Piombino to Elba Ferry

Getting to Piombino

The ferry to Elba departs from Piombino Marittima, the dedicated ferry terminal at the tip of the Piombino promontory on the Tuscan coast. It is directly served by a short branch rail line from Campiglia Marittima on the main Rome–Livorno line — the station at Piombino Marittima is a few metres from the ticket booths. By car, follow signs to Piombino Marittima from the SS1 Via Aurelia or the A12 motorway; parking is available near the terminal, though it fills fast in summer.

The crossing

The standard service is a conventional car ferry crossing to Portoferraio, Elba's principal town and port, in approximately one hour. Both Toremar and Moby run modern vessels with car decks, passenger saloons and outside decks — the views of the Tuscan coast and the approaching green hills of Elba make the crossing pleasant in good weather. There is no high-speed passenger-only service on a regular scheduled basis; the car ferry is the main option.

Toremar and Moby

Toremar and Moby compete on this route, offering sailings that together give departures roughly every one to two hours in high season and a reduced but still frequent schedule through the winter. In July and August, booking in advance is essential for vehicles — car space on popular summer sailings sells out days or weeks ahead. Foot passengers generally have more flexibility. Tickets are available online from both operators and at the port.

Elba and onward travel

Portoferraio is Elba's main hub, with the ferry dock in the lower town. The island is approximately 27 km long and takes 30–45 minutes to drive across, with good roads connecting to other resorts such as Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro and Marina di Campo. Scooter and bicycle hire is available near the port for those without a car. For longer stays, Elba also has ferry connections to the smaller islands of Giglio and Capraia via Toremar.