Planning to visit Tropea, deep in southern Italy? Our travel guide’s got you covered, with all the best things to do in Tropea, restaurant recommendations, incredible beaches and amazing accommodations.

Updated January 2024

Chances are that, like us, it was an image of Tropea that first piqued your curiosity about a trip to Calabria.

A pretty clifftop town on the west coast of this lesser-visited southern region, perched 150 metres above the irresistible blues of the Tyrrhenian Sea and overlooking a perfect pair of spiagge, just a glimpse is enough to make one's soul yearn for an Italian summer.

Sunshine. Good food. Turquoise water. Sea swims, Vespa rides, and romance by candlelight.

Indeed, aside from perhaps Cefalu and Taormina in Sicily and Sestri Levante in Ligura, we can't recall such a typically historic Italian town in such close proximity to such desirable beaches.

For several good reasons - both of practicality and preference - Tropea makes a sensible base for a few nights or longer to enjoy and explore this particularly seductive part of the Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods). Situated near the 'tip' of the boot, it's less than an hour from the airport, convenient to access by road or rail, and just a short walk, drive, or boat ride to several of the very best beaches in Calabria.

And, just so you know, Calabria's beaches are certainly the best we've visited across several summers in Italy.

After our own stay there during a two-week road trip Calabria, we've created this guide to help you plan ahead and make the the most of your time on this popular area of the coast. From the best things to do, where to stay, personal recommendations on where to eat + drink, plus some essential travel tips, this is our travel guide to Tropea, the pearl of Calabria.

A place where they really do know their onions.

THE TROPEA ESSENTIALS

What / Named Italy's most beautiful *borgo* in 2021 and the most popular destination in Calabria
Reach / Access by car, train, or from Lamezia Terme airport
Explore / The stunning coastline, including Capo Vaticano by boat - either hire your own self-drive boat (no license required) or join a popular tour like this one
Visit / The exquisitely beautiful nearby beaches
Enjoy / The local delicacy - sweet red onions!
Vistas / Take in the views from Santuario di Santa Maria

The Best Time To Visit Tropea, Italy

The secret to an Italian summer is trying to time it so that the beaches are lined with colourful parasols and browning bodies, the sea is warm, and all the restaurants are open for the season, but that you're not there during the busiest time of year when prices are much higher and overcrowding can impact enjoyment.

As Tropea is firmly established as a summer holiday destination for Italian families, friends, and couples, it will always be very very busy come July and August. Aside from those staying within the town, it also sees a lot of day-trippers for the beaches, and people coming from nearby Capo Vaticano resorts + hotels for dinner and drinks.

Personally, we love to travel southern Italy in September, crossing over into mid-October, and that would be the ideal time to visit Tropea. To avoid crowds, visits in late May and June would also be worthwhile but be mindful that temperatures may not be at 'beach ready' levels the earlier you arrive.

During the peak summer, it can hit 35°, so we’d recommend adjusting to an Italian mindset i.e. start your days earlier, have an afternoon rest out of the sun, make the most of shade, and eat much later in the evening than you may at home.

Out of season visits (pre-May, post-October) will have a very different atmosphere and aesthetic to those which really draw travellers toward Tropea in the first place, and many businesses will be shut.

Lastly, it's important to know that although Calabria as a region is very much lesser explored by Brits, Europeans and North Americans, Tropea is the exception to this. Numbers are of course absolutely nowhere near the levels of Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily, but it was the most surprising aspect for us.

Indeed, outside of Tropea we spent our entire two weeks without hearing or speaking to another non-Italian in Calabria, but this place had many more than we expected! That's not necessarily a bad thing, and we’re still vastly outnumbered by Italian holidaymakers here, but we thought it was relevant to add as Calabria's reputation of generally being off everyone's radar wasn't as accurate in this town.

The Best Things To Do in Tropea, Italy

Enjoy The Three Tropea Beaches

Slap on the suncream, buy yourself a cheap, bright parasol, and make your way from the historic town rising splendidly out of the cliff, and down toward some of the most tempting water you’ll ever set eyes on.

Move over Caribbean blues; it’s all about those Calabrian blues now.

