What to See on Elba Island in 2 Days

Knowing what to see on Elba Island in 2 days is essential to fully experience the beauty of the area.
That’s why it’s helpful to be aware of the best options, so you can choose what suits you best and not miss the most important Elban treasures.

The best beaches
If you find yourself on Elba Island, even for a short visit, you should be familiar with its finest beaches.
There are many and varied: sandy or pebbly, small or large, more or less busy.
Each one, in its own way, reveals a unique corner of the Elban Sea’s beauty.

Here are the top beaches to consider when seeking a bit of relaxation:

• Capo Bianco Beach (Portoferraio).
  On the northern side, you’ll find this stretch of around 300 metres of white pebbles, nestled in a white promontory. 
  The tall cliffs provide a stunning backdrop to fine shingle and rocky seabeds, where the crystal-clear waters create beautiful reflections. 
  As one of the most famous and popular beaches, it is often busy.

  How to get there: from Portoferraio’s historic centre, turn onto Viale Einaudi and follow the road to Ghiaie beach. 
  After about 1 km, you’ll see signs for Capo Bianco beach. 
  These lead to a large car park, from where you can reach the beach via a flight of steps. 

  Facilities: paid parking, parasols and deckchairs, bar, pedal boat hire.  

• Sansone Beach (Portoferraio). 
  Located on the northern side of Elba Island, this stretch of coast is known for its small white gravel pebbles, alongside a stunning mix of rocks, caves, and hidden inlets. 
  The crystal-clear waters reveal the pale seabed beneath, especially on days when the Scirocco wind blows. 
  It’s an ideal spot for anyone seeking a quieter, more secluded beach experience.

  How to get there: from the Portoferraio-Enfola provincial road, after about 4.5 km you’ll find a small path on the right that leads down to the beach. 
  Please note: this is a footpath only and can only be accessed on foot. It’s best to leave your vehicle in the nearby roadside lay-bys.

  Facilities: parasols and deckchairs, bar, pedal boat hire.

• Enfola Beach (Portoferraio). 
  Situated on the northern coast, this beach features a narrow isthmus that connects Monte Enfola to the rest of the island, creating two separate beaches. 
  The south-facing beach is the friendlier and more popular one, with grey pebbles and shallow waters. 
  From here, you can enjoy a stunning view of the Elba coastline, while the headland is scattered with bunkers, depots and platforms dating back to the Second World War. 
  A perfect spot for those seeking a smaller, more sheltered beach.

  How to get there: From Portoferraio, simply follow the signs for Enfola-Viticcio for around 6 km. 

  Facilities: free parking, parasols and deckchairs, bar, restaurants, pedal boat hire and canoes.  

• Fetovaia Beach (Marina di Campo).
  Situated on the west coast, in the south-western part of the island.
  Fetovaia Beach is a true gem: fine golden sand meets the lush green Mediterranean scrub that stretches for around 800 metres.
  The seabed gently slopes into clear waters that shift in colour from turquoise to emerald green.
  Thanks to its unique beauty, the beach is often quite busy.

  How to get there: It’s about 10 km from Marina di Campo.
  After turning off the main provincial road, it’s just a 1 km drive to reach the beach.

  Facilities: free parking with limited spaces as well as paid parking, parasols and deckchairs, bars, restaurants, pedal boat and canoe hire, a newsstand, and disabled access.

• Cavoli Beach (Marina di Campo). 
  Its distinctive microclimate, due to its position, allows for swimming even out of season (it tends to be busy from March through to November). 
  The beach, with its granular sand, lies within an inlet enclosed by cliffs and the lush greenery of the Mediterranean scrub. 
  Especially in summer, it’s the perfect spot for young people seeking fun: beach parties and live music are regular features. 

  How to get there: from Marina di Campo, simply follow the signs for around 5 km. 

  Services: paid parking, parasols and deckchairs, bars, restaurants, pedal boat and canoe hire, and a newsstand.  

