Bleisure in Calabria

A region of astonishing richness, Calabria remains a popular destination for MICE and bleisure tourism, combining business with the pleasures of travel. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean with almost 800 km of coastline, three National Parks (Pollino, Sila and Aspromonte), one Regional Park (Serre) and numerous nature reserves, the region offers a variety of locations, from artistic cities and ancient villages to pristine natural landscapes. 

Historic residences, seaside resorts and mountain lodges nestled in the woods provide venues for meetings, incentives and post-conference events, enabling business trips to be extended with exclusive experiences centred on wellbeing, fine food and wine and outdoor activities, ranging from traditional excursions to white-water rafting. 

Three airports – Lamezia Terme, Reggio Calabria and Crotone – make the region increasingly accessible. The figures confirm its appeal: in the first half of 2026, Calabria saw the highest increase in arrivals of any Italian region (+10.54 per cent) and ranked first for growth in foreign visitors (+23.19 per cent). 

Calabrian hospitality is defined by its food and wine. The land of the Mediterranean Diet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Calabria is home to dozens of PDO and PGI products of excellence. The region showcases its traditions through Michelin-starred chefs and local cooks who preserve ancient recipes and flavours, from the mountains to the sea. Wines made from native grape varieties accompany everything from business dinners to post-meeting toasts. 

As part of the Regional Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development, the Calabria Region’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Territorial Identity supports operators and organisers through the Calabria Straordinaria portal and a constant presence at the main trade fairs in the sector.

With its 800 km of coastline, parks, historic villages and a growing network of experiential itineraries, Calabria is open to MICE tourism all year round and represents a competitive destination for buyers and planners. The region is ideal for designing customised incentive and post-conference programmes that meet the evolving needs of business travellers, who are increasingly seeking authentic, sustainable and memorable experiences. From coastal resorts to mountain accommodation and immersive, nature-based adventures, the region offers a rich and diverse portfolio. There are cities and historic centres to explore, summer sea activities, winter sports and outdoor experiences in spring and autumn. These range from classic activities such as hiking, trekking and cycling to more adrenaline-fuelled ones like rafting, canoeing, paintballing and paragliding. These activities allow teams to share unique and memorable moments, adding value to any organisation focused on growth. Calabrian hospitality and identity are hallmarks of the region, and its excellent agri-food and production chains are at the service of businesses. Home to the UNESCO-listed Mediterranean Diet and dozens of PDO/PGI/DOC/IGT-certified products, Calabria offers the very best of its culinary tradition, reinterpreted with a contemporary gourmet approach by outstanding Michelin-starred chefs working across the region. Fine Calabrian wines are the perfect accompaniment for celebrating corporate achievements and milestones, perhaps following a shared tasting experience during a vineyard visit combined with trekking among the vines.

Data confirms the growing appeal of Calabria as a tourist destination. In 2025, the region recorded over 2 million arrivals and 9.1 million overnight stays, with a significant increase in international demand (+43.8%). The Calabria Region's Department of Tourism, Culture and Territorial Identity actively supports tourism operators and event organisers by promoting digital tools and platforms, including the innovative Calabria Straordinaria portal. These tools facilitate connections between supply and demand, fostering an integrated ecosystem for business tourism. 

• Incentive trips combining coastal and rural life: sailing regattas along the Costa degli Dei, between Tropea, Capo Vaticano and Pizzo, with professional skippers suitable for experienced sailors and beginners alike. The programme may include stops at secluded coves and cookery classes at farms on Mount Poro.
• Culture and city breaks: take private tours of the National Archaeological Museum in Reggio Calabria, home to the Riace Bronzes, and enjoy group kitesurfing lessons at Punta Pellaro, an area renowned for the constant winds of the Strait, with instructors specialising in teaching beginners. For dinner, enjoy the restaurants built on stilts overlooking the water in the seaside village of Chianalea.
• Outdoor activities in major parks: include rafting in the Lao Gorges in the Pollino National Park, e-bike rides and trekking in the Sila National Park, quad bike excursions and jeep safaris in the Aspromonte Natural Park. In the Serre, there are forest bathing sessions on the Archiforo Trail, which is listed among the 40 worldwide destinations recommended for this practice.
• Wine and food experience: in the Crotone area, enjoy wine tastings and winery tours in the Cirò area, which is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in the Mediterranean. In the Reggio Calabria area, on the Costa Viola, you can enjoy scenic hikes with sea views and tastings of local produce. In Aspromonte, meanwhile, small groups are welcomed to the chef’s table at a historic residence. In Vibo Valentia and Lamezia Terme areas, you can follow itineraries through hillside vineyards and visit historic distilleries producing Calabrian liqueurs and bitters. In the Cosenza area, enjoy haute cuisine in the Sila woods.
• Wellness and slow tourism: wellness activities accompany post-meeting events across the region. In the province of Cosenza, options range from the thermal waters of Guardia Piemontese on the Tyrrhenian coast to spas nestled in the Sila forests. In the Crotone area, you can go on a walk with a botanist in the Valli Cupe Nature Reserve to discover aromatic herbs, followed by a boat trip to the Aragonese Fortress of Le Castella in the Capo Rizzuto Marine Protected Area, complete with an aperitif on board. On the Costa degli Dei, programmes dedicated to longevity complete the offering with seawater-based treatments.

The region's identity is reflected in incentive programmes and team-building activities that draw on natural wonders, unique supply chains and masterpieces of classical art.

• Bergamot: the Reggio Calabria coast produces almost the entire world’s supply of bergamot, a key ingredient in perfumery. Teams can enjoy olfactory workshops and visits to citrus groves.
• Citron: every summer, rabbis from all over the world hand-pick the fruit in Santa Maria del Cedro for the Sukkot festival. Visits and tastings in the citrus groves are available on the Riviera dei Cedri.
• Italus: in the Pollino mountains stands an Italus pine over 1,200 years old — the oldest tree in Europe. A symbol of resilience and continuity, it inspires moments of reflection on mission and vision, and lends itself to recounting long-standing corporate histories.
• Riace Bronzes: two warrior statues discovered in 1972 in the sea off Riace and housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria. A private tour can transform a business trip into an encounter with classical art.

Calabria is the ideal destination for combining business meetings with authentic experiences.

• Costa degli Dei: beaches and caves not to be missed
• The brilliant green of the valleys and the blue of the crystal clear sea
• Discovering Calabria's national parks: Pollino, Sila, Aspromonte
• Mountain excursions: where to go in Calabria
• In the land of Cirò CDO wine, Calabria's excellence
• Itinerary through the vineyards of CDO Terre di Cosenza
• Reggio Calabria, the most beautiful kilometre in Italy
• Chianalea di Scilla, the little Venice of Calabria
• Riviera dei Tramonti
  
• Discovering the Riviera dei Tramonti in Calabria