15 Beautiful Calabria Beaches You Must Visit
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If you think you know where to find Italy’s best beaches, think again! These 15 incredible beaches in Calabria will want to make you start planning your trip now.
If you’ve never considered Italy’s region of Calabria to be your next summer holiday, prepare to have your mind changed. Calabria’s beaches are incredibly picturesque, and when you combine that with the high chance of finding your own little paradise without the crowds, it makes visiting Calabria that much more intriguing.
The Calabrian coast may be lesser known, but by no means any less stunning than other high-profile spots in Italy like Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, or even Puglia. This is your sign to steer away from the herd and make your way down south to experience one of the most underrated beach destinations in Europe.
In this guide, discover the top Calabria beaches you must visit, where to stay and tips for visiting mainland Italy’s southernmost region.
This post was 100% written by a human author based on real-life experiences without the use of AI-generated content or images.
Quick Guide: Best Calabria Beaches
- Punta Alice
- Spiaggia Punta Marinella
- Spiaggia Le Cannella
- Spiaggia Selene
- Bay of Copanello
- Spiaggia Caminia
- Capo Bruzzano
- Spiaggia della Rocca del Capo
- Spiaggia Ulivarella
- Spiaggia Praia I Focu
- Spiaggia di Riaci
- Spiaggia della Rotonda
- Spiaggia Michelino
- Spiaggia Le Castella
- Spiaggia di Roseto Capo Spulico
The Essentials for Visiting Calabria Beaches
🚊 You can get around the beaches of Calabria by train very easily. There is a coastal railway that stops at all the big towns and allows you to have a beach holiday in Calabria without a car.
🛥 One of the best ways to experience the finest beaches in Calabria is by sea. Book a boat tour or excursion to make the most of the stunning Calabrian coast.
👍 Looking for the most popular beach destinations in Calabria? Head to La Costa degli Dei (also known as The Coast of the Gods).
🚗 To visit quieter towns and lesser-known beaches, you should consider renting a car. You do not need to rent anything big (and therefore expensive) – a compact vehicle is actually easier to manoeuvre around and park on the narrow streets of Italy.
💸 Always carry cash when traveling throughout Calabria. It’s not the most forward region in Italy and many beach bars or even restaurants will only accept cash for drinks and food. Need a good solution for international ATM withdrawals? Sign up for the Wise Travel Money Card.
👨👩👧 If you’re traveling with young children, choose a place to stay with a nice beach located in the center of town (for example: Pizzo). This minimizes needless travel time and maximizes your family’s time on the beach!
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Does Calabria Have Nice Beaches?
While Puglia continues to shine in the spotlight, it’s rather surprising that its neighbor, Calabria, hasn’t yet caught up. The beaches in Calabria are not only undeniably gorgeous; they’re far less frequented. So yes, Calabria does indeed have some of the nicest beaches in Italy, but they’re even more beautiful because they’re not continuously overrun by crowds.
Calabria’s beaches are a mix of fine sand (both light and golden), pebbles, cliffsides, half-moon bays, and playful coves. The region is filled with dreamy coastlines consisting of turquoise hues, crystal-clear water, and picture-perfect landscapes.
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Calabria Beaches on a Map
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15 Must See Beautiful Beaches in Calabria
1. Punta Alice
Location: Here – in the province of Crotone and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Cirò Marina
Accessibility: There is a northern and eastern side of Punta Alice, given its peninsula-like shape. All areas are accessible with a regular car, and you can practically park on the beach. If you’re interested in beach clubs, head to the northern side where you’ll find typical Italian lidos. The beaches here are comprised of small pebbles and noticeably refreshing water temperatures.
2. Spiaggia Punta Marinella
Location: Here – in the province of Crotone and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Le Cannella
Accessibility: Nestled at the end of a bumpy unpaved road, you cannot drive right up to the beach unless you have an off-roading car with enough ground clearance. The entrance to this beach is very unassuming and tucked away between residential homes. After parking your car on the main road, you’ll walk less than 300 metres down to the beach.
It is a sandy beach that features a natural rocky barrier, thus creating a small swimming pool with calm water.
3. Spiaggia Le Cannella
Location: Here – in the province of Crotone and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Le Cannella
Accessibility: This golden sand beach can be reached with a regular car and has many free parking spots in the immediate vicinity of the beach. It is primarily a spiaggia libera (free beach), meaning it’s open to the public and lacks beach clubs with paid umbrellas.
