The 6 Best Calabria Beaches
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1. Tropea Beach
© Ron Lima Great for:- Swimming
Located in the "toe" of Italy as it dips into the Mediterranean Sea is the pretty old town of Tropea. Here you will find the lovely Marasusa Beach with its gently shelving white sands, calm crystal clear aqua waters and stunning cliffs. It is these cliffs and the ancient dwellings that perch on them that really set this beach off.
Here you have the best of both worlds; you can take… read more »
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2. Spiaggia di Riaci
Luca Volpi Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
This picture-perfect sand-and-pebble beach has grabbed a prime position on Calabria's west coast, around 10 minutes' drive from more touristy Tropea.
If you prefer chilled and laidback to loud and lively, then this is the spot. The sands are sprinkled with sun loungers and parasols, and there's a family-first feel here.
The water's calm and colourful, and the rocky surroundings here make for some outstanding photo opportunities.
Activities tend to sit on… read more »
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3. Scilla Beach
© Dega180 Great for:- Swimming
Crystal clear waters and a rugged backdrop are the hallmarks of this particular seaside stretch, but there's so much more to Scilla Beach than that.
This picture-perfect spot's the main beach in the pretty fishing village that it shares its name with, in Italy's lesser-trodden tourist trail in the south west of the country.
Keeping watch over the beach is the town's Ruffo Castle, which has been standing for centuries. If you… read more »
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4. San Nicola Arcella
© Valter Cirillo Great for:- Swimming
This small seaside town sits in Italy's sleepy south west, and its main beach is a top-notch spot for some serious chill time.
Set in a cosy cove, this pebbled stretch is fairly off the beaten track, so you can be assured that there won't be throngs of tourists disturbing your sunbathing session.
Facilities-wise, there are a handful of umbrellas - it's worth reserving them in advance as they're fairly limited in… read more »
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5. Le Castella
Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Nestled along Calabria's eastern coastline, with a front-row view of the Ionian Sea, this peaceful spot packs a whole lot of history into its beachside village.
The beach itself is a sand-and-shingle mix, with a distinctly rocky backdrop and clingfilm-clear waters for company. There's not a ton of space to move around in, but with its off-the-beaten-track feel and a mostly local crowd, it rarely feels overwhelming.
Unsurprisingly, there's little by way… read more »
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6. Grotticelle Beach (Capo Vaticano)
Alexander van Loon Great for:- Swimming
With its soft white sands, bold blue waters and rugged mountainous backdrop, Grotticelle Beach is an idyllic, Insta-worthy stretch of shoreline.
Located in Italy's south west, the beach is set in a secluded bay at the foot of the rock formations which stand behind it.
While some areas of the beach are reserved for the exclusive use of the swish hotels nearby, there's still plenty of public sands to sprawl out on,… read more »
