How to Get to Giglio Island: Your Essential Guide
Introduction
This comprehensive guide is crafted exclusively to guide you on how to reach Giglio Island.
We understand that planning a journey can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the route, and many of our passengers often have doubts about the best path to take. Of course, it’s essential to clarify that Giglio Island, located about 22 km from the mainland, can only be reached by sea.
Thus, for those who do not own a boat, the only alternative is to seek other means of transport (and this is where we step in with our ferries!)
Follow our in-depth guide on how to get to Giglio Island, and you’ll be well-prepared for your next vacation to this beautiful part of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Getting to Giglio Island by Car
Your journey to Giglio Island begins by heading towards Porto Santo Stefano, the place where you’ll find the Maregiglio ferry terminal that will transport you straight to the island.
But how do you reach Porto Santo Stefano by car from major Italian cities? Here’s a series of options.
Arriving from Genova, take the E80 highway towards Livorno.
After the Rosignano toll booth, continue on the Aurelia highway until the exit for Albinia/Giannella/Porto Santo Stefano/Giglio Island. The total distance is around 358 km, and the estimated travel time is approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes.
Starting from Florence, take the Florence-Siena motorway, then continue on SS741 towards Siena. Continue on SS223 to Grosseto and then take the Aurelia towards Rome, exiting at Albinia/Giannella/Porto Santo Stefano/Giglio Island. The total journey will be around 186 km, taking roughly 2 hours and 22 minutes.
If you’re departing from Milan, you have two options.
The shorter route goes through Parma: from Piazza Duca d’Aosta, head towards the A51 via Viale Brianza, Via Nicola Antonio Porpora, and Via Rombon/SP103, then continue on the A1, A15/E33, and E80 towards the Strada Provinciale della Giannella in Orbetello. Take the Albinia-Giannella exit from the E80.
The total journey is about 476 km, taking about 5 hours and 23 minutes.
The second option from Milan goes through Florence: from Piazza Duca d’Aosta, head towards the A51 via Viale Brianza, Via Nicola Antonio Porpora, and Via Rombon/SP103, then continue on the A1, A1 var – Variante di Valico, A1, Raccordo Autostradale Firenze – Siena, and SS223 towards SS1/E80 in Grosseto. Exit towards Rome from SS223. Follow SS1/E80 and the Strada Provinciale della Giannella to your destination.
This journey will be around 482 km, taking about 5 hours and 36 minutes.
Getting to Giglio Island by Plane
Reaching Giglio Island has never been easier, even for those who prefer to fly. The nearest airports to Giglio Island are Pisa’s “Leonardo da Vinci“ and Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. Each of these airports offers various options for reaching Giglio Island.
If you land at Pisa or Rome Fiumicino airports, you can catch the dedicated trains known as the “People Mover” and “Leonardo Express” respectively, which will take you to the main stations of Pisa Centrale and Roma Termini.
From there, regional trains heading towards Orbetello Monte Argentario will bring you one step closer to your destination: Giglio Island. In addition, the Tiemme Company provides a direct bus link from Orbetello Monte Argentario to Rome Fiumicino, a convenient option for air travellers.
For those landing at Rome Ciampino, there is a direct bus to Roma Termini. From there, you can catch a regional train to Orbetello Monte Argentario.
If you prefer a more comfortable option, albeit a bit pricier, you can always opt for a taxi. Taxi services are available at all major stations and airports.
Remember, once you reach Orbetello Monte Argentario, you’re just a step away from your Maregiglio ferry that will take you directly to Giglio Island.
How to Get to the Giglio Island by Train
Let’s now look at how to make use of the train to get to Giglio Island (or more precisely, how to get closer to Porto Santo Stefano, the departure point of our ferries).
There are numerous trains departing from Rome, Milan, Genoa, Grosseto, Livorno and Pisa, which will take you directly to the Orbetello Monte Argentario station, on the Pisa-Rome Tyrrhenian line.
Check the train schedules on the Trenitalia website to best plan your trip.
Once you arrive at the Orbetello Monte Argentario station, your journey towards Giglio Island will be well underway.
You can take the bus of the Tuscan Transport Company, which will take you directly to Porto Santo Stefano.
The bus stop is located right in front of the Maregiglio ticket offices in Piazzale Facchinetti 6/7, just a few meters from the ferry boarding point.
Getting to Giglio Island from Rome
If you’re traveling from Rome, the fastest route is along the E80/A12 motorway towards Civitavecchia, then continue on the Aurelia to the Orbetello – Porto Santo Stefano exit.
The total journey is 164 km, with an estimated duration of 2 hours and 7 minutes.
How to Get to the Giglio Island by Bus
And what if we didn’t have a car and wanted to opt for a bus?
