What to see in Reggio Calabria with children: practical guide

With children in Reggio Calabria it is advisable to focus on short and nearby stops: the Museum of the Riace Bronzes, free under 18 years of age, the Lungomare Falcomatà with the Arena dello Stretto, the alpacas of the Pet Academy of Villa San Giovanni and half a day in Scilla. For those who have an extra day there are the Ecolandia Park, in the north of the city, and the village of Pentedattilo. The Villa Comunale is now closed for work.

For each stage you will find duration, steps, shade and directions for the stroller, with the data verified as of October 5, 2026.

What to see in Reggio Calabria with children: the stages and times

National Archaeological Museum (MArRC): 1 hour and a half, lifts at all levels, free under 18 years old.
Lungomare Falcomatà and Arena dello Stretto: 1 hour at a child's pace, flat, free.
Aperitif with Alpacas: 2 hours at Villa San Giovanni, from 24 € for children up to 12 years old.
Scilla, Marina Grande and Castello Ruffo: half day, by train or with an organized excursion.
Ecolandia Park: half day, only on opening days.
Pentedattilo: 4 hours with transport included, for children walking alone.

Aperitif with Alpacas at the Pet Academy of Villa San Giovanni

The Aperitif with Alpacas lasts 2 hours and costs from €30 for adults and €24 for children up to 12 years old. It includes a walk with the alpacas, time to pet them and an aperitif with typical Calabrian products. The experience page presents it as a sunset date, designed for families, couples and small groups.

The meeting point is the PetAcademy, in via Valle di Canne, in Case Alte, in the Villa San Giovanni area, overlooking the Strait. The center, opened in the summer of 2024, is also home to donkeys, rabbits, meerkats, parrots and birds of prey.

Age: The page does not indicate a minimum age. The reduced rate applies up to 12 years old.
Stroller: the experience is reported as accessible to all and the PetAcademy declares a structure designed without architectural barriers.
Languages: Italian and English.
How to get there: transport is not indicated among the services. You go there by car, and for the last stretch the PetAcademy recommends asking for directions before leaving. Alternatively, you can ask Athena ETC for private transport with a driver.

The Museum of the Riace Bronzes with children

Tickets and free admission

At the MArRC, children under 18 enter for free, adults pay €10 and children between 18 and 25 years old €2 (rates in force from 1 July 2024). On the first Sunday of the month, admission is free for everyone. For several visits during the year there is the MArRC Family subscription for €40, for two adults and children under 18.

The museum is in Piazza De Nava, open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 8 pm, with last admission at 7:30 pm. It is closed on Mondays.

Stroller, elevators and useful rules

The museum has a platform at the entrance and internal elevators that lead to all exhibition levels. The access regulations do not mention strollers, while it requires backpacks, umbrellas and bulky items to be left at the free cloakroom: ask at the ticket office how to handle the stroller.

You can bring bottles, powdered milk, baby food and bottles of water up to half a liter. No food is allowed on the tour route.
Children under 14 enter only accompanied.
Entrance to the Hall of the Bronzes is limited and passes through a stop in the filter spaces: take into account a few minutes of waiting.
The museum provides educational materials and game cards for families who visit independently.

How long does the visit last?

The independent visit lasts an average of 1 hour and a half. The tour starts on the second floor (level A) and ends on the ground floor (level D). With children under 6 years old, focus on an hour: the Bronzes plus two or three rooms.

Falcomatà Promenade and Arena dello Stretto

The Lungomare Falcomatà is 1.7 km long, flat, with walks on several levels and tree-lined stretches with palm trees. From the museum you can reach it in a few minutes on foot: from Piazza De Nava go down to the sea along Via Vollaro to Piazza Indipendenza. It's good for the stroller.

On the seafront there is the Arena dello Stretto, an open-air theater built where the pier of Porto Salvo once stood. On the marble memorial stone at the top of the arena, almost in the water, there is the bronze statue of Athena Promachos, the work of the sculptor Bonfiglio (1932). The arena is a staircase: the stroller stays up. Calculate an hour between outward journey, return and stops. The shade is only under the trees: in the middle of the day he carries a hat and water.

Villa Comunale Umberto I: closed for works

The Villa Comunale Umberto I is closed to the public for a redevelopment project that began in 2026. The works started between February and March 2026, with an expected duration of 360 days: according to the local press, the villa is expected to reopen by April 25, 2027. Before closing, it housed the duck and swan pond, the goldfish tank and some children's rides.

