Elba may be the biggest of the seven isles in the Tuscan archipelago and after Sicily and Sardinia already the third largest island of Italy.
Mild weather, pristine beaches, small fishing villages and ancient fortresses make it a unique and striking destination.
Even by walking a few kilometres you can start off at the sea and end up to a granite mountain more than 1000mt high with a breathtaking view. You can be visiting the remains of an Etruscan fortress and then, after walking a few hundreds metres, find yourself swimming in the sea.
In Elba Island you just need to go around a bend and be faced with an unexpected and completely different landscape.
There are many beaches to visit on the island, from little coves to long beautiful ones, sandy, white or black pebbled and rockery spots of all kind! The paper map you can get at any tourist office in Elba indicates something like 100 beaches which can be reached without a boat. Most of the big ones are close to a road, some of the small ones ask for a bit of a walk. Whether pebble, rock or sand, they come in all shapes and sizes.
The beauty of the water of each beach is related to its exposure to winds.
Casa Pineta is on the south part of the island, the water in Marina di Campo beach will be really beautiful on a day where northern winds blow, like Grecale or Maestrale. The same is true for all the beaches on the north side of the island, their water will be crystal clear on Scirocco days, the wind that blows from south.
Here is a list of our favourite places to swim in the North and South of beautiful Elba island.
The beach in Marina di Campo is the longest on all the Island of Elba. It is about 1400 metres long, and sits enclosed between the old part with the tiny port of the town- hence the name of the beach - and on the other the gulf of La Foce.
It consists of golden, fine grain sand that has come to be over years of the crumbling of the granite rocks of Monte Capanne.
Thanks to the Gulf of Marina di Campo the beach is quite sheltered, and is at its best on days when a north-west wind is blowing, and the water is calm and cystal clear.
What distinguishes this beach is the natural beauty of the bay, with a crystal and turquoise sea protected by the promontory of Fetovaia, which is covered by the Mediterranean maquis until the sea. Thanks to its beauty, this almost white granitic sandy beach is one of the busiest in Elba island and it is both occupied by beach clubs and free areas.
Access to the beach of Fetovaia:
You can reach the beach of Fetovaia by car, along the main road a paved road goes down to the sea.
Parking is the main problem here, there are few free car parks so we suggest to call the day before in order to reserve your space.
Pino Solitario: +39 0565 988037
Barbatoja : +39 3355688611
Spartaia beach is very beautiful and is characterized by fine and clear sand. The beach is partly occupied by beach club of the nearby hotels and by a rental that offers the possibility to rent sun beds and umbrellas for a comfortable day at the beach. The rest of the beach is free to access and is ideal both for people with disabilities and families with children as you can access to the beach with strollers or wheelchairs. The seabed gently descends to the sea and offers shallow water in the first section, where you can teach your children to swim.
On the beach there are bars and paddle boats rentals thanks to which you can discover other beautiful coves nearby as that of Paolina in about 10 minutes.
Perfect for snorkelling too.
Access to Spartaia:
Coming from Procchio towards Marciana Marina, at about 500 meters from the village, there is a detour on the right indicating Spartaia, go down the narrow one-way driveway and find a toll parking. A comfortable pedestrian access will take you to the beach of Spartaia after about 80 meters.