Spiaggia della Rotonda (Rotonda Beach)

This the best beach in Tropea. With the backdrop of the pastel peach and pink buildings of the old town rising above it, it's very easy on the eye from any angle, and has wonderful, calm water for swimming. The only downside is that it's backed by the Via Lungomare, but you won't even notice this once you're settled on the sand.

It can be understood in four parts:

· On the right hand side, you'll find the L’Ammurrata restaurant and a couple of lidos - these are private beach clubs that you pay a fee to enter. Ideal if you want to have facilities, food + drink, and couple of sunbeds and an umbrella for a full on 'proper' beach day.

· To the left hand side of this, there's the largest section of spiaggia libera (free beach), where you can lay down your towel or set up you own parasols.

· To the left of this, the sandy beach narrows quite a lot, and there's a number of rocks. These aren't really the type of rock you can happily sunbathe on (though some do) and there's just a sliver of beach in front of them.

· Continuing left, at the foothills of the church, is the triangle of Spiaggia Mare Piccolo. As the quickest and easiest section of free beach to access, and pretty to boot, it's popular with locals and visitors. However, we noticed that it would often be in shade much earlier than other sections of the Tropea beaches due to its sheltered position by the rock face, so we'd recommend making a beeline for it in the morning or early afternoon. There's a little beach kiosk here for snacks + drinks.

Find Rotonda beach here on Google Maps.

Grotta dell'Isola & Spiaggia di Tropea

Carved by nature into the rocks beneath the Santuario, it’s easy to miss this hidden little grotto and the small, secluded area of sand reserved for those in those in the know.

Users of Instagram will absolutely have seen this photogenic spot (it may even have inspired your own trip to Tropea) but do be aware that the area for sunbathing really is teeny-tiny, even once you include the limestone rocks that edge it; your enjoyment may be tempered by how early you arrive - and therefore how much space you can carve out for yourself.

You can find the grotto here on Google Maps, easily accessed from this carpark.

From here, you can also swim round to the even more secluded Grotta del Palombaro (maps)

Spiaggia A Linguata

On the left hand side of the rocky outcrop topped by Santuario di Santa Maria, this white sand beach stretches for about a kilometre and is the most developed of the Tropea beaches.

You'll find several lidos and beach restaurants on entry from the main car park, but the beach then narrows down quite a lot due to the rocks and entranceways in front of the Marina Del Convento Camper Van Station.

After the break in the water, the beach continues on, with a number of lidos colonising the sand.

The main drawback of Spiaggia A Linguata is the amount of space taken up by lidos in summertime across the whole stretch, with very few areas left for people looking to just lay a towel down for the day; this is why Spiaggia della Rotonda tends to be more popular with those not wishing to pay for a lido.

Find Linguata beach here on Google Maps.

How To Access The Tropea Beaches | The historical centre is on the cliff overlooking the beach, so to access the beaches from there, take the steps to the left of the Belvedere Piazza del Cannone (maps), cross over the Via Lungomare, and then take your pick of left or right. The stairs are manageable, but not terribly fun in the heat on the way back up.

Alternatively there is paid parking on the roadside and in conveniently situated car parks - spaces are however limited and relatively expensive for Calabria. This small car park is €2/hour (maps), whilst the blue line parking alongside the Via Lungomare and Spiaggia della Rotonda (maps) charges around the same (wouldn't even attempt to park there unless arriving early in the morning). The most affordable option we saw was this car park (maps) at the far end of Spiaggia A Linguata charging €10/day, but you would have a bit of a walk to the nicer sections.

Being Italy, you'll also find various cars parked up illegally along the roadside, but we don't recommend doing that with your rental car.

Due to this, the more affordable and far less stressful option may be to park in one of the larger car parks or backstreets up in the historical centre of Tropea and then walk to and from the beaches. We've shared more info on these at the end of the post in our ‘How To Get To Tropea’ section, but always welcome your feedback in the comments if you find a better/more affordable car park close to the sand!

For an even more memorable way to experience the Tropea beaches, you can book this highly-rated double parasailing flight.

