Montescaglioso is most easily reached from Matera, 20 km to the northwest. By car it is a 25-minute drive on the SP175. Local SITA buses run between Matera and Montescaglioso several times a day on weekdays, with sparse weekend service; the journey takes about 40 minutes and ends at the Piazza Roma stop, a short walk from the abbey.
The nearest railway station is at Metaponto on the Ionian coast, with regional trains from Taranto and Reggio Calabria, but onward connections to Montescaglioso are infrequent — a taxi from Metaponto is roughly €30. The closest airports are Bari and Brindisi, both around 90 minutes by car.