Elba routes
Piombino to Portoferraio ferry
The main crossing to Elba, year-round and with your vehicle
- 40 minutes on the Toremar fast craft, around 60 by conventional ferry
- Toremar, Moby and Blu Navy sail all year
- Cars, motorbikes and campervans travel with you
Getting to the terminal in Piombino
The ferry terminal is at Piazzale Premuda in Piombino, Stazione Marittima, 57025. By car you arrive on the SS 1 Aurelia dual carriageway signed Venturina-Piombino-Isola d'Elba. By rail you either travel through to Piombino Marittima - the station sits directly in front of the port, and Blu Navy notes the platforms are only a few metres from the boarding gates - or you change onto the bus at Campiglia Marittima. There is parking by the station, some of it guarded and covered; the port authority also lists short free parking on the adjacent spaces.
Check-in and boarding
The deadline comes from the operator, not from the port. Toremar requires passengers with and without a vehicle to be at the ship at least 30 minutes before departure; after that boarding is no longer guaranteed. Moby varies by season: from early June to the end of September at least an hour beforehand without a vehicle and no later than 90 minutes before departure with one, and 30 respectively 90 minutes from October to May. Blu Navy sets 15 minutes without and 30 minutes with a car, and advises 30 to 60 minutes of slack on summer weekends. If you are comparing operators, work to the strictest deadline that applies to your ticket.
On board
Toremar allows 20 kilograms of hand luggage on the ferries and 10 kilograms on the fast craft. Pets travel: dogs on a lead and muzzled, cats and small animals in a carrier. Animals are not allowed in the seating lounge - they travel on the outside decks or in the kennels where these exist. Blu Navy permits one pet per passenger, on the outside decks only and with its own ticket; guide dogs travel free and may go inside. If you need assistance, tell Toremar at least 48 hours before departure.
Vehicles and bicycles
Vehicles are directed by the crew and may be parked on any vehicle deck. Apply the handbrake, leave it in gear, switch off the lights and disable electronic alarms. Bicycles and motorbikes travel for a fee - conditions differ by operator and sailing, so settle them before you book. What to have ready for a vehicle booking is set out in the car ferry guide.
Arriving in Portoferraio
Portoferraio is Elba's largest port and the Stazione Marittima is right by the town centre. Buses to the rest of the island leave from there, and car and scooter hire desks are close to the harbour. If you are heading for eastern Elba, check before booking whether Cavo or Rio Marina would be the shorter approach - both also leave from Piombino, see the route overview.
Tickets and fares
The price depends on date, vessel type, party size and vehicle; there is no fixed amount. Toremar adds a booking fee to reserved places. Blu Navy accepts date and time changes up to the check-in limit and subject to availability, with the first two changes free of charge; nothing is refunded if you fail to show up or cancel later than twelve hours before departure. What moves the price is explained on the fares page.
Piombino - Portoferraio
Twelve nautical miles, four operators, one port
Piombino to Portoferraio is the main route to Elba and the only one where several operators run in parallel. Toremar and Moby sell as a group, Blu Navy runs the crossing as its single route, and Corsica Ferries joins in summer.
Sailing time depends on the vessel: the Toremar fast craft covers the route in about 40 minutes, the conventional ferries in roughly an hour. For vehicles both count the same - what matters is being at the terminal in time.
- Crossing
- approx. 40-60 min.
- Operators
- Toremar, Moby, Blu Navy
- Vehicles
- Car, motorbike, campervan
- Season
- Year-round, peak in summer
- Toremar
- Blu Navy
- Moby Lines
Next departures
All times without guarantee. The operator's departure time and your booking confirmation are binding. Port Authority of Piombino →
FAQ Piombino - Portoferraio
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Piombino to Portoferraio crossing.
How long does Piombino to Portoferraio take?+
It depends on the vessel. The Toremar fast craft takes about 40 minutes, the conventional ferries around 60 minutes; Blu Navy gives an average of roughly one hour for its own service. The vessel type is shown per departure in the timetable.
When do I need to be at the port?+
That is set by the operator. Toremar asks passengers with and without a vehicle to be at the ship at least 30 minutes before departure. Moby states, for Piombino and Portoferraio, at least one hour without a vehicle and no later than 90 minutes before departure with a vehicle from 1 June to 30 September, and 30 respectively 90 minutes from October to May. Blu Navy sets the limit at 15 minutes without and 30 minutes with a car and advises 30 to 60 minutes of slack on summer weekends.
Can I take a car across?+
Yes, every ship on this route carries vehicles. Give class, length and height when you book - roof boxes and bike racks count towards the measurements. More in the car ferry guide.
Does this apply to the return leg?+
Yes, the same operators sail both ways. Book the outbound and return legs together so both sit in one booking. The timetable covers both directions.
Does Corsica Ferries sail all year?+
Corsica Ferries runs Piombino to Portoferraio in the summer season only - according to the operator from May to September, in about 45 minutes. Outside that window Toremar, Moby and Blu Navy carry the route on their own.