Discover Tuscany's Island Treasures
Beyond Tuscany's celebrated vineyards, historic towns and beautiful countryside lies another side of this much-loved Italian region. Scattered across the Tyrrhenian Sea, the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago offer an appealing combination of sheltered bays, colourful waterfront villages, clear Mediterranean waters and remarkably unspoilt landscapes.
Elba is the best known and largest of the islands, with attractive harbours, sandy beaches and a fascinating history that includes Napoleon's brief exile. Beyond Elba, the smaller islands have their own distinctive personalities. Volcanic Capraia attracts walkers and nature lovers, while Giglio offers picturesque villages, rocky headlands and inviting anchorages.
A yacht charter here combines the pleasures of sailing with everything that makes an Italian holiday memorable. Enjoy leisurely lunches ashore, discover local wines and seafood, explore historic settlements or spend an afternoon swimming in a secluded bay.
The archipelago is protected in large part by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, helping preserve its natural beauty. Although popular with Italian holidaymakers, these islands offer opportunities to escape the busier Mediterranean cruising grounds, particularly outside the height of summer.
With charter departures from mainland Tuscany and the possibility of extending a cruise towards Corsica, the Tuscan Islands offer a wonderfully varied sailing holiday. Take the opportunity to experience la dolce vita from a different perspective, with the freedom to discover somewhere new each day.
Mostly sailed around Elba plus two days at the mainland Seven days not enough for all the spectacular towns.
Giam, Australia June 2026
Sailing the Tuscan Archipelago
The Tuscan Archipelago lies off Italy's western coast, between mainland Tuscany and Corsica. Its seven principal islands are Elba, Capraia, Giglio, Giannutri, Pianosa, Montecristo and Gorgona, each offering a different landscape and sailing experience.
Mainland charter bases around Punta Ala and the Gulf of Follonica provide convenient access to the islands, with Elba the natural starting point for many itineraries. The cruising area offers considerable flexibility, from shorter passages between Elba's harbours and anchorages to longer voyages incorporating the more distant islands or neighbouring Corsica.
Elba – The Heart of the Archipelago
Elba is the largest and most accessible island, with a varied coastline of sandy beaches, rocky coves and sheltered bays. Its main town, Portoferraio, sits on the northern coast and offers marina facilities, historic fortifications and a lively waterfront. Napoleon spent part of his exile here in 1814–1815, leaving a legacy that remains one of the island's principal attractions.
Other places to visit include Marciana Marina on the northwest coast and Marina di Campo on the south, where a broad sandy beach and welcoming seaside town make an attractive stop. The waters around Capo d'Enfola offer opportunities to anchor in beautiful surroundings, subject to local conditions and restrictions.
Elba has enough variety to reward several days of relaxed exploration without the need for long passages.
Giglio and Giannutri – Southern Island Cruising
South of Elba lies Giglio, a rugged island with clear waters, rocky shores and attractive settlements. Giglio Porto is the principal harbour, while the fortified hilltop village of Giglio Castello rewards a trip inland with its narrow streets and panoramic views.
Nearby Giannutri is a much smaller island, valued for its natural environment and marine life. Protected areas and restrictions on anchoring and shore access mean visits require careful planning.
These southern islands can be incorporated into longer itineraries, depending on the charter base, available time and sailing conditions.
Capraia – Wild Landscapes and Island Charm
Northwest of Elba, Capraia is a volcanic island with dramatic cliffs, rocky inlets and a distinctly remote atmosphere. Much of the island is protected, with walking trails offering wonderful views over the surrounding sea.
The principal harbour, Porto di Capraia, provides a convenient place to go ashore and enjoy the island's small village, restaurants and peaceful setting. Capraia is also a natural stepping stone for yachts continuing west towards Corsica.
The Protected Islands
Pianosa, Montecristo and Gorgona are among the archipelago's more tightly protected islands, with special regulations governing access and activities.
Montecristo, made famous by Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, is particularly restricted. Pianosa has a distinctive low-lying landscape and a history as a prison island, while Gorgona remains associated with its penal institution.
These islands are not ordinary charter stopovers. Landing, navigation, anchoring and overnight access may be limited or subject to authorisation. Sail Connections can help you understand which islands are practical to include in your proposed itinerary.
