Is Tropea Worth Visiting? FAQs About Calabria’s Most Picturesque Town

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On the fence whether or not it’s worth visiting Tropea? These are the top things to know before you go.

The spectacular seaside town of Tropea is drenched in natural beauty, filled with glorious beaches and is fully furnished with a lovely historic centre built into a clifftop. Its only potential downside? It’s not talked about nearly enough as it should be.

Often overshadowed by the neighboring island of Sicily, Tropea is located in the much less spoken about region of Calabria. With less publicity, can hopeful travelers be sure that Tropea is indeed worth visiting?

In this guide, discover the reasons you may fall in love with Tropea, things to do and how to get there.

Quick Guide: Best Things to Do in Tropea

• Sun bathing at Spiaggia della Rotonda
• Taking a boat tour of Costa degli Dei
• Walking through the historic centre
• Trekking to the top of Santuario di Santa Maria
• Visiting a figurine museum
• Touring the countryside by ATV
• Eating a lot of seafood
• Learning to cook local dishes
• Visiting secluded beaches in Capo Vaticano

The Essentials for Visiting Tropea

🛩 The nearest airport to Tropea is Lamezia Terme International Airport. Lamezia Terme is one hour away from Tropea by car and 1.5 hours away by train.

🚕 You can have a successful visit to Tropea without a rental car, if you plan on just vacationing within the area. Given the number of tours available (with transportation included), you can easily find a way to get around without having to drive yourself.

🤫 Tropea is the most known destination in Calabria and therefore, the crowded during the summer months. Visiting Tropea in early June or October is a much more overall pleasant experience.

🚤 While the few centrally located beaches in Tropea can get crowded, there are many opportunities nearby for quieter locations, which can be accessed by a shared or private boat tour.

🛌 Tropea is among the best places in Calabria for a memorable accommodation experience – there is no shortage of boutique rooms, deluxe apartments and luxury hotels.

⛱ Comparatively, Tropea is actually an affordable beach town alternative to other popular destinations in Italy such as the Amalfi Coast.

Will You Find Tropea Worth Visiting?

The coastal gem of Tropea is Calabria’s most admired destination. A stunning location and dreamy scenery are its most definitive features that have put the town on the map. Perched on a cliffside is the historic center of Tropea, while a long stretch of sandy beach with turquoise waters sits below.

To complete the painting, a sanctuary from the Middle Ages balances on a steep ridge and is a defining trademark of Tropea’s landscape.

Tropea is the most vibrant point along the La Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods), is home to some incredible seafood restaurants and filled with gorgeous hotels for every budget. It’s far less frequented than other famous towns in nearby Sicily, which means it’s not as crowded. Not to mention, it’s really easy to get to from other big cities in Italy.

While we can talk on for pages about why Tropea is worth visiting, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a catch-all dream destination for everyone.

Tropea’s overall tone is much of a relaxed beach town as opposed to an exciting city like Rome, where the list of tours goes on for decades. We wouldn’t recommend Tropea as worth visiting if you’re seeking an action-packed itinerary.

FAQs: Visiting Tropea in Calabria

How Many Days Should You Spend in Tropea?

Tropea is not a large town and can realistically be enjoyed as a day trip. However, if running through sites within just one day isn’t really your style, Tropea is definitely worth visiting for a comfortable period of 3 – 5 days.

Within this timeframe, you’ll be able to accomplish some iconic activities such as tanning at Spiaggia della Rotonda, wandering through the historic centre, hiking to Santuario di Santa Maria, and even a boat tour of Costa degli Dei.

Is Tropea a Party Town?

While you can easily find a place for a nightcap in the centro storico or sip on cocktails at the beach bars, Tropea isn’t a traditional party scene. The crowd is very much a mix, comprised of everyone from retired camper van enthusiasts, honeymooners, to families with young kids. The town’s atmosphere and feel is far too relaxed and quaint to be considered a party town.

Does Tropea Have Nice Beaches?

Directly below Tropea’s old town is Spiaggia della Rotonda, the most famous beach in the area. A few more steps away from town, there are a few additional beach pavilions, which are mostly occupied by beach clubs (or lido in Italian).

While they are all visually stunning, these beaches get crowded, which can make them slightly less enjoyable to visit in comparison to other beaches in Calabria. Nonetheless, they are, by textbook definition, gorgeous beaches with soft sand or small pebbles, crystal-clear water, and even caves like Grotta del Palombaro.

