Elba offers an incredible variety of beaches. Instead of asking which side is best, this guide from Hotel Giardino in Lacona helps you choose the right beach for your day. Each beach has different sand or rocks, scenery and facilities, and the article provides practical tips on access, parking and the types of visitors who will enjoy them. It also explains why Hotel Giardino is a strategic base to explore the island, being centrally located and just 100 m from Lacona beach .

The beaches

1 – Cavoli (Campo nell’Elba)

• Setting: 300 m of pale sand and smoothed granite slabs create a sheltered bay with emerald‑green water . The hills keep the wind out, so the sea is like a natural pool.
• Atmosphere: Lively beach bar and afternoon music give it a youthful vibe in high season. In the morning and off‑season it is calm enough for families .
• Tips: Reachable in about 15 min by car from Hotel Giardino; parking is limited and paid. Arrive early to find a space .

2 – Fetovaia (Campo nell’Elba)

• Setting: A narrow tongue of soft golden sand lies between headlands, giving a tropical feel. The water is turquoise and pool‑like . Rocks and the Scoglio della Seghettina offer excellent snorkelling .
• Atmosphere: Calm sea and shallow water make it perfect for children and couples. It is very popular, so arrive early to find parking.
• Tips: About 20 min from Lacona. A few beach clubs and bars provide umbrellas, pedal boats and SUP rentals .

3 – Sansone (Portoferraio)

• Setting: A 150 m ribbon of white eurite pebbles sits below white cliffs; the turquoise water is extraordinarily clear . It is part of a protected area rich in fish and Posidonia seagrass.
• Access: Park on the road (€18/day) and walk for about 15 minutes down a dirt path; not suitable for strollers .
• Services: Only a kiosk at the start of the path; no facilities on the beach. Bring water and shade .
• Ideal for: Adventurous couples and snorkellers who don’t mind the walk.

4 – Capo Bianco (Portoferraio)

• Setting: 300 m of white pebbles under high quartz cliffs; the contrast with the turquoise sea is spectacular .
• Access: Stairs of about 80 steps descend from the road; the parking area is small .
• Services: A small area of umbrellas; otherwise it is free. Bars and restaurants are at street level .
• Ideal for: Couples, photographers and snorkellers looking for a quieter alternative to city beaches .

5 – Biodola (Portoferraio)

• Setting: A long bay of fine golden sand (about 600 m), backed by Mediterranean scrub and pine woods . The shallow sea is calm and clear.
• Services: Hotels and resorts line the beach, offering restaurants, bars, umbrellas, diving and sailing schools .
• Atmosphere: Well‑kept and family‑oriented, yet trendy. Nearby Scaglieri and Forno can be reached on foot.

6 – Sant’Andrea (Marciana)

• Setting: A small sandy cove combined with flat pink‑granite slabs (the Cote Piane) which form natural sun terraces and pools . The water is transparent and teeming with life.
• Access & services: Mountain road; limited parking in the village; a small beach club with umbrella rentals, canoe/SUP hire and a couple of restaurants .
• Ideal for: Couples seeking a romantic spot and snorkellers exploring the rock pools .

7 – Lacona (Capoliveri)

• Setting: The second‑longest beach on Elba (1.2 km) with soft sand, natural dunes and a large pine forest providing shade . The shallow sea makes it perfect for children.
• Services: Numerous beach clubs, sailing/windsurf schools, kayak and pedal‑boat rentals, bars and restaurants .
• Why stay here: Hotel Giardino is only 100 m away; you can walk to the beach in 5 minutes and easily visit the other beaches from this central base .

8 – Laconella (Capoliveri)

• Setting: A hidden 180 m cove next to Lacona. Its aquamarine water and wild surroundings give it a secluded feel .
• Access & services: A side road leads to a 5‑minute footpath (steep at the end). There are no services—bring water, shade and take your rubbish home .
• Ideal for: Visitors seeking quiet and nature; families who enjoy a short hike .

9 – Innamorata (Capoliveri)

• Setting: A bay of dark sand and pebbles facing two small islands (Gemini). Known for romantic sunsets and the Legend of the Innamorata, celebrated on 14 July with a torchlight procession and swimming race .
• Services: Two beach clubs, two restaurants/bars and pedal‑boat rental .
• Ideal for: Couples and families; snorkelling near the rocks and enjoying the evening festival .

10 – Terranera (Porto Azzurro)

• Setting: A unique “black beach” formed from old iron‑mine tailings; behind it lies an emerald‑green lake rich in sulphur . The contrast between the black sand, green lake and blue sea makes it a geologist’s dream .
• Access & services: Drive to nearby Spiaggia di Reale, park for free and follow a five‑minute footpath. There are no facilities; bring everything you need . Swimming in the lake is prohibited for safety reasons .
• Ideal for: Geology and photography enthusiasts, hikers and snorkellers who appreciate unusual landscapes .

Summary table

Below is a condensed overview of each beach. It highlights the type of setting, how to reach it from Hotel Giardino and who will enjoy it most.

