Lacona
Elba's second-longest beach, a broad sweep of golden sand backed by protected dunes.
Overview
Lacona stretches for almost 1.2 km along a wide gulf on Elba's southern coast, in the municipality of Capoliveri. It's known for fine golden sand, calm shallow water and one of the last surviving dune systems in the Tuscan Archipelago. The scale and gentle water make it a natural choice for families and anyone wanting more space than Elba's smaller coves offer.
Good for
Public access
Free public access at multiple points along the road behind the beach, each with its own parking. No single entrance to queue for, since the beach is long enough to spread out.
Beach clubs available: Limited or seasonal — sunbeds and umbrellas may be available in summer.
Facilities cluster around the campsites and main access points rather than running the full length of the beach, so beach-club-style rental is available in places but not everywhere along the 1.2 km stretch.
How to get there
By train: No direct train access. Elba has no railway, so this beach is not reachable by train.
By bus: Local buses serve Lacona from the main road, with stops near the principal access points.
Parking: By car: From Capoliveri, follow the provincial road for around 10 km to Lacona; several signed turn-offs lead to different parking areas along the beach. Wide parking areas run along the road behind the beach, both free and paid depending on the spot. Spaces are easier to find here than at Elba's smaller beaches, though the areas nearest the campsites fill first.
On foot: Each parking area has a short, flat walk directly onto the sand - there's no path or staircase involved, unlike Elba's clifftop coves.
Facilities
Practical tips
More about Lacona
Lacona is one of the few places on Elba where you can genuinely stretch out: the beach runs for close to 1.2 km around a sheltered gulf, making it the island's second-longest stretch of sand after Marina di Campo. The setting is softer than Elba's rockier coves too, with low dunes rising behind parts of the beach that still support sea lilies (Pancratium maritimum) and other dune plants rarely found elsewhere on the island - please stick to marked paths rather than crossing the dunes directly. The water in the gulf is shallow and calm for a long way out, which is why Lacona is consistently recommended for families with young children. Several access points run along the road behind the beach, each with its own parking, so the crowd spreads out more than at Elba's smaller, single-entry coves - though the areas closest to the main car parks and campsites still get busy in peak season. Campsites back much of the beach, and with them come the usual seasonal facilities: bars, restaurants and equipment rental clustered near the main access points. Away from these clusters, stretches of the beach feel considerably quieter, even in August. Lacona suits people who want a long, easy, sandy beach day with calm water rather than a dramatic cove - it doesn't have the cliffs or clear-water snorkelling of Elba's northern coast, but it's hard to beat for families or anyone who just wants room to spread out a towel.
Location
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