Calabria
A trip to Calabria combines cliff-top beaches, mountain hiking and a museum with two Greek bronze statues, at a slower pace than Italy's larger cities.
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Calabria is the region at the tip of mainland Italy, the toe of the boot, facing Sicily across the Strait of Messina. Its coast runs along two seas. The Tyrrhenian Sea on the west has cliffs and sandy coves around Tropea, and the Ionian Sea on the east has a quieter shoreline. Behind the coast, the Aspromonte massif rises into forested mountains, and Aspromonte National Park has walking routes. Calabrian cooking includes 'nduja, a spreadable spicy salami from the area around Tropea, and bergamot, which grows along the Ionian coast.
Reggio Calabria, the regional capital on the Strait, is home to the National Archaeological Museum, which displays the two Riace Bronzes, Greek bronzes from the 5th century BC. Late spring and early autumn suit a trip best, since summer brings the peak beach crowds and the hottest weather. Plan at least four or five days to cover one coast and some of the interior, and a full week if you want both seas and the mountains.
Calabria in five
- Rent a car for the hill villagesBuses thin out away from the coast towns, and the Sila and Aspromonte hills need a car. Book from Lamezia Terme or Reggio Calabria airport before you arrive in summer.Getting around
- Set up an eSIM or download offline mapsSignal drops on mountain roads and in some hill villages. Save offline maps to the phone before you leave the coast.Phones and eSIM
- Wear shoes with grip in TropeaThe old town sits on a cliff, and the stairs down to the beaches are steep and often wet. Flat sandals slip on the stone.
- See the Riace Bronzes in Reggio CalabriaThe two bronze statues were found in the sea off Riace in 1972 and are shown at the National Archaeological Museum. Check the opening days before you go.Reggio Calabria
- Check the ferry to Sicily at Villa San GiovanniThe car ferry crosses the Strait of Messina in about 20 to 30 minutes. Check the operator's schedule before you plan a day trip to Sicily.
Neighborhoods
Tropea
- Price band: $$
Reggio Calabria
- Price band: $
Things to do in Calabria
See all attractions in Calabria
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules: visa-free short stays for many passports Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for any emergency; 113 police, 118 ambulance
- Tipping
- Not expected; a cover charge (coperto) may be on the bill
- Time
- UTC+1, daylight saving to UTC+2 late March to late October
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, quiet
- FebruaryMild, quiet
- MarchMild, some rain
- AprilSpring, Easter
- MayWarm, dry
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyHot, busy coast
- AugustPeak crowds
- SeptemberWarm sea
- OctoberWarm, quieter
- NovemberRain, mild
- DecemberMild, rainy
Right now in Calabria
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 0°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Calabria
10:16 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today7°2°100%Monday: Rain. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue9°2°28%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Wed10°5°3%Wednesday: Fog. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu10°5°22%Thursday: Rain. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Fri10°6°45%Friday: Rain. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat11°6°31%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 31%.
- Sun11°5°15%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 15%.
Updated 10:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Reggio Calabriaabout 2 to 3 hours by carThe Riace Bronzes and the waterfront, a long day from Tropea.Read the guide
- Pizzoabout 30 min by carA seaside town known for its tartufo ice cream.
- Capo Vaticanoabout 25 min by carA headland with coves and beaches along the coast.
Before you go to Calabria
Rules for Calabria, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy. The ambulance number 118 also works.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the sanctuary at Tropea.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you take antiques or cultural objects out of Italy, since some need an export licence.
Plan around Calabria
Cliff-top old town, beaches and the sanctuary on its rock
Read the guideReggio CalabriaThe Riace Bronzes, the waterfront and a base for the south
Read the guideGetting around CalabriaTrains, buses, ferries and car hire for the coast and hills
Read the guideVisas and entrySchengen short-stay rules and what to check before you book
Read the guideWhere to stayHotels and guesthouses in Tropea, Reggio and along the coast
Read the guideAll of ItalyCalabria in a wider Italian route
Read the guideCalabria FAQ
Is Calabria worth visiting?
Yes, for beaches, hill villages and southern Italian food. The region is large and needs a car to cover well, so pick one coast or one mountain area for a short trip.
How do you get to Tropea?
By car from Lamezia Terme airport, about an hour away, or by bus where a route serves the town. Check the operator's timetable before you travel, since services are limited.
How many days do you need in Tropea?
Two or three days covers the old town, the sanctuary and a beach. Add a day if you want to visit Capo Vaticano or take a day trip to Pizzo.
Is Reggio Calabria worth visiting?
Yes, for the Riace Bronzes at the National Archaeological Museum and the waterfront. It also works as a stop between the Sicily ferry and the coast.
When is the best time to visit Calabria?
May to June and September to October bring warm sea and fewer people than August. August is peak holiday season, when the beaches are most crowded.
Do you need a car in Calabria?
For the hill villages and the Sila and Aspromonte areas, yes. In Tropea and Reggio you can manage on foot and by bus, but beaches outside town need a car or taxi.