Getting around the Elba Island by bus: lines, timetables, tickets

You have booked the ferry and decided not to embark a vehicle (car or motorbike) nor are you going to hire one. After all, when you are on vacation, you really need to “disconnect” from everything. But don’t worry: to get around the Elba Island you have an efficient bus service.

The island’s public bus service operates throughout the year. It connects the main population centers of the island with several runs that start all day long. An efficient service that will allow you to visit Elba in complete tranquility.

The bus service is divided into an urban network and an extra-urban network.

The lines of the urban network

The urban network concerns the buses that serve Portoferraio and the immediate surrounding area. More in detail, the lines are:

• Portoferraio – San Martino;
• Portoferraio – San Giovanni;
• Portoferraio – Albereto;
• Portoferraio – Albereto – Ancient Saline;
• Calata Matteotti – Calata Mazzini – Calata Italia – Zambelli – Carducci – Palazzina dei Mulini – Cemeteries – San Rocco – Hospital;
• Calata Matteotti – Calata Italia – Albereto – Viticcio.

The lines of the extra-urban network

The extra-urban network connects Portoferraio with the other population centers of the island (such as Rio Marina, Porto Azzurro, Marciana Marina, Cavo and Capoliveri) both roundtrip. Here are the lines:

• Portoferraio – Procchio – Marciana M.na – Marciana – Pomonte – Marina di Campo – La Pila;
• Portoferraio – Capoliveri – Portoazzurro – Rio Elba – Rio Marina – Cable;
• Portoferraio – Bagnaia – Lacona.

Timetables and tickets

As for the timetables, you can check on Livorno.cttnord.it (the Tuscan transport company, which operates the bus service of Elba) if in force there is summer time or winter time. Also, pay attention to the days, as the departures are divided between weekdays and holidays.

Tickets can be conveniently purchased at bars, newsagents and tobacconists in the various population centers of the island. In addition to the single ticket, it’s also possible to find different types of subscription (such as daily and weekly).

The SMS ticket service is also active, but only in the urban area of Portoferraio. In practice, you can buy the ticket by sending an SMS to the number 4850306 (more information on the Livorno.cttnord.it website).

Marebus

In addition to this, you also have another service available: it’s the Marebus. This is a particular bus service, usually active from June from September, which guarantees the connection with the beaches of Portoferraio, Marciana Marina, Rio nell’Elba and Capoliveri. For more information, refer to the official sites of the municipalities in question.

Image source: Commons.wikimedia.org