Family Holidays: Elba family holidays

Take the Family holiday rating 4 stars out of 5

Why

Elba, 10km from the Tuscan coast and the third largest Italian island after Sicily and Sardinia – is an unusual but delightful choice for a family holiday. For starters, it’s Italian with all that means – Iocal mammas cooing at your baby in its buggy, a general acceptance and love of children plus fantastic child-friendly food – this is the land of pizza, pasta, olives, breadsticks and ice cream. Elba also boasts some lovely family-friendly hotels, beautifully clear water, fine white sand beaches and a lush wooded interior that’s perfect for walking and cycling. And if you don’t take our word for it, Napoleon absolutely loved it (well actually, he was exiled here and couldn’t really get away).

Top left: Elba Fun in the water at Biodola
Top middle: Elba Calamita Beach
Top right: Elba Sunset at Forno

Bottom left: Elba Night sky at Golfo Lacona
Bottom right: Elba Magidore Bay

When

The weather is at its best between May and September, with average temperatures in July and August of 25 degrees.

How

We recommend flying from Gatwick to Pisa with British Airways. The transfer time from Pisa to Piombino is about 75 minutes. Alternatively, fly to Florence from Gatwick with Meridiana and transfer in two hours. Check and find the best flight deals with Expedia, Opodo and Last minute.com.

Do

Tutti.
Or, er.. Nothingissimo.
Elba has always had a relaxed atmosphere. So whether you and your kids want to laze by the pool, lounge by the sea or cycle through the forest, this island is perfect for you. Plus if they get bored of the kids’ club, Elba has its share of history. There’s Napoleon of course and le petit general tends to dominate. But at different times in its history, Elba has come under the rule of the French, the Turks, the Spanish and a myriad of Italian peoples: the Romans, the Etruscans, and in later centuries control moved from Pisa to Genoa and the Medicis. This cosmopolitan mix has left its legacy on the architecture and culture of the island’s people.

The island is geographically diverse: from the highest point at Monte Capanne (1,019m), there are wonderful views over the many contrasts of the island; the craggy mountains, the gentle slopes with olive groves and vineyards, the deep green of the dense pine forests, and the sparkling blue of the surrounding sea. Plus you’re only 10kms from Tuscany if you want to nip over to the mainland. Belissimo.