Best Things to Do in Calabria

/ Global Travels, Italy / By

Calabria, tucked into the toe of Italy’s boot, is a region where beautiful coastlines, historic towns, mountain landscapes and traditional Italian life come together. From Tropea’s clifftop setting and Pizzo’s famous gelato to quiet villages and forest walking tracks, there is plenty to discover beyond Italy’s better-known destinations. Whether you enjoy exploring old towns, relaxing by the sea or heading inland for a walk, Calabria offers a wonderful variety of experiences.

What Makes Calabria Worth Exploring?

Looking for somewhere in Italy where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, delicious food and a more local atmosphere without the crowds of the country’s most famous destinations? Calabria might be just what you’re after. Its coastal towns attract visitors for good reason, but venture further south or inland and you’ll discover smaller communities, winding mountain roads and places where tourism feels less prominent. One of the pleasures of exploring Calabria is the contrast between its lively seaside towns and the quieter places in between.

Our Experience Discovering Calabria

We explored Calabria in our Lease Car, giving us the freedom to visit coastal towns, head inland and stop wherever something caught our interest. We enjoyed pizza and local wine in Tropea, tried the famous tartufo gelato in Pizzo and stayed in an Airbnb in Musopuniti, about ten minutes from Melito di Porto Salvo. From there, we explored the surrounding area, took a short forest walk in Aspromonte National Park and discovered a village walking track with beautiful views, although we realised our accommodation offered much the same outlook! We also travelled across to Messina in Sicily for the day before continuing north to Montegiordano and Rocca Imperiale. It was a wonderful mix of popular attractions and quieter places we might never have discovered without our own transport.

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Visit Pizzo and Try Its Famous Tartufo Gelato

Overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, Pizzo is a charming coastal town known for its historic centre, seaside views and one particularly delicious speciality, Tartufo di Pizzo. Its narrow streets, traditional buildings and lively piazzas make it a lovely place to explore, whether you’re stopping for a few hours or staying longer.

We enjoyed wandering through Pizzo, but one of the main reasons for our visit was to try its famous tartufo gelato. This traditional frozen dessert is usually made with chocolate and hazelnut gelato surrounding a rich chocolate centre, then dusted with cocoa. It’s a local speciality that has become one of the town’s biggest attractions, and naturally, we couldn’t leave without trying one!

Things to See and Do in Pizzo

  • Try Tartufo di Pizzo: Find a local gelateria or café and enjoy the dessert that made the town famous.
  • Explore Piazza della Repubblica: The town’s main square is a great place to stop for a coffee, gelato or simply watch everyday life.
  • Visit Castello Murat: Discover the historic castle associated with Joachim Murat, the former King of Naples.
  • Wander through the old town: Explore the narrow streets and enjoy the views across the coastline.
  • Discover Piedigrotta Church: Just outside the centre, this unusual seaside church is carved into rock and decorated with sculptures.

Our tip: If you’re travelling along Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast, Pizzo makes a worthwhile stop. Give yourself enough time to explore the historic centre before settling in for a tartufo. After all, trying the local food is part of the experience!

Explore Tropea and Its Famous Coastline

Perched high above the Tyrrhenian Sea, Tropea is one of Calabria’s most picturesque coastal towns, known for its historic streets, dramatic cliffs and beautiful beaches. The old town sits above the coastline, with narrow lanes opening onto viewpoints overlooking the sea. It’s easy to see why Tropea has become one of the region’s most popular destinations.

We spent time wandering through the historic centre, admiring the coastal views and enjoying the atmosphere. One of the highlights was sitting down for delicious pizza accompanied by local wine, a simple pleasure that made our visit even more memorable.

However, finding parking was another story! Even though the town wasn’t particularly busy when we visited, parking proved surprisingly difficult. If you’re arriving by car, allow extra time to find a space before heading into the historic centre.

Things to See and Do in Tropea

  • Explore the historic centre: Wander through the narrow streets, browse the shops and enjoy the traditional buildings and lively piazzas.
  • Admire Santa Maria dell’Isola: This famous sanctuary sits on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea and is one of Tropea’s most recognisable landmarks.
  • Enjoy the coastal viewpoints: Look out across the beaches and turquoise water from the terraces around the old town.
  • Relax on Tropea’s beaches: The sandy beaches below the cliffs are popular for swimming and spending time by the sea.
  • Try the local food: Stop at a restaurant or café and sample regional dishes, including Calabria’s famous sweet red onions.

Our tip: Don’t rush through Tropea. Allow time to wander, enjoy the views and sit down for a meal. Sometimes the best part of visiting a place is simply enjoying its atmosphere.