In this case, you can take a Flixbus in Milan, to Siena and once there, continue with the extra-urban lines of “Autolinee Toscane” to Porto Santo Stefano.
Alternatively, you can get from Florence to Grosseto and then continue from Grosseto to Porto Santo Stefano with the extra-urban lines of Tuscan Buses.
How to Get to Giglio Island from Porto Santo Stefano?
We have now understood that to reach Giglio Island, we embark from Porto Santo Stefano.
From here, the two shipping companies operating in the area, Maregiglio (ours) and Toremar, make daily crossings, more frequent in the summer.
To check the correct ferry schedules at any time of the year, we recommend consulting the dedicated section. Once you have arrived in Porto Santo Stefano, you can choose whether to reach the Giglio Island by boarding your car, which you can do by purchasing a specific ticket, or by leaving your car comfortably parked.
Where to Park in Porto Santo Stefano
However, take note that finding parking in Porto Santo Stefano is no easy task. The town’s municipal parking lots are all fee-based, and rates for short-term parking can be quite steep.
Special attention should be paid to parking fines which are more likely to be issued during the warmer months. If you decide against taking your car on the ferry, we recommend using one of the long-term parking facilities located just a few meters from the dock.
Rates range from 8 to 10 euros per day, varying according to the season and duration of parking. Here’s a list of the main parking lots, but for more detailed information, you can refer to our comprehensive guide on where to park in Porto Santo Stefano:
For additional information, you can also consult the official website of the Municipality of Monte Argentario.
Ferry Fare to Giglio Island
If you’re wondering, “How much is the ferry fare to the Giglio Island?” then you’re in the right place.
Taking the Maregiglio ferry to Giglio Island offers a comfortable journey at an affordable price.
The full fare for an adult is 13 euros per trip, while the fee for cars (up to 4.5 meters) is 41.50 euros. These costs are in addition to a disembarkation tax of 3 euros for both passengers and vehicles.
Maregiglio also offers special fares for children under 12, groups, and your furry friends.
You can purchase a specific ticket if you wish to bring your pet onboard. However, for the most recent information on ferry prices to Giglio Island, we recommend consulting the relevant section.
Especially during the high season, we advise booking your ferry tickets online, so you can comfortably choose the date and time that suits you best, without the risk of unpleasant surprises (like sold-out ferries).
Our line service operates daily, with departures from Porto Santo Stefano from 7:00 am to 7:00/7:30 pm on an hourly basis during the high season months.
If you decide to take your car during the high season, we recommend buying your ticket in advance due to high demand and the limited capacity of our vessels.
Ferry Duration to Giglio Island
The journey from Porto Santo Stefano to Giglio Island takes about an hour, considering Porto Santo Stefano is 22 km (approximately 18 nautical miles) from Giglio Island.
You will arrive at Giglio Porto, the only arrival port and one of the three characteristic towns of the island.
Are there alternatives to the ferry?
So far, we have described all the options for getting to Giglio Island by ferry, but of course, if you own a boat and want to avoid the ferry, the only safe berth is at Giglio Porto.
The marina, however, has limited spaces with water and fuel. Availability can be checked by calling +39 338 819 1555 or the Harbor Master’s Office at 0564809480 during the day.
Depending on the wind direction, you may be able to anchor in Cannelle, Allume, Arenella or Campese Bay.
Getting Around the Island After Landing
You’ve finally arrived at Giglio Island, specifically in Giglio Porto, having taken one of our ferries. Now, you’ll certainly be interested in how to get around on the island.
The best way to explore Giglio is undoubtedly by scooter, which are widely available for rent once you’ve landed.
For the environmentally conscious, there’s the option to hire pedal-assisted bicycles or to traverse the island’s magnificent trails on foot.
On the Visitgiglioisland.com portal, you can find the bus service that connects the three towns of Porto, Castello, and Campese throughout the day until evening.
During the high season, this service runs until 1 am.
Here you can consult the timetable.
Ncc taxis can reach areas where regular buses cannot, offering a convenient solution for those who don’t feel like renting a scooter or driving while on vacation.
Visitgiglioisland.com also provides contact information for scooter, EcoBike, and Ncc taxi rentals.
For sea travel, there’s the option to rent small boats or take advantage of the Taxi Boat service that departs from Giglio Porto to the main beaches.
Remember, if you’re already vacationing on Giglio Island, seize the opportunity to enjoy one of our mini cruises. These day trips depart from Giglio Porto, allowing you to visit Giannutri to explore the stunning Roman Villa, or spend a fantastic day snorkeling.
In this case, too, we recommend booking tickets online by visiting the relevant section.
