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Table of Contents:
How to get to Punta Ala from Pisa
How to get to Punta Ala from Florence
When to travel to Punta Ala
Punta Ala is considered to be a hidden gem on the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Tuscany. Situated on a cape jutting out into the sea, the resort of Punta Ala is almost like an isolated paradise island. The sand spit along the Punta Ala shore is one of the best places for swimming and beach relaxation. This resort cannot be called a mass resort; it is more for a private holiday. It is not so easy to get here, because there is no railway station, and most tourists arrive here by sea on rented yachts or by the road, renting a car or taking a taxi.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Punta Ala. I figured out how to get to the resort town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Punta Ala.
By the way, one of the largest yacht harbors on the entire western shore of Italy is located in Punta Ala. For entertainment, there are golf courses and tennis courts, hiking around in the surrounding area, classes at sailing and diving schools, and numerous boat excursions to the Italian islands. Punta Ala offers peace, tranquility and unity with the nature of the Tuscan Riviera.
How to get to Punta Ala
Where do you fly into to get to Punta Ala? Getting to Punta Ala is not so easy, but it is possible, even if you do not have a snow-white yacht. The nearest major cities are Pisa and Florence. There are direct flights to Pisa and Florence from different cities of the World. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use this online service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and to choose the optimal one.
How to get to Punta Ala from Pisa
According to my map research, Punta Ala is located 135 km from Pisa and 185 km from Florence. You can use a rented car to reach your destination. Public transport is also available, but it should be a combination of train and bus services.
By public transport: Punta Ala does not have its own railway station; the nearest one is in the neighboring resort of Follonica. Follonica, in turn, is located 20 km from Punta Ala. You can get to Follonica from Pisa by direct train in 1 hour 20 minutes, the ticket costs about 9.60 euros. Pisa-Follonica trains run every hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Further from Follonica to Punta Ala, buses No. 29/F of the TIEMME SPA company runs throughout the day. The travel time is about half an hour.
By rented car: If you prefer to travel on your own, then renting a car in Pisa may be a convenient travel option for you. In this case, it is possible to get to Punta Ala from Pisa in 1 hour 45 minutes along the highway No. E80 (see on the map). Please, note, that to travel by car in Italy you must have an international driving license. You can book a car in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. I can recommend both online services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful filters to find out the best available car rental options.
How to get to Punta Ala from Florence
By public transport: Punta Ala is located 185 km from Florence. Punta Ala does not have its own railway station; the nearest one is in the neighboring resort in Follonica. Follonica, in turn, is located 20 km from Punta Ala. There are direct trains from Florence to Follonica, which are running only three times a day. The travel time is a little more than 2 hours, and the fare is approximately 15.60 euros. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Further from Follonica to Punta Ala, buses No. 29/F of the TIEMME SPA company run throughout the day. The travel time is about half an hour.
By rented car: If you prefer to travel by car, then renting a car in Florence may be a convenient travel option for you. In this case, it is possible to get to Punta Ala from Florence in 2 hours 20 minutes along the highways No. SGC Firenze – Pisa – Livorno and E80 via Livorno (see on the map). You can book a car in advance in Florence via different international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings etc. As I found out, to rent a car, you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card.
Where to stay in Punta Ala
In Punta Ala you can find hotels of different star categories; luxury 5- and 4-star hotels offering exclusive holidays are especially popular among vacationers. It can be quite uneasy to find a budget accommodation option; an alternative in this case may be to rent an apartment. After some research I did a list of popular accommodation options in Punta Ala and it includes the following hotels:
Baglioni Hotels Cala del Porto 5* has beautiful views of the Gulf. It offers a private beach, an outdoor pool and several restaurants on its area. The hotel has a golf club. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Some rooms have sea views. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. There are places for storing luggage.
Hotel La Bussola – Beach & Golf 4* is located on the first beach line and is surrounded with a beautiful pine forest. Guests can enjoy a sea view restaurant, a lounge bar, a tennis court, a football pitch, a children’s playground, free Wi-Fi and free private parking on site. The hotel has standard rooms, junior suites with sea views, and apartments with a terrace.
Arli Hotel Hideaway Punta Ala 4* is located in a quiet, cozy place, 1 km from the nearest beach. It offers outdoor and indoor swimming pools, hydromassage, a garden, a fitness center and a sauna. Guests can also benefit from free Wi-Fi and free private parking. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I discovered that near the hotel there are golf courses, tennis courts, and an equestrian center. The hotel has standard rooms and studios.
Villa Margherita Wellness & Golf 4* is a guest house which is surrounded with a garden and offers its guests an outdoor pool and a spa area. In the spa area you can find a sauna, a steam room and a massage room. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Some rooms have a balcony and sea view. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site.
Residence Scoglietto 50 is a short walk from the beach and golf course. There is a garden nearby, which can be viewed from the apartment’s terrace. Parking and Wi-Fi are provided free of charge. The apartments are equipped with a telephone, TV, a safe, air conditioning and a hairdryer. The kitchen area is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave, a kettle, and a toaster.
What to see in Punta Ala
Punta Ala is a self-sufficient resort; most of the entertainment can be found right there; there is no need to travel outside the resort. Golf courses and tennis courts, a yacht harbor where regattas are held, sailing and diving schools are the range of entertainment that Punta Ala has to offer.
If you are indifferent to sports, then for an excursion vacation you can go to the closest surroundings, where the Maremma Natural Park is located. You can also go on a boat excursion to the neighboring islands, including the largest island of Elba. You can also visit neighboring historical cities, but in this case, It will be most convenient to travel by car, since public transport is poorly developed here.
The beaches of Punta Ala are the main attraction of the resort. Sandy, spacious, with a gentle entrance to the sea, surprisingly clean and well-groomed, and also surrounded by pine forests – all this makes the local beaches one of the best on the shore. I discovered that the resort is located on a cape, from which a sand spit extends along the shore; it is considered the most luxurious part of the resort. The beaches of Punta Ala are extra paid. True, some hotels provide discounts for their guests for using private beaches.
There is always something interesting to do on the beaches of Punta Ala. If extreme kinds of sport like diving and surfing with an instructor do not particularly appeal to you, then you can also engage in safer activities, for example, a trip on a catamaran or water skiing. As far as I know, there are also plenty of activities outside the beaches. You can explore the picturesque surroundings not only on foot or by bike, but also on horseback, for example. Goal, tennis, and football will also diversify your stay at the resort.
Regardless of whether you are into yachting or not, be sure to go for a walk along the promenade to admire the snow-white yachts docked in the harbor. By the way, sailing regattas are often held here, and this, in turn, is a very exciting spectacle.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: kosta korçari
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…