Harbours in Portoferraio on Elba: getting there, harbour info and sailing destinations

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Portoferraio lies on the north coast of Elba, on a deep roadstead opposite the mainland near Piombino. Two harbours matter for yachts: the Darsena Medicea and the Marina Esaom Cesa. Here you can read how to get to Portoferraio for the start of your trip, which harbour is where, where to park and shop, what weather to expect, which sailing destinations lie off Portoferraio and what skippers should know when entering harbour.

Which harbours are there in Portoferraio?

In Portoferraio, yachts moor at two locations: in the Darsena Medicea, the old Medici harbour basin right by the old town, and in the Marina Esaom Cesa, which lies about 1.2 kilometres west-southwest of it on the western shore of the same roadstead. Both harbours share the approach through the roadstead, but they differ considerably in location, size and facilities.

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Feature	Darsena Medicea	Marina Esaom Cesa
Location	in the middle of the old town, at the harbour entrance	western shore of the roadstead, about 0.5 nm west of the harbour entrance
Operator	Cosimo de‘ Medici srl (company of the municipality of Portoferraio)	Esaom Cesa S.p.A. (with shipyard)
Berths	around 70 berths for yachts up to 70 m, 3 to 5 berths during the day for passing visitors	around 300 berths for yachts up to 65 m
Water depth	2.5 to 6.5 m	up to 6.5 m
VHF channel	9 (7am to 8pm)	10
Access from the sea	around the clock	6am to 10pm
Technology	Slipway, no travel lift	Travel lifts for 240 and 880 t

Information as of November 2026.

Arriving for the start of your sailing trip in Portoferraio

You can reach Elba from the mainland by ferry, and the ferries from Piombino dock at Portoferraio. For the last stretch, what matters is whether your boat is in the Darsena Medicea in the old town or in the Marina Esaom Cesa on the western shore of the roadstead.

From the airport to Portoferraio

The nearest major airport is Pisa. From the airport, the People Mover runs directly to Pisa Centrale railway station.

On Elba itself there is the small airport near Marina di Campo, around 13 kilometres from Portoferraio. As things stand (November 2026), small aircraft fly there from Pisa and Florence on some weekdays in winter.

To Portoferraio by train and ferry

By train, you travel to Campiglia Marittima on the Genoa–Rome coastal line. Depending on the connection, you either continue by train from there to Piombino Marittima, the station right next to the ferry port, or change to the “Piombino Marittima link” bus. It departs from the square in front of Campiglia Marittima station and takes you to the port. You book the bus together with your train ticket; it costs a supplement of 2.90 euros (as of November 2026).

Several ferry companies run from Piombino to Portoferraio all year round, and the crossing takes around an hour. As things stand (November 2026), a further service with a journey time of around 45 minutes is added from May to September. Without a car it is quicker: a passenger-only hydrofoil takes around 40 minutes, with an intermediate stop in Cavo. The ferries dock at the Calata Italia, and Portoferraio is about 6 nautical miles from the Piombino headland.

The Darsena Medicea is in the old town. As things stand (November 2026), city bus line 10 connects the Calata Italia with the Calata Mazzini at the Darsena. The Marina Esaom Cesa on the western shore of the roadstead is around 500 metres from the ferries; with a lot of luggage, a taxi is more convenient.

Which harbour is mine?

The full name is what matters. The Darsena Medicea is the old Medici harbour basin next to the old town. Its operator also trades under the name Marina di Portoferraio. The Marina Esaom Cesa belongs to a large shipyard and lies outside the old town on the western shore of the roadstead. So tell the taxi driver “Darsena Medicea” or “Esaom Cesa”. There are other small landing stages and boatyards in the south of the roadstead, at San Giovanni and at Edilnautica.

Parking

The nearest car parks are around 150 to 200 metres from the Darsena Medicea. The Marina Esaom Cesa has its own car parks for its guests, which the marina staff keep an eye on.

Showers and sanitary facilities

Both harbours have sanitary facilities with showers, each with disabled access as well. The Darsena Medicea also has a launderette, and the Marina Esaom Cesa has washing machines and tumble dryers.

Shopping for the trip

From the Darsena Medicea you can walk to two supermarkets: an EuroSpin about 700 metres away and a Conad City about 900 metres away. For a big shop by car, there is a Conad Superstore around 1.7 kilometres away. If you are stocking up on drinks and provisions for a week, it is worth going by car or taxi.

From the Marina Esaom Cesa, too, a supermarket is just a few minutes' walk away. For errands in town, the marina provides bicycles for its guests, and you can get boat supplies and spare parts at the marina's chandlery, which is open all year round.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy, the Farmacia Europa, is only around 100 metres from the Darsena Medicea. The island's hospital, the Ospedale Civile Elbano, is in Portoferraio, around 900 metres west-northwest of the Darsena Medicea and around 800 metres north-northeast of the Marina Esaom Cesa.

These numbers apply in Portoferraio and at sea off Elba:

• 112: single European emergency number for ambulance, fire and police services
• 1530: free emergency number of the Italian coastguard for emergencies at sea, available round the clock
• At sea: emergency call via VHF channel 16

Where is the Darsena Medicea?