Discover Reggio Calabria

Located near the southern tip of mainland Italy, Reggio Calabria overlooks the Strait of Messina, with Sicily visible across the water. The city offers a mixture of historic landmarks, waterfront scenery and bustling streets, making it worth including while exploring southern Calabria.

For us, Reggio Calabria was also our departure point for a day trip to Sicily. We travelled here from our base near Melito di Porto Salvo before catching the passenger ferry to Messina.

Things to See and Do in Reggio Calabria

  • Walk along Lungomare Falcomatà: Enjoy the waterfront promenade and views across the strait towards Sicily.
  • Visit the National Archaeological Museum: Home to the famous Riace Bronzes, two remarkably preserved ancient Greek bronze statues.
  • Explore the historic centre: Wander through the shopping streets, piazzas and cafés.
  • See Castello Aragonese: One of the city’s historic landmarks.
  • Visit Reggio Calabria Cathedral: Discover one of the city’s most important religious buildings.

Reggio Calabria also has passenger ferry connections to Messina, while nearby Villa San Giovanni provides another crossing option, including vehicle ferries. Both are worth considering if you’re planning to visit Sicily.

Explore Aspromonte National Park and Musopuniti

Away from Calabria’s coastline, Aspromonte National Park offers forests, mountain scenery and walking tracks for those wanting to explore the region’s natural surroundings.

While staying in an Airbnb in Musopuniti, about ten minutes from Melito di Porto Salvo, we decided to head into the national park for a walk. After navigating what felt like endless winding mountain roads, we found one of the shorter forest tracks, perfect for stretching our legs after the drive.

We’d hoped for some spectacular mountain views, but the dense forest kept most of the scenery hidden. Nevertheless, the forest was beautiful, and we thoroughly enjoyed the walk, even if it wasn’t quite what we’d expected.

What to Expect When Exploring Aspromonte

  • Scenic mountain roads: The drive takes you through winding mountain roads, so allow plenty of time to reach your chosen walking track.
  • Beautiful forest walks: Aspromonte offers opportunities to explore peaceful woodland surroundings, with tracks suited to different walking abilities.
  • Mountain views: Some areas offer panoramic scenery, although forest tracks can have limited views, as we discovered!
  • A quieter side of Calabria: The national park offers a completely different experience from the region’s coastal towns and beaches.

Exploring Musopuniti

Back in Musopuniti, we also explored a village walking track that rewarded us with wonderful views across the surrounding countryside. The funny thing was that we had almost exactly the same views from our Airbnb! Still, it was lovely getting out and exploring the area on foot.

Our tip: If you’re planning to walk in Aspromonte National Park, check the track details beforehand, particularly if you’re hoping for panoramic views. Allow extra time for the winding mountain roads, too.

Discover Calabria’s Other National Parks

Sila National Park

Beyond its beautiful coastline, Calabria has some impressive mountain landscapes, with national parks offering opportunities for hiking, cycling, wildlife watching and exploring the region’s natural surroundings.

While our own walking experience was in Aspromonte National Park, two other parks are worth considering if you enjoy spending time outdoors.

Explore Sila National Park

Located in central Calabria, Sila National Park is known for its extensive forests, mountain lakes and walking trails. It’s a very different landscape from the coastal towns, with opportunities to explore on foot or by bicycle.

Some highlights include:

  • Lago Cecita: A large lake surrounded by forest and mountain scenery.
  • Lago Arvo: A popular area for lakeside walks and outdoor activities.
  • Camigliatello Silano: A mountain village that makes a convenient base for exploring the park.
  • Forest walking tracks: A variety of trails suitable for different experience levels.

Discover Pollino National Park

Stretching across northern Calabria and neighbouring Basilicata, Pollino National Park is one of Italy’s largest protected natural areas, known for its rugged mountains, ancient forests and distinctive Bosnian pine trees.

Visitors can enjoy:

  • Mountain hiking: Trails ranging from shorter walks to challenging mountain routes.
  • Traditional villages: Small communities around the park that offer a glimpse into local life.
  • Wildlife and nature: Opportunities to experience the park’s diverse landscapes and natural environment.
  • Scenic drives: Mountain roads connecting villages, forests and viewpoints.

Our tip: If hiking is a priority during your Calabria holiday, consider allowing extra days to explore one of these parks. Check trail conditions, weather and access before setting out, particularly in the higher mountain areas.

Although we didn’t visit Sila or Pollino ourselves, both offer another reason to explore beyond Calabria’s coastline, especially for travellers who enjoy walking and outdoor adventures.

Take a Day Trip to Sicily

One of the advantages of exploring southern Calabria is how easily you can cross the Strait of Messina to Sicily, Italy’s largest island. With regular ferry connections on normal operating days, it’s possible to visit Messina without needing to stay overnight.