4. Spiaggia Selene
Location: Here – in the province of Crotone and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Capo Rizzuto
Accessibility: Situated beneath a residential neighborhood, Spiaggia Selene is easily accessible by a regular car. Due to the beach’s considerable width, you can opt to park at either the north or south end of it. The water at this beach is beautifully calm, making it an ideal choice for families with young kids.
5. Bay of Copanello
Location: Here – in the province of Catanzaro and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Stalettì
Accessibility: Baia di Copanello can be tricky and difficult to reach, which is why it remains unfrequented by crowds. You must hike down to the beach from above, which can be more easily done if you’re staying in gated accommodation at the top of the cliff. For those who are slight risk-takers, you must park your car here and walk around the fence to reach the hiking trail.
6. Spiaggia Caminia
Location: Here – in the province of Catanzaro and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Caminia
Accessibility: This long stretch of light sand and shallow, clear water is backed by many parking spots. There are a fair share of paid umbrellas and sun beds, but an equal amount of free beach space as well. If you want to experience your own private oasis, continue around the cliff to find two smaller coves away from any crowds.
7. Capo Bruzzano
Location: Here – in the province of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Africo
Accessibility: There is a dirt parking lot just off the main street. From there, it is a short two-minute walk down to the beach. The beach consists of small pebbles and numerous natural pools created from the rock formations on the shore.
8. Spiaggia della Rocca del Capo
Location: Here – in the province of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Bova Marina
Accessibility: There are two options for how to get to this gorgeous beach. First, there is a small gravel area just off the main road that is big enough to fit 4-5 cars. If you’re lucky enough to find a spot, it’s a short three-minute walk downhill to reach the beach. Alternatively, you can turn here and continue along the road which goes under two small bridges until you pop out at right on beach.
9. Spiaggia Ulivarella
Location: Here – in the province of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and on the Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea
Closest nearby town: Palmi
Accessibility: The southern half of Spiaggia Ulivarella is the most scenic and, therefore, the most popular. There are numerous parking lots in addition to street parking, which is technically paid. If you’re visiting during June to August, prepare to walk a distance along the boardwalk before reaching the beach. Luckily, it’s a flat walk and requires no difficult hiking since the area is very much developed.
10. Spiaggia Praia I Focu
Location: Here – in the province of Vibo Valentia and on the Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea
Closest nearby town: San Nicolò
Accessibility: Located at the cliffside base of Capo Vaticano, Praia di Fuoco (Praia I Focu) and the neighboring beach coves aren’t the easiest to get to. There is one public hiking trail that can be accessed at the panoramic viewpoint here. The path is very steep with shifting rocks and no safety precautions in place. Clearly, you should only opt for this route if you’re experienced and not traveling with children.
The much easier way to experience the whimsical beaches of Capo Vaticano is by water taxi or with a guided boat tour.
11. Spiaggia di Riaci
Location: Here – in the province of Vibo Valentia and on the Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea
Closest nearby town: Santa Domenica
Accessibility: Comprising fine sand, paid beach clubs, and many free areas to sit, Spiaggia di Riaci is easy to reach by car and requires zero hiking. The right side of the beach tends to be quieter if you want to steer away from others. If there is a low tide, you can also walk around the cliff to reach another secluded beach.
12. Spiaggia della Rotonda
Location: Here – in the province of Vibo Valentia and on the Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea
Closest nearby town: Tropea
Accessibility: Tropea’s main beach is likely the busiest beach in the entire Calabria region. Situated at the base of the old town, it’s a popular destination for both tourists staying in Tropea and those coming in from nearby for a day trip. If you are not lucky enough to find street parking right along the beach, you can leave your car at one of the handful of paid car parks like this one or this one.
13. Spiaggia Michelino
Location: Here – in the province of Vibo Valentia and on the Tyrrhenian Sea/Mediterranean Sea
Closest nearby town: Parghelia
Accessibility: For such a scenic and well-known beach, there is not much designated parking available. You must be careful to avoid parking in any zones that have “no parking” or “private property” signs posted.
If you’re visiting during peak months, be prepared to walk around 15-20 minutes to reach the beach from your car. The staircase to reach the beach consists of 300 steps but is not very steep, so it’s manageable for most. The bay consists of two or three different coves with sandy beaches, clear water, and no amenities, so be sure to pack enough water and snacks.