By the way, you can also find stunning beautiful beaches less than 10-minutes from the town - find out our favourites in The 14 Best Beaches in Tropea - And How To Visit Them!

Travel Tip // If you don't know what a lido is, or haven't been to an Italian beach before, then you definitely need to get your head around them before you arrive. These private beach clubs are very common in the country, dominating the majority of beaches, and it took us a while to learn how to enjoy them (not everyone does). In peak summer season in Tropea, two beds + an umbrella can cost as much as €60 and it's sometimes even necessary to reserve your spot in advance! Find out more in this article: The Art Of The Italian Lido

Explore The Coast of the Gods by Boat

What a day this was.

For anyone who grew up somewhere cold and grey, the thought of taking your own boat out on Calabrian blues, stopping only for swims, to sunbathe on the deck, or admire a secluded beach is a legit boss move.

And you can actually do it in Tropea without spending thousands; indeed, you can feel like a millionaire playboy for less than €100! Undoubtedly, this was one of our biggest highlights from our road trip and a deserved feature on our best things to do in Calabria post.

We set off at 9am from neighbouring Spiaggia della Contura (maps), and followed the prescribed scenic route southwest along the white cliffs toward the stunning area of coast known as Capo Vaticano. That's the point where most boats drop anchor for an hour or two, before turning around and enjoying the drive back to Tropea, which affords splendid views back on the town and its beaches.

Renting a boat in Tropea is therefore a great day out, but shouldn't be viewed primarily as a means to access the secret beaches of Capo Vaticano. Rather, going out on the boat is an activity in and of itself, allowing you to admire the cliffs and the coast, be out on the open water, access fantastic swimming spots, and do something totally different on holiday.

Driving the boat doesn't require a licence or any experience, but if you're not keen on being captain for the day or the cost of self-drive boat rental is prohibitive, then there's also the option to get yourself a spot on a small-group boat tour, where someone else is behind the wheel and all you have to worry about it for swimming, sunbathing, and how many glasses of prosecco on really should have at sea in the early afternoon...

The Details // Self-drive boat rentals are offered for the half-day (9am-1pm / 2pm-6pm) or full-day (9am-6pm). There are a number of tour agencies in town who offer this activity, but they're usually just the broker with the boat rental companies; most Tropea boat rental companies don't appear to have an online presence or aren't that well set up for non-Italians yet.

If you’d like to book your self-drive boat hire online and in advance, you can do so on Viator (this option is highly-rated and very popular).

We booked in the offices of CST Tropea Escursioni, but the boat rental was operated and provided by Shark Bay Rental Boats. In terms of costs, we spent €220 for a full-day boat rental and fuel, which admittedly was a massive splurge for us. However, there was space on our boat for another two people, so the more you have in your group, the cheaper the cost is per person!

Larger boats are also available to rent, but the smaller ones fitting 4-6 passengers are those you can rent without a licence.

It's the boat fuel however which really increases the cost. For our full-day experience, the tour company advised that fuel would cost in the region of €80-€100, but it ended up being €120. We did go back and forth quite a bit for fun and photos, so consumed more than just sticking to the fixed route, but the problem comes with the lack of transparency when returning the boat. A guy simply took a look at the tank, gave it as shake and told the lady in the office how much it should be - he could have been honest or completely fleecing us, there was just no way for us to know, and therefore no way for us to quibble.

So, make sure to factor a buffer into the overall cost of renting a boat in Tropea.

If you prefer to join a group or have a skipper, consider joining this highly-rated half day boat trip to Capo Vaticano with snorkelling. Another Tropea boat tour offers the same experience but is strictly limited to twelve people, includes an aperitivo and snacks, and has excellent reviews - find out more here.

Alternatively, if you're a group or family that would prefer a private boat with a skipper, check out this option.

Lastly, make sure to double check the meet-up point for your boat rental or tour - it's almost certainly not from the Tropea beaches but rather the port or just outside town.

Travel Tip // If heading out for a full-day experience, be sure to bring much more water than you think plus suncream, a shirt and hat to afford yourself some extra protection. Being out in the bright sun for for 8-9 hours is not a good idea, so give yourself plenty breaks under the boat’s canopy roof, in addition to covering up at regular intervals.

