Corsica

Best beaches in Corsica

With its 1,000 km of coastline, Corsica boasts an impressive number of magnificent white sandy beaches surrounded by a crystal-clear turquoise sea.
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Corsica’s beaches have nothing to envy from the most famous and popular exotic destinations. In the area south of Porto-Vecchio, there is a paradisiacal sequence of beaches with white sand and turquoise waters, immersed in an unspoilt and often wild landscape.

Added to these are the hidden bays, nestled between jagged coastlines and cliffs, corners of pure peace and poetry, or the silent expanses that the Desert des Agriates guards, difficult to reach and for this reason, almost completely untouched.

The variety of beaches that characterises the island will enchant all visitors, both those who seek sandy tongues for days of peace and relaxation and those who love sport and adventure and prefer to explore the crystal-clear seabed.

Plage de Santa Giulia

120137 Porto Vecchio, Francia

Santa Giulia beach is an enchanting stretch of white sand and azure blue water, surrounded by lush nature, just 8 km south of Porto Vecchio.

Thanks to its unparalleled beauty, it is one of Corsica’s most popular resorts and, unfortunately, also one of the most crowded in August. Its enchanting colours, touching all shades of blue, its fine sand and the surrounding panorama will enchant you and leave a lasting impression.

Plage de Saleccia

This fabulous postcard-perfect beach is one of the most beautiful on the island: turquoise colours, transparent water, soft dunes, and Mediterranean scrub surrounding it.

Saleccia beach is located within the protected area of the Desert des Agriates: it can only be reached by sea, or on foot from the neighbouring beaches with an hour’s walk or by following a rugged dirt path. Whichever you choose, you will be rewarded not only by a breathtaking view, but also by the scarcity of tourists, discouraged by its isolated location.

A curiosity: it was used as a filming location for the 1962 movie The Longest Day, which chronicled the Allied landings in Normandy.

Plage de Rondinara

3Spiaggia Di Rondinara, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

Enclosed between two promontories covered in Mediterranean maquis, the small bay where Rondinara beach is located is one of Corsica’s most photographed spots: white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, shallow waters and a rainbow of colours created by the open parasols. Absolutely unmissable.

Despite the crowding that it often suffers in summer, it remains one of the most beautiful beaches on the Bonifacio coastline.

Plage de Palombaggia

This dream beach, 3 km long, is a Caribbean corner in the heart of Corsica.

At Palombaggia beach, white sand, crystal-clear waters of every shade of blue and turquoise, rocks polished by the sea and pine forests await you. It is one of the most famous beaches on the island and that is why it is so crowded in summer.

Plage de Ostriconi

If you love the sea, you can’t miss this enchanting bay protected by the Peraiola inlet: fine sand, romantic dunes, palette colours and a security service that will keep parents on holiday with children happy.

Also not to be missed is the Lozari beach, only 6 km away, set in an enchanting natural environment of fields and mountains. Windsurfs, catamarans, kayaks and pedal boats can be hired at the on-site nautical centre.

Plage de Piantarella

6Unnamed Road, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

Just 5 km from Bonifacio is a bay with Caribbean waters where you can windsurf and kayak.

Ahead, you can admire and swim to the equally fabulous beach of Ile de Piana, with its fine sand that looks like something out of a tropical postcard.

Plage de la Tonnara

7Plage de la Tunnara, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

A beautiful beach of clear sand with crystal-clear waters and surrounded by bizarrely shaped granite rocks.

It is popular with families, for its clear waters, as well as with sportsmen who practice windsurfing and kitesurfing here, thanks to its favourable exposure to the winds.

Following a path of about 15 minutes, one reaches the delightful Plage de Stagnolu, a destination for naturists. A kiteboarding centre and restaurants serving excellent fresh fish can be found within walking distance.

Plage de Tralicetu

Tizzano is a beautiful village that seems to have sprung up on the edge of the earth, at the end of the D48 road and immersed in an unparalleled seascape. Its unspoilt nature is slowly making itself known to tourists, although it still remains a little-visited location, with a small number of accommodation facilities.

Not to be missed is the amazing Tralicetu Beach, which seems to encapsulate all the wonderful colours of the sea.

The bay is isolated and accessible only by a 6 km-long dirt road, the location of which is not indicated and it is necessary to be equipped with a detailed map of the area.

Plage de Lotu

Lotu beach is located in the Agriates Desert, close to Saleccia beach: smaller but just as delightful, it boasts white sand and crystal-clear sea.

As on many beaches in Corsica, there are no tourist facilities, apart from a small bar that is a five-minute walk down the dirt road to the sea. Everything here is really wild and it is not uncommon to find cows basking on the beach.

To reach Lotu beach, you need a 4×4 or take a boat from Saint-Florent, a 30-minute ride.

Plage de Ficaghjola

10Plage de Ficaghjola, 20115 Piana, Francia

Ficaghjola is one of the rare bathing coves in the area, accessed by a small path through nature. It is located after the exit of the village of Piana, coming from Porto. A small winding road leads to the car park. From here it takes 10 minutes on foot to reach the small pebble and sandy beach, which gets crowded quickly.

It offers a magnificent view of the Gulf of Porto and the old fishermen’s huts that dot it and give it a certain charm.

For those who do not feel like going down on foot, one can consider a boat trip to visit the inlets of Piana: sea tours depart from the marina at Porto and follow the coast to Ficajola.

