How to get to Elba Island, Italy
Your Best and Stress-Free Options to Start your Elba Vacation

Are you wondering how to reach the beautiful island of Elba quickly, affordably, and conveniently?

Planning our trip to Elba wasn’t as straightforward as I’d hoped. Most of the information available online were in Italian, and those weren’t always accurate.

After lots of research, we chose to take the ferry to Elba. But I made sure to explore all the other travel options in detail beforehand.

In this guide, I’ll share useful tips for traveling to Elba, with lots of details on the most common transportation option: the ferry.

I’ll also cover the easiest ways to reach the ferry port by car or train and help you pick the best ferry for your trip. With these tips, your journey to Elba and the start of your vacation will be stress-free!

How to get to Elba? Your Travel Options

The island of Elba offers regular ferry and flight connections, making it easily accessible year-round. Most people prefer to travel by ferry from Piombino, as the flight options to the island are limited and less appealing.

Getting to Elba by Plane

Elba’s small airport, with the code EBA, is located about 2 km from Marina di Campo in the south of the island.

There are only a few international flights to Elba airport, with most incoming flights originating from the Italian mainland or Switzerland. You can fly to Elba from the nearby cities Pisa, Florence, Bologna, and Milan.

Getting to Elba by Ferry

Ferries depart daily from Piombino to Portoferraio (the island’s main town), Rio Marina and Cavo.

There are a total of 4 shipping companies that call at the various ports on the island: Corsica Ferries, Blue Navy, Moby Lines, Sardinia Ferries and Toremar.

⇨ To get the best deal, check here the times and prices of the various ferry providers

View from the back of a ferry heading towards Elba, with the wake of the boat in the clear blue sea, under a partly cloudy sky. The island of Elba is visible in the distance, indicating the approach to the destination. — Elba Ferry from Piombino to Portoferriao

How long does the ferry trip to Elba take?

There are three possible ports of call on Elba: Rio Marina, Cavo, and Portoferraio. The journey to Rio Marina takes about 45 minutes, and to Cavo about 35 minutes, as these towns are closer to the mainland.

The island’s capital, Portoferraio, can be reached in approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Piombino. During the summer, Corsica Ferries also operates a speedboat that makes the trip in just 30 minutes, with seven departures daily!

What is the cheapest way to get to Elba?

Elba is especially popular in the summer, with July and August being the high season when many Italians visit the beautiful vacation island.

As expected, ferry prices are also at their peak during this time. If you plan to travel to the island in high season, it’s worth comparing prices from different providers to find the best deal.

⇨ Get the best deal and check here the times and prices of the various ferry providers

My tips for cheaper Elba Ferry Prices

Weekdays are cheaper than weekends.
Ferries are usually cheaper very early in the morning or very late in the evening compared to during the day.
The earlier you book the ferry, the cheaper it is. Sometimes there are also promos you can take advantage of.
Travel and accommodation on Elba are much cheaper in spring and fall than in the high season (July & August).

My biggest ticket tip: Buy your ferry ticket here in advance to avoid long queues at the ferry terminal. The prices are usually even cheaper online than when you go to the ticket office at the terminal!

A man sitting inside a ferry terminal looking out at a large blue Moby ferry with cartoon graphics on its side. The ferry is docked at the terminal, ready to transport passengers to Elba. — Trying to work in the Piombino Ferry Terminal

How to get to the Piombino Ferry Port

Getting to the Piombino ferry port by train

If you are traveling to Elba without a car, you can easily reach the Piombino ferry Terminal by train.

The train station “Piombino Marittima” is located directly at the Port, just 80 meters from the terminal.

There are several direct trains daily, for example from Livorno. Depending on the connection, the journey takes between 1:15 and 1: 45hrs and costs from €8.70 per person.

Piombino Marittima can also be reached directly from Pisa, several times a day. The journey takes between 1,5 and 2 hours and costs from €10.10 per person.

My tip: When planning your journey to the Elba Ferry Terminal by train or bus, don’t plan on arriving last minute; take possible delays into account.
⇨ Check here your train connections

Getting to the Piombino port by car

We traveled to Elba by car. The quickest route from Livorno is via the SS1 and the E80. You should allow just under 1.5 hours for the 90 km. The toll on the highway is around €1.00 for a regular car.

The ferry port of Piombino is well signposted and located about 2.5 km from the center of Piombino. Follow the signs to the port (Porto), and you will arrive at a large roundabout just before the terminal.

If you have already purchased your ferry ticket online, which I highly recommend you to do, you can proceed straight ahead, as soon as it is time for boarding.

Monitors above the various car lanes display whether boarding has started. These screens show which ferry lays at which pier, along with the next departure, the respective shipping company, and the departure time.

Toremar and Corsica Ferries require you to be at the port at least 30 minutes before departure. Moby and Blu Navy recommend arriving at least 1 hour before departure.

If you still need to buy a ticket, turn left at the roundabout to reach the ticket office. You’ll be directed to a large parking lot with 400 spaces, where you can park for free until you ticket purchase.