You can find more boat trip + tour options to book online here and here.

WANDER The streets of the Historic Centre

Tropea’s unique setting, with breathtaking lookout points and a soft pastel palette, is probably a key reason why it was awarded the prestigious Il borgo più bello d'Italia a couple of years ago, giving it the title of ‘The Most Beautiful Small Town/Village in Italy’.

We've been fortunate to visit a number of borghi in Italy over the years (including several in Puglia last year), and would say there are definitely prettier and more enjoyable ones to be found. As Tropea is an established tourism town, the crowds in summer can make it feel less authentic than others. It is certainly easy on the eye with plenty pockets of beauty to be savoured, but we can't recall any other of the borghi housing quite so many instant print t-shirt companies or people in beachwear.*

So, to make the most of those pockets and moments of stillness, we highly recommend exploring in the early morning pre/post cappucino & cornetto, when there are fewer people to share them with.

Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle (maps) is the main thoroughfare of old Tropea, at its quietest whilst everyone is sunning themselves elsewhere, but packed come the early evening passeggiata. You'll likely eat out on it once or twice, but we highly recommend also wandering and eating around the quieter back streets and hidden away piazzas to find a space that perhaps resonates a little more.

* in Italy, keep your beachwear and swimsuits for the beach, and try to avoid strolling through the old town in them. Also, never go shirtless in the town.

A few places to seek out in the historical centre are:

Affaccio del Corso | The endpoint of Corso Vittorio Emanuelle is probably the best viewpoint out to the water, and is the place to get an iconic short of Tropea. Make sure to stop by whenever you pass, as the colours of the water change quite dramatically throughout the day. Very busy at sunset. Find it here.

Cattedrale di Maria Santissima di Romania | Not many cathedrals have an undetonated World War Two bomb by the door, let alone two of the things! Built by the Normans in the 12th century, it's less opulent inside than you may expect, but the externals of this relatively tucked away church are an interesting blend from various eras of renovation and restoration. Named after Tropea's patron saint, Our Lady of Romania, she is believed to have protected the town from those bombs and various earthquakes through the centuries (most eerily, appearing in a Bishop's dream in 1638 to warn him, with his subsequent evacuation saving lives).

On a summer's night, the street and viewing deck outside it become quite lively too, with a few fast places to grab an arrancini or freshly fried fish.

Find the Cathedral here.

Belvedere Piazza del Cannone | Not the best viewpoint, but this nice open space has benches and a couple of places to have a drink and a good view of the Sanctuary. Find it here.

Il Corallone Tropea (maps) restaurant across the way also offers excellent views to accompany your meal. In the summer evenings, there’s often a small street market nearby.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto | A lively local's square, lined with bars and restaurants and populated by various generations. However, it's not somewhere we'd want to be staying above due to its got a bit of a late-night, noisy reputation in summer. Tamarindo (maps) is the coolest spot, with a good aperitivo and cocktails.

Palazzo Santa Chiara | Small arts centre within a beautifully dilapidated old palace, it hosts occasional performances and exhibits (maps)

Travel Tip // If you've got a rental car, note that much of Tropea's historical centre is blocked off to non-resident traffic due to its designation as a Zona Trafico Limitato (ZTL). The ZTL rule is very common across Italy's historic towns and cities, with the fines aplenty on unaware tourists being a big revenue generator. We fell foul of it on our first road trip, but have been on it like a hawk ever since. The impact for you is that if you're stay in a guesthouse or hotel in the middle of the old town, you will not be able to park the car right outside your door.

Note that we always look + book our rental cars via Rentalcars.com or AutoEurope, with both usually offering better deals and options than going direct. We’ll also be sharing our Calabria itinerary soon to help you plan ahead.

Eat Red Onions In Everything

Now, we're not saying it's mandatory for you to chomp into a raw onion, but you could legitimately do that in the streets of Tropea and nobody local would bat an eyelid.

Revered across Italy and known as the 'red gold of Calabria', the cipolla rossa di Tropea is far sweeter than your average red onion and far less, well, pungent and onion-y than you may expect.

