Elba · Portoferraio Capo Bianco 42.819115 N · 10.307369 E
Sottobomba
White pebbles · turquoise water · a small bar
From first-hand observation · prices and wind rule still open
Getting there and parking
- Parking free Two free car parks with roughly 10 and 20 spaces, on Via Enrico De Nicola. Small — get there early on busy days.
- Walk < 5 min A short walk from the car park to the top of the steps.
- Access Then a steep staircase down to the beach. Not for bad knees or a lot of luggage; you carry everything up and down yourself.
Head for the car park, not the beach: Via Enrico De Nicola, 57037 Portoferraio — or the coordinates 42.817464, 10.306684. The beach itself is at 42.819115, 10.307369, right next to Capo Bianco.
The beach
- Ground White stones, no sand. Uncomfortable barefoot — water shoes make sense, both getting in and lying down.
- Water Clear and turquoise, almost luminous — the white stones on the bottom throw the light back. In waves the pebbles roll audibly; a very calm, soothing sound.
- Shade No real natural shade — a parasol is needed. The bar hires out loungers and parasols; to be safe, bring your own.
Wind
Wind rule: still open — but one clue
Only one thing observed so far: in certain winds, jellyfish drift into the bay. Which direction exactly we haven't logged — so the rose stays empty.
Open to the sea to the north/northwest: the Capo Bianco stretch is on the open coast, not the sheltered inner gulf like Ottonella and Bagnaia. That's coastal geometry, not a measurement — the jellyfish situation decides on the day.
- All directions: not yet assessed
Emptier than its neighbour — and a SUP tip
Sottobomba is the quieter neighbour of Capo Bianco: noticeably emptier than the better-known beach next door. For even more room, keep going to the right — it quickly gets lonelier.
Worth a SUP loop: paddle past the (usually full) Capo Bianco to the rocky point. Behind it lie small rocky coves, plus the view back to Portoferraio.
Food and drink
A small bar right on the beach, hiring out loungers and parasols. Reachable from your towel — so it counts for the price index.
We haven't logged Aperol, espresso and cola here yet. It follows once we've been on site — nothing gets guessed.
Our verdict
[verdict to follow]
… wind pushes jellyfish into the bay. The link is there, the exact direction still open.
… you're unsteady on your feet. Access is a steep staircase.
… you turn up without water shoes. The white stones are uncomfortable barefoot.