Road trip
Naples to Tropea by train: a ready-made 7-day itinerary for two
Pizza in Naples, then the train south to Calabria, the toe of the boot, where Tropea sits on a cliff above turquoise water. The south few visitors ever see, where prices are usually gentler than in the famous places. You can book every step right here, day by day.
Honest note: we haven’t been to Tropea ourselves, so the Calabria days are based on other travelers’ reports. We have been to Naples.
The trip at a glance
- Who it’s for: couples or two friends who want beaches, food and fewer tourists
- When: June or September. In July and August, Tropea fills up with Italian vacationers
- The route: one night in Naples, four in Tropea, and a last night back in Naples before your flight
- Getting around: no car at all. Train from Naples to Tropea, then on foot or by boat
The trip takes place in the marked area.
Flights
Fly into Naples, with one connection from most US and Canadian cities. Rome is another option, with a fast train to Naples in about 1 hour 10 minutes, but compare: the savings on flights often go into train tickets.
✈️ A faster option: fly via Rome or Milan to Lamezia Terme in Calabria. From Lamezia Terme, Tropea is about an hour by train, so you skip the long train ride and can swap the Naples nights for two more nights in Tropea. If the flights are on separate tickets, a late first flight means the connection is at your own risk, so leave plenty of time.
Day 1: Naples and pizza
From the airport to the center by bus in about half an hour. Spend the evening in the old town, and have pizza where it was born. The legendary spot is L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele at Via Cesare Sersale 1.
Stay: Naples, 1 night, ideally near the train station.
Day 2: Train to Calabria
Train from Napoli Centrale to Tropea, about 4½ to 5 hours. There are only a few direct trains, so you usually change at Lamezia Terme or Vibo Valentia-Pizzo to a local train. Much of the ride runs along the coast, with the sea outside the window. Book ahead for the cheapest seats.
Stay: Tropea, 4 nights.
Day 3: Tropea
The old town is built on the edge of a cliff, with a sandy beach below. Next to the beach is the church of Santa Maria dell’Isola on its own rock, Tropea’s best-known view. Try the local red onion, Cipolla rossa di Tropea, which shows up in everything from pasta to ice cream.
Day 4: Boat trip on the Coast of the Gods
A boat trip to the coves between Tropea and Capo Vaticano, known as the Coast of the Gods. Many coves can only be reached from the sea, and the water is crystal clear.
Day 5: Pizzo, or your own day
About half an hour by train to Pizzo, a small town known for its tartufo ice cream, a chocolate-coated ice cream ball, and for a church carved into a sea cave. Or a beach day in Tropea.
Day 6: Back to Naples
Train back to Naples. In the evening, one more pizza, or a walk along the Lungomare by the sea.
Stay: Naples, 1 night.
Day 7: Home
From central Naples to the airport is about half an hour. Fly home.
⚽ If you’re there during the season, check Napoli’s home games in our soccer calendar.
What it costs
A rough estimate for two in June or September, flying from the East Coast. From Toronto or Montreal, flights usually cost a little more:
- Flights: about $1,500 to $2,200 for two, round trip to Naples. More from the West Coast
- Trains: about $130 to $245 for the round trip to Tropea
- Stays: about $550 to $900 for six nights
- Boat trip: about $65 to $130
- Food: about $75 to $110 a day for two
All in, roughly $2,800 to $4,200 for two (about C$3,900 to C$5,800), probably the most affordable of our road trips. Prices change a lot with the season and how early you book, so treat these as a ballpark.
Cook the south at home with our Calabrian recipes.
More road trips
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Northern Sardinia road tripLa Pelosa, the Maddalena islands and the beaches near Olbia.
Southern Sardinia road tripCagliari, Villasimius and the white beaches of Chia.
Eastern Sicily road tripTaormina, Etna, Ortigia, Noto and Montalbano country.
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