Extending Your Charter to Corsica
For those with more time, Corsica lies to the west of the Tuscan Archipelago. Its mountainous scenery, French and Italian cultural influences and attractive coastal harbours provide an interesting contrast to Tuscany.
A route incorporating Elba, Capraia and northern Corsica can make an appealing extended charter, although the longer open-water passages and prevailing conditions need to be considered.
Whether you prefer a leisurely week exploring Elba or a more ambitious itinerary, the Tuscan Islands offer plenty of possibilities for a memorable Mediterranean sailing holiday.
What makes the Tuscan Islands different from other Italian sailing destinations?
The Tuscan Islands combine historic harbours, protected natural landscapes and relatively unspoilt cruising grounds, with the added appeal of mainland Tuscany nearby.
Is Elba worth exploring for an entire week by yacht?
Yes. Elba has enough varied coastline, attractive anchorages and interesting places ashore to make a relaxed week-long charter very rewarding.
What historical sites can I visit while sailing around Elba?
Elba is particularly famous for Napoleon's exile, but its history also includes ancient settlements, maritime trade and impressive coastal fortifications.
What are the highlights of a visit to Capraia?
Capraia is known for its dramatic volcanic coastline, peaceful harbour village, excellent walking opportunities and natural beauty.
Is Giglio a worthwhile addition to a Tuscan Islands itinerary?
Giglio is well worth considering for its beautiful coastline, clear waters and charming harbour and hilltop villages.
Can I combine a Tuscan Islands sailing holiday with sightseeing in mainland Tuscany?
Absolutely. A yacht charter from the Tuscan coast can be combined with visits to Tuscany's historic cities, vineyards and picturesque countryside.
Can a Tuscan Islands charter include Corsica?
Yes. Northern Corsica can be incorporated into a longer Tuscan Islands charter, particularly when the itinerary includes Capraia.
Can I visit the island of Montecristo on a yacht charter?
Montecristo is a strictly protected nature reserve, and private yachts cannot treat it as a normal anchorage or landing destination.
Our client reviews about charter sailing in Italy
Hi Robert, I thought you might like some feedback on our charter in Sardinia. First up it was fabulous from beginning to end.
The Bali 4.6 was great for 3 couples and our skipper Alessandro really appreciated having the 4th cabin and not the hole up in the bow. Also the open space and seating on the bow and up top is a real plus, plenty of space to hang out.
Weather was great, early 30s and of course the water at 29 was very tempting. Mostly very light winds. As you know the Bali isn’t a great sailboat and we really only sailed down wind, mast and sails more for decoration but that didn’t bother us.
With 2 weeks on the boat, most days were just 2 hours or so travelling and we split our time in marinas and at anchor. Only a few spots were crowded during the day… aka Bay of Islands at Christmas!!, but mostly at night on anchor very quiet.
The operator was good at organising marinas for us, we got everywhere we wanted to go, probably because it was shoulder season. Prices were from 200EUR up to 400 but I understand (it is) way more expensive in most (marinas) during peak season.
Kitchen equipment was good for cooking on board and ice maker and cold water on tap a real bonus. Big highlight was the final night in port when the company put on a bbq and singer, nice party to finish.
Overall this is the best charter we have done, great mix of ports, busy and quiet bays and an excellent skipper in Alessandro. Now just have to think about where next?
Susan, New Zealand, Sep 17th, 2026
Rating: ★★★★★The boat: Bali 4.4 2024 boat, so all pretty tidy. Came with a water maker, which made life on board a little easier, no need to be extra careful with water use and no need to find on-shore supply. 'Garage' door at rear of saloon and door to foredeck made for a great open space and easy access for all around boat. More space and seating on flybridge so keeps all crew connected. Sailing not a strong point but with light breezes even the mono's were struggling! Overall a great boat for 8.
.
Highlights of the destination: The Aeolian islands are pretty unique, all doable on a 7-day charter. Not many places in the world that you can see active volcanos from a boat. Salina even has a Michelin starred restaurant! Amazing food and the prices aren't too scary if you live in Auckland.
