13 Most Beautiful Beaches in Calabria
With its almost 800 km coastline, bathed by the waters of the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas, Calabria is a land that amazes for the variety of its landscapes.
Romantic inlets, cliffs overlooking the sea, rocky solitary bays, and beaches of fine white sand in which to treat yourself to hours of relaxation and enjoy the sun of the summer holidays to the fullest, combining the beauty of nature with the intense and genuine flavors of local cuisine, but also to a story that has its roots very far away.
Read also: A Journey in Calabria Along The Ionian Coast.
The beaches of Calabria are a real charm and are all to be discovered. Below you will find the most beautiful beaches of this enchanting and still wild region.
Grotticelle – Capo Vaticano (Vibo Valentia)
Capo Vaticano is one of Calabria’s most varied and rich natural areas. Here you will find flat, mountainous landscapes and even relaxing seaside resorts.
Among the beaches to stay at, there is certainly that of Porticello. It is located within a beautiful bay where white sand coves alternate with majestic cliffs and lush vegetation. You will also have a wonderful view of the Strait of Messina. The seabed is perfect for snorkeling, diving, and underwater fishing.
Grotticelle is another beach set among granite, Mediterranean scrub, and corners of paradise in the middle of a crystalline sea.
Here you will be captivated by the Capo Vaticano promontory, first by the beautiful chromatic contrast that the green of the vegetation on the rocks creates when meeting the turquoise waters and the white beach of fine sand, then by the spicy aromas of thyme, myrtle and rosemary of the Mediterranean scrub, that perfume the air.
Chianalea di Scilla – Scilla (Reggio Calabria)
Scilla is above all a picturesque fishing town and is included in the list of the most beautiful towns in Italy because of its colorful houses that offer glimpses of great beauty.
We are located on the Viola coast in the province of Reggio Calabria. Scilla is also called “Little Venice” because the choreographic houses of the ancient fishing town are born directly on the rocks and are lapped by the sea. A calm and clear sea that offers flashes of blue as in a sort of natural postcard.
Chianalea is one of those magical places to see at least once in your life, to relax on the beach, enjoy the sea and the sun, stroll through the picturesque alleys, and then visit the Ruffo castle: from here you will have a breathtaking view of the Aeolian Islands and the Sicilian coast. According to legend, the Trojan exiles founded the small village of Chianalea.
Le Castella – Isola di Capo Rizzuto (Crotone)
We move to the Ionian coast and discover another of the most beautiful beaches in Calabria: Le Castella, an enchanted place where history blends with myth.
Tradition tells of the existence of seven castles distributed in different islets of an archipelago, now underwater, and it seems that the name comes from here.
The beach, dominated by the Aragonese fortress, is a place to be experienced. The landscape is made up of cliffs, luxuriant vegetation, Posidonia meadows, but also the remains of Greek walls.
The seabed around the Capo Rizzuto promontory is perfect for snorkeling and diving. Among the coves, the sea is of an indescribable color. The right opportunity to go for a swim or to rent a boat and organize a trip out to sea. Some sunset views are irresistible.
Marina dell’Isola – Tropea (Vibo Valentia)
Tropea is certainly one of the most renowned and well-known places in Calabria for the beauty of nature, for the clear sea and also for the services offered. This pearl is located in the province of Vibo Valentia.
Located between the fortress of Isola Bella and the Rotonda beach, Marina dell’Isola is one of the most beautiful and evocative beaches in Calabria and one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. The calm and nuanced waters are ideal for snorkeling and discovering the seabed treasures.
You can reach its white sand and crystalline sea from the beautiful and scenic city of Tropea, descending from the fortress dominated by the church of Santa Maria dell’Isola, through very narrow alleys and stairways.
Tropea will also win you over for its pretty historic center but for the almost Caribbean scenery that offers white sand and luxuriant vegetation.
Dino Isle – Praia a Mare (Cosenza)
Dino Isle is located in front of Praja a Mare, on the north-western coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea and probably owes its name to the Greek word “dina,” which means vortex, storm, due to its waters which, in the past, were often dangerous for mariners.
Here you can appreciate an almost untouched nature full of rare plants. Dino Isle is an incredible world above and below the water: a paradise for divers because these seabeds are rich and varied.
Next to this wonderful natural scenery of colors and scents, you will have a special sea, especially for diving enthusiasts. The seabed is rich in flora and fauna.
Dino Isle is ideal for those who want a holiday in an uncontaminated place where the vegetation grows luxuriant.
San Nicola Arcella Beach (Cosenza)
In the Gulf of Policastro, along the famous Riviera dei Cedri, this wonderful beach of Calabria is bathed by the Tyrrhenian waters between Praia a Mare and Scalea.
The Riviera dei Cedri has always attracted demanding tourism that favors nature’s beauty and seeks uncontaminated landscapes and wild beaches. One of the most beautiful and fascinating beaches on the coast is that of Arcomagno, near San Nicola Arcella.
You will wonder at a long, wide coastline framed by a calm, clear sea with shades ranging from turquoise to blue. The beach is bordered by low cliffs, protected by the Pollino National Park mountains.