Grown in sandy soil just metres from the beaches, the Tropea onion has the exact same sugar levels as others, but its unique sweetness is due to the conditions and climate creating a product with less pyruvic acid and lower sulphur compounds than normal. This not only makes your eyes less teary when you cut them, but allows an onion's natural sweetness to shine through, with locals saying the best in Tropea hit more like an apple on the tongue.

The sight of braided strings of purple onions adorning walls, doorways, market stalls, and being sold in bundles out the back of a a battered Ape truck is therefore common place in Tropea, and it's understandably a key ingredient in a number of local dishes. You'll find it in pastas, pastes, preserves, and pretty much anything else you can bite into (we particularly liked it in arancini).

A real emblem of the town, and a point of pride, Tropea even has a red onion festival every August!

Travel Tip // For a particularly memorable iteration, pop by Tonini Gelato (maps) for a try of his novelty red onion ice cream. A local institution for many years, featured in lots of TV shows and the international media for his novelty gelato concoctions, you should go there for an ice cream anyway. You can find more recommendations on where to eat later in the post, but we do also highly recommend a detour toward the rustic little deli of La Casetta del Piccantino - di Cortese Francesco (maps). Francesco and his wife stock lots of fantastic Calbrian products - n'duja, hot chillies from Diamante, meats, cheeses and various onion-based marmalades and pastes - and is generous with the samples. The small jars are also a perfect packable size to take home.

Take A Tropea Day Trip

As we mentioned up in the introduction, Tropea is the most established tourism destination in Calabria and offers the most options for eating out, entertainment, and accommodation in this stunning section of coast. Therefore, although busy, using it as a base for a few days or longer will be a good choice for many travellers.

We stayed in Tropea for five nights overall and, though we’d have trimmed that down in hindsight, it was ideal for jumping in the rental car to hit up the excellent nearby beaches, a few towns, and also venture up into the dramatic Calabrian hills, which are so characteristic of this region.

We’ll be writing specific guides for each of the below, but in the meantime, these are the Tropea day trips and tour experiences we recommend:

Scilla | A lovely traditional beach town, famous for its swordfish sandwiches and homes springing out of the water. It’s just over an hour’s drive south from Tropea, whilst there’s also a direct coastal train between the two.

Find out more in our Scilla guide.

Pizzo | Another pretty little coastal town, Pizzo has a nice little beach of its own but is most known as the birthplace of quite possibly the most decadent thing that will ever pass your lips. The tartufo is an ice-cream ball with melted chocolate inside and a chocolate shell, but that doesn’t really do it justice. You really will just have to try it yourself and, though you can find them in Tropea and elsewhere in Calabria, the best are still to be found in several of the cafes of Pizzo where they’re made daily. Find out more in our Pizzo guide (published soon).

Spiaggia Michelino, Marinella Di Zambrone, and Spiaggia di Riaci | These are just a selection of stunning beaches less than 15-minutes drive away, and you can find out which are the best fit for your itinerary and travel style in this post: The Best Beaches in Tropea

Capo Vaticano | Although you can visit section of the coastline with your rental boat or by joining a small-group boat tour, its secret beaches and viewpoints are so damn good that we went back a few days later with our car. Find out more in our short guide to Capo Vaticano

The Aeolian Islands | An island-hopping boat tour to this A UNESCO World Heritage site archipelago is a very popular thing to do in Tropea. Stromboli, with its hugely active volcano is the star of the show, but the island-hopping experience also includes time for shopping, lunch, and beaches in Lipari and Vulcano.

This full-day Aeolian Islands tour from Tropea has excellent reviews and involves a 7am departure; however, some may prefer to take this tour which leaves later and provides the chance to see Sciara del Fuoco on Stromboli spit lava at night.

You can find more tours, day trips, and experiences in Tropea here on GetYourGuide, and here on Viator.

Visit Santuario di Santa Maria dell'Isola di Tropea

Splitting the beaches in two and visible from most vantage points in the old town, it’s understandable how the 11th century Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola came to be a symbol of Tropea.

