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Of all the European tourist hotspots, Italy is probably the busiest.
It centers many of the continent’s ancient monuments, including the Roman Colosseum and the floating city of Venice.
The weather is beautiful and the cuisine is second to none.
Needless to say, it’s been overrun with tourists lately, so if you’re hoping to experience some of that dolce vita or a relaxing Italian getaway, we recommend that you join the (extremely long) queue, unless of course you are open to it exploring alternatives off the path.
A small island off the coast of busy Tuscany, surrounded by the clearest waters and with ancient heritage and epic views. Elba is far less pressure visits:
An unheard of island paradise off the coast of Tuscany
With the exception of large autonomous islands like Sicily and Sardinia, Italy is not as famous for its paradisiacal Mediterranean archipelagos as Greece, Croatia, Türkiye and the like, but it still has 77 inhabited islands to its name.
One of them, Elba, is located near the mainland of Tuscany and belongs to the exceptionally beautiful National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago.
It is bordered by the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea, one of the brightest branches of the wider Mediterranean, and crossed by monumental peaks.
With a population of approximately 31,000 peopleLocated halfway between a peaceful Tyrrhenian retreat and a vibrant holiday island, it’s the perfect destination to soak up Italian culture and surround yourself with nature without the incessant background noise of the crowds.
Elba is first and foremost a summer destination for holidaymakers Italiansand despite its relatively small size, covering an area of just 130 square kilometers, there is a wide range of sunbathing areas, whether you’re Team Pebbly or Sandy Beach.
Where to stay on Elba for the best beaches?
For the former, Sansone is the place to go, in the north of Elba: it’s a narrow strip of white pebbles sandwiched between small sea cliffs and translucent seas, and there’s even a small bar a short walk from the beach serving affordable drinks and $15 to be served. pinsas (local hand-pressed pizzas).
If you prefer to walk barefoot in soft sand and swim in calm waters, the vast Spiaggia di Lacona in the south of Elba stretches for over a kilometer, with a large choice of restaurants and beach bars.
Alternatively, Lacona’s ‘little sister’ Laconella offers a more secluded environment to the west, with fewer crowds, a shallow, crystal clear Mediterranean Sea full of small fish, and even opportunities for kayaking if you’re feeling adventurous.
Other top choices include the 50-metre-long Pareti Beach, near Capoliveri, famous for its honey-colored sandthe fine white sands of Biodola Bay, and the youth-frequented party center Cavoli, although you’ll probably want to avoid that if you’re looking for peace and quiet.
Get off the beaten track and explore Elba’s extensive hiking trail system
Elba is also popular for its many hiking trails, well, 65 to be precise––that circuit around the island that leads to lookouts, secret coves and ancient ruins.
One of the most beautiful routes is Route 101 from Marciana, which heads up towards Mount Capanne: at 1019 meters above sea level, this is the highest peak on the island, and at the very top a sweeping panorama of the mountainous terrain and the sea beyond awaits.
Starting from the ruins of an old tuna factory, don’t miss the Enfola Circuit either: the 5-mile tour takes you past the highlights of the peninsula of the same name, including historic fortifications, beautiful calasand even Procchio, the site of a shipwreck from Roman times.
You’ll also want to check out the moderate Butterfly Trail, because it’s as beautiful as it sounds: a relatively steep 2.4-mile climb through lush Mediterranean vegetation, culminating in the rewarding Monte Perone viewpoint.
There’s a lot more we can go into in more depth – again, this charming one isola is a nature reserve, but to summarize: if you love nature, a trip to Elba can’t go wrong.
One pastel-colored city after another
Beyond the sweeping panoramas, Elba is dotted with ancient towns that have retained much of their distinctive Italian character amid the country’s tourist boom:
The capital Portoferraio, located on a C-shaped peninsula jutting out into the Tyrrhenian Sea, is home to a busy marina, a maze-like, cobbled old town and a host of museums, including the National Museum of Napoleonic Residences.
It is the number one attraction in the city and follows in the footsteps of Napoleon on the island: for those of you who don’t know, the legendary French emperor was exiled to Elba after being deposedand shortly before he escaped for another brief spell on the throne, before being defeated for good at Waterloo.
Capoliveri is located on a hill overlooking the sea another hidden gem Worth discovering, with its traditional Italian houses in warm colors, and it is impossible that you come to Elba and miss Porto Azzurro:
A perfectly preserved one 17th century port cityIt’s an obligatory selfie spot, with its sea-facing Piazza Matteotti, flanked by seafood restaurants and souvenir shops, and the heavily fortified castle of San Giacomo (still used as a prison to this day).
In Borgo al Cotone you will find a fishing village centered around a small harbour, which could well be the sixth town in the Cinque Terre, and for the odd culture lover there is no escaping Marciana, one of the oldest settlements on Elba. , and a medieval municipality on the slopes of the green Monte Capanne.
Elba feels more exclusive than other Italian destinations
Elba is one of the most exclusive destinations in Italy, and it goes without saying that all this beautiful nature and fascinating culture comes at a price:
There isn’t an abundance of cheap guesthouses or hostels on the island, but if you keep it under $160 a night, there’s still the Park Hotel Napoleone on the beach in Portoferraio, where a single room will cost you $136 to book, or Hotel Villa Italia in Porto Azzurro, slightly over budget at $161.
Both hotels already include breakfast in their nightly rates and are centrally located in their respective municipalities.
When it comes to food costs, Elba is about as expensive as other Italian hotspots, meaning it’s not cheap in the Balkans, but for the average American it’s a steal of a deal: Pizzas cost between $12 and 15, more refined pasta dishes cost around $25, and fine dining can cost $50 to more than $80.
How to get to Elba this summer?
If you travel to Elba, you can fly to Marina di Campo Airport, which has flights from it select secondary European hubssuch as Mannheim in Germany and Bern in Switzerland, or take the ferry from Piombino on the Tuscan mainland.
The last option is the most popular, with the estimated sailing time of a Moby ship sailing between Piombino and Portoferraio blocking at just 1 hourwith one-way tickets starting at an affordable $19 for foot passengers.
As connectivity improves and word comes out about the untouched beauty of Elba, chances are it won’t remain ‘hidden’ for long.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
