Planning a day trip to Capo Vaticano or choosing it as your holiday base in Calabria? Our guide’s got everything you need to experience this stunning section of Italian coastline.

Rightly talked about as a wonderful destination in Calabria, Capo Vaticano is also a little misunderstood.

Jutting out from just above the toe of Italy’s boot toward Sicily across the narrow Straits of Messina, its scenery is dramatic, rugged, and amongst the best you’ll find on this divine stretch of coast known as the Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods).

But, a surefire way to tell if an article is written by someone (or ChatGPT) who's never actually been there, is if they refer to Capo Vaticano as a single beach - and this seems to happen a lot.

Comprising seven kilometres of that quintessentially Calabrian coastline - all dramatic green hills, off-white granite cliffs, slivers of secret white sand beaches, mystical caves, and the most irresistible blues of the Tyrrhenian Sea - it’s home to a half dozen relatively hidden-away beaches, countryside guesthouses, a few luxury resorts, and wild steep zig-zag trails from the 124-metre clifftops to the heavenly waters.

Without a single town or central point of interest, and with the nearest train station 2 kms way, it can be a little challenging to navigate independently and spontaneously, but it’s a very popular day trip from nearby Tropea as well as a standalone holiday destination amongst Italians and an increasing number of Europeans.

On our Calabria summer road trip, we explored it by boat, rental car, drone, and on foot, so that we could fully appreciate its beauty and range of breathtaking views, as well as help you on your own day trip or longer stay in a fabulous part of Italy’s coastline.

In this post, we’ve shared all the information and importation you need to plan ahead. From how to get to Capo Vaticano from elsewhere in Calabria, a breakdown of its best beaches and viewpoints, essential travel tips, and a personally curated list of the best accommodation options by the beaches and in the countryside so you can choose the perfect place for your travel style and budget.

This is our guide to visiting Capo Vaticano in Calabria.

Capo Vaticano | Essentials

// A promontory in Calabria, southwest Italy
// 7km stretch of rugged cliffs and coastline
// Home to several paradise beaches
// Best accessed by car or boat
// Popular day trip from Tropea
// Hub for hotels and holiday resorts

How To Get To Capo Vaticano

Starting from Spiaggia del Tono and ending after Spiaggia di Grotticelle, and with no central point or town, Capo Vaticano sounds like a hinterland but it's actually easy to reach - either on a road trip or as a day trip from Tropea.

With several excellent accommodation options of its own, Capo Vaticano is an increasingly popular standalone holiday base too.

Lamezia Terme, Calabria's main international airport, is a 90-minute/72 km drive away, whilst the the popular clifftop town of Tropea, is just a straightforward 25-minute drive. Reggio Calabria, the largest city in Calabria, is 90-minutes away by road.

You can book airport transfers from Lamezia Terme to Capo Vaitcano here, but it's a really good idea to rent a car if you wish to have more independence and visit more of Calabria - check availability and prices on Rentalcars.com and AutoEurope.

The closest train station is in the village of Ricadi (maps), which is a half-hour walk/2km from the coastline, so you could realistically do it that way. Ricadi station is 10-minutes by train from Tropea, 1 hour from Scilla, 1 hour 10 minutes from Pizzo, and 1 hour 40 minutes from Reggio Calabria.

Alternatively, the town of Santa Maria (maps) to the south of Spiaggia di Grotticelle is a conveninent accommodation base / access point, but is technically outwith Capo Vaticano.

By bus, we did see one operator on the roads we drove, but information has been challenging to find online. The 234, 237, 238, and 240 services definitely run between Ricadi and Tropea in summer, and you can find the the schedules and route on the Ferrovie della Calabria website. However, do note the their website is quite difficult to navigate, and timetables automatically download when you try to open them! There used to be a tourist shuttle bus, but it appears to have ceased operations in the last few years.

If you take the bus to Capo Vaticano and have more insight to help us update the post for other travellers like you, then please let us know in the comments.