The Darsena Medicea lies at the northeastern end of the roadstead, behind a headland in a deep bay, which makes it an almost natural harbour basin. The octagonal Linguella tower stands at its entrance, and behind it the old town rises with its fortresses. If you moor here, you step ashore right in the centre of Portoferraio.

The basin was extended under Duke Cosimo I de‘ Medici, who had the town built as a fortress from 1548. Today the berths are operated by the company Cosimo de‘ Medici srl, in which the municipality of Portoferraio holds a stake. Its office is at the harbour entrance opposite the Molo del Gallo. The port authority of the northern Tyrrhenian Sea is responsible for the port of Portoferraio as a whole. The Darsena has around 70 berths and accommodates yachts up to 70 metres in length.

Facilities at the Darsena Medicea

Every berth has water and electricity, and the staff help with mooring. The hot showers and the toilets, which are also accessible, are in a heated building next to the town hall, a few steps from the basin. There is also a launderette, Wi-Fi, a daily weather forecast and waste disposal with waste separation on the quay. A fuel station with petrol and diesel is at the Molo del Gallo in the old harbour. For minor work there is a slipway, but the Darsena has no travel lift.

Where is the Marina Esaom Cesa?

The Marina Esaom Cesa lies on the western shore of the Portoferraio roadstead, about half a nautical mile west of the harbour entrance. It belongs to the Esaom Cesa shipyard and lies outside the old town, but the hospital and a supermarket are close by.

With around 300 berths for yachts up to 65 metres, it is the larger of the two harbours. The facility is guarded around the clock, and in high season the marina staff can also be reached around the clock.

Facilities at the Marina Esaom Cesa

The berths have water, electricity and Wi-Fi, and the staff help with mooring and take your rubbish. Ashore you will find sanitary facilities with showers, washing machines and tumble dryers, car parks, a bar with a restaurant and a chandlery of around 400 square metres. With travel lifts of 240 and 880 tonnes, the yard can also haul out large yachts and carries out maintenance, refits and winter storage.

Large yachts can refuel directly at the marina quay on request.

What is the weather like for sailing in Portoferraio?

The Portoferraio roadstead is around two kilometres wide and protects the harbours well, even in bad weather. The Darsena Medicea also lies behind the headland of the old town and is considered sheltered from the wind.

The most important wind for the harbours is the Scirocco from the southeast. If it blows strongly from the south-southeast, entering Portoferraio harbour becomes difficult. With a tidal range of 20 to 40 centimetres, the tides play hardly any role.

The Italian weather service issues storm warnings from Force 7 onwards.

Which destinations are close to Portoferraio?

From Portoferraio you can reach the other harbours on Elba, the mainland near Piombino and the neighbouring island of Capraia in day sails, and Corsica in one long passage. The distances are rounded figures over water on the usual course from the harbour entrance of Portoferraio; for precise planning, the nautical chart applies.

• Marciana Marina: around 8 nm to the west along the north coast of Elba
• Piombino: around 13.5 nm north-east across the Piombino Channel
• Porto Azzurro: around 16 nm around the northeastern tip of Elba and south along the east coast
• Capraia: around 27 nm to the northwest
• Bastia (Corsica): around 40 nm to the west, along the north coast of Elba and then across open water

Marciana Marina on the north coast is the shortest hop and an obvious first destination. The harbour also takes yachts up to around 40 metres. Porto Azzurro lies in a bay on the east side of the island and has room for yachts up to around 60 metres.

Piombino on the mainland belongs, like Portoferraio, to the harbour network of the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. On the way there you cross the ferry route between Elba and the mainland. Capraia is the next island to the north-west, and its harbour is also part of the harbour system of the northern Tyrrhenian Sea. Apart from the harbour and the village, the waters around Capraia belong to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. What is permitted depends on the protection zone. On the west coast, the stretch between Punta delle Cote and the bay to the south of it has been closed to all boats since 2020 to protect the monk seal. Fishing is only allowed in certain zones and with the park's permission. Corsica lies further to the west. You can read about how the harbours on the other side are laid out in the profile of the harbours in Bastia.

What can you do on a harbour day in Portoferraio?

The old town with its fortresses begins directly at the Darsena Medicea. City bus line 1 goes to Villa San Martino; for Volterraio Castle you need a car or a taxi. The Medici fortresses, Forte Falcone and the museum in the Linguella each cost 8 euros to enter. The Cosmopoli Card for 20 euros is valid for seven days for all municipal museums and fortresses (as of November 2026).

• Medici fortresses: From 1548, Cosimo I. de‘ Medici had the town secured with walls, bastions and the fortresses Forte Falcone, Forte Stella and Linguella. In 1553 it withstood the attack of the corsair Dragut. A path around 500 metres long runs along the walls, with views over the roadstead. Forte Stella is home to a lighthouse dating from 1788, one of the oldest in Europe.
• Archaeological Museum in the Linguella: Since 1998, the octagonal tower at the mouth of the Darsena has housed the Archaeological Museum, with finds from Elba and the neighbouring islands from Greek, Etruscan and Roman times.
• Napoleon's residences: During his exile on Elba, Napoleon lived in the Palazzina dei Mulini in the old town. His summer residence, the Villa San Martino, lies a few kilometres outside the centre.
• Le Ghiaie beach: The beach, with clear, turquoise water, is only a few minutes from the centre. Further north follow the beaches of Capo Bianco, Sottobomba and Sansone, with their pale rocks.
• Volterraio Castle: The castle, regarded as the oldest fortress on the island, stands between Portoferraio and Rio. On clear days the view from the top stretches as far as Corsica.

