Getting to Crotone

Crotone sits on the Ionian side of Calabria, well away from the motorway and the main north–south railway, which both run down the opposite, Tyrrhenian coast. That is why it feels undiscovered — and why a little planning helps. In practice there are three ways in: fly to Crotone itself when a flight suits you, fly to Lamezia Terme and drive or take the bus, or come by train along the Ionian line.

Timetables in this part of Italy change with the season. Treat the times below as a guide and check current schedules before you travel.

The main routes, compared

1. Flying to Crotone airport

Crotone’s own airport — Sant’Anna, also called Pitagora, code KRT — lies about 15 kilometres south of the city near Isola di Capo Rizzuto, conveniently between Crotone and Le Castella. It is small and its schedule is limited: a few routes, mainly to other Italian cities, that change from one timetable season to the next. When a flight fits, it is by far the easiest arrival. Check the airlines directly for the current routes.

From the terminal, a taxi or pre-booked transfer reaches the city in 15 to 20 minutes; a bus has met some flights, but do not count on it without checking. Car hire is available but with fewer companies than at Lamezia — reserve ahead.

2. Flying to Lamezia Terme

Lamezia Terme (SUF) is Calabria’s main airport, with year-round flights from across Italy and seasonal and low-cost services from much of Europe. It is on the Tyrrhenian side, roughly 100 kilometres from Crotone.

• By hire car: the simplest option. Take the dual carriageway SS280 across the narrowest part of Calabria to Catanzaro, then the SS106 north along the Ionian coast. Allow about an hour and a half.
• By coach: direct coaches have linked the airport and Crotone a few times a day. Operators and times change, so check before you fly.
• By train: from Lamezia Terme Centrale station, a short shuttle ride from the terminal, trains run to Catanzaro Lido, where you change onto the Ionian line for Crotone. With a good connection the journey takes around two and a half hours.

3. By train

Crotone is on the Ionian railway (Ferrovia Jonica), the single-track line that follows the coast from Taranto to Reggio Calabria. Regional trains link it with Catanzaro Lido to the south and Sibari to the north, where you connect with trains from Cosenza, Puglia and the rest of Italy; a small number of longer-distance Intercity services also call. Trains are infrequent and not fast, but the views of the sea are constant.

Crotone station is about two kilometres north of the centre. City buses and taxis meet most trains.

Coming from Rome or Naples, the usual route is a fast train down the Tyrrhenian line to Lamezia Terme Centrale or Paola, then a regional connection across to the Ionian side. Allow most of a day.

4. By long-distance bus

For many Calabrians the coach is the default. Long-distance services link Crotone with Rome, Naples, Bari, and cities in northern Italy, often overnight, and are frequently quicker than the train. Regional buses run to Catanzaro, Cosenza (over the Sila via San Giovanni in Fiore) and the towns of the province. Buses in Crotone leave from the bus station and from stops around the centre.

5. By car

There is no motorway to Crotone. From the A2 “Autostrada del Mediterraneo” you cross to the Ionian side by one of three routes:

• From the north: leave the A2 at Sibari/Firmo, join the SS106 Jonica and follow the coast south through Rossano, Cariati and Cirò Marina.
• From Cosenza: the SS107 climbs over the Sila through Camigliatello and San Giovanni in Fiore and drops to Crotone — about 110 kilometres and the most scenic approach.
• From the south and Lamezia: the SS280 to Catanzaro, then the SS106 north.

A word on the SS106: it is the only main road along the Ionian coast, largely single carriageway, passing through towns and carrying lorries, tractors and impatient locals. It has a poor safety record. Drive defensively, do not overtake on a whim, expect speed cameras, and avoid it at night if you can.

Getting around Crotone and the province

• On foot: the old town, the museum, the castle, the Duomo and the lungomare are all within about twenty minutes’ walk of each other.
• City buses: urban lines link the station, the centre and the seafront; a line to Capo Colonna has run in season. Buy tickets before boarding, at tobacconists and kiosks.
• Car: essential for Le Castella, the coves of Capo Rizzuto, Santa Severina and the Sila. Parking in Crotone is easy outside summer evenings.
• Taxis: available at the station and in the centre, but not plentiful; agree the fare for out-of-town trips in advance.
• Regional trains: useful for Cirò Marina and for beach towns along the line, if you check the return times first.

Distances from Crotone