14. Spiaggia Le Castella
Location: Here – in the province of Crotone and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Le Castella
Accessibility: There are two small beaches along each side of the walkway that leads to the castle (Castello di Le Castella). They are both free and consist of small pebbles. Much of the historic center of Le Castella is a limited zone for non-resident vehicles, so you must park in one of the lots and walk five minutes to reach the beach.
15. Spiaggia di Roseto Capo Spulico
Location: Here – in the province of Cosenza and on the Ionian Sea
Closest nearby town: Borgata Marina
Accessibility: You’ll find a small car park beneath the castle, or free street parking, along the road which sits above the beach. The beach is very long and extends all the way from the castle to the town of Borgata Marina, but the most picturesque zone is near Scoglio dell’Incudine. The nearby Laguna Blu Lounge serves refreshments as well as rents out chairs and umbrellas.
Where Is the Best Place to Stay in Calabria for Beaches?
While you can find incredible beaches along any part of Calabria’s coast, there are two notable provinces with many fantastic beaches within one area.
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The Vibo Valentia province is located north of Reggio Calabria on the west coast of the region. This section of shoreline along the Tyrrhenian Sea is known as the Coast of the Gods (or La Costa degli Dei in Italian). It is where you’ll find Calabria’s best-known locations such as Tropea, Capo Vaticano, and Marina di Zambrone.
There are endless beaches to choose from, ranging in type of sand, paid vs. free, and how crowded or secluded they are. Staying somewhere near the sea in the Vibo Valentia province gives you the biggest opportunity to visit as many gorgeous beaches as possible without driving around the entire region.
This corner of Calabria is also where you’ll find the biggest assortment of accommodation (resorts, villas, bungalows, camping and more).
The Crotone province sits on the coast of the Ionian Sea instead of the Mediterranean like Vibo Valentia does. Crotone is less romanticized than the famous city of Tropea but holds equally as much to be desired when it comes to its beaches.
Along the coastline between Capo Colonna and Le Castella, you’ll find red sand beaches, historic watchtowers, castles, and small coves. This area is comparatively low-key and less commercialized than Vibo Valentia but among the best places to stay in Calabria for a relaxed vibe.
How to Get to the Beaches in Calabria
If you’re flying to Calabria internationally, you’ll need to book a flight to Lamezia Terme International Airport. There are additional airports in Reggio Calabria and Crotone, but these are best for flights within Italy. Lamezia Terme International Airport has the best variety of flight paths and frequency.
Upon arriving at Lamezia Terme International Airport, you can easily hop on a regional train from Lamezia Terme Central Train Station and depart further south or to popular destinations in Calabria like Tropea and Scalea. Additionally, you can get to Calabria by train from Naples or Rome without changing trains.
The train system in Calabria is surprisingly wonderful and even follows the coastline. This means, if you have the time, you can effortlessly visit all of the best beaches and coastal towns without a rental car.
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Of course, exploring Calabria’s beaches with a car allows you to follow your own schedule. The region is vast, and there is an entire world behind just Calabria’s beautiful beaches. Adventurers and anyone who prefers visiting off-the-beaten-path gems will definitely want to rent a car to tour Calabria’s beaches.
How to Visit Secluded Beaches in Calabria
Particularly in the province of Vibo Valentia, there are a lot of beaches that aren’t “drive-up” accessible, meaning you must hike to them. These types of beaches have the tendency to be the most stunning and less crowded because you have to put in a little effort to visit them.
However, you do not always need to hike to reach secluded beaches in Calabria. Instead, you can rely on boat transfers or group tours from any town with a marina. You’ll find many boat taxis that regularly transport tourists to nearby beaches that aren’t easily accessible by car or foot.
The Best Time to Visit Calabria for Its Beaches
It makes sense to think that you must visit Calabria for its beaches during the summer. Warm temperatures and sunny weather tend to be the two important components for a successful beach holiday. Unfortunately, there is such a thing as it being too hot, particularly in July and August where highs are regularly above 32°C/90°F. The region also regularly experiences wildfires during the summer months.
Furthermore, Calabria might be off the radar for many international tourists, but it is still a beloved destination for Italians. And when do Italians take up to four weeks for summer vacation? August. This means accommodation prices are higher, and popular beaches are likely to be full of people.
Early June or late September (perhaps even the first week of October) are the best times to visit Calabrian beaches without scorching heat and crowds. Calabria never truly experiences cold weather, so the pleasant year-round temperatures make it an incredible shoulder season destination.
Calabria Beaches Travel Resources
☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage
✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com
🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com
🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio
🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries
🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago
☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo
📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator
