How to Get to Calabria, Italy (By Plane and Train)

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Begin planning your trip to Italy’s best kept secret! Dive into exactly how to get to Calabria by plane or public transportation.

Often overlooked by the island of Sicily and the neighboring region of Puglia, this corner of Italy is one of the country’s best-hidden gems. Calabria – land of the chili pepper, quintessential villages, and breathtaking beaches that aren’t flooded with other tourists.

There are many reasons why Calabria has easily become one of our favorite places in Italy, but its low profile is probably its best feature. While the region is unquestionably lesser known and frequented, it’s not difficult to get to Calabria.

In this guide, discover how to get to Calabria by flying and using public transportation from Rome and Naples.

The Essentials for How to Get to Calabria

🚊If you’re deciding how to get to Calabria from Rome or Naples by plane or public transportation, use Lamezia Terme as your destination point. Lamezia Terme is home to the international airport and a major train station.

🏖 Travelling throughout Calabria by train is great for those interested in visiting beaches because the railway conveniently runs entirely along the coastline.

📸 Looking for the most popular and scenic destination in Calabria? Book a place to stay in Tropea (which is accessible by train) or the Province of Vibo Valentia.

🎒 Don’t feel like figuring out how to get to Calabria on your own? Book a guided tour like this one which departs from Rome with transportation included.

4 Reasons to Visit Calabria

1. The Gorgeous Beaches

The beaches found along the Calabrian coast are not only divine, they’re one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Turquoise hues, romantic coves, long sandy bays, dramatic cliffsides, and more

Calabria has better beaches than many of the more popular destinations in Italy, such as the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. And the best part is – they’re filled with a fraction of the people you’d run into elsewhere.

2. The Incredible Food

Calabria is widely known for its own chili peppers, which are native and harvested in Calabria. Much of Italian cuisine is not spicy, regardless of where you are in Italy.

This makes the gastronomy scene in Calabria incredibly unique because of the Calabrian pepper, which is often incorporated into many of the regional dishes, as delicious as they are underrated.

Additionally, seafood is no joke in Calabria, and some of the best you’ll taste in Italy. If you’re a traveler who uses their taste buds as their compass, Calabria is a culinary destination not to be missed.

3. A Rich History

Being the southernmost tip of mainland Italy, Calabria has seen nearly everything in terms of chapters of a history book. Remnants of multiple civilizations, ancient worlds from far away, and the impactful influence of various cultures are still present in Calabria today.

While many people think that the greatest of Italian history only exists in Rome, it’s simply not true. There are countless historic sights and landmarks in Calabria that will easily knock your socks off.

4. The Lesser Known

The best reason to visit Calabria is for its authenticity. It is comparably much less touristy than both Sicily and Puglia, but with similar landscapes and natural beauty. There are a ton of benefits to this, including affordability for travelers, genuine experiences, better food, and the lack of tourist traps on every corner.

If you’re tired of hearing about the same four places to visit in summer in Italy, Calabria is for you.

Where Is the International Airport in Calabria?

There are 4 or 5 airports in total located in the Calabria region. As a visitor, you’ll only need to be aware of three major ones – Crotone-Sant’Anna Airport (east side of Calabria), Reggio Calabria Airport, and Lamezia Terme International Airport. Even though Reggio Calabria is the largest city in Calabria, it’s not the official international airport of Calabria.

The best airport to fly into when planning to visit the Calabria region is Lamezia Terme International Airport.

Lamezia Terme International Airport is located north of Reggio Calabria and closer to the popular seaside town of Tropea and the inland city of Catanzaro. While most of the flights to Lamezia Terme International Airport (airport code SUF) are from within Europe, there is surprisingly a direct path from Toronto.

Can You Take a Train to Calabria?

Getting to Calabria by train or public transportation is not as elusive as it may seem, given how far south it is. Yes, the train ride is long from major cities like Rome, but it is certainly achievable and, at most times, incredibly scenic.

