From its sun-kissed beaches to its fiery cuisine, Calabria is hot, hot, hot. This southern region forms the “toe” of boot-shaped Italy—a wide peninsula lapped by the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian to the west and the Ionian to the east. Pack your swimsuit for long, leisurely days on the coast; snorkeling, scuba diving, and boating are the top things to do in Calabria. Once you towel off, head inland by bike, ATV, or horseback to explore rough-and-tumble mountains and sample dishes that will set your mouth ablaze.
A summer destination extraordinaire, Calabria comes to life when the mercury rises. Its endless coastline buzzes with locals and vacationers basking and bathing, and the waters along tourist hotspots like the Coast of the Gods (Costa degli Dei) between Tropea and Capo Vaticano fill with pleasure boats. Those who need a break from the heat head to the hills in the summer to hike, horseback ride, or raft down the icy mountain rivers.
Getting around Calabria by public transportation takes patience and ingenuity, as the local transit between the smaller towns and villages is often less than reliable. Trains run directly to the larger cities and tourist destinations like Tropea and Reggio Calabria; regional bus lines are the only option to explore the inland mountains. By far, the easiest way to travel through the area is by car. Rental offices are located at airports in Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria, and Crotone.
Wherever you turn in Calabria, you’ll spy long strings of Ferrari-red hot peppers drying in the sun. Peperoncino is a ubiquitous ingredient in Calabrian cuisine, and these spicy hot peppers are added to everything from fileja pasta to provola cheese to give it a unique kick. You can experience the full force of this powerhouse in one of the region’s most traditional specialties: nduja. This hot-pepper-laced spreadable pork sausage is four-alarm-fire strength, so proceed with caution.
