Elba

Posted by at-thebeach on 05/23/14 05:21 AM

I am having difficulty finding any information about Elba. Rick is our travel guru, and yet he does not mention this Island. Does anyone have any input for us? We are considering going while on our Sept. / October 2014 trip.

We have visited Italy many times. Elba has been mentioned, but we wonder if it's a real draw and if going the first to fourth of October is too late in the season.

We are staying in San Gimignano for 4 days and touring the hill towns of Chianti and on to the south from there. Would it be more inviting to then go to the north : Lucca, Pisa,Volterra, area?
We have been to Florence and Cinque Terra.
Love Italy,
Thank you,

Posted by Norma

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

05/23/14 11:15 AM

8293 posts

I haven't been to Elba but if you google "Elba tourism" there is lots of information. It looks very worthwhile considering.

Posted by Ellen

Centennial, CO, USA

05/23/14 01:49 PM

1903 posts

Been to Elba as part of a bike trip through Tuscany. It's not over run with American tourists.
There are two sides to the island...one lush and green, the other --not. There are beaches and a beautiful beach front walk to sit and enjoy the sea.

Lucca is beautiful, as Volterra interesting, Pisa, just for the Field of Miracles. If you've been to the CT, and are not looking for "beach time"....just stay on the mainland and check the other towns off your list.

Elba would be an overnight stay....to get there is a few hours ferry ride, not something to do in a day...and from what I saw on the island from the saddle of our tandem bike, not a lot of difference from main land Italy.

I can't speak to the weather in October...we were there in May, and it was a bit chilly on the ferry ride over.

However, if you want peace and quiet, by all means go to Elba and enjoy!

Posted by Laura

Rick Steves' Europe

05/23/14 11:20 PM

16899 posts

I've had lots of quite-warm weather and swimming in Cinque Terre, for instance, and several other parts of the Med in October, so I don't think the start of the month is too late for an island visit. But I also agree that most island beaches and towns are not much different from most mainland beaches and towns in the same region. If it means anything, Lonely Planet' s Italy book gives Elba 3 pages, versus 5 pages for Lucca.