Where to Stay in Tropea?
Accommodations in Tropea are generally located in two distinct areas: the lower area (where the harbor and 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 restaurants and 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 stay, you should ask yourself what you want most from your vacation in Tropea. Hotels down by the beach are usually called Club hotels - they're larger and feature their own restaurants and private beach areas (private beaches in Italy are known as lidi). Some of these even offer half-board options. Down by the harbor, you'll also find several apartment buildings with more budget-friendly rentals. On the flip side, if you stay in the upper town (where the city itself actually sits), you'll be right in the heart of the action with the best restaurants, bars, and gelaterias right at your doorstep - though you'll need to trek down the stairs every morning to hit the beach.
Another factor to conside - if you've rented a car to explore other places in Calabria - is parking. Most parking lots, both public and private, are located on the edge of the historic center, which is a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato or "limited traffic zone"). Expect to pay €2-€3 per hour, or €15-€50 per day, depending on the season and location. Ideally, you'll want to book a place that includes parking as close as possible to the drivable zone boundary. Down near the harbor, you'll find several free parking spots (which fill up fast during peak season), though it's not exactly the most picturesque area to base yourself.
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. The drawbacks include noise late into the night, a lack of parking, the stair-climb access to the beach, and spotty Wi-Fi in many spots due to thick stone walls and dense buildings. Some rentals, like La Divina, offer free parking, though it's located outside the historic center. Others, such as La Piazzetta, offer paid parking options in nearby areas further out.
We stayed at Residenza Lory Lu - a B&B with just a few rooms that we recommend, though with a couple of quick heads-ups. It's an adults-only property, and you'll need to walk up two flights of fairly steep stairs (there's no elevator, but that's standard for most places in Tropea). Breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace only until 10:00 AM and includes a mix of both sweet and savory options.
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 double room was small and didn't have a minibar. 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 Convento Beach 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.
Accommodation near the Beach
If you're the type who loves stepping straight out of your hotel onto the beach, we recommend staying in Tropea's lower area - just keep in mind that getting up to the historic center from there means climbing quite a few stairs!
Towards the far left, as you face the sea, is Sunset Beach Club, which has a private beach.
Closer to the center, near Mare Grande Beach and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola, you'll find a few more modest holiday homes inside Camping Marina dell'Isola: Family Room Mare Grande and Residence Mare Grande. Not far from there, right along the seafront, is Camping Marina del Convento.
To the right, near Rotonda Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Tropea, are Le Roccette Mare Beach Hotel, Le Roccette San Leonardo, and Le Roccette Club.
If you're working with a tighter budget, you can also look into the apartments located in the harbor area (Appartamenti Antonio, Residenza Burmaria, L'AliceChiara, La Pineta, etc.). While it's not the most picturesque part of Tropea, it gives you the advantage of being close to the sea, easier parking (if you're driving), and typically lower rates.
In that same area, you'll also find Ananea Tropea Yachting Resort - a luxurious 5-star hotel.
