Fetovaia Beach on Elba, Italy: A Complete Guide

Fetovaia Beach is located on the south coast of the stunning island of Elba, part of the Tuscan Archipelago.  Locals recommended Fetovaia as one of the must-see places on the island during my trip to this part of Italy, so I had to check it out.  Here are the key details from my experience of this golden sand beach.  I’ve included information on how to get to Fetovaia, what the beach is like, facilities and parking.  As a bonus I’ve also included tips on a fun and challenging hike you can do from Fetovaia, should you feel the need to leave the beach.

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Fetovaia Beach (Spiaggia di Fetovaia)

The beach at Fetovaia is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches on Elba, Tuscany, and despite the large number of paid-for umbrellas and fellow beach-goers, there is plenty to love about this beach. 

The main highlight is that, although there are paid-for sections, there is still lots of space to stretch out on in the free areas of Fetovaia beach.  Free areas are located at either end of this long stretch of fine sandy beach. There’s also one about three-quarters of the way along the beach to the right, as you enter the beach.

Another of my favourite things about Fetovaia was the calmness of the crystal-clear water.  In contrast to the pebble beaches like Capo Bianco, Padulella and Sansone in the north of Elba, the sandy beach and shallow depth of the bay at Fetovaia made it easy to get in and out of the sea.  Boats are required to keep a good distance from the beach, leaving plenty of room to swim.

How to Get to Fetovaia Elba

To get to Elba island you need to first take a ferry from the Italian mainland town of Piombino. There are plenty of ferries to Elba, so you’ll have lots of choice.

Once on Elba Island, it’s possible to get to Fetovaia beach via bus from across the island.  Located in the municipality of Campo nell’Elba, bus route #116 goes to Fetovaia from the main town of Portoferraio.  However, buses are not that frequent (and even less so outside of summer) so plan ahead.  Check the Autolinee Toscane bus website for the latest times.  Journey time is 45 minutes from Portoferraio.

Bus #116 stops at multiple places on the way to Fetovaia, including Procchio, Marina di Campo, Cavoli and Seccheto.

For information on how to hire a car in Elba check out my article on car rental in Elba.

Price of a Bus Ticket from Portoferraio to Fetovaia

The bus ticket from Portoferraio to Fetovaia costs €3.90 each way when bought in advance, for example from a newsagent or via the app.  Alternatively, you can get a day ticket for €10, which is useful if you have plans to go elsewhere after your visit to Fetovaia beach. 

Pro Tip: Before your holiday to Elba, download the local bus app, ‘at bus’ (Autolinee Toscane).

Facilities at Fetovaia Beach

Fetovia is an organised beach.  This means that there is a good range of facilities.  For water activities, you can rent a stand-up paddleboard, kayak or pedalo.

There’s a shop selling beach wares and there are toilets and showers in both the main bar areas.

Umbrella and Lounger Rental Price

Shade is difficult to find at Fetovaia in the mornings but there are lots of umbrellas for rent.  However, daily prices are expensive, at €35 to €37 for two loungers and an umbrella.

As the afternoon progresses, the lush green pine trees behind the beach create an area of shade at the back of the sand but this is a popular location, so you’ll be competing with plenty of others for space. 

Pro Tip:  If you’re on a budget but want some shade, buy a beach umbrella at the small beach shop for only €14, it’s cheaper than the rental cost at the beach clubs.

Where to Eat: Restaurants and Bars at Fetovaia

Two large bars/restaurants serve a great range of food at Fetovaia beach.  There’s a large buffet selection available at Il Pino Solitario, with hot and cold plates, sandwiches, drinks and, of course, ice cream.  The upstairs seating area is a good spot to have lunch.  The bar opposite, Barbatoja, serves up tasty-looking pizzas.

Parking

There is a small free car park at Fetovaia but given how popular this beach is, you’re most likely going to need to pay for parking here if you come by car or motorbike.  The paid-for car park, located on the main road down to the beach costs €12 a day.  

Other Things to Do at Fetovaia 

If a whole day at the beach without doing anything else seems too much for you then Fetovaia is a great option, as there’s a challenging mountain hike you can take from here.

Trekking route 135 starts right next to the Fetovaia bus stop.  This route is not for the faint-hearted, it requires a steep ascent along a seemingly never-ending switchback path and then scrambling over rocks in the latter part. 

Covered shoes are necessary for this hike.  The views out over the natural beauty of Fetovaia beach are magnificent.  The emerald landscape contrasts with the blazing deep blue of the surrounding sea.

With views as impressive as this, you’ll probably snap a lot of photos. Use my article on Italy Instagram captions to help you come up with some great caption ideas.

Once at the top of the walk, you reach a crossroads where you can either carry on for a longer walk all the way to Monte Cappane or head down to Seccheto beach.  I chose to go to Seccheto, as you can catch a return bus from there.  The whole hike took me 2 hours and 15 minutes.  The descent was very difficult. 

The end of this trek is one of the best rewards you could hope for your effort though, as the gorgeous sandy bay of Seccheto greets you.  I ran straight into the sea as I came down from the mountainside and it was just the late-afternoon refreshment I needed. 

If you don’t fancy a punishing hike, you can walk a short distance around the coast (sharing the road with traffic) and check out Spaggia delle Piscine.  Here smooth rocks provide a spot for jumping into the sea from (it’s also a popular nudist area). 

Accommodation Near Fetovaia Beach

The accommodation in Fetovaia is mainly private apartments.  However, you can stay right by the beach in one of these hotels and get yourself the best spot on the sand each morning.  I regularly use Booking.com as I find it has great prices and plenty of images and reviews of the accommodation.

Budget

Hotel Lo Scirocco is only 250m from Fetovaia beach.  The traditionally furnished rooms come with private balconies, air conditioning, and some have sea views. Enjoy a buffet breakfast in the garden during the summer, featuring fresh fruits and homemade treats.

Mid-range

The family-run Hotel Galli – Wellness & Spa is located right in Fetovaia.  This highly-rated hotel has a focus on wellness and relaxation, with massages, a spa, a fitness centre and a sauna available.  Rooms are comfortable and air-conditioned; some also have balconies.  Guests can get a discount at a nearby restaurant and private beach area.

Map of Fetovaia

I’ve created a map that shows the bus stop, parking area and the start of the hike from Fetovaia to Seccheto beach. Click the arrow icon to the left of the map heading to view the names of each of the places marked.