As often happens when you’ve been travelling for months, we’d completely lost track of what day it was, and our planned day trip happened to fall on a public holiday! Reggio Calabria was bustling with a major marathon, while Messina was surprisingly quiet, with many businesses and attractions closed.

We travelled by train to Reggio Calabria before catching the passenger ferry across to Sicily. Despite the unexpected holiday, we were determined to make the most of our visit.

Exploring Messina

One of the places we’d read about and wanted to see was Messina Cathedral, famous for its impressive astronomical clock tower. The cathedral and its surrounding piazza are among the city’s best-known attractions and were high on our list.

We also hopped aboard a little sightseeing train that took us around Messina, giving us a chance to see more of the city and get our bearings. Afterwards, we explored on foot, walking to as many places as we could before it was time to return to the ferry.

Although many places were closed, we still enjoyed discovering Messina and seeing another part of Italy. Sometimes travel doesn’t go quite as planned, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great day.

Getting to Sicily from Calabria

There are two main ferry departure points:

  • Reggio Calabria: Passenger ferries operate between Reggio Calabria and Messina, making this a convenient option if you’re travelling without a vehicle.
  • Villa San Giovanni: Another crossing point further north, particularly useful for travellers taking a car across to Sicily.

Because it was a public holiday, ferry sailings were limited, so we had to plan our return around the available departures. In total, we spent approximately six hours exploring Messina before heading back to Calabria.

Our tip: Always check ferry schedules before planning a Sicily day trip, particularly on public holidays and weekends. And if you’ve been travelling for months like us, it might pay to check the calendar too!

Thinking about visiting Sicily from Calabria? Read our Sicily Experience – A Day Trip from Calabria guide for more about our crossing, exploring Messina and what we discovered along the way.

Discover Rocca Imperiale and the Northern Ionian Coast

As you travel north along Calabria’s Ionian coastline into the province of Cosenza, you’ll find historic hilltop villages, quieter seaside communities and some wonderful places to explore away from the region’s busiest destinations.

Explore the Medieval Village of Rocca Imperiale

Perched high on a hillside overlooking the Ionian coastline, Rocca Imperiale is one of Calabria’s beautiful medieval villages, with narrow cobbled streets, traditional stone houses and an imposing castle dominating the skyline.

The village has a fascinating history dating back to the Middle Ages. Its most recognisable landmark is Castello Svevo, a fortress built in the 13th century under Emperor Frederick II. Positioned high above the village, the castle reflects the strategic importance of this part of Calabria, once a valuable route between southern Italy’s coastal and inland territories.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring Rocca Imperiale. There was something special about wandering through its old streets, discovering little corners and admiring the historic buildings that have stood here for centuries. It was one of those villages where simply walking around was an experience in itself.

What to See and Do in Rocca Imperiale

  • Explore the medieval streets: Wander through narrow lanes, stone stairways and passageways that wind between traditional houses.
  • Discover Castello Svevo: Admire the imposing medieval fortress overlooking the village. Check opening arrangements if you’d like to visit the interior.
  • Enjoy the panoramic views: The elevated position offers beautiful views across the surrounding countryside and towards the Ionian Sea.
  • Admire the historic architecture: Look out for old stone buildings, archways and architectural details that reflect the village’s medieval origins.
  • Visit the historic churches: Rocca Imperiale has several churches that contribute to the village’s traditional character, including the Chiesa Madre.
  • Take your time exploring: Some of the best discoveries are found simply by following the winding streets and seeing where they lead.

Exploring the Northern Ionian Coast

Below the historic village lies Rocca Imperiale Marina, part of Calabria’s northern Ionian coastline. This area offers a different experience from the hilltop village, with coastal scenery, beaches and views across the Ionian Sea.

It’s a lovely opportunity to combine medieval history with time along the coast, particularly if you’re travelling through northern Calabria.

Our tip: Wear comfortable shoes when exploring Rocca Imperiale. The village has steep streets, steps and uneven surfaces, but the views and historic surroundings make the walking worthwhile.

Visit Montegiordano Marina

While staying in the area, we also made our way down to Montegiordano Marina, a small coastal community along the Ionian Sea.

Unlike Calabria’s better-known beach destinations, this stretch of coastline has a quieter atmosphere, making it a pleasant place to stop while travelling through the region.

Our tip: If you’re travelling through this part of Calabria, allow time to visit Rocca Imperiale rather than simply passing through on the main coastal road. Its historic setting makes it a worthwhile detour.

For us, this was a lovely final stop in Calabria before continuing our journey through Italy, with Rocca Imperiale providing one last memorable village experience.

