Where to stay in Calabria: the 5 areas to know in 2026
Calabria has two seas, and you can't get from one to the other in a morning. The Tyrrhenian coast, the coast of Tropea and Scilla, is the most beautiful and the most sought after; the Ionian coast, to the east, lines up long, quieter beaches; in between, the Sila stays cool even in the middle of August.
A village B&B starts at $68* for two; with a pool and a sea view, allow $146 to $260* a night in July, and the Ionian coast remains the cheapest. Five areas: pick one sea per base.
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One base or several?
One base is enough for a week by the sea. To see both coasts or the mountains, change base: each crossing takes half a day.
- A week by the sea: One base, in Tropea or Capo Vaticano, with a day in Scilla and one in Pizzo.
- Ten days: Two bases: the Coast of the Gods, then Scilla and Reggio, before flying home from Reggio airport.
- Two weeks: Three bases: the Sila or the Pollino, the Ionian coast, then the Tyrrhenian coast.
How much driving between two bases?
By car, outside the traffic jams of August weekends.
| Route | Driving time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aéroport de Lamezia → Tropea | 1 hr | also by regional train |
| Tropea → Pizzo | 35 min | along the coast |
| Tropea → Scilla | 1 hr 15 | on the A2 motorway |
| Scilla → Reggio | 30 min | along the coast |
| Tropea → Soverato | 1 hr 30 | from one sea to the other |
| Lamezia → Camigliatello | 1 hr 30 | via Cosenza |
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Calabria
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
Tropea and the Coast of the Gods Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Pizzo, Briatico
for coves and the clearest water in the region
Perched on its cliff, Tropea looks down on a turquoise sea and the rock of Santa Maria dell'Isola. To the south, the headland of Capo Vaticano hides coves between the rocks, facing the Aeolian Islands. To the north, Pizzo keeps its church carved into the rock and its chocolate ice cream. This is the most beautiful coast, and the most crowded in August.
You won't have much luck finding any solitude at Tropea beach, and that is the only complaint I have about it. You are packed in a bit tight during the high season.
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Capovaticano Resort Thalasso Spa Luxury
Facing Stromboli, at Capo Vaticano: a private beach, a seawater pool and a thalassotherapy centre.
Hotel Villa Antica Tropea Mid-range
A villa from 1906 and its garden, five minutes' walk from the station and the centre of Tropea.
Hotel della Piazza Budget
A small, simple hotel on the main square of Pizzo, the one lined with tartufo ice cream parlours.
Pros
- The finest coves and the clearest water in Calabria
- Tropea linked to Lamezia by regional train
Cons
- Packed beaches in August
- The highest prices in the region in summer
Scilla and Reggio Scilla, Bagnara, Reggio Calabria
for the Strait of Messina and the Riace bronzes
At the toe of the boot, Sicily is only a few kilometres away. In Scilla, the houses of the Chianalea quarter stand with their feet in the sea below Ruffo Castle. Reggio unrolls its seafront facing Etna and keeps the Riace bronzes in its museum. It is also a base for crossing to Sicily.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Hotel Palazzo Krataiis Luxury
Eight rooms in an 18th-century palazzo, a few steps from the sea and Chianalea.
Grand Hotel Excelsior Mid-range
Next door to the museum of the Riace bronzes, in the centre of Reggio, with a terrace over the strait.
Dimora Don Ciccillo B&B Budget
A seven-room seafront B&B in Bagnara, a quarter of an hour from Scilla.
Pros
- Scilla, one of the loveliest villages on the coast
- Ferries to Sicily twenty minutes away
Cons
- Reggio is a city, not a beach resort
- Few large sandy beaches
The Riviera dei Cedri Praia a Mare, Scalea, Diamante, San Nicola Arcella
for easy beaches close to Campania
In the north of the Tyrrhenian coast, the Riviera dei Cedri takes its name from the citrons grown here. Off Praia a Mare, the island of Dino hides sea caves; at San Nicola Arcella, the Arcomagno arch frames a small cove. Diamante covers its walls with murals and celebrates the chilli pepper every September.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Grand Hotel De Rose Luxury
On the seafront of Scalea, a private beach and a terrace pool looking out over the coast.
Hotel Villa Principe Mid-range
In the hilltop village of San Nicola Arcella, rooms with balconies, near the Arcomagno.
B&B Centro Storico Budget
A B&B with a terrace in the historic centre of Diamante, among its murals.
Pros
- Easy beaches, close to Campania and Basilicata
- Gentler prices than in Tropea
Cons
- Resorts that empty outside summer
- A long way from the south of the region
The Ionian coast Gulf of Squillace, Le Castella, Gerace
for long beaches and Byzantine villages
In the east, the Ionian Sea is lined with long beaches of pale sand, on the Gulf of Squillace as at Soverato. Further north, the fortress of Le Castella rises from an islet. Inland, the medieval village of Gerace and the Cattolica of Stilo keep the Byzantine past alive. Fewer people and gentler prices, but a car is essential.
A place that could have quite a bit of charm if it weren't for all the people crammed onto the long sandy beaches.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Praia Art Resort Luxury
Thirty rooms on the edge of the Capo Rizzuto marine protected area, with a white sand beach a few steps away. Open from May to October.
Hotel Nettuno Mid-range
On the seafront of Soverato, with a private beach. Open in high summer only.
Palazzo Candida B&B Budget
A B&B in a palazzo in the medieval village of Gerace, above Locri, with a restaurant.
Pros
- Big beaches and lower prices than in the west
- The Byzantine villages inland
Cons
- A car is essential
- Some beaches fill up in August
The Sila and the Pollino Cosenza, Camigliatello, Morano Calabro
for the mountains, cool air and Albanian villages
Inland Calabria comes as a surprise: pine forests, mountain lakes, snow in winter. In the Sila, Camigliatello is the base village for hiking. Further north, the Pollino, Italy's largest national park, is home to thousand-year-old pines and Arbëreshë villages. The old town of Cosenza makes a good stop between the two.
That can be a good idea, because there is really a lot of ground to cover, and you won't be able to do everything on foot, even in several days.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Palazzo Rodotà Luxury
Suites in a palazzo from 1683 in the old town of Cosenza, with a spa.
Hotel Aquila & Edelweiss Mid-range
In the heart of Camigliatello, rooms with balconies facing the mountains and Calabrian cooking.
B&B La Casa Nel Borgo Budget
A B&B in the lanes of Morano Calabro, gateway to the Pollino, rooms with balconies.
Pros
- Cool mountain air in the middle of August
- Hiking, lakes and villages where time stands still
Cons
- Far from the sea
- Slow roads, a car is essential
Our tips for booking the right place
- Hire a car at the airport: Away from the Tyrrhenian coast, public transport is thin on the ground. Pick up the car in Lamezia or Reggio, and park it at the entrance to the old villages, where driving is difficult.
- Check opening dates: Many seafront hotels only open in summer, sometimes for just a few weeks. Out of season, aim for Reggio, Cosenza or Tropea, which stay alive all year round.
- Book August early: In August, Italians fill the coast. Book your room months ahead, or aim for June and September, when the sea is just as warm and the beaches half empty.
- A base on the Ionian coast to visit Tropea: you would spend three hours a day on the road.
- The centre of Tropea in August if you sleep badly: the lanes stay lively late.
- A mountain spot in the Sila in winter without a car equipped for snow: it falls heavily there.
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