Once surrounded by water on all sides, this isola (island) became integrated into the land through a combination of man’s desires and nature’s changes. Earthquakes have taken its toll, with the church you see today a veritable ‘Trigger’s broom’ of changes upon changes, but it’s still an important religious site and an in-demand wedding destination for Calabrese.

Although it’s easy to admire from various vantage points, you can also head up via a set of stairs hewn into the rock to visit the small church, a peaceful but sign-heavy gardens, and enjoy lovely panoramic viewpoints along the Coast of the Gods.

Where + When | Open seven days a week, 9am-1pm, then 3.30-7.30pm. You can find the stairway entrance here on Google Maps, starting from the small car park by the beach.

As it’s still an active wedding venue, note that the entrance may be unexpectedly shut for a few hours. This happened when we visited, and seems more common than one may expect!

It’s €3 per person to enter the gardens, purchasable at the small ticket office half way up the stairs. As ever, remember that this is an active place of worship, and so you should dress and act respectfully within it.

Where To Stay in Tropea, CalabriA

Most people undoubtedly come to the Coast of the Gods for a bit of beach time, but it’s important to note that there a very few standard accommodation options on or opposite Tropea’s beaches down at the marina. Indeed, those of you with a camper van arguably have the best location at Camping Marina Del Convento (maps), right by the water.

For the vast majority of travellers, you’ll therefore be staying in the historic centre or in the ‘new’ town of Tropea. The latter is obviously appealing, but we’d suggest that as the new town offers easier entry & exit for day trips, more affordable accommodation options, sees fewer tourists, better parking, and is never really that long a walk from the old town, it can make a better pick for those spending a few nights or longer in Tropea.

We’ve done the hard work for you and, based on our travel experience and time in town, and personally reviewed thousands of options to curate this article with all the best accommodation in Tropea for every travel style and type of budget.

Historic Centre

Hotels

Palazzo Naso (££) | One of our favourite hotels in the historic centre, mostly due to the aesthetic - quirky, stylish and more ‘boutique’ in appearance than many others in the city. Rooms are large, contemporary with a neutral palette and bold artwork plus they have a large roof terrace with views out over the sea. Find out more here.

MaGia Guest Rooms (£) | If you’re looking for a budget friendly guest house in the centre of Tropea, this is an excellent option, with rooms for around £60 a night even in super high season (unheard of in the old town). The rooms are large, comfortable and the reviews excellent. Find out more here.

Townhouse Tropea (££) | This popular B&B at the edge of the old town is actually very modern, with beautiful, large and airy rooms, helpful staff, a fab breakfast and a gorgeous roof terrace / bar with views out over the sea. Find out more here.

Suites Pastis Tropea (££) | If you’d prefer stay within a historic building (well, you are staying in the historic centre after all, you should take a look at this B&B which offers gorgeous suites full of period features. An excellent breakfast is included, and the reviews are marvellous. Find out more here.

B&B Raponsoli, B&B Island Vista Mare, Franco's House Tropea and B&B Costa degli Dei are also great options in the historic centre.

Airbnbs & Apartments

Residenza Amante (£) | This small but charming one bedroom home is not going to be ideal for those that wish to spend days inside, but it’s got a great location in the old town, is full of period quirks, a balcony and excellent reviews. It’s also a cracking bargain! Find out more here.

Maruska and Sea View Studio are two other really great value options.

Historic Tropea (££) | The beautifully restored flat is located in an unmodernised palazzo, in a rustic part of the historic centre. Super modern but retaining lots of period features (like original floors and vaulted ceiling), it offers two excellent bedrooms, great living spaces and several terraces/balconies. Excellent option. Find out more here.

Another fantastic option in a beautiful palazzo, but with a more traditional aesthetic is this two-bedroom apartment.

Terrace Overlooking the Sea (££) | We personally think that this apartment is a little overpriced in high season, but the reviews and the views over Tropea’s beach and the sea beyond mean that it absolutely has to be mentioned! Find out more here.

Looking for a killer view right next to the sea but need a few rooms? Take a look at this three-bedroom apartment. Traditional decor throughout, and lots of space, the views are excellent.

Heart of Old Town (££) | Light and bright, this newly renovated one-bedroom apartment is super modern, with a neutral palette and minimalist decor - it also benefits fro a lovely shared terrace. Find out more here.