Alternatively, as we mention in our Tropea destination guide, a popular way to visit Capo Vaticano from Tropea is to rent your own boat! Known as the Coast of the Gods, the stretch of coastline between Tropea and Capo Vaticano is one of the most spectacular in Italy and enjoying it from the water is a fabulous travel experience.

We did this as a full-day activity (8 hours), but it can also be done for a half-day (4 hours), and you don't need a licence. Alternatively, if you don't fancy being captain, you can join one of several highly-rated Capo Vaticano boat tours running the same route:

· Tropea to Capo Vaticano Tour | Half-day tour with snorkelling and an aperitif - book here.

· Capo Vaticano Cruise | A larger boat with an open-air top deck and swimming time at Grotticelle Bay. Find out more here.

· Small-Group Boat Trip | With groups limited to 12 people, snorkelling, snacks, and swimming included, it’s understandable why this Capo Vaticano tour has so many excellent reviews. Find out more here.

Plan // You can find out more in our guide on the best things to do in Tropea, whilst you can find more boat + snorkelling tours for Capo Vaticano and the Coast of the Gods here and here.

Is it anything to do with the pope?!

The obvious thought is that this cape in Calabria was named after the Vaticano (Vatican) in Rome - the Catholic Church's city-state - but etymological curiosity led to a different conclusion.

The Vatican is so-called because 'Vaticanus' was the Roman name for the small hill it was built upon. However, some contend that that word has deeper meaning, relating to 'prophets, seers, and fortune-tellers'. Indeed, there are legends that sailors would seek out an oracale living in the caves of Capo Vaticano before undertaking a dangerous voyage, and so the name of the area has nothing to do with the Pope!

However, as both the Roman and Calabrian Vaticano have shared origin legends as a place where people went to divine the future and communicate with God, there is a serendipitous link between the two places 654 kms apart!

VISIT THE Capo Vaticano Beaches

When the hardest decision you have to make is whether to make the extra effort to spend the day on a secluded beach at the end of a steep trail, or to opt for a busier slice of a southern Italian version of paradise, you know you're doing something right in life.

All the Capo Vaticano beaches are beautiful, fringing warm, shallow waters with those signature Calabrian blues, but some will be too difficult to access for children or those with mobility issues. For wheelchair users, you will still be able to access a few of the viewpoints over them and out toward the turquoises of the Tyrennhian.

Additionally, some have zero facilities beyond the sand and the sea, meaning you have to take everything in + out with you for the day (and waaaay more water than you think). You may find a few additional tenny-tiny beaches or spiaggetta on maps, but these are only possible to access via zig-zag trails from private homes and hotels, rented kayak/pedalo, or scrambling on foot from the beaches listed below.

Plan // The 14 Best Beaches in Tropea

Spiaggia del Tono

The most accessible and developed of the Capo Vaticano beaches, it's backed by several resorts - including the popular Capovaticano Resort Thalasso Spa - as well as guesthouses and camping sites. If you have a beach day here, you'll be able to eat at the handful of restaurants and snack bars too whilst there are chairs + umbrellas to rent as well as quite a lot of free beach. However, if you've only got a day trip in Capo, this is isn't the beach we'd choose.

Access | Find it here on Google Maps. Most on-street parking is reserved for residents, but you can find a limited amount of free + paid parking spaces in this car park. In summer, there are also more private car parks open.

Stay | Our accommodation pick for Spiaggia del Tono is Capovaticano Resort Thalasso Spa, but you can find more accommodation options at the end of this post.

Spiaggia Praia Di Fuocu

Accessible only by boat or a steep, overgrown trail down the cliffside, you could even end up having this stunning small beach to yourself for a few hours if you arrive early in the morning.

Divine, with wonderful snorkelling and swimming in the calm, clear, shallow waters, it’s next door to the equally glorious and secluded Spiaggia di Ficara.

