Portoferraio is reached by ferry from Piombino on the mainland. Toremar and Moby run frequent crossings year-round — roughly an hour for the standard ferry, thirty minutes for the faster hydrofoil. In summer, book ahead; in August, book well ahead.
By car: Take the Livorno-Grosseto highway and exit at San Vincenzo or Venturina, then follow signs to Piombino port. Cars go on the ferry, but Elba is small enough that you can manage without one if you are staying in Portoferraio itself.
By train: The nearest mainline station is Campiglia Marittima on the Genoa-Rome line. From there, a branch line runs to Piombino Marittima, right at the ferry terminal.
By air: Elba has a small airport at La Pila, near Marina di Campo, with seasonal connections to a handful of Italian and European cities. Most visitors find the ferry more practical.