By utilizing a car while visiting Tropea, you can drive to nearby beaches within 15 minutes of town that are less crowded and equally as beautiful.

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Is Tropea Touristy?

Tropea is absolutely a touristy destination during the peak season. But it hasn’t crossed the line of being too bombarded by admirers. Tropea still manages to look like a normal town (where real people live) in comparison to other seaside towns in southern Italy like Polignano a Mare.

Although Tropea is filled with its fair share of souvenir shops, the town’s overall lowkey reputation has kept it from feeling like one big tourist trap with English-only menus.

How Expensive is Tropea?

As far as idyllic summer destinations go in Italy, Tropea is among the best values. In comparison to hot spots like the Amalfi Coast, Tropea is very affordable, especially when it comes to accommodation and restaurant prices.

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Finding a basic yet clean and centrally located place to stay in Tropea is not difficult for under €100/night and 4-star hotels can be booked for around €200/night.

Even though the cost of food is higher in Tropea than it is throughout the rest of Calabria, prices aren’t absolutely absurd for something like a beachfront seafood dinner.

Be aware of the fluctuating costs of renting umbrellas and sunbeds while visiting the beach. This is the area where most tourists overpay when visiting Tropea.

For example, the lido located closest to the centre of town can try to charge you as much as €50 for two umbrellas and loungers. Take the time to check out the prices for at least three or four different beach clubs for the best price (which should be around €30).

Is Tropea Safe?

Tourists will find Tropea to be a very safe destination. No precautions that are out of the ordinary need to be taken while visiting Tropea’s historic center or any of its beaches. This means you should still always keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of your surroundings, but these are habits that travelers should practice anywhere in the world.

Furthermore, we noticed that the streets within the town center in addition to the main beaches are regularly patrolled by local police, if that provides you some peace of mind!

Top Things to Do in Tropea

1. Take a Boat Tour of Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods)

Whether you opt for a private boat ride or join a tour group, experiencing the coast near Tropea is a must. Unquestionably, La Costa degli Dei is one of the most underrated pieces of shoreline in southern Italy. The water shifts between emerald and turquoise hues, while you stumble upon various caves, dramatic cliff sides, and secret beaches.

Boat tours in Tropea are abundant and range from sunset rides with included aperitifs, snorkeling excursions, and romantic private journeys.

Additionally, it’s also possible to catch a ferry from Tropea to the island of Stromboli.

2. Wander Through the Historic Centre

Tropea’s centro storico is as whimsical as you’d expect, with cobblestone streets, charming piazzas filled with restaurants, boutique shops, and ancient buildings. Staying in the old town center makes visiting Tropea worth it because of the quintessential feel of the historic atmosphere that’s frankly unmatched when it comes to Italian towns.

Since Tropea isn’t completely overrun by tourists, Tropea’s historic center still feels beautifully authentic as you have the opportunity to watch daily life unfold.

Book an inexpensive walking tour and make the most of your stroll through Tropea’s historic centre with a local guide.

3. Trek to Santuario di Santa Maria

When the exact origins of a landmark are a little murky, that’s when you know it’s pretty old. The monastery of Santuario di Santa Maria may have an unclear history, but the rock it sits on is believed to have been occupied by hermit monks dating back to the 7th century. Today, it’s an iconic piece of Tropea’s skyline and a must-visit for the best views of Tropea’s beaches and the town itself.

A ticket to reach the gardens at the top of the monastery costs under €5 and you must walk up a healthy set of stairs to get there.

4. Visit a Museum of Handcrafted Figurines

Unique shops like this one make lesser-known gems like Tropea worth visiting. Creazioni Artistiche Il Faro is a shop just outside of Tropea’s historic centre where all the figurine products are crafted by hand, as opposed to being made overseas.

This is undoubtedly the best place in Tropea for souvenirs. If you’re looking to bring back a little gift from your trip that’s memorable, inexpensive, and genuine, this is the place to go.

5. Tour the Countryside by ATV

The town centre of Tropea may be the most popular site for tourists, but it’s definitely not the only side of Tropea worth visiting and experiencing. Dive into the lesser-known with a locally guided ATV tour through the countryside instead. You’ll get the chance to visit pieces of lost history like ancient watchtowers, a valley of mills and access some of the province’s best adventure trails with panoramic views.