There is a train that reaches Calabria from either side of Italy, both west and east. The railway that heads to Calabria and then throughout Calabria runs along the coastlines of the region.

You can easily reach any big city and major town in Calabria by train. Tourists who are looking to visit Calabria for a summer holiday will be thrilled to know that the train stops at many of Calabria’s best coastal destinations.

In short, you really don’t need a car while visiting Calabria if your plans don’t include much beyond hitting the beach every day.

For those looking to travel to Calabria by train from Rome or Naples, you’ll want to first arrive at the Lamezia Terme Central Train Station. From there, you can get to all of the major places in Calabria by train or bus.

You can even ride the entire perimeter of Calabria’s “toe of Italy” and circle back to Puglia, just next door! Calabria’s accessibility to train travel was surprisingly impressive.

How to Get to Calabria From Rome

If time is of the essence for you, book the one-hour flight from Rome (FCO) to Lamezia Terme. Flights to Lamezia Terme in Calabria depart from Rome multiple times per day, and a round trip can cost as low as €100.

Additionally, you can take advantage of flying domestically throughout Italy which means you can also book a flight from Rome to Reggio Calabria Airport or Crotone-Sant’Anna Airport. However, these flight paths tend to be more expensive since they’re less frequent.

Hopping on a train from Rome to Calabria is also an option because there is remarkably a train from Roma Termini to Lamezia Terme Centrale which doesn’t require any changes. The journey takes four hours and can cost as little as €35 one-way, which isn’t bad considering it’s the Frecciarossa, Italy’s high-speed train.

How to Get to Calabria From Naples

In 2024, there were no direct flights from Naples Airport to any of the airports in Calabria. There is no indication if this plans to change but as of now, you cannot fly directly from Naples to the Calabria region.

If you are set on flying to Calabria, you would need to take a train to Rome first and then fly out of Rome Airport.

Aside from driving from Naples to Calabria, you can take a train towards Lamezia Terme. The journey from Napoli Centrale to Lamezia Terme Centrale takes three hours by the Frecciarossa high-speed train. From Lamezia Terme, you can travel by train across to the east side of Calabria or continue further south.

Southern Italy Tours to Calabria

Don’t feel like planning a self-guided journey to and throughout Calabria? Book a southern Italy tour with Calabria being the main destination! You can easily find guided tours to Calabria with transportation included that depart from either Puglia next door or Rome.

Packaged tours aren’t for everyone because they’re more expensive than if you were to plan everything yourself. However, sometimes the price tag of convenience trumps everything else.

3 Tips for Visiting Calabria

Travel Calabria by Car

Driving is the best way to visit and experience Calabria to the fullest. There is no need to rent an expensive or large car (in fact, the smaller the better), and the cost of a rental car is undoubtedly worth it to see as much of Calabria as possible.

Taking the train or bus will only get you so far, but if you want to see any inland sights, visit picturesque beaches, or smaller towns in Calabria, you must travel by car.

Don’t Expect to See It All

Choose a particular corner of Calabria to visit instead of attempting to tackle it all. Calabria is a massive region, and unless you have two or more weeks to spare, it’s not a great idea to rush through all of it in a short amount of time.

The easiest way to go about this is to choose a specific province or even a peninsula to enjoy during a comfortable timeframe.

Learn Italian Phrases & Use Cash

Calabria is very much southern Italy and different from any region that’s north of Rome. It is, for the most part, unfrequented by non-Italian tourists, which means you should never expect to start a conversation in English.

Cash is still very relevant, and unless you’re shopping in a chain grocery store, don’t expect establishments to accept cards. The region of Calabria is comparatively way more relaxed and less structured, which are two big reasons why we love it.

More Southern Italy Travel Posts:

• Where to Stay in Calabria
• Is Tropea Worth Visiting?
• How to Get to Sicily From Rome
• Best Beaches in Calabria
• Places to Visit in East Sicily

Calabria 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