks disjointed on Google Street View.