An ideal place to relax, where you can walk surrounded by nature and wait for the sunset: a real spectacle.
Diamante Beach (Cosenza)
Located on the north-western Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, in the province of Cosenza, the beach of Diamante is a beautiful golden beach, very wide, which extends to the center of the Riviera dei Cedri.
Here wonderful coves and picturesque volcanic cliffs alternate. The transparent and crystalline water of the sea, the beautiful seabed, and the view of the island of Cirella right in front of the beach make the landscape truly enchanting.
The town’s waterfront is one of the most beautiful on the coast and will also allow you to taste Calabrian cuisine with an unparalleled view. Don’t forget to walk in the historical center, famous for the many murals that color its streets.
Another place of interest in Diamante is the ruins of Cirella, located 172 meters above sea level, representing the ancient inhabited center. Another thing not to be missed in Diamante is the typical cedar-based liqueur.
Bay of Soverato (Catanzaro)
In the southern area of the Gulf of Squillace, in the province of Catanzaro, is Soverato, referred to as “the pearl of the Ionian Sea” for the beauty of its beaches.
The town is a very important tourist pole along the Ionian coast and by far one of the most beautiful beaches in Calabria.
Busy at all hours, full of clubs and restaurants, with many postcard views and a breathtaking sea, the bay of Soverato does not disappoint even at a naturalistic level, so much so that it has been declared a Regional Marine Park due to the presence of numerous colonies of seahorses, increasingly rare in the seas.
Swimming in this sea and snorkeling to discover colorful depths will be a pleasure.
The promenade allows you to take regenerating walks by bike or on foot in an environment surrounded by plants and palm trees.
Pizzo Calabro Beach (Vibo Valentia)
With its beautiful sea, Pizzo Calabro is a charming town perched on the Gulf of Sant’Eufemia promontory with its rugged coastline and alternating sandy and rocky beaches.
The beach of Seggiola is wonderful both during the day and in the evening, being in the center of the tuff rock on which the town is perched, dominated by the imposing castle.
Pizzo Marina Beach is probably the most famous in Pizzo, if only because it is located just below the Pizzo Marina promenade.
Enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea from here, perhaps tasting excellent homemade ice cream. Pizzo Calabro is, in fact, the city of ice cream, famous above all for the “truffle,” a typical ice cream of the area.
Copanello – Soverato (Catanzaro)
In the Gulf of Squillace, on the Costa degli Aranci, about 8 kilometers from Catanzaro, you will have a small picturesque beach surrounded by a sea with turquoise shades.
It is a beach formed by light and soft sand, set between two cliffs in a natural bay full of caves, archaeological remains, and inlets.
The sandy bottoms slope gently and thus become ideal for bathing and swimming. You can swim in a warm and shallow sea, ideal for those who want to try snorkeling or diving.
Copanello also offers numerous services: resorts, apartments, hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs, and everything you need to practice water sports.
Among the attractions that cannot be missed is the famous cave of San Gregorio.
Roseto Capo Spulico Beach – Cosenza
The beach of Roseto Capo Spulico is in the province of Cosenza. The town of the same name is a picturesque place full of history. The name refers to the cultivation of roses, particularly developed in ancient times.
Pine, citrus, and olive groves surround a crystalline sea and a beach that is not particularly popular. The beach is made up of gravel and pebbles, slightly sloping, which cross a rugged landscape.
The beach is lapped by a green-blue sea rich in fauna and flora that snorkelers can admire with a mask and snorkel a few meters from the shore.
This wild atmosphere on land turns into a colorful and lively world at sea. A unique glance is given by the Roseto castle, which stands out with its towers over the Ionian Sea.
Zambrone Beach – Vibo Valentia
The promenade of Zambrone, in the province of Vibo Valentia, on the wonderful coast of the Gods, will give you different landscapes at a distance of a few meters.
And so you will pass from long white beaches to granite cliffs, up to small hidden bays to enjoy a unique panorama.
On all the beaches, you can relax or indulge in water sports. For those who want to walk, paths will allow you to cross nature.
The Paradise del Sub beach is very suggestive, reachable by small boats, pedal boats, canoes, or a specific path.
The Paradiso del Sub beach, located in a small bay hidden by rocky walls, is certainly one of the most evocative places frequented by tourists and Calabrians.
Roccella Ionica Beach – Reggio Calabria
In a postcard setting, which will make you believe you have inadvertently arrived in the Caribbean, the beach of Roccella Ionica is made up of soft and fine sand, with a calm and clear sea that offers a moment of peace and relaxation.
Roccella Jonica beach is ideal for enjoying the sun, relying on a swim or a bit of snorkeling that will allow you to discover colorful fish and the marine flora of the seabed.
Overlooking the area is the imposing castle of the Carafa princes. It is a manor created with defensive purposes to counter the incursions of the Saracens.
A promenade that extends along 3,500 meters allows visitors to enjoy an avenue for pleasant walks.
Roccella Ionica is ideal for those who want to take advantage of a suggestive marine natural heritage without however renouncing the comforts and entertainment offered by the accommodation and recreational facilities scattered throughout the area.
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