Why you need to visit Elba, the Italian Island you’ve never heard of
The Island of Elba has it all; beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, great diving, charming towns, and exceptional Italian food + drink.
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, 10 kilometers from the coastal town of Piombino on the Italian mainland. It is part of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, and the third-largest island in Italy, after Sicily and Sardinia. Think of Elba as Sicily and Sardinia’s less famous, but much cooler sibling. Elba is not a typical tourist destination, so you’ll not find hordes of people like in other Mediterranean islands. It’s a fab location for a group trip with your wedding party or somewhere for the two of you to sneak off to after the big day.
Elba is just over a one-hour drive from Pisa, a two-hour drive from Florence, and a three-hour drive from Rome.
In summer, Cavoli draws a youthful and lively crowd and is a great spot for hen or stag night celebrations. Fetovaia is a beautiful natural haven that is more relaxed and great for diving, while Procchio is family-friendly, with shallow waters and plenty of facilities.
To get to the Island of Elba you can catch the ferry from Piombino Marittima, which you can easily reach by car, by train, or by bus. From here ferries cross over to Portoferraio, Rio Marina and Cavo (all on the Island of Elba). The ferries run all day every day during the summer months!
Alternatively, you can fly to the island of Elba from most major European cities and enjoy the comfort of landing right at the Elba Airport in Marina di Campo.
Once you are in Elba you can easily hire a car, motorbike, or scooter to get around the Island in style.
If you don’t fancy driving just grab a taxi. There is one taxi service for the whole of the Island, so only one number to add to your speed dial! Here it is + 39 05651822 - you’re very welcome!
Why not go all out and charter a boat to explore the Island?
The Sibel Sultan, is an ancient Caicco of 23 mt, located in Portoferraio. The boat has five cabins, a private bathroom, and can sleep up to 12 people. The boat is spacious inside and out, with an elegant living space, kitchen, and fully equipped bar (very important!).
Discover unspoiled coves, majestic cliffs, and deserted beaches all across the Island, or go even further afield to the island of Capraia. This hidden gem of Italy is yours to explore!
For more information on chartering the Sibel Sultan for your trip please contact the lovely Ramona on ramonalettieri@live.it
The Sibel Sultan
If sleeping portside is not your thing, another option is to hire a speedboat for the day and circumnavigate the Island. Maybe stopping off at the charming beach at Forno where a “pattino” will bring ashore for a spot of lunch by the sea. Ideal!
That all-important question - which beaches should be on my hit list? There are over 100 on the island, from tiny coves to long sandy stretches, but we’ve done all the hard work for you and shortlisted the five most beautiful beaches.
Famous for its white shingle and crystal clear waters. The sea is part of an environment protection area and is rich in marine life - making it a fab place for snorkeling.
One of the most enchanting and best-known gulfs in Elba. Six hundred meters of fine, golden sand and shallow turquoise water. There are also several hotels, bars, and restaurants at Biodola as well as pedalos, water skiing, scuba diving and surfing.
A smaller white single beach sheltered by beautiful white cliffs. A perfect beach to shelter at on windy days.
The second-longest beach on the island and famous for its golden sand and beautiful scenery. There is a beautiful pine grove that runs practically the entire length of the beach where you can cool off in the shade of the trees. Another great beach for watersports.
A small rugged cove, best accessed by boat. Punta Nera is made up of two tiny beaches set like jewels in rocky, lush green cliffs. One is only 20 meters long, the other only 40 meters. Due to them being difficult to access they tend to be mostly deserted (even during the summer) - great for a romantic picnic on the beach.
Le Ghiaie Beach in Portoferraio
There are so many fabulous places to eat + drink on the Island and is famous for its amazing seafood. Here are our top three firm favorites:
Located in Sant’Andrea and is a lush spot. Get to the terrace at dusk to kick back with an Aperol Spritz and watch the sunset.
An authentic family-run business located in Marina Di Campo, with great food and a charming atmosphere. Visit La Lucciola for breakfast with home-made pastries, a light lunch before going to the beach, a relaxing cocktail at sunset, or a romantic moonlit dinner by the sea...often accompanied by live music.
Situated in Portoferraio is a small family restaurant with the perfect terrace for sundowners and absolutely killer seafood (think octopus appetizers and red snapper cooked in the wood oven - yum!)
La Lucciola Ristorante
We hope this gave you some much-needed escapism and some travel-inspo for the post-pandemic world. We’ll see you there for an Aperol?!
Thinking about getting married in Italy but not sure how much it could cost? Check out our top tips here, plus download our free budget tracker.
Written by Beth Butler, marketing person and lover of all things weddings; with a particular passion for beautiful photography, muted florals and a good cup of tea.
