A Travel Guide To Calabria: One Of Italy’s Top Travel Destination for 2025

Hold on to your passports—Calabria is having a moment! According to SkyScanner’s latest data, this stunning Southern Italian gem has seen a jaw-dropping 541% spike in searches. Why? Because travelers are swapping the usual hotspots for something a little more under-the-radar. Calabria, long overshadowed by its glitzy neighbors, is finally getting the attention it deserves. With its picture-perfect beaches, crystal-clear waters, rich history, and a culture that pulses with life, this coastal paradise is ready to steal the spotlight. So, pack your bags—Calabria is calling!

What To Do

Believed to have been chosen as the home of the Ancient Gods because of its scenic beauty, the Calabrian Coast of the Gods is home to the stunning village of Tropea, Pearl of the Tyrrhenian. A seaside destination characterised by its white beaches topped by rocky cliffs, Tropea is a sunny and relaxing place, shrouded in a fascinating legend: it is said to have been Hercules who founded it, after liberating Calabria from the giants or while searching for the Golden Fleece with the Argonauts. The historic centre captivates its visitors by flaunting a romantic atmosphere that catapults them back in time. Traces of the region’s history can be found scattered around the region such as the Caves of Zungri, a 6th and 7th century unique rock settlement, a magic place which immerses you in another civilisation, consisting of caves dug into the sandstone and with natural springs.

What To Eat

Not only is Calabria home to the gods, but it is also home to delicious delicacies loved by locals and visitors alike; the renowned Tropea onions and spicy nduja. In the Tropea area, onions are grown by hand on the clay cliffs that descend from Mount Poro towards the sea near Capo Vaticano. By medieval times, Tropea had established itself as the destination for the best onions in the world, with numerous historical accounts from the period referring to the red onions from Tropea. While onions grow all over the region, Tropea onions are recognised to be the sweetest of them all, thanks to sandy soil and the coastal weather. Nduja is the Calabrian version of salami. Spicy and spreadable, it is typically made with the shoulders and belly of the pig, mixed with roasted red peppers and spices.

Where To Stay

For a romantic, adults only break choose Villa Paola

Villa Paola is a charming and romantic adult-only escape with just twelve bedrooms, dating back to the 16th century Franciscan convent before being restored into an elegant villa in 2000retaining the warmth and informality of a family-owned hotel.

Book it: Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night, based on two people sharing a double room on a B&B basis. villapaolatropea.it

For Sea, Spa and Sports choose Capovaticano Thalasso Resort SPA

With uninterrupted views the sea and white sandy beaches, the resort features two restaurants full of Mediterranean flavours, a 2,000sqm Thalasso Spa which uses seawater as the basis for treatments, two tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace, a private beach and five a-side football pitch.

Book it: Capovaticano Resort Thalasso SPA offers rooms from £210 per night, based on two people sharing a double room on a B&B basis. capovaticanoresort.it.

For Family Fun choose Baia del Sole Resort

Set in lush gardens facing the sea with views of Stromboli Island and volcano, this 4-star resort is perfect for families, offering easy access to the Mediterranean, a kids’ club, and a variety of outdoor activities in Calabria’s unspoiled nature.

Book it: Baia del Sole Resort offers rooms starting from £110 per night on B&B basis. baiadelsole.com