Best Hotels in Reggio Calabria: Where to Stay at Italy's Toe

Reggio Calabria is a city that most travellers pass through — the ferry to Sicily departs from here, and the Riace Bronzes in the Museo Nazionale are among the greatest Greek sculptures in the world (and the most important archaeological discovery in modern Italian history). Staying overnight rather than transiting rewards with a better experience of both — and reveals a southern Italian city with a seafront promenade, bergamot gelato, and views across the Strait of Messina to Sicily and Mount Etna.

Where to stay: by area

Lungomare seafront

The most atmospheric area in Reggio Calabria. The Lungomare Falcomatà is one of the finest seafront promenades in southern Italy — Gabriele D’Annunzio called it “the most beautiful kilometre in Italy.” Hotels along this stretch have views across the Strait of Messina to Sicily, with Etna visible on clear days. The Lungomare is pleasant for evening walks and the evening passeggiata is one of the most relaxed in the south.

City centre

Practical and close to the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia (home of the Riace Bronzes), the cathedral, and the main shopping street (Corso Garibaldi). Less scenic than the seafront but easier for exploring on foot and closer to restaurants.

Near the port

Convenient for early ferry departures to Messina (ferries start from approximately 5:30 am). Not the most atmospheric area — functional rather than charming. Best for transit stays.

Hotels by budget

Budget (€40–85/night)

Hotel Apan (Via Torrione 25) — A two-star near the centre with simple, clean rooms. Doubles from approximately €45/night as of 2026. The most practical budget option — well-maintained, helpful staff, and a short walk from both the museum and the Lungomare. No frills, but everything works.

B&B La Terrazza sul Mare (Lungomare Falcomatà area) — A small B&B with seafront views. Doubles from approximately €50/night. The balcony view across the Strait of Messina to Sicily is the main attraction — watching the sun set behind Etna from your room is worth the modest price. Limited rooms; book ahead in summer.

B&B Palazzo Musolino (Via Giudecca) — A guesthouse in a restored palazzo in the historic centre. Doubles from approximately €45–65/night. Original architectural details, central location near the museum. Good value for the atmosphere.

Casa San Giorgio (various central locations) — Budget B&B option. Doubles from approximately €40/night. Basic but clean. Useful for one-night transit stays.

Mid-range (€85–160/night)

Hotel Medinblu (Via Torrione 95) — A modern three-star in the city centre. Doubles from approximately €75–100/night. Clean, contemporary rooms with good facilities. Central position for both the museum and the Lungomare. The most reliable mid-range choice in the city.

Grand Hotel Excelsior (Via Vittorio Veneto 66) — A four-star on the main boulevard. Doubles from approximately €90–130/night. The most established hotel in the city — a traditional grand hotel with a restaurant, bar, and conference facilities. The rooms facing east have partial sea views. Good breakfast buffet.

Hotel Lungomare (Lungomare Falcomatà) — A three-star on the seafront promenade. Doubles from approximately €80–110/night. The position is the selling point — direct Lungomare views from sea-facing rooms (request specifically). Simple but comfortable rooms.

Top-end (€150–250/night)

Altafiumara Resort & SPA (Via Nazionale, Villa San Giovanni) — The most luxurious option in the area, located approximately 12 km north in Villa San Giovanni overlooking the Strait. Doubles from approximately €150–250/night. Pool, spa, restaurant with sea views. Better suited for guests with a car. The setting — a restored 19th-century fortress above the strait — is dramatic.

Where to eat near your hotel

Restaurant	Location	Specialty	Price range
Ristorante Baylik	Lungomare	Calabrese seafood, swordfish	Mains €14–22
L’A Gourmet dell’Accademia	Via Largo Colombo	Creative Calabrese, tasting menu	Tasting €40–55
Cesare	Via XXIV Maggio	Traditional trattoria, local crowd	Mains €10–15
Gelateria Cesare	Lungomare Falcomatà	Bergamot gelato	€2.50–4

Bergamot gelato is unique to this stretch of coast — bergamot citrus grows almost exclusively in Calabria’s southern tip, and the gelato made from it is sharp, aromatic, and unlike any other flavour. Try it at any gelateria along the Lungomare.

Swordfish (pesce spada) is the local seafood speciality — grilled, in involtini (rolled with breadcrumbs and capers), or as carpaccio. The Strait of Messina is a traditional swordfish fishing ground.

The Riace Bronzes

The essential reason to stop in Reggio Calabria. Two full-size Greek bronze warriors from approximately 450 BCE, discovered by a diver off the coast of Riace in 1972. They are among the very few surviving large-scale Greek bronzes in the world (most were melted down in antiquity) and represent the absolute peak of Classical Greek sculpture.

Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia (Piazza de Nava): Entry approximately €8 as of 2026. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9 am–8 pm (last entry 7:30 pm). Closed Monday. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the museum — the Bronzes are the highlight, but the collection of Greek and Roman artefacts from Calabria’s Magna Graecia period is substantial. The museum was renovated and reopened in 2016 with modern exhibition design.

Ferry connections to Sicily

Route	Operator	Duration	Frequency	Foot passenger fare
Reggio → Messina	Bluferries	~20 min	Every 20–40 min	~€3.50
Villa San Giovanni → Messina	Caronte & Tourist	~20 min	Every 20 min	~€3 (cars ~€35–45)

Villa San Giovanni (12 km north, reachable by Regionale train in approximately 10 minutes, €1.50) is the main car ferry terminal and also handles the train-ferry service — trains physically board the ferry for the crossing to Messina. Foot passengers can use either port.

First ferries depart approximately 5:30 am; last ferries approximately 10–11 pm. No advance booking needed for foot passengers.

Practical notes

• Aspromonte National Park is approximately 30 minutes by car from Reggio — mountain walking, medieval villages, and views down to the Ionian Sea coast. A rental car (approximately €35–50/day from the centre) opens up the park and the surrounding Calabrian coast
• The city was largely rebuilt after the devastating 1908 earthquake (one of the deadliest in European history). The pre-earthquake architecture is limited, but the Art Nouveau rebuilding gives the Corso Garibaldi its current character
• Reggio Calabria Centrale station is on the main Trenitalia line along the Calabrian coast. Trains from Naples take approximately 4.5–5 hours (Regionale, approximately €25) or approximately 4 hours (Frecciargento, approximately €40–60). From Rome approximately 5.5 hours by Frecciargento
• The Aeolian Islands (Lipari, Stromboli, Vulcano) are accessible via Milazzo, approximately 3 hours north by train — making Reggio a practical overnight before an island trip
• Best time to visit: Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) for mild temperatures. Summer (July–August) is hot (35°C+) but the seafront breeze provides relief. Winter is mild compared to northern Italy

---

For the full Reggio Calabria travel guide covering the Riace Bronzes, the Lungomare, and ferry connections to Sicily. For things to see in Reggio Calabria, see things to do in Reggio Calabria. For day trips to Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and Tropea, see day trips from Reggio Calabria. Sicily is 20 minutes by ferry — our Sicily guide and Sicily itinerary cover the island. For a southern Italy circuit, our southern Italy itinerary connects Naples and Reggio Calabria.