This two-bedroom apartment also has a great terrace (but with a bit more space inside and out), as does this highly-rated option and this exclusive apartment that actually comes with free parking!

New Town

Do note that when we use the term ‘new town’ we are referring to any hotel or accommodation that sits either immediately outside the historic centre (like where we stayed), or indeed up to a 10 minute walk away.

Solmaris Tropea Rooms & Suites (£££) | Located just a stone’s throw from the historical centre, this gorgeous new hotel offers large, super modern & stylish rooms, a great roof terrace and includes an excellent breakfast. Find out more here.

Don Carlo Tropea (££) | Another hotel right on the edge of the historic Centre, Don Carlo’s guesthouse offers similarly modern and lovely rooms, with excellent reviews but at a lower price point. It is however very very popular so if you’re travelling in high season, you’ll need to get that reservation in quickly! Find out more here.

B&B Maestrale is another good option.

If you’re hoping to keep costs in check, the following hotels have excellent reviews and offer rooms for less than £100 a night during high season: Aether Suites Tropea, Residenza Arena, La Suite Tropea, B&B Dominus Luxury Rooms and Villa Vittoria Tropea B&B.

Sui Generis Tropea Luxury Rooms (£££) | The only resort style accommodation within a few minutes walking distance of Tropea, this new luxury resort - built and furnished in a traditional style but with a modern and classy finish - has incredible reviews, plus a fabulous rooftop pool area. Find out more here.

Airbnbs

Appartamento Cavaliere | This is the one-bedroom we stayed in. Nice and new, it was ideally located, offered a wrap-around balcony and a decent kitchen. Only issue is you have to pay for bed linen in addition! We found this a little grating but it’s still a good choice for those unable to stay in the old town due to having a car. Find out more here.

Green House | Although the vast majority of Airbnbs these days are business ventures, if you prefer a more cosy, lived-in vibe, take a look at this delightful home just a short walk from the old town. A homely, cosy vibe throughout, the real selling point is the lovely garden area. Find out more here.

Other great options in the newer part of town include: Beautiful Apartment With Sea View, Villa Paradise, Elegant Apartment and App. Le Caravelle.

If a hotel or resort with easy access to the beach is very important to you, then we recommend checking out whether nearby Capo Vaticano is a better match for your travel style, with the pick of the bunch being Capovaticano Resort Thalasso Spa

Where To Eat

We’ve shared a few personal recommendations for eating out in Tropea, but certainly we didn’t cover every restaurant the town has to offer! Remember, when eating out in Italy at a decent restaurant, there’s usually a coperto charged in addition - avoid confusion and being that angry tourist who doesn’t know what it’s for by reading this short explainer: What Is The Coperto in Italy

Hostaria Italiana da Nino | We had initially dismissed it as a little touristy given its location on the busy Corso Vittorio Emanuele, but you may also be seduced in by the charismatic elderly gentlemen with the moustache. A really nice setting outdoors for an occasion meal and people-watching, and the food we had was pretty good on the whole (however, the seasoning could have been better). Find it here.

Quei Bravi Ragazzi (maps) was recommended to us and has good reviews, but we didn’t have time to eat there. If you have a wonderful restaurant experience or recommendation for Tropea, do feel free to share in the comments below.

Pasticceria Peccati di Gola Tropea | Nothing fancy, but really friendly people, good coffee and pastries, and a spot to have breakfast away from the historical centre - find it here.

Sara's Coffeeshop | Small place on Corso Vittorio Emanuele for a pistachio filled sweet treat to start the day before things get very busy. Open from 8am - find it here. Nearby Cafè de Paris in Piazza Ercole is fine for a quick coffee or Spritz aperitivo stop.

Absolutely don’t have a bad, overpriced tartufo from Cafe 54.

There are few small shops and mini-markets in the historical centre, but you’ll need to go further afield if looking for a supermarket. In our neighbourhood, Panetteria Mille Molliche (maps) had fresh bread and savoury snacks, whilst Market de Luca (maps) opposite was a good pick for fresh fruit, veg, and other essentials or take-home drinks. If staying in this area, be sure to spread your spend at the delightful little family-run shop da Caterina (maps), which has been there for about 40 years and everyone we met there was so lovely.

