5 tips for a holiday on Elba

Elba is an island in the Mediterranean, just under ten kilometres from the Italian mainland, and belongs to the region of Tuscany. Ferries run regularly to Elba from Piombino. There are ferry connections to the ports of Portoferraio, Cavo and Rio Marina. The ferry from Piombino takes you to the island’s capital, Portoferraio, after a crossing of around 30 minutes.

Marina di Campo Airport is located in Campo nell’Elba. It is a small airport served by very few airlines, so good flight connections are rather hard to come by. However, Elba is an ideal destination for a private flight. Elba is therefore highly recommended for all private pilots and for anyone looking for a destination for a private flight. Are you interested in travelling by private jet? Read more about travelling by private jet here.

Elba is 27 kilometres wide and, at its longest point from north to south, measures approximately 18 kilometres. Elba is an incredibly green island with mountains, fine sandy and pebble beaches, and rocky coves. The natural landscape is diverse: alongside oak, chestnut and pine forests, palm trees can also be found on the island. Agaves, fig trees and cacti are also part of the island’s typical vegetation. A drive across the island takes you past olive groves and vineyards.  The scent of fresh herbs hangs in the air, and almost all year round the oleander seems to adorn the island with its profusion of white and pink blossoms.

When choosing your accommodation, you should consider the location and the size of the property. It’s best to opt for a small, boutique hotel or a bed and breakfast; that way, you’ll avoid long queues at the buffet and overcrowded sun loungers by the pool. We opted for a small hotel in the north-west of the island. We could reach the beach from our accommodation in about a 10-minute walk. The hotel didn’t have a swimming pool, but it did have a large garden with plenty of seating and sun loungers.  We were able to enjoy the sea view both whilst eating and from the various cosy seating areas.

If you don’t want to do without sun loungers and parasols, you’ll have to be prepared to share the beach with lots of other tourists during the peak season. Most of the island’s beaches are small coves, so there’s only so much space for sun loungers. On the most popular sandy beaches, the sun loungers are very close together. When visiting the beach, you have the choice between crowded stretches lined with sun loungers and parasols, and lots of small, romantic coves. If you want a beach all to yourselves, look for a small cove where you can’t park right on the beach but have to walk down a slope. Often, small paths lead through the woods or over uneven gravel tracks to these secluded coves. Within just a few minutes, you’ll reach a cove that you’ll have all to yourself, or share with just a handful of other visitors who have also made the arduous trek down to this secluded paradise. Remember to pack drinks and snacks, as these coves are stunning and remote. There are no sun loungers with parasols and no beach bars here.

If you’re not travelling in your own car, it’s best to hire a car to explore the island, as this is the only way to fully appreciate its potential – the island has plenty to offer independent travellers. The mountain roads offer stunning views of the coast and the sea at every turn; it’s always worth stopping to take in the panorama. Some places are more popular with tourists; if you fancy heading into the hustle and bustle for an evening, you can take a stroll along the promenade here. Even in the busier spots, we didn’t feel it was overcrowded. That said, alongside the small boutiques, there are also a few souvenir shops selling the usual kitsch. We particularly liked the smaller villages on the island. Here you can take a leisurely stroll through the narrow streets; there are plenty of small boutiques and shops, many of which sell handmade goods.

Marciana

One of these small hamlets is Marciana, a village at the foot of Monte Capanne. Even as you approach the village, you’re treated to a fantastic photo opportunity: the village seems to be built right into the mountainside. At the entrance to the village, there is a small terrace next to the road, where you’ll find a few shops, a restaurant and a good ice cream parlour, Gelateria Zero Gradi. From the terrace, you can once again enjoy a typical view of the beautiful island landscape.If you walk through the city gate, Porta di Lorena, you find yourself in an authentic place that seems to have been barely touched by tourism. Inside the town, there are many narrow streets lined with houses and a few small shops. There appear to be many local artists and craftspeople, and you’ll find shops selling various handmade products such as soaps and jams.Renato, the owner of a small jam-making business, makes a range of unusual jams and chutneys himself. The shop at Il Capepe is a quaint vaulted cellar, and his creative concoctions are made right next door, in a small kitchen. After sampling a few jams, we decided to take three jars home with us to add a little extra weight to our luggage.

Every now and then, a tourist does seem to pop into this village, as there are signs pointing the way to the sights of this little place. There is a fort (Fortezza Pisana) situated on a hill. We didn’t go inside, but it offers a fantastic view of the coast and the rooftops of Marciana. In the bar next door, we were able to enjoy the view and a few cool drinks.

Do give the delicious Napoleon beer a try!

Another signpost points the way to the Madonna de Monte. As the name suggests, it’s situated on a mountain. The climb takes about 45 minutes. The route is only suitable for sturdy footwear, and don’t underestimate the heat, as some sections offer hardly any shade. Anyone who ventures up will once again be rewarded with a stunning view. And after such a strenuous climb, you’ve definitely earned yourself a large ice cream 😉

Please note: There are lots of biting flies up there! It’s best to apply insect repellent before you start the climb or to take some with you. You should also take water with you, as there are no shops once you reach the top. The descent is relatively quick, and once you’re back down in the village you can have a drink in a local pub, but if you plan to continue along the footpath from Maria del Monte rather than walking back, you should definitely take something to drink with you.

Visit to Napoleon’s Villa

Probably the island’s most famous attraction is the Napoleonic Villa dei Mulini. The estate, where Napoleon resided during his exile on Elba (1814–1815), is situated a few kilometres from Portoferraio in the direction of Procchio. We visited the living quarters, which feature the original furnishings, and the villa’s gardens. Admission costs €5 per person. There were no guided tours, but the information boards provide comprehensive details. The library and the gardens are particularly worth seeing. The gardens also offer a wonderful view of the coast.

Portoferraio

It’s well worth combining a visit to the Villa Napoleon with a stroll through the harbour town of Portoferraio. Here you can wander through the pretty narrow streets lined with plenty of cafés and small shops. Portoferraio also has a Gelateria Zero Gradi, which actually offers an even wider selection of unusual flavours. I tried the myrtle and ricotta-fig flavours here. Delicious!

And now we come to my favourite topic, because I love trying local specialities when I travel and rounding off the day with a good glass of wine. Elba offers a fine selection of local wines; the Aleatico, a sweet dessert wine, is particularly well known. To produce the wine, the grapes are left on the vine for a few weeks after they have ripened, then harvested and laid out in the sun for several days, during which time they are turned frequently. Only then are they processed into wine. Finally, the wine is aged in oak barrels for at least a year before being bottled. The wine has a deep red colour and a fruity aroma; it pairs perfectly with desserts, chocolate and the local speciality, schiaccia briaca. Other local specialities include a variety of homemade pasta dishes, wild boar and fresh fish dishes.

You should make sure to pack these 3 items for your trip to Elba. Of course, there are a few other items you’ll need to pack as well. You’ll find a complete packing list in the travel documents we’ve sent you.

• Sturdy, comfortable shoes
• Snorkel and diving goggles
• Essential: insect repellent!