Le Marche tours starting from Matelica
For tours in the Marche, Matelica is a good base, but there is no tourist coach that leaves the town every day. In practice you have two options: reach the nearby sights by car or train and arrange the visits directly with the operators, or choose an online activity that lists its own meeting point. Always check where a tour starts, and do not assume a transfer is included.
This page describes the destinations and what can be booked. Prices are in euros (2026 rates), and they change. The site is independent and has no link to cave operators, museums, wineries or tour companies.
Tours and day trips compared
What you can arrange around Matelica, with 2026 costs.
| Trip | Where | Length and cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist route in the Frasassi Caves | Genga (AN) | About 75 minutes, €20 full price | Free shuttle included, hours by season |
| Private guided visit at Frasassi | Genga (AN) | €100 on top of the entry ticket | Reservation required |
| Blue speleo tour | Frasassi | About 2 hours, €40 | Guide and equipment included, reservation required |
| Red speleo tour | Frasassi | About 3 hours, €50 | Guide and equipment included, reservation required |
| Natura Aperta guided walks | Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi park | €7, children up to 10 free | Minimum 4 people, place reserved with the organizer |
| Winery visit | Matelica | – | Booked with the winery, see the Verdicchio page |
| Paper and Watermark Museum | Fabriano | About 1 hour with a guide, €12 adults | Closed on Monday in the regular schedule |
The Natura Aperta walks are part of the park's 2026 program, and there is no guarantee that they repeat in later years. The €7 price is for the organized activity, not an entrance fee to the park.
Our picks: tours compared
A wine tasting, the caves with an entry ticket and a two-day Marche tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Two-day Marche tour from Urbino to the Conero
A guide on both days and a car or minivan from Pesaro to Loreto or Ancona, with parking, tolls and fuel. Hotel, meals and entry tickets (including the Ducal Palace and Frasassi) are extra.
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Verdicchio di Matelica tasting with a cellar visit
A guided cellar visit and a tasting of three wines with grissini or taralli. Further glasses beyond the tasting are not included.
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Frasassi Caves guided tour with entry ticket
A guide, parking, entry to the main halls and the shuttle from the car park to the cave entrance. The Valadier Temple (Madonna di Frasassi sanctuary) is not included.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in the Marche
Wine tastings, the Frasassi Caves and days out in the hill towns, with live prices and availability.
How to plan a day
Four ideas, all with Matelica as a base.
A day at Frasassi
The caves are in Genga, with the ticket office and parking lot at San Vittore delle Chiuse. In October, and from March to May, tours leave at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 2:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. From November to February they leave at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, with more times on weekends and holidays. The caves close on 4 and 25 December, and in January there is a closed period from 7 to 30 January, but the dates overlap, so do not count on a visit on 7 January.
Frasassi Caves →A day in wine country
For winery visits and tastings, contact the winery first and book. Ask what the tasting includes and what it costs. If you drive, arrange beforehand who takes the wheel after the tasting.
Verdicchio di Matelica →A day in Fabriano
The Paper and Watermark Museum is at Largo Fratelli Spacca 2 and shows how paper is made by hand. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A full ticket costs €12, under 18 pay €5, over 65 pay €10, and under 6 is free. With the Frasassi agreement, the ticket costs €10. The guided visit lasts about an hour and includes the Pinacoteca Civica Bruno Molajoli. A free reservation fixes your time.
Towns near Matelica →A day in the mountains
Monte San Vicino is the choice for walkers. Trail 112A reaches the summit in about 45 minutes from the Prati di San Vicino. Pick a dry day and check the trail conditions before you go.
Monte San Vicino →Non-tourist caves: separate rules
The Frasassi ticket does not cover these caves.
The Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi park regulates access to caves that are not set up for tourists. Some are open only in certain seasons and with a permit (nulla osta), others only with a prior notice. For the permit, the 2026 fee is €25 for processing, while simple notices are free. That does not mean every cave is open to all, or that every hike needs a permit, so ask the park.
What to ask before you book
Ask for the exact meeting point, the language of the guide, what the price includes and what the cancellation terms are. Do not assume free cancellation, and read the terms of each activity.
Le Marche tours: frequently asked questions
Is there an organized tour that starts in Matelica?
Plan the nearby sights by car or train. Online activities each state their own meeting point. Read where a tour starts before you book.
Can I get to Frasassi by train?
From Matelica the journey involves a change at Fabriano. The Genga-San Vittore Terme station is on the Ancona-Rome line, about a 15-minute walk from the ticket office. There is no direct train to the caves. Check the current timetable.
Do I need to book the Frasassi Caves?
There is no general online booking requirement, and you can also buy a ticket at the ticket office. If you book online, arrive at least 15 minutes early. Free children's tickets are collected at the info point, ideally 30 minutes ahead.
Can I bring a dog, or visit with limited mobility?
Dogs are allowed only in a carrier, not on a leash on the route. The larger kennels in the parking lot are unattended and cannot be reserved. With limited mobility, access goes only as far as the start of the second hall, the Sala 200.
How much do the guided park walks cost?
In the 2026 Natura Aperta program the listed price is €7 per person, with children up to 10 free. You need at least 4 people, and you reserve your place with the organizer. It is an annual program, so the dates change.