Porto Ercole, located in Tuscany, is a great mix of seaside vistas and wine region—here you don’t have to choose. It is a popular weekend getaway for Italians, but it is also gaining attention from travelers from around the world. Its hotel La Roqqa was a top hotel by Conde Nast Traveller in 2024. The other well-known hotel, Il Pelicano, has been a top destination for luxury travelers from around the world since 1965. If you thought Tuscany was all rolling hills and wineries, I hope this Porto Ercole Guide introduces you to your next favorite vacation.
Porto Ercole was coveted for its location and was a place of prominence for the Phoenicians, Etruscans, and a military base for King Phillip II in the 16th century—you will notice four fortresses that line the mountain ridge around the bayArt Historians may know Porto Ercole as the final resting place for the Baroque Master Painter, Caravaggio, who died here on his way home from a long exile.
Want to travel here?
The 411
The information you need to explore Porto Ercole.
Getting there
Driving will be the most convenient option to get to Porto Ercole. It is a two-hour drive from Rome or a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Florence. Taking the local train from Rome to Orbetello is possible, but traveling to the island by taxi requires precise timing. The island is closed to cars at 6:00 p.m./18:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
Another reason a car is a good idea is that Treneitalia periodically goes on strike. We had to cancel our plans to Florence due to the strike in June 2024–we were heading there after Porto Ercole.
Language
Italian
I recommend learning some basic Italian phrases before visiting Porto Ercole. This area is just starting to see more world tourists
Currency
Euro-EUR
The Euro is the currency used throughout Italy. It is best to have some cash when you arrive. Most businesses in Porto Ercole take credit cards or contactless payment. There are a few notable exceptions.
Best Time to Visit
Porto Ercole is a great place to visit all year round. The high temperatures in August are around 90℉/32℃, which is still cooler than Rome and Naples. The winters are mild with highs of 54℉/12℃.
Worst Time to Visit
I recommend arriving on a weekday. The bridge to the island closes at 6:00 p.m./18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. This closing off may lead to some much-needed relaxation or could cause stress for weekend exploring.
August could be a bad time to visit. With Romans taking August off, this is the perfect place for them to escape the heat. While editing this post, I researched current hotel prices, and they were triple the price. (This post was published in August of 2025.)
When is Porto Ercole Open?
This is a very relaxing town that starts early for fishing. Many of the businesses are closed from 2:00 p.m./14:00 to 5:00 p.m./17:00. Wednesday seems to be a universal day off in the area. Unfortunately, the hours listed in Google aren’t reliable here.
Recommended number of days to stay in Porto Ercole
Two days will give you ample time to explore this city. If you stay longer, it is a perfect home base to explore the area’s wineries and agriturismos.
Things to do
The bay is a buzz with early morning fishing boats, speed boats, and the occasional yacht or two. There are several opportunities to rent boats in town, with prices ranging from around $400 USD, but hiring a captain will cost more.
From the older part of the city, you can find hiking trails that wind up to the fortresses and old city walls. When we visited, there was an installation at Forte Stella, which reminded me of the artist Christo.
Porto Ercole is a kid-friendly city. There are tons of gelato shops, and there is a playground with a merry-go-round and a trampoline. I also found that kids were welcome in bars and restaurants–they are given special treatment, and there is always a kids’ menu.
This isn’t a beach city; there are some swimmable areas, but boats occupy much of the bay. I would travel a little outside of the city for beach access.
A day in Porto Ercole
If I had a day in Porto Ercole, this is how I’d spend it. This itinerary features some of the small businesses that were welcoming to what seemed like the only North American travelers in town.
Planning your Porto Ercole budget
I would plan on a larger budget for hotels, but found that everything I wanted to do in town was pretty inexpensive. Reach out to me for pricing and other options in the area.
The Three Bs
The three Bs are a little hard to figure out for this town. It is a mix of working-class folks and mom-and-pop restaurants and shops, but its hotels are focused on the luxury market. Staying here would bridge the luxury and budget categories. Here are the hotels that make Porto Ercole a destination.
(Work with me to book these, or if you want to find something more budget-friendly, I can help.) Contact me.
Hotels
La Roqqa
Named 2024’s best hotel by Conde Nast, this hotel is a mix of contemporary art in a quiet, relaxing town.
Here are the available perks if you book with me:
- Late check-out, subject to availability
- A credit worth $50-$100 (USD) per room, per stay to be spent only on extras such as F&B or Spa, only on the property, and during the stay
- Daily Continental breakfast for two people
- Room upgrade to the next room category, subject to availability at the time of check-in
- Early check-in, subject to availability at the time of check-in
Il Pelicano
This hotel has been host to well-known celebrities, socialites, and luxury travelers since 1965.
I recommend that if you don’t have a reservation, you refrain from visiting the hotel, even if you want to drop by for aperitivo hour.
Here are the available perks if you book with me: (2025 perks)
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (already included in property rates)
- $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full, no products retail, no cosmetic treatments)
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
If you want to use Porto Ercole as a home base for wine tasting. Contact me. I spent two weeks in Tuscany and the Umbria region, and I can’t wait to talk about it.
Other Cities in this series
The stop in Porto Ercole was part of a three-week trip through Canada and Europe.
The Montreal Guide
If I didn’t live in Los Angeles, I would love to live in Montreal. There are many reasons it is in my top five favorite cities. It has a great art and food scene. It is a pedestrian city with excellent public transit.
This guide provides all of the information you need to know about visiting this city.
The London Guide
Our time together has been too brief. In this guide I give you some tips and tricks for getting to or transiting through this city. It includes a long-layover guide/