Melfi is in northern Basilicata, about 30 kilometres east of the Campania border. By car it is straightforward: the A16 motorway (Napoli–Bari) has an exit at Candela, from which Melfi is about 30 kilometres south on the SS93. From Naples the total drive is about two hours.
By train, the closest mainline stations are Foggia (to the north) and Potenza (to the south). From both there are local connections to Melfi, but services are infrequent. A car is strongly recommended for exploring the Vulture wine country around the town.