Elba: by plane, car or ferry
A small island with big beaches, one hour by ferry from Piombino. For a road trip from Central Europe it is the most accessible Italian island: one day of driving and a short ferry puts you by the sea.
What does a trip to Elba cost this year?
The calculator compares flights from several airports, driving with real ferry prices, and shows the weather for every date.
You'll see these everywhere
Napoleon's exile
After abdicating, Napoleon ruled Elba for barely ten months (1814 to 1815), leaving two residences: the Palazzina dei Mulini above the harbour and the summer Villa San Martino. He designed the island's flag himself, white with a red stripe and three golden bees; it still flies today.
Iron and the Etruscans
Iron ore was mined here for over two millennia, starting with the Etruscans; the island's ancient name meant the sparkling one. The Rio Marina and Monte Calamita fields closed in the 1980s and are now mining parks glittering with pyrite and hematite.
The open basket cableway
Monte Capanne (1,019 m), the highest peak of the Tuscan archipelago, is served from Marciana by a curious cableway of open yellow baskets for two. On a clear day the summit shows Corsica and the Tuscan coast.
The Medici walls
Portoferraio was founded in 1548 by Grand Duke Cosimo I as a fortress against pirates. The Renaissance walls with the Stella and Falcone forts still frame the old harbour, among the best preserved in Italy.
White and black beaches
The island's geological variety shows in its beach colours: near Portoferraio the white pebbles of Sansone and Capo Bianco dazzle, while around the old mines at Rio Marina the sand runs dark with glinting ore grains.
Watchtowers
Towers from the Pisan and Medici eras line the coast, built against Saracen pirates: the Linguella in Portoferraio, the harbour tower of Marciana Marina, San Giovanni by Marina di Campo. They recall the age when raids emptied the coastal villages.
Aleatico from the terraces
The Aleatico grape ripens on terraces above the sea, and the sweet passito from sun dried grapes holds DOCG status, the archipelago's first. Tradition says Napoleon was fond of it.
The archipelago national park
Elba is the largest island of the Arcipelago Toscano national park, protecting over 56,000 hectares of sea and often cited as Europe's largest marine park. Capraia, Pianosa and Montecristo belong to it too.
Local prices
Guide prices for a typical tourist area in high season (as of 2026-07). Accommodation and rentals are sampled automatically, the basket is a curated estimate.
When to go
The small island fills to the last campsite in August and car ferries sell out. May, June and September are ideal: warm sea, empty roads and no ferry booking panic.
| Month | Daily high | Sea | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 22 °C | 19 °C | ~10 |
| June | 27 °C | 23 °C | ~4 |
| July | 30 °C | 27 °C | ~3 |
| August | 31 °C | 27 °C | ~5 |
| September | 27 °C | 25 °C | ~7 |
Averages from the last 8 years (Open-Meteo). The calculator shows your exact week in more detail.
What to taste
Gurguglione
A thick vegetable stew from Rio: peppers, aubergine, courgette and tomato, served warm or cold. 8 to 12 € in a trattoria.
Stoccafisso alla riese
Miners' stockfish from Rio Marina, stewed with tomato, potato, anchovy and capers. A main for 15 to 18 €.
Schiaccia briaca
The drunken cake of Rio Marina: no eggs or yeast, but nuts, raisins and a soaking of red Aleatico that gives it colour and name. 4 to 6 € at the bakery.
Aleatico passito
A sweet wine of sun dried grapes, scented with roses and sour cherries; the natural partner of schiaccia briaca. A half litre from the growers runs 20 to 35 €.
Fish and cacciucco
Sardines, anchovies and the day's catch, plus the Tuscan fish stew cacciucco. A fish main runs 16 to 25 € at an ordinary restaurant.
Return flights from Prague or Vienna
looking up prices…
Cheapest fares found per person (Aviasales, last ~48 h). Click a month to open the calculator with those dates.
