Car Rental - Reggio Calabria
A holiday car rental unlocks the best of the city of Reggio Calabria. While best known for its excellent ferry links to the island of Sicily, the city has plenty to offer itself.
Admire Mount Etna on coastal walks, explore ties with ancient Greece in the fascinating museums and enjoy a scoop of moreish gelato in the sunshine.
With a Hertz rental car, you can explore it all at your own pace. You can pick up your rental car from Reggio Calabria Airport, just a 15-minute drive from the city center. We’ll aim to get you in your chosen vehicle and out on the road as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Take a look at our holiday rental car collections to find the perfect one for your trip.
Reggio Calabria Locations
A Quick Guide to Reggio Calabria
Discover the capital city of the sun-drenched Calabria region – known fondly by the locals as Reggio – at your own pace in a holiday car rental. Discover why this coastal destination is steeped in myth and legend.
Breathe In the Ocean Air
Park up your holiday car rental and take a stroll along the Lungomare Falcomatà promenade for the most tranquil views in the city. A white sand beach runs along the coast as the ocean laps against the shore. On a clear day, you can spy Mount Etna in the distance as the white sails of yachts glide past on the sapphire waters.
Head to De Cesare Gelateria for ice cream in a spectrum of colors and flavors. The queue is worth it for a taste of this heavenly gelato. As the sun sinks below the horizon, pull up a chair at one of the many al fresco restaurants and enjoy a romantic meal overlooking the rippling sea.
Visit Ancient Sights
After a devastating earthquake in the early 20th century, many of Reggio Calabria’s ancient sights were destroyed. However, there are still ancient treasures to be found in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, including Greek statues dating back to the 5th century BC. Uncover the city’s roots in mythology and find out why the local dialect sounds more Greek than Italian.
Nearby, you’ll find the compact Pinacoteca Civica di Reggio Gallery. Housed above the theater in lovingly restored rooms, you can admire the works of Antonello da Messina – the most celebrated Renaissance painter in southern Italy.
One of the only ancient sights still standing is the Castello Aragonese in the heart of the city. Explore the thick stone walls of this once mighty fortification and admire views from the top of the crenulations out to Sicily.
Take a Road Trip
Drive your holiday car rental 40 minutes north to the mythical town of Scilla, where a castle perched on a rocky outcrop divides the town in two. To one side, a mishmash of colorful seaside houses line the coast, while a sweeping beach fills the other.
Explore the alleys and narrow streets of the fishing quarter and sample freshly caught swordfish in one of the local eateries. Then climb the hill to the castle and learn about the legendary Scylla sea monster which gave the town its name.
Further north, beyond Scilla, is the beach town of Bagnara – known as the birthplace of designer Gianni Versace. Here, a rocky coastline opens up to golden beaches flecked with colorful parasols. Soak up the sun by the water and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
Appreciate Natural Beauty
Drive your holiday car rental out to Aspromonte National Park and discover waterfalls cascading down mountains and other idyllic sights as you walk the trails. Ascend isolated mountain peaks, pass villages frozen in time, and enjoy panoramic views across the Mediterranean Sea.
Reggio Calabria is a charming Italian destination with a magical history. Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or hiking through the wilderness, renting a car will help make this a trip to remember.
Driving In and Around Reggio Calabria
If Italy is a boot, then Reggio Calabria is perched on the tip of the toe. Beyond this coastal city, there’s a whole host of intriguing places to visit. Divide your time between the bustling center, tranquil beach resorts, rustic fishing villages and the mountainous lands of Aspromonte National Park which stretch as far as the eye can see.
As in the rest of Italy, you’ll drive your holiday car rental on the right-hand side of the road. Be aware that using a hand-held mobile phone when you’re behind the wheel is prohibited.
Reggio Calabria is a small city which is easy to navigate. There’s a ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato) restriction zone in the center which means you can only enter on foot. Clear signs indicate when you’re approaching this area, so keep your eye out as you could be charged if you drive your holiday car rental into it.
You’ll find plenty of parking lots dotted around, so it’s easy to park your Reggio Calabria car rental and wander the short distance into the city. If your hotel is within the ZTL, let them know you’ll be arriving by car, and they should arrange a temporary permit to cover your arrival and departure.
The Nationale Autostrada – a tolled highway referred to as the A2 – runs through the city. This picturesque route, also known as the Autostrada del Mediterraneo, hugs the south-west coast of Italy past Salerno, the Amalfi coast and Naples, all the way to Reggio Calabria. The drive in a holiday car rental takes around five hours in total, with views of National Parks and ancient cities along the way.
For a scenic day trip, follow the coastal road SS18 north to Scilla. A fishing town steeped in Greek mythology, driving your Reggio Calabria car rental here will take around 40 minutes. Continue up the coast a little further and you’ll hit the laid-back beach resort of Bagnara.
Car ferries to the Sicilian port of Messina take just 25 minutes from Reggio Calabria and there are several crossings a day. Spend an afternoon in the rustic northern lands of the island or drive an hour south to the whimsical city of Catania, passing the vast shadow of Mount Etna on your way.
