mini-cruises
Day trips in the Tuscan Arcipelago

Mini-cruise to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri

Discover the Tuscan Archipelago with daytrips to Giglio and GiannutrI​
Experience a wonderful and diverse day with a day cruise in the Tuscan archipelago. Discover the two southernmost “pearls” of the archipelago, the islands of Giglio and Giannutri, as well as the coast of Monte Argentario from the sea. Mini-cruises departing from Porto Santo Stefano, Castiglione della Pescaia, Elba or from the Isola del Giglio itself are offered from spring to autumn.
Day trips in the Tuscan Archipelago

Mini-Cruises from Porto S. Stefano​

From the harbour town of Porto S. Stefano on the Monte Argentari peninsula – the closest mainland port to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri – a wide range of day trips and mini-cruises are offerred: whether with fast inflatable boats, smaller vessels from the diving centres, sailing boats or the larger excursion boats of the Maregiglio ferry company.

They are ideal for anyone who spend their holiday in the Tuscan Maremma and want to discover the southern tip of the Tuscan archipelago with its crystal-clear waters in one day.

In just over an hour you can reach the islands of Giglio and Giannutri, where various programmes with guided tours, hikes or snorkelling experiences are usually on offer.

Maregiglio

The ferry company Maregiglio offers also day cruises on modern and larger excursion ships under the name “Le Crociere del Sole“.

Depending on the destination, different themes are offered, such as “Giglio & Giannutri“, “Giannutri – hidden treasures” or “Snorkelling on Giglio“.

All mini-cruises depart from Porto S. Stefano at around 9.30 a.m. and return at around 6.00 p.m.

Alternatively, you can reach both islands by ferry from Porto S. Stefano:

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Mini-Cruises from Giglio

When you are already on Giglio or are planning a day trip by ferry, you can discover the coast of the island of Giglio and the nearby island of Giannutri from the sea from Giglio Porto . Excursions are offered by boat hire companies, water taxis, diving centres and the Maregiglio ferry company.

A “must” is an island tour Giglio to discover the varied coastline with its beautiful remote bays. The island can be circumnavigated very easily in just a few hours, whether alone with a hired boat or with an experienced skipper.

With a skipper and mini-cruises, you can also visit the nearby island of Giannutri (approx. 15 km, 1h), which is known for its Roman villa and wonderful underwater world.

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Castiglione della Pescaia

Mini cruises from Castiglione della Pescaia​

The excursion boat departs from Castiglione della Pescaia (sometimes with a stopover in Talamone) at around 9 am for a daily mini-cruise to the islands of Giglio and Giannutri.

As a rule, the island of Giglio is called at first, arriving in Giglio Porto at around 10.30 am. There you have 2 to 3 hours to explore the picturesque harbour or take a refreshing dip in one of the nearby beaches.

Most ships offer lunch on board, but you can also eat in one of the bars or restaurants in Giglio Porto.

After lunch, the travel continues to the island of Giannutri, where another stop of around 2 hours is planned. Here you can either go swimming or snorkelling or – but only with a guide from the park administration – visit the Roman villa or go hiking.

Depart Giannutri at around 5 pm and return along the beautiful coast of the Argentario and the Parco dell’Uccellina to Castiglione della Pescaia (arrival around 7 pm). More information:

Porto Azzurro Isola dell'Elba

Mini cruises from Elba

You can also take a day trip from Elba to the island of Giglio.

The Aquavision excursion boat departs from Porto Azzurro and reaches Giglio Porto in just over two hours. On the island of Giglio, you then have a few hours to discover the towns and beaches.

Distances in the Tuscan Archipelago

The distances within the Tuscan Archipelago are not excessive and on a clear day you can see most the islands on the horizon.

The distances to the island of Giglio are:
Monte Argentario: 7.8 m (13.9 km)
Giannutri Island: 8.5 m (15.7 km)
Island of Elba: 27.9 m (51.7 km)
Montecristo Island: 23.9 m (44.3 km)

Cartina del Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano

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The Tuscan Archipelago from above

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Dolphins

Delfini nell'Arcipelago Toscano

During the mini-cruise, if you are lucky, but especially in mid-season periods, when the sea is not yet crowded, it is not uncommon to be able to spot small herds of dolphins.

Montecristo Island

Isola di Montecristo vista dal Monte Argentario con Pescareccio
Visits to the island of Montecristo are strictly regulated and day trips are only organised with guides from the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. The boats almost always depart from Piombino and Elba, only twice a year from Porto S. Stefano with a stopover in Giglio Porto.

Weather Forecast Tuscan Archipelago