42.823° N, 10.279° E
Complete guide
Spiaggia di Sansone: beach guide
What the beach is like
Sansone beach lies in the comune of Portoferraio, in the province of Livorno, on the north coast of the island of Elba. Visit Tuscany counts it among the signature beaches of this side of the island. Its hallmark is the bright white shingle, which lights up the sea with turquoise reflections and makes the water luminous and transparent. At the shoreline the white pebbles mix with sand and small stones in the water.
A small headland with a sea stack separates this stretch from the Sorgente beach. The sea stack is known for a very narrow inner cave that can only be crossed by diving. The same sea stack is very popular for jumping into the sea.
Sansone is one of the white beaches and cliffs that follow one another from Portoferraio as far as the Enfola headland, together with the Ghiaie, Cala dei Frati, Padulella, Capo Bianco, Sottobomba, Seccione, Acquaviva and Sorgente. Their shingle is speckled with black, and the beaches are separated by cliffs and rocks that form natural pools. From afar, sailors spot the whiteness of this part of Elba, which stands out against the shrubs of the Mediterranean scrub.
Getting there
From Portoferraio, follow the provincial road to Enfola and Viticcio for about 5 km. As the crow flies, Portoferraio is 4.3 km east of the beach. Following the signs for Enfola, you pass the paths down to the beaches of Seccione, Acquaviva, Sorgente and Sansone.
From the car park you walk down a scenic path cut into the rock. The path is narrow: according to Visit Elba it is a little track between rock and earth where at times only one person can pass, and the descent takes about 10 minutes. The same website warns that parking is not easy, because the beach is among the busiest on the island. It is worth walking down in closed shoes and with your hands free.
When to go
Judging by the orientation of the coast, the beach faces north. With the tramontana, the grecale (north-east wind) and the mistral (maestrale) the wind blows from the sea and the beach is exposed to waves. With the sirocco (scirocco), the ostro (south wind) and the libeccio (south-west wind) the wind blows from the land and the sea close to shore stays calmer. The levante (east wind) and ponente (west wind) hit it side-on. This is an indication based on orientation, not a forecast. Visit Elba, too, recommends it with the sirocco, the mezzogiorno (south wind) and the libeccio.
In the summer months the beach is very busy. In the same area, Visit Tuscany recommends the beaches of Padulella, Capo Bianco and Sottobomba above all on sirocco days, when the sea takes on Caribbean colours.
Seabed and sea
Visit Tuscany describes this spot as much loved by swimmers and snorkellers, and recommends it to anyone looking for a seabed to explore. Visit Elba lists it among the beaches with underwater scenery. Along the western coast of Portoferraio the colours of the sea change with the seabed: white shingle, sand mixed with patches of posidonia and rocks just below the surface create greens, turquoises and blues. According to Toscana Ovunque Bella, along this coast the water is so clear that shoals of fish can be seen with the naked eye.
In the 2025 season the European Environment Agency rated the bathing water quality as excellent.
Facilities and free beach
The beach is a free beach. Visit Tuscany mentions a refreshment point and equipment rental there. Visit Elba lists among the facilities a bar, water-sports equipment rental and an equipped beach establishment, in addition to the free beach. The same page describes it as pet friendly and notes that each municipality may regulate the access of animals to beaches more specifically.
With children
Visit Elba calls it ideal for families, but the way down follows a path where at times only one person can pass. With small children it is best to take the descent slowly, holding their hand.
Nearby
The Spiaggia La Sorgente, 0.3 km away as the crow flies, is about 80 metres long and enclosed by white cliffs dropping sheer into the sea. Visit Elba calls it Sansone's little sister and lists it among the favourites of snorkellers, thanks to the many species of fish. To reach it, take the Portoferraio–Enfola provincial road and turn right after about 3.5 km; leave the car along the road or in the paid car park and continue on foot for about 350 metres.
At Enfola, 0.8 km as the crow flies to the west, an isthmus links Capo d'Enfola to the rest of the island, and until the end of the fifties tuna fishing took place here. The buildings of the old tuna fishery are now the headquarters of the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago Toscano. From there a dirt road with waymark 208 climbs to the «De Filippi» coastal battery, which Visit Tuscany describes as one of the most important defensive positions on Elba during the war.
Capo Bianco beach, 2.8 km as the crow flies to the east, has very white pebbles and is reached by a short flight of steps from a paid car park. The Biodola, 2.6 km as the crow flies to the south, is a long stretch of fine, pale sand, with beach establishments, restaurants, bars and a children's play area. According to the myth retold by Toscana Ovunque Bella, the Argonauts landed on the Ghiaie beach in Portoferraio.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap
- EEA — Bathing water quality 2025 (IT009049014009)
- QualeSpiaggia — open data spiagge (CC BY 4.0)
- Visit Tuscany — Un tuffo nelle spiagge dell'Isola d'Elba
- Visit Elba — Spiaggia di Sansone
- Toscana Ovunque Bella — Le spiagge bianche di Portoferraio
- Visit Elba — Spiaggia della Sorgente
- Visit Tuscany — Portoferraio e le coste bianche