Crotone is one of the few provincial capitals in southern Italy where you can walk from the museum to a sandy beach in a quarter of an hour. South of the harbour, the lungomare — Viale Cristoforo Colombo and its continuations — runs for a couple of kilometres beside the sea, lined with palms, cafés, pizzerias and fish restaurants.
The beaches along it are a mix of free sand and summer lidi renting umbrellas and loungers. The water is shallow close in and usually calm in summer. Further south the city thins out, the shore turns to clay cliffs and small coves, and the road continues towards Capo Colonna.
Top things to do at Lungomare & City Beaches
Swim in the city
In summer, pick a lido for a sunbed and a shower or put a towel down on one of the free stretches. Early morning and after five o’clock are the most pleasant times in July and August.
Join the evening passeggiata
From sunset the whole town strolls the lungomare. Have an aperitivo, then a plate of fresh fish — and try the local sardella spread on bread.
Explore the coves to the south
With a car or a bike, follow the coast road towards Capo Colonna for quieter coves below the low cliffs. Facilities are few, so bring what you need.
How to get to Lungomare & City Beaches
- On foot: the lungomare starts by the harbour, ten to fifteen minutes’ walk from Piazza Pitagora.
- By car: street parking along the seafront fills up on summer evenings; arrive early or park further back.
Insider tips
- The bathing season runs roughly from June to September; lidi may be closed outside it.
- The coast faces east: mornings are bright, and the beach falls into shade earlier in the evening than on the Tyrrhenian side.
- For the clearest water in the province, drive on to Capo Rizzuto and Le Castella.
Best tours & tickets for Lungomare & City Beaches
These experiences pair well with a visit to Lungomare & City Beaches:
Private walking tour from €340 per group Crotone Walking Tour: Magna Graecia and Ancient Kroton
A private guide walks you through the old town and explains what you cannot see for yourself: where the Greek city stood, why Pythagoras came here, how the Spanish fortress reshaped the hill. The price is per group — up to 25 people — so it is good value for families and groups, less so for a couple.
- The story of Pythagoras, Milo and ancient Kroton
- The castle of Charles V and the cathedral from outside
- Piazza Pitagora and the waterfront
Boat tour from €40 Gulf of Squillace: 3-Hour Tour by Inflatable Boat
The nearest bookable boat trip to Crotone on GetYourGuide: three hours by inflatable along the coves of the Catanzaro coast, with swimming stops. The departure point is roughly an hour’s drive south-west of Crotone along the SS106.
- Coves and clear water of the Ionian coast
- Stops for swimming
- Small inflatable boat
