Fifteen things to do in Calabria
Calabria is long and the sights are spread out. The list below is an editorial selection, not a ranking, and it follows the coast from Tropea in the north-west to Reggio Calabria in the south, then turns inland to the Sila. Not every entry is open all year, and none of them is guaranteed to be accessible for every visitor, so the opening times are given where they are published.
If you only have a few days, base yourself at Tropea or Capo Vaticano and pick four or five entries from the first half of the list. Reggio Calabria and the Sila are separate trips.
Tropea and the Costa degli Dei
Entries 1 to 6 sit on the Tyrrhenian coast, between Tropea and Capo Vaticano.
1. Santa Maria dell'Isola, Tropea
A sanctuary on a rock above the beach. A staircase leads up to the church, a garden and a panoramic terrace. The Abbey of Montecassino owns it. The operator lists 9 am to 7 pm in April, May and October (last entry 6:30 pm in October), 9:30 am to 8 pm from June to September, and 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on 1 to 15 November. It is closed from December to March. Local press gave slightly different times for 2026, so check before you climb.
Tropea →2. Tropea beach
The beach lies below the cliffs. Marina del Convento, Marina dell'Isola and Rocca Nettuno are on the 2026 Blue Flag list for Tropea. That is an award for those sections, not a clearance for swimming on the day, so read the notices on site.
3. Tropea old town
The upper town stands on a rock above the marina. Walk the main street, the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in the evening and look out over the coast from the edge of the old town.
4. Boat trip along the Costa degli Dei
One operator at Tropea harbor runs a trip to Capo Vaticano of about 3 hours, leaving at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm. Check-in is 30 minutes before. An aperitif and snorkeling gear are included. In 2026 an adult pays €40, children aged 3 to 12 pay €35 and children up to 2 are free. Prices are higher from 10 to 17 August. Sea and traffic conditions can change the stops, and nobody can promise dolphins or turtles.
Tours compared →5. The viewpoint at Capo Vaticano
A panoramic path runs along the cape at about 100 m above the sea. A natural terrace near the lighthouse looks out over Grotticelle and Santa Maria. The lighthouse building itself should not be taken as open to visitors.
Capo Vaticano →6. Grotticelle
A series of three sandy beaches in the Capo Vaticano area, in the municipality of Ricadi. The municipality announced paid blue-zone parking from 15 May to 15 October 2026, so check the signs for what applies after the season.
Our picks: things to do
On the water along the Costa degli Dei, through Scilla and in Reggio's old town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Scilla walking tour: myths, Castello Ruffo and Chianalea
Two and a half hours with a local guide, a photo stop and entry to Castello Ruffo.
Check availability →
Costa degli Dei by boat with snorkeling gear
A boat excursion with crew, mask, snorkel and flotation aids.
Check availability →
Reggio Calabria old town and Riace Bronzes museum tour
Three hours with a licensed guide: a walk through the old town and a visit to the National Archaeological Museum. Check on the booking page whether the museum ticket is covered.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in Calabria
Boat trips along the Costa degli Dei, city walks, tastings and excursions, with live prices and availability.
Scilla, Pizzo and Reggio Calabria
Entries 7 to 12 are on the coast and along the Strait of Messina.
7. Chianalea, Scilla
The fishing quarter of Scilla, with houses built on the rock and along the shore and narrow lanes that run down to the sea.
Scilla →8. Castello Ruffo, Scilla
The castle stands on the headland between Marina Grande and Chianalea. Access is from Piazza Matrice by a ramp to the reception. Entry in 2026 is €3. Children up to and including 6 enter free, as do people with a documented disability and their companion. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 1:40 pm and 3 to 8 pm, and closed on Monday.
9. Castello Murat, Pizzo
The castle walls rise over the town. A combined ticket for the castle and the Piedigrotta church is listed at €8 for 2026, reduced €6.50. Ask at the entrance about the castle's own hours and a single fare.
Pizzo →10. Piedigrotta, Pizzo
A church worked into the rock beside the beach, at Via Riviera Prangi (SS 522) in the La Madonnella area. The listed fare for 2026 is €5, reduced €3.50 for groups over 15, school groups and adults over 65, and the listed hours from 1 March to 31 October are 9 am to 1 pm and 3 to 6 pm. Children under 6 are listed as free, and members of the Italian heritage foundation FAI enter free.
11. The Riace Bronzes, Reggio Calabria
The national archaeological museum, MArRC, stands at Piazza De Nava 26. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm, with last entry at 7:30 pm, and closed on Monday. An adult pays €10 and a reduced ticket is €2. Eligible EU visitors aged 18 to 25 get the reduced fare, and under-18s and everyone on the first Sunday of the month enter free. A booked time slot does not guarantee that you go straight into the room with the bronzes. Restoration of the building's exterior began on 28 September 2026, and the museum says that normal use of the rooms continues.
Reggio Calabria →12. Lungomare Falcomatà, Reggio Calabria
A public promenade of about 1.7 km from Piazza Indipendenza to Piazza Garibaldi. It is a place for a walk, not automatically for a swim: for the 2026 season the city listed several sections in Reggio with a bathing ban.
The Sila plateau
Entries 13 to 15 are inland, on a plateau with a cooler climate than the coast.
13. Lago Arvo
One of the large artificial lakes of the Sila. The park describes sailing and canoeing here, with rental in summer. That does not mean the lake is cleared for swimming, and rental in October cannot be taken for granted.
14. Lago Ampollino
Another artificial lake of the Sila, listed by the park together with Arvo and Cecita for sailing and canoeing.
15. Cupone on Lake Cecita
The Cupone visitor center is an environmental education center with nature trails, wildlife watching, a museum and a geological garden. There is a picnic area by the lake. Free guided visits are offered to school classes and organized groups on request, not to individual visitors.
Sila National Park →The Giganti della Sila forest is not on this list. Visits to the forest have been suspended since 24 July 2026 after trees fell, and no reopening date is given.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pages that help you fit the list into a few days.
Things to do in Calabria: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Calabria?
The coast around Tropea and Capo Vaticano fills a few days on its own. Reggio Calabria and the Sila each need a separate day, because they lie far from Tropea. Check the opening times of the places you choose, since several are seasonal.
What can I do in Calabria in bad weather?
The national museum in Reggio Calabria, with the Riace Bronzes, is a covered visit. Castello Ruffo in Scilla and the Piedigrotta church in Pizzo are other options, but they have set hours and close on certain days or in winter.
Can I visit the Giganti della Sila?
No. The forest has been closed to visitors since 24 July 2026 after trees fell, and no reopening date is given. Casino Mollo was described as open separately, which does not replace a visit to the forest.
Is Santa Maria dell'Isola open all year?
No. The operator lists it as closed from December to March and gives shorter hours in the first half of November. Check the current hours before you go.
Do I need to book the Riace Bronzes in advance?
Single visitors can buy a ticket with a time slot. A booked slot does not guarantee immediate entry to the room with the bronzes, so allow time for a wait.