Isola del Giglio is connected to Porto Santo Stefano (on the Argentario peninsula, 2 hr. by car from Rome or Siena) by MareGiglio, in Giglio Porto at Via Umberto 1 (tel. 0564/812920; www.maregiglio.it), and Toremar (in Porto Santo Stefano, tel. 0564/810803; in Giglio Porto, tel. 0564/809349; www.toremar.it). The trip takes about an hour and costs 10€ each way. In summer, there are up to 15 boats per day; off season, there are at least three daily sailings. Maregiglio also runs a few boats per week between Giglio and Giannutri (1 hr., 13€ each way). From mid-July through the end of August, a permit is required to bring a car to Giglio (inquire with your hotel or apartment agency when booking, or call the Comune of Isola del Giglio at tel. 0564/806064). Normally, this just means paying a small extra fee to the ferry company.
Getting Around
Though Giglio's main towns are served by reliable buses, a car, scooter or bike gives you more freedom to explore those paved and dirt roads not served by public transportation. If you decide to bring a car, you can do so on the ferry. Or on island, you can rent a scooter or ebike from the boat rental company Azurra Nautica (www.nauticazzurra.net).
Buses link the three towns of Porto, Castello, and Campese. Buses run in the evening, although not as frequently. You'll want to purchase your ticket at a shop or bar with the Tiemme sign. If you buy them on the bus there's a surcharge. At night, taxis are often a necessity, since most of the evening action is in Castello, and not within walking distance of most hotels; expect to pay between 15€ and 20€ for trips between Porto and Castello or Campese and Castello. Some numbers to try are tel. 340/8732865; 338/9706950; 347/1941888; or 330/731424. Giglio is small, and the cabbies tend to be the same guys who rent cars and scooters.
Handy boat service to the beaches is offered all day from 8am to 7pm from the Boatmen (www.boatmen.it) kiosk next to the ferry landing in Porto. When, in high season, the beaches are overcrowded, the guys at Boatmen will also take you to secluded coves where you can throw a towel on the smooth granite and have a back-to-nature day of sun and surf. Private taxi-boat service can also be arranged from Boatmen at Giglio Porto to anywhere on the island; you can usually just find their orange kiosk at the harbor, but if you want to book their services in advance, give Mauro a call at tel. 349/3508493. In summer, Boatmen offers a 2 1/2-hour giro isola island circumnavigation tour around Giglio (departure from and return to Porto), with a stop for swimming. You can also rent your own small gozzo or gommone at Porto; a half-day's rental is plenty of time to cruise around the island's perimeter, stopping at various coves for swimming and picnicking along the way. There are numerous agencies -- just look for signs marked noleggio barche -- but Alvino (tel. 347/0547755) at Boatmen is a good place to start.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