For skippers: berthing and marine weather in Portoferraio

The Darsena Medicea monitors VHF channel 9 (7 am to 8 pm), and the Marina Esaom Cesa monitors channel 10. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel, which you keep monitored on your way through the roads.

Registration and Berthing

For the Darsena Medicea, you reserve your berth in advance by e-mail or via the operator's form. On the day of arrival, you confirm by telephone or e-mail by 10 am when you will arrive, otherwise the Darsena will only hold the berth until 7 pm. On arrival, you call the Darsena on channel 9 and are assigned your berth; berthing is only carried out with the help of the staff. This help is available until 9 pm; if you arrive later, you berth without assistance. After mooring, you register at the office with the boat's papers. A berthing day runs from 12 noon to 12 noon, and on the day of departure you vacate the berth by 12 noon.

For a daytime stopover, the Darsena keeps five berths free between 9 am and 7 pm from 15 June to 15 September, and three at other times. You cannot reserve these berths and may use them no more than three times a month; you only pay for water and electricity.

At the Marina Esaom Cesa, you announce your arrival on channel 10, and the marina staff help with mooring.

Berthing fees at the Darsena Medicea

As things stand (November 2026), a berth for a yacht up to 12 metres in length and 4 metres in beam costs 40 to 45 euros per day in spring, in June and in September, 80 euros from 1 to 30 July, and 90 euros from 31 July to 30 August. For a yacht up to 14 metres, it is 50 to 60, 95 and 100 euros in the same periods. In winter it is considerably cheaper. Prices include VAT, plus a small waste fee. Catamarans and other multihull boats pay a 50 per cent surcharge.

Harbour rules

In the entrance, boats entering and leaving keep to the left. You can approach the Marina Esaom Cesa from the sea only between 6 am and 10 pm, whereas the Darsena Medicea is accessible around the clock.

In the Darsena Medicea, a maximum speed of 2 knots applies when entering and leaving, and anchoring in the basin is prohibited. You may only leave shore power and water connected while someone is on board. Running a generator or engine to charge the batteries is not allowed, nor is swimming or fishing in the basin.

Approach

The harbour entrance lies at roughly 42° 48.7′ N, 010° 19.7′ E. On the way there, the fortresses above the old town serve as landmarks: Forte Stella with the lighthouse, around 400 metres to the west of it Forte Falcone, and a further 900 metres to the west Forte Inglese. The roadstead is 38 to 40 metres deep at the entrance.

If you are coming from the west, there is a shoal off Capo Bianco, marked by a north cardinal buoy. North of Punta Falcone lies the rock group I Fratelli, some of it just below the surface. Keep a sufficient distance from both. In the harbour itself, the ferries to Piombino operate; keep clear of their berths at the Calata Italia.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Portoferraio?

For Italian waters, the weather service of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) issues the official sea weather forecast. It is updated every six hours; the coastguard broadcasts it by radio to shipping.

Gale warnings (Avviso di burrasca) are issued from Force 7, that is from 28 knots mean wind. They appear every three hours in Italian and English and, if necessary, in between. You can find the current warnings on the Weather service page.

Sailing trips from Portoferraio on Törnfinder

All current offers are in the trip overview. An overview of the whole country is given on the page Sailing in Italy; you will find trips in the wider sailing area under Sailing in the Mediterranean.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Portoferraio?

By ferry from Piombino; the crossing takes around one hour. To Piombino Marittima you travel by train via Campiglia Marittima, and the nearest major airport is Pisa. The ferries dock at the Calata Italia, the Darsena Medicea is in the old town, and the Marina Esaom Cesa is on the west shore of the roadstead.

Where can I park at the start of my trip in Portoferraio?

For the Darsena Medicea, in the car parks around 150 to 200 metres away. The Marina Esaom Cesa has its own guarded car parks for its guests.

Are there showers in the harbours of Portoferraio?

Yes, both harbours have sanitary facilities with showers, including accessible ones. Both harbours also have washing machines.

Is there a supermarket near Darsena Medicea?

Yes, there is a EuroSpin about 700 metres away and a Conad City about 900 metres away. For a big shop, it is a drive of about 1.7 kilometres to the Conad Superstore.

Are Darsena Medicea and Marina Esaom Cesa the same harbour?

No. The Darsena Medicea is in the old town, while the Marina Esaom Cesa is a good kilometre away on the west bank of the roads. They have different operators and their own VHF channels: the Darsena channel 9, the Marina Esaom Cesa channel 10.

How far is it from Portoferraio to Corsica?

It is about 40 nautical miles across open water to Bastia, which makes for a long day's sail. You can reach the neighbouring island of Capraia after about 27 nautical miles.