• Laconella Beach (Capoliveri).
  Known for its fine, pale sand and crystal-clear waters, Laconella offers a charming spot just beyond a small rocky outcrop, where you’ll find Lacona’s largest beach.
  The calm, shallow sea stretches out along a generous shoreline, making it perfect for families with children.
  It’s also a great choice for those looking for a quieter, less crowded place to relax.

  How to get there: from the provincial road, head towards the Laconella campsite. After passing through the entrance, a short footpath leads down to the beach.

  Facilities: there are no facilities on site. It’s best to park in Lacona and walk from there.

For those wanting to enhance their experience, the beaches of Capo Bianco, Sansone and Enfola are perfect spots for snorkelling on Elba Island. 

 

• • The Blue Grotto.

    Located on the western coast, it’s nestled between the beaches of Cavoli and Colle Palombaia.

    This sea cave, also known as the Blue Grotto, is named for the incredible clarity of the water inside.

    Depending on the sun’s position, you can enjoy stunning reflections on both the seabed and the cave walls. These magical light effects have made it famous as one of the most beautiful grottos.

    Its size means small boats can enter, and since it’s only reachable by sea, a boat trip is definitely recommended!
    

  • The Madonnina Grotto. 

    It is located on the slopes of Mount Giove, near Marciana Marina.

    This natural cave takes its name from a small statue of the Madonna placed inside in the 1960s. 
    On the path leading to the grotto, there is a granodiorite rock with a slight circular hollow: legend has it that the Virgin Mary rested there.  

  • The Monk Seal Grotto. 

    This cave is located near Innamorata Beach, in Capoliveri, along the Costa dei Gabbiani.

    Its name comes from the fact that, until a few years ago, it was inhabited by the monk seal. 

    It is a large cave, characterised by an adjacent pebble beach, which offers shelter and tranquillity.
    Close to the Grotta del Bue Marino are the Gemini Islands, which can be reached by swimming.

  • La Grotta dello Sbruffo.

    This cave lies just a few hundred metres from Enfola Beach, immediately beyond a rock that juts out of the water.

    The underwater cave can be entered through a small opening at the water’s surface, where the sea takes on a stunningly rich turquoise hue.
    Its vivid colours and shimmering reflections make it truly unique.

    Other caves well worth a visit include:

  • Grotta del Papa.
  • Bishop’s Cave.
  • Infrarossa Cave.

 

The Wreck
To wrap up your two days on Elba Island, a visit to the famous Pomonte wreck is a must.

Just about 150 metres from the beach that shares its name, close to the Ogliera rock, the Elviscot is one of the most popular wrecks to explore anywhere in Italy.

This Italian freighter, weighing 499 tonnes, set sail from Naples bound for Marseille – until it tragically ran aground on 10 January 1972 and came to rest on the rocks.

Today, the entire stern, The deck and part of the starboard bow lie on the sandy seabed, 12 metres down. 
Thanks to the close proximity to the shore, almost no currents, and shallow depth, the wreck can be explored by snorkelling and diving – even by beginners. 

What’s left of the deck is easy to explore through the large opening at the top. 
Passing through the funnel, you reach the engine room, where the entire engine assembly is still clearly visible. 
Through two wide openings at the stern, you enter the command deck, walking down a corridor lined with portholes. 
Sunlight streams through these portholes, creating beautiful reflections and light patterns. 

The hull is now covered with a variety of marine organisms and provides shelter to many fish. 
You can spot colourful sponges, seaweed, two-banded sea bream, wrasse, sea bream,red mullet and some meagre. 

Elba Island also offers the opportunity to explore other shipwrecks, including: 

• The Sant’Andrea wrecks. 
• The Bettolina wreck. 
• The Santa Rita wreck. 

As you can see, the options are many and all fascinating; simply pick the ones that suit you best. 
Either way, it promises to be an experience worth having!