Find it here on Google Maps.

Stay | Our accommodation pick for Praia di Fuocu is Residence Praia di Fuoco. You can find more accommodation options at the end of this post.

Spiaggia di Ficara

The neighbouring beach to I Fuocu, separated by a craggy rock, Ficara has the same serenely secluded properties despite being about about three times bigger. Still intimate and lesser-known, it's absolutely one you should consider if you want to make everyone at home incredibly jealous of your decision to travel in Calabria.

The pair feature very highly in our best 14 beaches in and around Tropea.

You can swim between the two, and note that there are zero services or amenities on both these Capo Vaticano beaches, so you need to bring everything down with you (and take it back up).

Access | Find it here on Google Maps.

To reach them by car, first you have to drive to Parco Belvedere Capo Vaticano (maps), where there are a dozen or so spots in the free paved car park. From there go over the fence to take the very steep, very undeveloped, vertiginous, and sometimes very unclear pathways down to either Fuocu or Ficara beach. This isn't suitable for children, needs proper shoes, and is a bit more adventurous than some of you may like on a certain type of beach day (especially on the way back up), so please bear this in mind before setting off and act appropriately if attempting to walk down.

When we rented a boat for the day in Tropea, we anchored in the area of Fuocu + Ficara for a few hours, and you can swim from the boat to either of the twin beaches. Alternatively, the easiest way for people to arrive is via pedalo, kayak, or taxiboat from Grotticelle beach (20-30 minutes by pedalo, €15 pp for taxi).

We've read that there is also a path down from the Faro di Capo Vaticano, but we didn't personally see or visit it, so do let us know in the comments if you find it.

Stay | Our accommodation pick for Spiaggia di Ficara is Casa Angiolone. You can find more accommodation options at the end of this post.

Grotticelle Beach

The furthest south of the Capo Vaticano beaches, this is the best option if accessibility and facilities are important, but you still want the dramatic landscapes and setting. It also has several decent accommodation options overlooking the water.

Spiaggia di Grotticelle has a whale-tail shape to it, with three bays sheltered by the cliffs. The small 'middle' bay, to the right of the entrance, and the larger bay to the left, have several lidos, a few beaches cafes/restaurants, as well as kayak/pedalo rental and boat taxis to bring you to the more secluded beaches mentioned earlier.

To the right hand side, around the rocks, you can find the third bay which has a more secluded vibe and atmosphere, with the opportunity to escape the summer crowds and find yourself a quiet spot on the rocks or sand.

Access | It's a very narrow, downward road to the beach and parking, which isn't terribly fun on a busy day. The best car park is here, overlooking the beaches and with stairs for access. It has about 30-odd spaces, charging €2/hour. Turn up early if hoping for a spot, otherwise you'll be out of luck on any summer day (especially on weekends).

The road down to the car park also has blue line paid-parking on the left hand side, and free white line spaces snaking up the hill. Again though, these are in short supply and can be a challenge to squeeze into (especially if your parallel parking isn't up to scratch and there's a queue of waiting vehicles). There are also some paid parking lots in summer, expanding capacity and usually offering a 'day-rate' and easier spots to park up.

Stay | Our accommodation pick for Spiaggia di Grotticelle is Bluebay Resort. You can find more accommodation options at the end of this post.

Capo Vaticano Viewpoints

It’s difficult to find a bad view here, but we wanted to share a few specific spots we found where you can enjoy some of the best viewpoints of the beaches, the coastline, and the Tyrennihan Sea.

If you choose to stay in the region, note that many hotels are fantastically situated with their own private rooftops and terraces.

· Praia di Fuoco Viewpoint | Easily accessible by car, with a few free parking places, this is both the access point to two the secluded twin beaches, as well as the place to enjoy the best view of them. Find it here.