You can also use this parking lot if you already have a ticket, but your ferry is not yet ready for boarding. Parking there is free for up to 2 hours.

⇨ Get the best deal and check here the times and prices of the various ferry providers

In the terminal itself, in addition to the various ticket counters, there is a bar, a small grocery store and a newspaper stand. There are seats inside and outside. Unfortunately, the available WLAN did not work at all for us….

A panoramic view of Portoferraio's harbor on Elba, with colorful buildings lining the waterfront and various boats docked. The scene is under a dramatic sky, showing the vibrant and historical port town. — Portoferriao Harbor

Parking near the port and ferry terminal of Piombino

If you have a car but don’t want to bring it to Elba, you will find 3 different options for parking your car at the port of Piombino:

Autorimessa Parcheggio Garage Del Porto
Info: Covered and guarded parking lot, only 50m from the terminal
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours
Prices: €10.00 Euro per day (not per 24h!) for a car up to 5m
Address: Piazzale Falcone e Borsellino, 4, 57025 Piombino (⇨location)

Parking “Il Traghetto”
Info: Guarded parking lot, only approx. 100m from the terminal
Opening hours: Daily from 7:30 – 22:30
Prices: € 8.00 per day (not per 24h!) for one car
Address: Viale Regina Margherita, 115, 57025 Piombino (⇨location)

Free parking lot
Info: Unguarded parking lot, approx. 10-15 minutes’ walk from the terminal, in the bright sun
Opening hours: 24h, open to the public
Prices: free of charge
Address: ⇨ Exact location

The island of Elba seen from a ferry, showcasing the rocky coastline with the historic town of Portoferraio perched on a hill. The sky is clear with scattered clouds, framing a picturesque arrival to Elba. — View of Portoferriao from the Elba Ferry

Overnight Stay in Piombino

For a stress-free journey to Elba, consider arriving in Piombino a day early. This way, you can save money on the early connections and embark on the ferry without the rush of a long travel journey prior.

And, surprisingly, Piombino is a lovely little town worth visiting!

It has a picturesque, historic old town with an ancient city gate and remnants of an impressive city wall. The town also offers a medieval castle, several beaches, and inviting cafés and restaurants, either by the sea or hidden within the narrow streets of the pedestrian zone.

My Hotel Recommendation in Piombino: Piombino 1428 Guesthouse is located in a historic building in the heart of Piombino’s beautiful old town. Despite its central location, it remains quiet and peaceful.

Overnight Tip near Piombino Ferry Terminal for Camper

A 5-minute walk from the beautiful town center of Poimbino is the Area Sosta Camper. This is a free parking lot for campers and motorhomes. From this great camper parking, you even have access to a small pebble beach (⇨ location)

Good to know: There is neither water nor toilets! But for all self-sufficient campers who arrive early and/or are lucky, this is a great parking space. We were first row, with a direct sea view and a piece of green on which we could set up our table and camping chairs.

A man sitting at a portable table and chairs setup near the coast, having a meal. The backdrop includes the calm sea and a distant lighthouse, showing a tranquil spot for overnight camping before taking the ferry to Elba. — Overnight Camper Area in Piombino with view of Elby

Staying Overnight in Portoferraio, Elba

If you’re taking an early morning ferry from Elba back to the mainland or want to enjoy your last evening in Portoferraio, I recommend finding accommodation in the island’s capital.

Surrounded by mighty 16th-century city walls, the picturesque old town of Portoferriao stretches along the large harbor basin and should be on your to-do list for Elba anyhow.

The fortress here is home to one of the oldest lighthouses in Europe and offers a fantastic view over the city and Portoferraio’s harbor.

My Hotel Recommendation in Portoferraio: Hotel Acquamarina is a 5-minute walk from the beach, just above the center of Portoferraio. Free covered parking and a rich breakfast make your last day on Elba even more enjoyable.

Overnight Tip near Portoferraio Ferry Terminal for Camper

To save money, we booked the cheapest ferry of the day for our return trip to Piombino. Departure time: 6:20am!

A great and free overnight accommodation for campers and motorhomes is located only 4km, 7 minutes’ drive from the ferry port in Portoferraio (⇨ location)

Good to know: There is no water and no toilets, it is just a large sand & gravel pitch at a small jetty. However, there are a few bars and restaurants within walking distance.

We were right on the beach, with a view of the harbor entrance, and were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset. For us, this was just the perfect end to a wonderful vacation on Elba!

A man seated at a folding table and chairs by the coastline at sunset, with Portoferraio’s harbor in the distance. The area is ideal for campers arriving on Elba and looking for a picturesque place to stay. — Overnight Camper Area with view of the Portoferraio Terminal

Conclusion

How to get to Elba, either by traveling by plane or ferry, is quite easy. As always, it’s cheapest to travel outside the high season and during off-peak times.

With a little advance planning and flexibility in your travel dates and times, you can enjoy a stress-free and even very affordable journey to Elba!