Three trips worth taking
Monte Capanne
~40 min by car
Open baskets from Marciana to the 1,019 m summit with a full circle view of the archipelago and Corsica; trails lead back down on foot. The return ride costs 20 €, running roughly April to October.
Napoleon's villas
~10 min by car
The study and library of the Palazzina dei Mulini above the harbour, and summery San Martino with its Egyptian room just out of town. A combined ticket for both costs 8 € and lasts three days; the Mulini is under restoration, so check it's open.
The mining parks
~30 min by car
At Rio Marina a little train crosses the rust red open pit landscape and you pocket your own pyrite (25 €, kids 13 €). At Monte Calamita you peek into the Ginevro gallery, the only underground mine; its tunnels reach 54 m below sea level, with tours covering the upper levels (15 €).
Beaches and the sea
Along 147 km of coast Elba packs over 100 beaches, nearly every one different. White pebbles and glowing water at Sansone and Capo Bianco near Portoferraio; sand at the family classics Biodola, Procchio and Marina di Campo and in the golden coves of Fetovaia and Cavoli in the southwest; dark iron sand by the mines around Rio Marina. Most beaches are small rock bound coves, so parking is the bottleneck: lots are small and paid, around 18 € a day at Fetovaia in season. Beside the free stretches a sunbed set runs 20 to 30 €. The sea peaks around 25 °C from mid July to late August, and the snorkelling is Tuscany's best: the wreck of the Elviscot lies metres off the beach at Pomonte.
How to get there
The only practical way is by car: roughly 1,000 km from Prague to Piombino, then an hour's ferry to Portoferraio. Boats run hourly. The island has no practical airport of its own, the nearest big one is Pisa.
Airports
No airport of its own, the way in is by road and sea.
Car ferries
- Piombino → Portoferraio about 1 h at sea, car from ~40 € one way
Distance
867 km from Prague as the crow flies. The calculator computes the real route, tolls and fuel.
Tip
In August book the car ferry ahead, vehicle slots do sell out.
Good to know
- The Piombino to Portoferraio ferry takes an hour and runs about every half hour in summer (Moby, Toremar, BluNavy). A car with two people costs 50 to 100 € each way depending on dates; book well ahead for August, prices climb as the date nears.
- Roads are narrow switchbacks, especially the western loop through Chiessi and Pomonte. Beach car parks fill by mid morning in July and August.
- You can loop the island in a day, but kilometres deceive: Portoferraio to the western tip can take a good hour.
- August is packed, and from November to March most hotels, restaurants and sights close or wind down. The cableway, mines and villas run roughly April to October.
- Petrol costs more on the island, around 2 € a litre. Fill up back in Piombino.
- Camping has a long tradition here: dozens of sites around the Lacona, Marina di Campo and Ottone bays. For August even campsites need booking.
Frequently asked questions
When is the sea warmest?
The sea is typically warmest in August, around 27 °C. Daytime air averages 31 °C.
What is the place known for?
Local signatures include Napoleon's exile, Iron and the Etruscans, The open basket cableway, The Medici walls, White and black beaches, Watchtowers, Aleatico from the terraces, The archipelago national park.
How much are food and drinks locally?
As a guide: espresso at the bar ~1.3 €, main dish at a casual place ~16 €, beer (0.5 l) out ~6 €, scoop of ice cream ~2.8 €, sunbed and parasol per day ~25 €, an hour of parking ~2 €, litre of petrol ~2 €. High-season prices as of 2026-07.
How long is the car ferry?
The shortest route is Piombino → Portoferraio: about 1 h at sea, car from ~40 € one way. The calculator shows exact prices for a specific day.
Which airports serve it?
There is no airport of its own within reach, the way in is by car and ferry.
Car or plane, which pays off?
No contest here: the car ferry is the only sensible option and also the cheapest island holiday reachable by car from Central Europe. The calculator prices your exact dates.
What does a trip to Elba cost this year?
The calculator compares flights from several airports, driving with real ferry prices, and shows the weather for every date.