6. Eat a Lot of Seafood

Being a coastal town, it’s a given that you’ll find incredible seafood and no shortage of restaurants to indulge in. Eating good seafood in Tropea is unsurprisingly a very easy feat and doesn’t mean it’ll always cost you an arm and a leg. From high-end restaurants to beachfront casual eateries and takeaway cups of fried goodies, seafood in Tropea is a lifestyle and should not be passed up while visiting.

Top-rated seafood restaurants that make Tropea worth visiting include:

• Incipit
• La Pentola d’oro
• Marasusa Bistrot di Mare
• Damare Tropea Street Fish Food
• Ristorante La Conchiglia da Patea

7. Learn to Cook Local Dishes

Each region, province, and sometimes even village in Italy is known for distinctly different dishes that are mastered in that particular area. Calabrian cuisine is among the most vivacious in Italian gastronomy, largely thanks to the famous Calabrian chili peppers.

These little packages of heat are often incorporated into many of the region’s typical household dishes, which easily set them apart from any other regional cuisine in Italy.

Go straight to the source by joining a cooking class in the Tropea countryside and learn the ins and outs of Calabrian cuisine.

8. Visit Secluded Beaches in Capo Vaticano

It’s easy to combine a trip to Tropea with a visit to the nearby natural wonder of Capo Vaticano. Formed by grey granite cliffs, a series of intricate sandy bays, and its renowned geological features, Capo Vaticano is one of the most marvelously picturesque peninsulas in Italy.

The beaches of Capo Vaticano are as ravishing as they are elusive to reach. Many of the secret inlets are only accessible by sea (or a seriously steep hike down), which makes them all the more worthwhile to visit.

You can book a boat tour to guide you through the epic coastline of Capo Vaticano from either Tropea or Spiaggia di Grotticelle.

How to Get to Tropea

Flying to Calabria

Whether you’re planning to fly to Calabria from another city in Italy or internationally, you’ll need to find flights to Lamezia Terme International Airport. This airport is the best overall choice for flying into Calabria, despite the region having a couple more airports.

By car, Tropea is only one hour from Lamezia Terme and is the perfect first stop after renting a car from the airport before embarking on a Calabria road trip.

You can also reach Tropea by train after flying to Lamezia Terme International Airport, which takes about 1.5 hours. Conveniently enough, the train station in Tropea is a short distance on foot from the city centre.

📍 Read More: How to Get to the Calabria Region

Getting to Tropea from Rome or Naples

Visiting Tropea from Rome or Naples is a common idea for anyone looking to add some time by the beach to their Italy itinerary. Getting to Tropea from Rome is possible by plane and train, assuming you aren’t interested in renting a car and driving down south. If you’re departing Naples and headed to Tropea, your only option is to take the train or drive.

As flight prices always vary, you’ll need to check the prices for flight vs. train if you’re looking for the cheapest way to get to Tropea. Naturally, the train will take much longer than a flight but train tickets usually cost a fraction of the price of a plane ticket if you book well in advance.

There are a few crafty routes when it comes to taking the train to Tropea, but the most sure way to always find availability is to book a train to Lamezia Terme Central Train Station. From this main station, you can then book a local regional train that stops in Tropea.

Rome to Tropea Travel Time:

• 5.5 hours by train
• 1 hour by plane

Naples to Tropea Travel Time:

• 4 hours and 15 minutes by train
• There are NO DIRECT FLIGHTS from Naples to Tropea

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Renting a Car and Driving to Tropea

Since Tropea is not a large town, one of the best ways to visit it is by including it as a first stop along a Calabria road trip itinerary. This can start by renting a car either in Rome, Naples, or Lamezia Terme.

Arriving in Tropea by car from the north also means the drive is effortlessly scenic and follows the motorway in parallel with the coastline. A majority of the journey keeps you on the major road, which is super simple to navigate.

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The biggest benefit of coming to Tropea equipped with your own way of getting around is that you’ll have the chance to explore the best corners of the Vibo Valentia province, including Capo Vaticano. If you know you will not be satisfied sitting on the same two or three beaches during your holiday, you need to visit Tropea with a rental car to make it worthwhile.

🛌 Where to Stay in Tropea

Villa Paola – Best Luxury Stay

Tenuta Tropeano – Sleek and Modern Rooms

Palazzo Naso – Boutique Rooms in a Palazzo

Residenza I Gioielli – Best Deluxe Apartment

Tropea Solemare – Rooms with Seaview Balconies

Casa Seva – Best Affordable Apartment

B&B Le Grazie – Best Budget B&B

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Tropea 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

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that some links found in our posts are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.