Our service: I keep coming back, so you must be doing something right. Nigel, New Zealand, Oct 16th, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★Well, back home now, but what a fantastic trip we had! Two weeks is way better than one, plenty of time to relax and enjoy what the Cilento coast had to offer. We went as far as Isola di Dino, just south of Maratia.
Everisto from Star Sail was most helpful in giving us the heads-up on the best spots to go, and even booked a restaurant at Marina di Camerota for us for my wife’s birthday! In my opinion way better than the Amalfi coast, fewer people, and fewer tourists. There are many beautiful bays and grottos with clear, clear deep-blue water.
The marinas tend to be pretty small, so not a lot of space, but at this time of year we could get in everywhere we wanted. (Marina) prices for the Cat ranged from E200 per night, to E125. Marina di Camerota has a free tourist wharf for 48hrs.
There is a lot of national park along the coast, with marine reserves. You can’t anchor in them, but they provide mooring buoys for use. All in all a great trip, and one that I would recommend.
October 2024 Nigel, New Zealand, Oct 11th, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★The boat was in excellent condition - only a couple of years old. All equipment and facilities worked faultlessly.
I would not choose to see the Amalfi Coast any other way than from the sea - especially during the busy season. The scenery was truly breathtaking, and the number of people travelling to and from and around the major towns was remarkable.
We chose to seek out the quieter spots for anchoring, and they certainly exist, allowing for public beach access via our tender to visit and explore at a more leisurely pace.
For the most part everything just seemed to line up as planned. With a long lead time to our holiday communications sometimes fell a bit quiet - but that's because there was not much to say. The wheels all turned, the boat was ready and waiting and lived up to our expectations. Nothing was overlooked, and our trip ran very well indeed. David, Australia, Sep 22nd, 2024
Rating: ★★★★☆The boat was as expected for a 2018 catamaran. The only issue was with one of the two toilets.
Amazing place with so many anchorage options. A great 2 weeks with nature and small villages. We loved it!
(Your servise was) Perfect as usual! I can't wait for us to work again together for another destination. Your advices and reliability are priceless :) Thanks again to Sue and Robert! Eric, Canada, Aug 20th, 2024
We had a great time in the Aeolian Islands, and I highly recommend them as a destination. The beauty is that the islands each have a different character and are close to each other. The longest ‘passage’ is about 10 miles, and some are a lot shorter. Two of the largest islands, Vulcano and Lipari, are only 800m apart, but very different!
The marinas are well located and were reasonably priced (€70-100 per night) and at Panarea there are only moorings but for €70 you also get a 24/7 water taxi service which was perfect. We found mid / late July to be superb.
David, New Zealand, Aug 16th, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★We found the boat to be nicely designed and very comfortable. The sails were near new and a treat to sail with. The highlight destination was Capri where because of unsettled weather we stayed in the marina. We found a brilliant restaurant in Ana-Capri and enjoyed strolling the narrow streets. San Michelle villa was delightful. Service was 10/10. Mario at the marina went out of his way to help us with ideas advice and making sure we wanted for nothing. Peter, New Zealand, Oct 24th, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★The cat performed well with everything working as expected. The only issue was batteries not lasting a night and having to run an engine both in the morning and again in the late afternoon when sailing and not motoring. Sails were easy enough to hoist and the electronics worked well.
Lipari was a great spot to stop with a nice town to explore. But the nicest island I found was Panarea. Less tourists with very friendly locals. James, Australia, Jul 22nd, 2018
Rating: ★★★★☆The Aeolian islands are a beautiful part of the world with many highlights. The standout was watching Stromboli erupt at night from nearby offshore. Sail Connections service was as always excellent. Russell, Australia, Jul 16th, 2018
Just a quick note to say we had a fabulous holiday and fantastic charter. The boat was perfect and the skipper Salvo and hostess Lucia were excellent could not fault anything. Salvo took us to some amazing places, always had our comfort and safety in mind, and was a lovely guy, Lucia was an amazing cook we ended up having most of our meals on board she was so good, also great company and very friendly and helpful. Everyone at North Sardinia Sail were also helpful and very friendly. Tony, Australia, Aug 31st, 2016
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