How To Get To Tropea + Parking

By Rail

Tropea's train station (Google Maps) is in the new town, about a 15-minute walk from the historical centre. It's got daily services along the coastline, as well as to Napoli (4 hours) Rome (5 hours) and Salerno (3.5 hours).

You can even arrive by train from Sicily! Although we had a car, we did look with envy at the train’s coastline-hugging route, as it would offer some gorgeous scenery to savour from the window seat. However, not having a car would make independently reaching several beaches near Tropea very difficult.

To check train times, prices and book tickets, see the official Trenitalia website.

By Air

Lamezia Terme (SUF, Google Maps) is Calabria's main international airport, and handily situated just 37miles/60kms from Tropea. Offering direct connections to the UK, Europe and, for some reason, Toronto, routes often only run for the spring-summer season and limited to larger cities.

You can book this private transfer from Lamezia Terme airport to Tropea.

Reggio Calabria Airport (REG, Google Maps) is two hours south, but it currently only has domestic flights with Rome and Milan.

If looking to fly in, you may find more options by arriving into Napoli or Salerno airports, then jumping on a train or picking up your rental car there (that's what we did).

By Road

Drive time is 4 hours from Salerno and 5 hours from Napoli, but we don’t think you should be driving straight down to Tropea from those two.

As mentioned, we visited the town as part of our longer Calabria road trip as that offered us the best opportunity to go deeper, travel to our own rhythm, and visit some harder to reach spots in the region. Therefore, places like Scala (3 hours), Diamante (2.5 hours), Fiumefreddo Bruzio (1.5 hours, or somewhere else along the coast are most likely to be your start point.

A car is also the best way to reach the very best beaches in and around Tropea.

We always look + book our rental cars via Rentalcars.com or AutoEurope, with both usually offering better deals and options than going direct. We’ll also be sharing our Calabria itinerary soon to help you plan ahead.

> For more details on Calabrian transport connections and other essential travel better tips, we recommend reading 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Calabria (published soon)

> Whether it's your first time or you've rented before, we highly recommend taking a read of 9 Essential Car Rental Tips for Travellers to save you money, stress, and uncertainty.

Parking in tropea

Remember, if arriving with a rental car, the historical centre of Tropea is subject to a ZTL, and so non-residents vehicles are not permitted entry at various times of the day. The ZTLs are clearly visible with a big sign and flashing lights, and there’s also a handy warning that they’re starting further ahead, giving you the chance to make a quick diversion.

To be clear, for accommodation in the historical centre, you should not expect to be able to enter with your vehicle at any time or park within it; some exceptions may occur, but don’t plan around them. For day-trippers, you will not be able to park within the historical centre at all.

So, the next best bet is to ask your accommodation provider or host where they recommend parking that’s free (non-blue line). The trouble is, as we realised each night we came back from a day trip, any free on-street parking close to your accommodation and the centre can be rare as hen’s teeth, requiring a lot of driving around the same one-way streets, and tight parallel parking. Absolutely possible, as we always managed to squeeze in somewhere, but you may find it a bit frustrating. We parked up for free each night in and around Via ia Francesco Barone (maps), but remember that finding a space on weekends is going to be even more challenging.

The alternative is to simply head toward one of the paid Tropea parking lots or or zones in the new town. The best option we saw was in and around Largo G Grimaldi (maps), which had paid and free parking available in a small lot and quite a bit on the street. Otherwise, the below may be fine for day trippers and overnights.

· Area 51 Car Park | €3/hour and €25 for 24 hours | maps

· Parcheggio Contrada Croce | prices not known | maps

· Car Park Three | €2/hour with day rates available | maps

· Car Park Four |Large lot charging €1.50/hour, no day date though | maps

Also, for day trippers, don’t forget the parking available down by the beach is also an option, but we wouldn’t want to do that walk up the stairs with luggage if staying in the historical centre.

If you find a better free / paid parking option outside the ZTL or can update prices, then feel free to share in the comments section to help other travellers like you.