Scilla with children: Marina Grande beach and Ruffo Castle

How to get to Scilla from Reggio Calabria

Scilla is about 22 km from Reggio and the regional train from Reggio Calabria Centrale takes 25 to 44 minutes, with a ticket from €2.70 (October 2026). Scilla station is a few meters from the Marina Grande seafront: with children and strollers you avoid cars and parking.

Marina Grande, the castle and Chianalea

Marina Grande is the sandy beach under the fortress: the promenade is flat and good for strollers, there is no shade of trees on the sand. The Ruffo Castle is on the promontory between Marina Grande and Chianalea and you can walk up it by a staircase or an uphill road. Inside there is a courtyard, an external staircase and the lighthouse of the Navy. According to the file of the Municipality of Scilla updated in June 2026, the single ticket costs €3, children up to 6 years old enter for free and on Mondays the castle is closed.

To go down to Chianalea there is a flatter road that turns at the foot of the fortress, on the sea side. The village has only one main street, narrow, between the houses and the water: with a small child the baby carrier is more practical than the stroller. Calculate half a day.

The Scilla Experience by Athena ETC

The Scilla Experience lasts about 5 hours and departs from Piazza Indipendenza, with round-trip transport included. It is an accompanied excursion (without a tour guide) of easy difficulty: walk through the alleys of Chianalea and stop under the Ruffo Castle. It costs from €40 for adults and €32 for children up to 12 years old, with a progressive discount of up to 32%.

Ecolandia Park: check the opening before going

The Ecolandia Park is a recreational and environmental park in the former Forte Gullì, in Arghillà, in the northern area of Reggio. It covers about 100,000 square meters divided into four areas (air, earth, water, fire), with play areas, recreational activities and shows. It has an uncovered parking lot at the entrance and a kiosk with sandwiches and drinks.

In 2026, the park reopened on March 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The opening days for autumn 2026 are not published: before leaving, call +39 375 890 6999.

A trip out of town: Pentedattilo

Pentedattilo is the abandoned village under the hand-shaped cliff, in the Grecanica area south of Reggio. The Pentedattilo excursion, the ghost village lasts about 4 hours, starts from Piazza Indipendenza and includes round-trip transport and a guide. It costs from €60 per person and from €48 for children up to 12 years old, with a 25% discount from 6 people upwards. The alleys are stone and uphill: it is suitable for children walking alone, or with a child carrier backpack.

How to book with Athena ETC

Athena ETC services are reserved for members: registration is done online from the Join us page. The experiences are on request: from the Aperitif with Alpacas page choose the date, indicate how many adults and children you are and receive confirmation. For tailor-made requests, write to info@athenaetc.com or call +39 379 14 92 736.

Frequently asked questions about reggio calabria with children

Do children pay at the Riace Bronze Museum?

No. At the MArRC, admission is free for children under 18 years old; adults pay €10 (rates from 1 July 2024).

Can I visit the MArRC with a stroller?

The museum has an entrance platform and elevators for all levels. The regulation does not mention strollers and asks to leave bulky items at the cloakroom: ask at the ticket office.

How long does the visit to the museum with children last?

The self-guided visit lasts an average of 1 hour and a half. With small children, an hour is enough, focusing on the Bronzes.

How much does the Aperitif with Alpacas cost for children?

From €24 for children up to 12 years old and from €30 for adults. The experience lasts 2 hours and takes place at the PetAcademy in Villa San Giovanni.

Is there a minimum age for the Alpaca Aperitif?

The experience page does not indicate a minimum age and indicates it as accessible to everyone. For very young children, ask for confirmation when you book.

Is the Villa Comunale of Reggio Calabria open?

No. It is closed for redevelopment work that started in early 2026; reopening is expected by April 2027.

How do you get to Scilla with children without a car?

By regional train from Reggio Calabria Centrale: 25 to 44 minutes and €2.70 (October 2026). The station is a few meters from the beach of Marina Grande.

Is the Castello Ruffo di Scilla suitable for strollers?

Not much. You go up it by a staircase or an uphill road, and inside there is a staircase. Better the fanny pack.

Is Ecolandia Park open in autumn?

In 2026, it reopened on March 22; fall opening days are not published. Phone the park before you go.

What to see in Reggio Calabria with children: short stages, times and stroller