Le Ghiaie Beach

Le Ghiaie is Portoferraio's town beach, a short walk from the historic centre on the north coast. Over 300 metres long, it is covered in white pebbles of aplite, smoothed by the sea and flecked with dark spots: legend says they are drops of sweat from the Argonauts, who supposedly stopped here at the ancient Porto Argo. Since 1971 the sea in front has been part of the Ghiaie-Scoglietto-Capo Bianco biological protection zone, where fishing is banned.

Getting there

It is a few minutes' walk from the historic centre and the port; by car, follow the tree-lined avenue from the port. Behind the beach there is a paid car park, and urban buses serve the area. A boardwalk gives access to people with disabilities. After the 2025 storm damage, the municipality levelled the beach at the start of the 2026 season.

Which wind to go with

The ideal day is one with sirocco, when the water is at its clearest; with a southerly wind the sea also stays calm. The beach is exposed to winds from south-west round to north, which make it rough.

Facilities and tips

Part of the beach is equipped, part is free; around it are bars, restaurants, ice-cream shops, a pharmacy and shops. Thanks to the protection zone, snorkelling is excellent: even children can see fish a few metres from the shore. Offshore lies the Scoglietto, an islet with a lighthouse built in 1910 and a popular dive site, reachable by boat. In high season it is very busy, so arrive early.