· Terraza Panoramica | Next to Capo Vaticano’s lighthouse, you’ll find couple of belvederes and peaceful seating areas with sweeping views of Spiaggia di Grotticelle to the left. You can park your car outside the lighthouse, and it’s a short walk to the viewpoints. In the vicinity, there’s a basic small cafe (Wine Bar Il Faro) and a beer garden, where the drinks cost a bit more than normal but the tables give an opportunity to savour the view.

Also, remember that a popular way to enjoy and experience the beautiful landscapes, views, and waters of the Capo Vaticano is to rent a boat or join a boat trip experience from Tropea.

Capo Vaticano Hotels + Accommodation

If you're looking for a hotel resort experience, Capo Vaticano is actually the area of Calabria you'll find the most options, whilst there is also a good smattering of guesthouses and small hotels by the coast or spread out in small countryside villages a short walk/drive away.

We’ve found a selection of the best for you, and listed them in order of the beaches they’re on or closest to; those that are rural but equidistant from all the beaches are under the ‘nearby’ section at the end.

Note that the holiday town of Santa Maria, to the south of Grotticelle Beach, is not within the boundaries of Capo Vaticano so we have not included it here. However, it does have a lot of accommodation as well as its own beach, and is just a 2 km walk from Grotticelle, so can be a good base to explore this area and the Coast of the Gods. You can check out the accommodations available here on Booking.com and here on Airbnb.

Grotticelle Beach

Bluebay Resort | Perched on the cliffs, right above Spiaggia di Grotticelle, this 4* resort benefits from a beautiful location, something that’s really appreciated from the its panoramic, sea-view terrace. Rooms are modern and comfortable, if a little on the bare side. Available on booking.com or alternatively as part of a package via TUI.

Hotel Village Eden | This 3* benefits from a variety of room options including panoramic villas, hotel rooms and apartments, either at their beachside location, or in an annex up the hill. Rooms / apartments are a little tired, but comfortable and of a good size. As a plus, there’s a free shuttle connecting the hill-based accommodations with the beach. Well set-up for families. Find out more here.

There also some great Airbnb properties available here including Casa Amelia, Villa Renaissance, Art to Go, Casa Serena, and this incredible Amazing View Beach Villa for large groups.

Spiaggia Fuocu + Ficara

The accommodation options behind these two small coves are understandably far fewer, and limited to more basic self-catering villas or apartments.

We recommend taking a look at Residence Praia di Fuoco, the gorgeous little countryside villas of Casa Bocce and Casa Angiolone, and the stunning Cliff House (although do note that last one doesn’t have any reviews yet but it’s lovely and ideal for big groups).

Spiaggia del Tono

Capovaticano Resort Thalasso Spa | This super popular 4-star hotel is more than worthy of the praise, and is definitely our pick for those looking for a beautiful resort in Capo Vaticano. Offering a privileged beachside location, set within landscaped gardens the facilities are top-notch (including a fantastic spa and panoramic pool), the rooms are large, light and contemporary and guests speak very highly of the on-site restaurant. Definitely one to take a look at - find out more here.

Whilst it’s technically on Torre Ruffo, we just wanted to give a quick nod to Baia del Sole Resort. This modern beach-front hotel, set within lush gardens, offers great, tastefully furnished and decorated rooms, two restaurants, a lovely pool area and caters well to families. Find out more here.

Nearby

If you don’t mind being a walk away from the beach, atop the hills, consider the resorts of Hotel Residence Costa Azzurra, Residence Hotel La Taverna or II Gattopardo.

Also, remember that the popular town of Tropea is just 25-minutes away and lots of travellers stay there and visit Capo Vaticano as a day trip. Find out more about the town, as well as our accommodation picks there, in The Best Things To Do in Tropea | The Pearl of Calabria.

If basing yourself in Capo Vaticano, we recommend renting a car to make the most of the Coast of the Gods and the rest of Calabria. You can find more information + inspiration in our Calabria Road Trip guide and 23 Things To Know Before You Visit Calabria.