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Giglio is full of beautiful coves, small beaches and secluded rocks. There are four larger sandy beaches that are easily accessible and have at least one lido: the largest, Campese, is on the north-west coast, while the three smaller beaches – Cannelle, Arenella and Caldane – are on the east coast around Giglio Porto. Thanks to the crystal clear waters, there are also two small beaches right by the harbour where you can swim. There are also small coves with sandy and pebble beaches around the Promontorio di Mezzo Franco.
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The coast of Giglio is about 28 km long and alternates between sandy beaches, cliffs and secluded coves of rare beauty. Most of the coastline consists of smooth granite cliffs, less steep on the eastern side. You will often find coves with gently sloping granite cliffs, providing easy access to the sea and ideal for sunbathing. Children and young adults will also find this a great place for cliff diving.
The west coast is steeper than the east coast and consists of limestone in the north-western part, the Promontorio di Mezzo Franco. In some places the cliffs seem to plunge into the sea, but right here there are many small pebble beaches that can only be reached from the sea.
The four larger sandy beaches on the island have bathing establishments with parasols and deckchairs for hire. The largest beach is Spiaggia del Campese on the west coast, with a large bay where you can enjoy the sunset. The beaches of Arenella, Cannelle and Caldane are on the east coast, with views of the distant mainland. All four beaches are wonderfully different, and each has its own unique beauty.
Giglio Campese beach is the largest beach on the island and the most important tourist settlement. Long and wide, it has coarse dark red sand and descends rapidly to a depth of 1-1.5 metres.
From the beach you can enjoy a magnificent view of the bay with the Faraglione on the left and the Tower of Campese on the right. The western exposure allows you to enjoy the sun until late in the evening and spectacular sunsets.
Along the beach you will find all the main tourist services and facilities as well as many types of accommodation as well as the only campsite.
The beach is easily reachable by car and by bus (9 km from Giglio Porto)
The beach offers all the main types of tourist services and equipment: from bathing establishments (stabilimenti balneari) to diving centers and from bars to restaurants.
Furthermore, at the small port behind the Campese Tower, there are kiosks for renting boats and for the taxi boat service.
Cannelle beach is located on the east coast of Giglio Island, near the port.
It is the second largest beach on the island, after Campese. The scenery, with its beach of very fine white sand and crystal clear sea, is reminiscent of the most beautiful tropical destinations…
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The smallest of the Giglio beaches, Caldane beach, is located south of the Cannelle beach and can only be reached by sea or on foot.
Framed by granite rocks with golden and coarse sand, it has remained wonderfully wild…
The beach can be reached by car. On foot, it takes about 50 minutes from Giglio Porto (hiking path 1a, 100 metres of altitude). There is no bus service, the nearest bus stop is in Monticello, above the port. From the bus stop it is a 30 minute walk to the beach.
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Also on the east coast, north of the port, is the Arenella beach which is the third largest beach on Giglio after the Campese and Cannelle beaches.
It is a very scenic beach with tropical sea colors with the seabed alternating between sand and rock.
The sand is “large grain” and light golden in colour. The water goes down slowly…
The beach can be reached by car. The nearest bus stop is at Monticello above the harbour.
On foot from Giglio Porto it takes about 50 minutes to get to the Arenella beach: trail 1a (Sentiero 1a)
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smaller beaches
In addition to the four most famous sandy beaches of Giglio, there are many more smaller beaches on the island. Two of them are located directly in the harbor town of Giglio Porto, while the others are around the north-western promontory of Mezzofranco: these are smaller sandy or pebble coves that can only be reached by boat or on foot via hiking trails. The beaches are ideal for spending a day by the sea, far away from the hustle and bustle of crowded beaches. Small, unspoilt paradises where the sea is even clearer and the scenery offers wonderful views that should not to be missed.
Scalettino is a small beach in Giglio Porto, located right on the northern breakwater with the green lighthouse.
It consists of a tongue of fine sand framed by smooth granite rocks. It is ideal for a refreshing swim for those staying in the harbour or just coming to Giglio for a few hours. Despite its proximity to the port, the water is clean and clear.
On the other side of the harbour, near the pier with the red lighthouse, narrow lanes lead to Saracen cove. It owes its name to the ancient Saracen tower nearby.
The beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles, flanked by smooth granite rocks. The remains of a Roman muraeum are visible in the water.
On the left side of the bay of Campese, you will find Petruso beach. It can be reached in a few minutes on foot (or by boat) via a short hiking trail.
It is so called because it is as small as a ‘gap’. It is a less crowded alternative to the beach at Campese and you can take your dog there.
Cala del Gesso is located at the back of the Faraglione and can be reached by a short walk from Campese beach (Sentiero 15). The bright pebble beach slopes down into clear blue water and is a very nice snorkelling spot. It is an ideal place to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle, in a completely different atmosphere than on the otherwise predominant granite rocks.
Following the coast of the Promontorio di Mezzofranco from Cala del Gesso to the south, there are three further small pebble beaches that can only be reached by boat: Mezzofranco, Carciofaia and Pozzarelli.
All the beaches on the western side of the Promontorio are also very beautiful for sunsets.
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giglio from the sea
A boat trip or tour around the island to discover the coast with its secluded coves and hidden beaches is an experience not to be missed during a holiday on Giglio.
Most of the coast is untouched and can only be accessed from the water. Once you have left the villages and larger beaches behind, you will discover secluded coves of rare beauty: picturesquely nestled between gentle granite rocks or steep cliffs, surrounded by dense, green Mediterranean maquis, which merges into crystal-clear, blue water.
A refreshing swim in one of these coves is truly an unforgettable experience.
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tuscan arcipelago
And speaking of the coast, we must not forget Giannutri, where snorkelling trips are offered from Giglio by boat rental companies with skippers.
The small Giannutri island belongs to the municiplity of to Giglio. It is the southernmost island of the Tuscan archipelago, located about 8 miles southeast of Giglio and about 6 miles southwest of Monte Argentario. It is a small paradise without cars, roads and big tourist structures – there are only about 20 residents and 200 summer houses.
It emerges from the sea like a limestone half-moon: 11 kilometers of rocky coast and a seabed rich in biodiversity, antique shipwrecks and not to mention the splendid archeological site of the Roman Villa Domizi, built by the Domizi Enobarbi family.
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