Le Ghiaie beach in Portoferraio, on the Island of Elba

Very close to the historic center of Portoferraio, the Ghiaie Beach is famous for the incomparable beauty of its seabed and the white pebbles smoothed by the sea, which, according to a legend, are stained with the sweat drops of the Argonauts.

It is recommended to visit the beach especially during days with a sirocco wind, which will further enhance the transparency of the water and the reflections of the splendid seabed, making it resemble a swimming pool.

The stretch of sea in front, extending for about one nautical mile, including Scoglietto, has been a [page id="779"]biological protection zone

since 1971: this has allowed the protected area, due to the richness of its flora and marine fauna, to be one of the best places for scuba diving. Obviously, fishing is prohibited.

Ghiaie Beach is a true paradise for snorkeling! Even children with a simple mask, just a few meters from the shore, can see a myriad of fish.

The beach is about 330 meters long (plus 75 meters of cliff) and 18 meters wide (at its widest point); to the right, the last meters are made up of rocks, which, however, do not allow you to lie down and sunbathe.

On the beach, there is a boardwalk providing access to the sea for people with disabilities. It borders a nice avenue that separates it from the public gardens, an ideal place to find some shade and let children play during the hottest hours.

The facilities are not lacking: behind the beach along the avenue, there are bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors, and a paid parking lot. On the beach itself, there is a bathing establishment, pedal boat rentals, and boat rentals.

Curiosity: Since 2016 Ghiaie Beach has been equipped with a powerful lighting system to allow all citizens and visitors of the Island of Elba to swim at night in complete safety.

To ensure safety in the stretch of sea in front of the rocky cliff separating Ghiaie Beach from Cala dei Frati, an ordinance has been issued with new rules for navigation and bathing. Read the ordinance No. 28/2019 from the Municipality of Portoferraio »

How to reach Ghiaie Beach

It is easily reachable by car from the port (though it may be a bit more challenging to find parking). Before entering the historic center of the city, turn left and follow a tree-lined avenue that leads to this beautiful beach.

The beach is connected by the [page id="1193"]public bus service.

Information and facilities

Commune	Portoferraio
Side	North
Recommended with the following winds	Sirocco, South Wind
Composition	Shingles
Length	330 m
Facilities	Bank / Cash machine, Bar, Newsagent's, Chemist, Market, Shops, Canoe/kayak rental, Sun umbrella / sun bed hire/rental, Pedalo rental, Car park, Restaurants, Bathing establishment
Nearby beaches	Cala dei Frati (0,38 km), Le Viste (0,55 km), Padulella (0,71 km), Capo Bianco (0,82 km), Sottobomba (1,34 km), Seccione (2,2 km), Schiopparello (2,9 km), Acquaviva (3,12 km), Bagnaia (3,28 km), Magazzini (3,41 km), Ottonella (3,41 km), Ottone (3,44 km), Sorgente (3,44 km), Sansone (3,58 km), Zupignano (3,62 km), Le Secche (3,92 km), Viticcio (3,94 km), Pinetina (4,29 km), Enfola (4,51 km), Nisporto (4,57 km), Scaglieri (4,65 km), Forno (4,68 km), Biodola (4,88 km)