Beach	Setting & scenery	Access & services	Best for
Cavoli	Soft pale sand; protected bay with calm emerald water	15 min by car; paid parking; beach club with music	Youthful crowds, snorkelling, families (mornings)
Fetovaia	Narrow golden‑sand strand; turquoise pool‑like sea	20 min by car; narrow road & paid parking; beach clubs, bar, pedal‑boats	Families (calm water), couples & photographers
Sansone	White pebbles under white cliffs; crystal‑clear water	25 min drive + 15 min walk; no services; only a kiosk near path	Adventurers, snorkellers, couples
Capo Bianco	White pebbles & towering cliffs; turquoise water	20 min drive; stairs from small parking; limited umbrella rentals	Couples, photographers, snorkellers
Biodola	Long, fine‑sand bay backed by greenery; calm sea	30 min drive; large free/paid parking; full resort facilities	Families seeking comfort, water‑sport fans
Sant’Andrea	Tiny sandy cove & pink‑granite slabs forming natural pools	45 min drive; limited parking; small lido, canoe/SUP rentals	Couples, snorkellers, those seeking quiet
Lacona	1.2 km sandy beach with dunes & pine forest; shallow water	5 min walk from Hotel Giardino; numerous clubs & sport schools	Families, groups of friends, anyone wanting convenience
Laconella	Small secluded bay with aquamarine water	5 min drive + short footpath; no services	Visitors seeking nature & quiet, adventurous families
Innamorata	Dark sand & pebble beach facing twin islands; famed sunsets	20 min drive; paid parking; two clubs & restaurants	Couples, families, snorkelling & festival lovers
Terranera	Black sand with green lake; industrial‑nature landscape	20 min drive + 5 min walk; no services, lake off‑limits	Geology & photography enthusiasts, solitude seekers

Why Hotel Giardino is the perfect base

Hotel Giardino, in Lacona, makes it easy to explore these beaches. It stands in a 30 000 m² pine park just 100 m from Lacona beach, so guests can reach the sand on foot in 5 minutes and still have a reserved shaded parking space for exploring further afield . Its central location between Portoferraio, Capoliveri, Marina di Campo and Porto Azzurro means all major beaches are 10–15 km away .

The hotel is family‑run and known for its welcoming atmosphere: guests are greeted by name and offered home‑baked cakes. The pine forest provides hammocks and a playground; some rooms have balconies or patios. There is a restaurant serving Tuscan‑Elban cuisine with weekly outdoor grills, and breakfast includes homemade cakes, jams and savoury options . Amenities include free Wi‑Fi, bicycle use, ferry discounts, air‑conditioned rooms and pet‑friendly policies . Guests often describe Hotel Giardino as a “base camp” where they wake to birdsong, spend the day exploring a different beach or trail, then return to relax and dine in a peaceful garden .

Nearby sights and easy excursions

Beyond the beaches, Lacona offers nearby excursions:

• Madonna della Neve sanctuary: A 20‑30 minute walk from the hotel leads to a white hilltop chapel with panoramic views over the Gulf of Lacona; picnic tables make it ideal for a sunset stroll .
• Forte Focardo: A Spanish fort on Capo Perla near Porto Azzurro. Though still a military base, its viewpoint (10 min walk from Naregno car park) offers sunset panoramas .
• Capoliveri: A medieval hill town 8 km away with narrow lanes, craft shops and panoramic terraces. Visit the Sea and Mineral Museum and join a 4×4 tour of the former iron mines on Monte Calamita .
• Capo Stella trail: A 3 km circular walk starting 1 km from the hotel that loops around the promontory, offering 360° views over the gulfs of Lacona and Stella and glimpses of Montecristo and Pianosa .
• Other local beaches: Margidore (15 min walk), Felciaio (5 min drive) and Fonza (8 km, via dirt road) provide quieter alternatives with pebbles and clear water .
• Porto Azzurro: 15–20 min away, this charming harbour town has a lively seafront, gelaterias and shops, a small pebble beach and paths to Capo Focardo and the Monserrato hermitage .

Conclusion

Elba’s beauty isn’t confined to one coast. From the golden sands of Cavoli and Fetovaia to the white cliffs of Sansone and Capo Bianco, from the full‑service comfort of Biodola and Lacona to the wild, otherworldly landscapes of Terranera, each beach offers a different mood . The secret is to mix and match: choose the sheltered southern shores when a north wind blows, then head north for white pebbles and snorkelling when the south wind picks up . With Hotel Giardino as your central base, you can wake up each day and head in a new direction, knowing you will return to a friendly, relaxing haven in the pine woods .

Whether you are travelling as a family looking for safe, serviced beaches, a couple seeking romantic coves, a snorkeller chasing the clearest water or a walker in search of panoramic trails, Elba will surprise you at every turn. Pack your mask, sunscreen and comfortable shoes: your journey through Elba’s top 10 beaches is about to begin – enjoy the sea and have a wonderful holiday!