Plage de Arone

1120115 de la Plage d'arone, 20115 Piana, Francia

The beach of Arone is one of the most beautiful beaches to visit around the inlets of Piana: it is located 12 km south of Piana, immediately after Capo Rosso. The road to reach it is simply spectacular, with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Porto and its inlets.

Surrounded by mountains and bordered by large red rocks, this vast sandy beach truly deserves its mention among the most beautiful beaches in Corsica. Parking is free and you will find bars and restaurants right on the beach.

Best beaches in Cap Corse

Hiking enthusiasts cannot miss the opportunity to combine the pleasure of a trekking route with relaxation on some enchanting beaches. The customs path starts from Macinaggio and crosses a large part of the Cap Corse: along the way, you can cool off on beautiful sandy beaches such as Plage de Tamarone12 or in magnificent hidden coves such as Cala Genovese13: with its fine sand and turquoise water, it is certainly the most beautiful beach on the entire route.

Plage de Barcaggio14 is also worth a stop: this beautiful stretch of fine sand is located within a nature reserve, bordered by dunes and Mediterranean maquis. It is ideal for children as the water level remains low for a long distance.

Plage de Calvi

1520260 Calvi, Francia

With its very shallow transparent water and its view of the citadel of Calvi, this beach is truly magnificent.

Here you will find several bars and restaurants, with the possibility of renting deckchairs and umbrellas or engaging in nautical activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and sailing/catamaran sailing.

Despite being one of the most popular destinations in the area, the beach is so large and airy that everyone can find a corner of peace and quiet.

Plage de Petit Sperone

16Plage du petit Sperone, Pointe de Sperone, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

This small cove of fine sand and turquoise water is in the top 10 most beautiful beaches in southern Corsica and richly deserves this ranking!

To access Piccolo Sperone, one must first cross Piantarella beach and follow the path for about 10 minutes on foot.

Plage del Grand Sperone

17Unnamed Road, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

Close to Bonifacio, the windy beach of Grande Sperone has remained wild and unspoilt, despite tourism. In this corner of Corsica, you will find no services: no bar, no deckchair hire or toilet facilities. You need to bring everything you need for the day, especially on hot summer days.

This superb stretch of fine sand offers an unobstructed view of the Lavezzi Islands and on a clear day, even of Sardinia.

Lavezzi Islands

18Isole di Lavezzi, Bonifacio, Francia

During your trip to southern Corsica, you must not miss the sublime beaches and hidden coves of the Lavezzi Islands. With their huge boulders and crystal-clear water, they form a truly spectacular setting.

We particularly recommend Lavezzu Island and Cala de La Chiesa, where the transparency of the water and the views are reminiscent of the Seychelles. This island is totally wild: no restaurants, no water, no toilets and not even rubbish cans. You will have to plan your trip very well and bring everything you need for the day. To reach the Lavezzi Islands you will have to take the boat from Bonifacio .

Plage de Chiuni

It is no coincidence that Club Med is located on this large sandy beach a stone’s throw from Cargese: the water is turquoise and crystal clear, the surrounding landscape enchanting.

In addition, it is the ideal place to try out various water activities such as water skiing, gohorse riding or take a nice walk on the path leading to the Genoese tower and circle the promontory in 3 hours.

Parking is free but the beach can also be reached on foot from Peru Beach in 1 hour.

Plage de Mer et Sol

Also called the Plage d’Argent, it is a magnificent white sandy beach with transparent water bordered by small red rocks.

The water here remains shallow for a great distance, making it an ideal place for families on holiday with children. On the beach you will also find small bars for lunch and you can hire pedal boats and kayaks.

Plage de Roccapina

21Unnamed Rd,, 20100 Sartène, Francia

This small, well-protected bay boasts a turquoise sea bordered by large rocks. Although access is not very easy, having to follow a dirt road for 2.5 kilometres, it is a very crowded place. There is ample free parking at the end of the path.

As with many of the beaches on the island, you will find yourself in an unspoilt environment without any services: there are no bars, toilets or facilities, only wild and fabulous nature. Care must be taken with boats that often dock too close to the shore.

From Roccapina, you can also walk to the beautiful beach of Erbaju: very wild and definitely less crowded, in a word, magnificent.

Plage de San Giovanni

2220131 Pianotolli-Caldarello, Francia

Decidedly little known to most tourists, this beach is superb: separated in 2 by rocks and a Genoese tower, it hosts several small coves of fine sand, protected from the wind and sheltered from the currents.

The place is famous for its seabed: it is a must for snorkelling enthusiasts, who should not forget their mask and snorkel.

The beach, located in the Gulf of Figari, is difficult to spot: it is hidden from view and completely surrounded by dense Mediterranean vegetation. Being sparsely frequented, it guarantees maximum tranquillity and relaxation.

Plage de Capo di Feno

Consisting of two parts, the Grand Capo and the Petit Capo, this beautiful beach is located not far from the Gulf of Ajaccio. It is renowned for being a great place to surf, so it is not recommended for those who fear big waves and currents.

However, its idyllic and wild landscape may also appeal to those who do not wish to swim but are in search of unspoilt and evocative views.

Plage de Bodri

The setting of Bodri beach, also called Botre, is worth a diversion: white sand and crystal-clear water that looks like something out of the Caribbean await you.

The beach borders Ghjunchitu beach, which is very picturesque and can be reached by train or on foot via a path. Despite the summer crowds, