Where to Stay in Tropea?

Accommodations in Tropea are generally located in two distinct areas: the lower area (called the Marina), where the beaches are, and the upper area, situated on a rocky promontory about 60 meters high. The latter includes the historic center, where most of the town's tourist attractions are found. The two areas are connected by several staircases with quite a few steps, located in different parts of the town.

Before deciding where to book your accommodation, you should ask yourself what you want most from your vacation in Tropea. Hotels near the beach are generally called Clubs, have larger capacity, and often have restaurants and private beaches (private beaches in Italy are called lidos). Some of these include half-board meals. On the other hand, if you stay in the upper part of town (where the town itself is), you'll be able to easily go for walks and have the best restaurants, bars, and gelaterias at your fingertips.

Another thing to consider, especially if you've rented a car to visit other places in Calabria, is parking. Parking spaces in Tropea, even paid ones, are quite limited and fill up quickly during the season, so it's essential to look for accommodation that also offers parking.

Accommodation in the Historic Center

In the historic center, you will mainly find apartments and B&Bs. This area is ideal for those who love lively places and want to be close to shops, restaurants, and bars. Some disadvantages include noise late into the evening and a lack of parking spaces. Some apartments, such as La Divina, offer free parking, but outside the center. Others, like La Piazzetta, provide paid parking (also in a more distant area).

Slightly more affordable accommodations (without parking) right in the center include Dimora Poseidon, Palazzo Campisi, Appartamento Gemma, and All'angolo della Torre.

A superb hotel in the historic center (though it requires a higher budget) is Palazzo Mottola, featuring a rooftop terrace.

More affordable hotels very close to the historic center are Hotel Villa Antica Tropea and Eliseo Palace.

Accommodation near the Center

If you stay in areas a little farther from the historic center, about 15-20 minutes on foot (such as the streets near Via Libertà), you are more likely to find parking and possibly slightly lower-priced rooms.

We stayed at Residenza Estea specifically because it offered free parking. It wasn't exactly cheap and had both pros and cons. The rooms are in a building that looks quite unattractive from the outside, which we located after making some calls to the owner. Inside, however, the common areas are elegant, with valuable furniture and artwork, giving you the feeling of being in a noble residence.

The building where Residenza Estea is located has a supermarket on the ground floor.

On the lower floor is the lounge, and upstairs are the few guest rooms.

The double room was small, without a minibar, and had an air conditioning unit that didn't work very well. Compared to a typical Italian breakfast, the breakfast here was very generous and served on a beautiful terrace. The area itself doesn't look particularly appealing, but there are two supermarkets right nearby. Going down the stairs, you can reach the beach on the left side of the town relatively easily, and walking along Via Libertà, you can get to the historic center in about 15 minutes.

Across the street is Kairos Tropea, a nice guesthouse with a swimming pool. Relatively nearby, but closer to the sea, is the 3-star hotel La Porta del Mare, which has a pool and a terrace with panoramic views.