Slow Travel Calabria: How to Embrace the Laid-Back Lifestyle

Su Guillory
May 9
2 min read

Calabria isn’t built for rushing. This southern Italian region, wedged between two seas and steeped in centuries-old traditions, invites you to slow down.

If you’re tired of crowded itineraries and over-polished tourist hubs, Calabria offers something better: authenticity, space, and time.

Here’s how to fully embrace the region’s relaxed pace: through small towns, agriturismi, and longer, more meaningful stays.

Choose Towns Where Time Slows Down

Skip the big-name cities. Calabria’s charm lies in its smaller villages, where the pace is naturally slower and the culture is more intact.

Gerace: A medieval hilltop town known for its stone architecture and quiet streets. You’ll spend more time sipping espresso than taking photos.
Civita: A unique Albanian-heritage village tucked into the Pollino mountains. Great for cultural immersion and nature walks.
Badolato: A nearly abandoned village is being revitalized through slow tourism.
Bivongi: A nature-lover's paradise, replete with wild waterfalls and natural sulphur springs.

Each of these places offers minimal crowds and maximum authenticity.

Stay at an Agriturismo, Not a Hotel

Agriturismi (farm stays) are a cornerstone of slow travel in Calabria. These working farms double as guesthouses, letting you unplug, eat hyper-local food, and see how Calabrians actually live.

Some of the agriturismi we can connect you with also offer cooking classes, olive oil or wine production tours, and farm-to-table meals.

Stay Longer, Do Less, Experience More

Fast tourism is checklist tourism. In Calabria, the less you try to “do,” the more you get out of it.

Spend a week in one town instead of moving around every day. This gives you time to meet people, understand the rhythms, and enjoy stillness.
Shop at local markets instead of big chains. You’ll get better produce and real conversations.
Join a local celebration if you’re lucky. Many towns host small festivals rooted in tradition, usually without tourists.

Longer stays deepen the experience. You start recognizing neighbors. You develop routines. It becomes less like travel and more like life.

Practical Tips for Slow Travel in Calabria

Public transport is limited. Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore remote towns at your own pace.

Consider learning basic Italian. English is less common in rural areas. Even simple phrases go a long way.

Pack light and stay flexible. You may want to change plans based on weather, events, or unexpected invitations.

Final tip: don’t expect fast Wi-Fi. Calabria isn't as connected as the U.S. And that’s the point. Use the downtime.

Calabria Isn’t a Checklist; It’s a State of Mind

Slow travel isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what matters and doing it well. Calabria rewards this mindset. Come not to consume the region but to live in it...at least for a little while.