Disembarking on Elba without a vehicle
It is not certain that you have to disembark on Elba necessarily with a vehicle in tow. On the island there is in fact an excellent public transport service, as well as taxis and scooter rental agencies, perhaps electric, and bicycles, electric or not. All services that allow you to easily move around the area. In this way you travel in a more environmentally friendly way, as also called for by the objectives of the local project entitled “Protect the environment, choose the bus“, and also save money. In fact, not only is there a series of fares and promotions for those who choose the bus, but also the price of ferries to Elba is much cheaper when it comes to tickets for passengers traveling without a vehicle. So let’s find out how to get around the island without a car.
Getting around the island of Elba by public transport
Local public transport is managed by Autolinee Toscane which, in collaboration with the island’s municipal administrations and the Province of Livorno, has launched the “Protect the island, choose the bus” project, which encourages tourists and residents to choose the bus as a means of transport and to leave private car at home. Important initiatives were therefore launched: the Elba Pass, or discounted passes for 1, 3 and 6 days to be used for urban and suburban buses, new lines, free rides and new timetables to expand the offer, and various promotions. But also a study of user needs, so as to be able to model the service on the real needs of users. In addition, with the Moovit app, you can consult timetables, routes and plan trips.
The durations and prices of the Pass (the subscription valid on all local buses of the Tuscan Bus Lines) are as follows:
- 1 day € 10;
- 3 days: € 15;
- 6 days: € 25.
The Pass can be purchased at ticket offices, resellers and points of sale or, in digital format, via the Tabnet app.
If you do not intend to purchase a pass, the usual Urbano Maggiore tickets for Portoferraio are always available, which are valid for 70 minutes from validation and for the town’s urban service; the Extraurbano, to be validated. Both tickets can be purchased at company ticket offices, in PuntoLis authorized resellers, via the Tabnet app or by sending an SMS to the number 4880105 (with the wording “Portoferraio” for the Urbano Maggiore); you will receive a reply with the link to the digital ticket already validated. For the Extraurbano ticket, the wording to be written in the message changes according to the validity: Elba10, 20, 30 or 40 (30, 50, 70, or 90 minutes).
Subscription holders are also reserved for incentives and discounts at many tourist and cultural activities in Elba, listed below, which have entered into the agreement.
For the “Marciana – Monte Capanne cableway“, on weekends of the summer season (from Friday to Monday) there is a 10% discount equal to € 2.00 on the return ticket; on weekends of the winter season (from Friday to Monday) 20% discount of € 4.00 on the return ticket.
For the “Mar di Libri” bookshop in Piazza della Repubblica (Portoferraio) there is a 15% discount and a free ecological gadget. For the “Tuscan Archipelago National Park Authority” there is a reduced rate on the entrance ticket to the “Fortezza Pisana” Park House in Marciana, the “Franco Franchini” Park House in Rio and the CEA “Raffaello Foresi” in Lacona . For “Aquavision” there is a 10% discount on the services of the motorboat “Nautilus” (morning itinerary from Portoferraio and afternoon itinerary from Marciana Marina). For the “Elba Musical Island of Europe Festival” there is a reduced rate on the admission ticket to the paid events of the 26th edition. For the “MUM – L. Celleri Mineralogical and Gemological Museum” in San Piero in Campo a reduced rate of 3 euros is guaranteed. For the museums of Portoferraio there is a reduced rate on the entrance ticket to Villa Romana delle Grotte, Forte Falcone, Fortezze Medicee, Teatro dei Vigilanti “Renato Cioni”, Archaeological Area of Linguella, Archaeological Museum of Linguella, Pinacoteca. For the museums of Rio there is a reduced rate on the entrance ticket to the Rio Marina Mining Museum and the Archaeological Museum of the mining district in Rio. For the museums of Capoliveri there is a reduced rate on the entrance ticket to the Museo del Mare in Via Palestro and to the Museo della Vecchia Officina in Calamita.
Furthermore, users of urban public transport by road can count on a telephone number dedicated to information (you can call 0565-1930660 from 08.00 to 20.00).
The number of beaches reachable by bus (Line 7, free) increases: in addition to those of Le Ghiaie, Padulella, Capo Bianco and Sottobomba, it is possible to reach the beaches of Seccione, Acquaviva, Sansone and Viticcio. There are also stable stops at Calata Italia and Calata Matteotti.
Line 6, which runs the outward and return journey to Biodola, increases the number of trips.
Line 8, free of charge, carries out the night circulation service (from 20:30 to midnight, every 15 minutes), and covers the areas of Molo Gallo – Calata Italia – Pilade del Buono – via Manganaro post office – viale Elba middle school.
Hiking is also encouraged in collaboration with the CAI: seven stops have been made that are located in the immediate vicinity of paths that are part of the Great Elban Crossing: Cavo, Radice del molo, Campo ai Peri, Colle di Procchio, Patresi, Pomonte.
