Reggio Calabria, an Italian city on the toe of the boot, offers 27C temperatures in October and is reachable via a three-hour direct flight from London Stansted Airport. The city has been named among Skyscanner's top ten most walkable cities to explore in 2026, with its principal landmarks clustered within a compact, flat coastal grid reachable on foot in just 25 minutes.
A City of Ancient Heritage and Coastal Beauty
Nestled across the Strait of Messina from Sicily, Reggio Calabria has a turbulent past marked by conquests and earthquakes, with Romans, Byzantines, Greeks, and Normans all having governed the region. Despite this, the city remains beautifully constructed and remarkably well-preserved.
The city's greatest attraction is the Riace Bronzes, larger-than-life Ancient Greek warrior statues discovered by a diver off the Calabrian coastline in 1972. Housed in the National Archaeological Museum, these relics draw countless visitors who travel to Reggio solely to admire them.
The Most Beautiful Kilometre in Italy
The Lungomare Falcomatà is widely celebrated as one of Italy's finest promenades. Locals describe the iconic seafront walkway as "the most beautiful kilometre in Italy," offering visitors beach-level strolls or upper promenade walks with panoramic views across the Strait of Messina towards Sicily and Mount Etna.
Along Corso Garibaldi, the Italian custom of 'passeggiata' thrives, with pedestrian bottlenecks developing during prime wandering hours. Residents of all generations, particularly younger people, crowd the street on weekend nights, surrounded by the Opere di Rabarama, vibrant outdoor sculptures that add a contemporary dimension to the ancient city.
Gateway to Sicily and Aspromonte National Park
Reggio Calabria provides access to two other destinations. The Aspromonte National Park sits right on the city's threshold, with peaks rising immediately behind the urban area, offering spectacular landscapes and paths just a brief journey from the shoreline.
The city also serves as a genuine portal to Sicily. Daily ferries and rapid hydrofoils traverse the Strait of Messina in roughly 30 minutes, making impromptu day excursions to the island straightforward from a Reggio base.
Practical Travel Details
Established by Greek colonists in the 8th century BC as Rhegion, the city has maintained its main square, Piazza Italia, as a public civic area continuously since classical times, first as the Greek agora and subsequently as the Roman forum.
While popular with Italians, Reggio Calabria is not overrun with visitors. The city is ideally explored during spring or early autumn (April–June, September–October) when conditions are agreeable and visitor numbers remain modest. Ryanair operates twice-weekly services from London Stansted to Reggio Calabria, with flights this month starting from £15.