Visit Scilla and the Fishing Village of Chianalea

Located on Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast, just north of Reggio Calabria, Scilla is a picturesque seaside town known for its beaches, historic castle and beautiful views across the Strait of Messina. It’s another destination worth considering if you’re exploring the southern part of the region.

One of Scilla’s most distinctive areas is Chianalea, an old fishing village where traditional houses sit right beside the water. Narrow lanes weave between the buildings, and small fishing boats add to the village’s character.

Although we didn’t make it to Scilla during our travels, it’s a place we’d consider visiting on a return trip to Calabria.

Things to See and Do in Scilla

  • Explore Chianalea: Wander through the narrow streets of the traditional fishing village, with houses built along the water’s edge.
  • Visit Castello Ruffo: Discover the historic fortress overlooking the coastline and Strait of Messina.
  • Relax at Marina Grande: Enjoy Scilla’s main beach, with views towards the surrounding cliffs and castle.
  • Enjoy fresh seafood: Chianalea is known for its waterfront restaurants, where seafood features prominently on local menus.
  • Admire the coastal scenery: Take time to enjoy the views across the strait towards Sicily.

Our tip: Scilla could make a lovely addition to a southern Calabria itinerary, particularly if you’re already visiting Reggio Calabria. Allow enough time to explore both the beachfront and Chianalea rather than simply stopping for photographs.

Experience Calabria’s Local Food

One of the pleasures of travelling through Italy is discovering how much the food changes from one region to another. Calabria is known for its bold flavours, fresh seafood, locally grown produce and traditional recipes, many of which reflect the region’s agricultural and coastal heritage.

Food is an important part of everyday life here, and whether you’re visiting a seaside restaurant, browsing a local market or stopping at a small village café, there are plenty of regional specialities worth looking out for.

Traditional Calabrian Foods to Try

  • ‘Nduja: A soft, spicy spreadable salami traditionally associated with Spilinga. It’s often served on bread or added to pasta and pizza.
  • Tropea red onions: Famous for their sweetness, these onions appear in salads, preserves and a variety of local dishes.
  • Fileja pasta: A traditional hand-rolled pasta often served with tomato-based sauces, sometimes with ‘nduja.
  • Fresh seafood: Coastal restaurants offer dishes featuring locally caught fish, calamari and other seafood, depending on the season and daily catch.
  • Pecorino Crotonese: A traditional sheep’s milk cheese from the Crotone area, enjoyed on its own or in regional cooking.
  • Calabrian bergamot: This fragrant citrus fruit is particularly associated with the Reggio Calabria area and is used in preserves, drinks and other local products.

Try a Traditional Cannolo

One Italian treat we certainly made the most of during our travels through Calabria was the cannolo, a delicious pastry traditionally associated with Sicily.

Made with a crisp, tube-shaped pastry shell filled with sweetened ricotta cream, cannoli are often finished with chopped pistachios, chocolate or candied fruit. They’re a wonderful treat to enjoy with a coffee or as an afternoon indulgence.

We tried quite a few during our time in Calabria! And when we took the ferry across to Messina in Sicily, we couldn’t resist trying another from a highly rated local spot. After all, we were in the home of cannoli!

Our tip: Look for cannoli filled fresh when you order. This helps keep the pastry beautifully crisp rather than allowing it to become soft from the filling.

Tips for Exploring Calabria’s Attractions

A little preparation can make sightseeing around Calabria easier, particularly when you’re combining coastal towns, mountain walks and historic villages.

  • Check opening hours: Smaller attractions may have limited hours, particularly on public holidays or outside the main tourist season.
  • Allow extra travel time: Winding mountain roads and parking difficulties can make journeys longer than expected.
  • Wear comfortable footwear: Historic villages often have steep streets and steps, while walking tracks may be uneven.
  • Check transport schedules: Ferry and public transport services can vary, especially on holidays.
  • Keep your plans flexible: Leave room to explore places you discover along the way.

Our tip: Choose a few attractions that genuinely interest you rather than trying to see everything. Having time to enjoy each place can make the experience much more rewarding.

Explore Calabria with our guides to Planning a Journey Through Calabria and Exploring Messina-Sicily from Calabria covering everything from planning your travels to discovering the beautiful coastlines, historic towns and unforgettable attractions of southern Italy.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Calabria

What we enjoyed most about Calabria was the freedom to explore at our own pace, discovering historic towns, beautiful coastlines and quieter places along the way.

Not everything went to plan, but the winding roads, unexpected discoveries and occasional surprises all became part of the experience.

Calabria offers much more than its famous coastal towns, and whether you enjoy history, food, walking or simply exploring somewhere new, there’s plenty to discover.

For us, it was another reminder that some of the best travel memories come from the places you least expect.

“The beauty of travelling isn’t just in the places you plan to see, but in everything you discover along the way.”

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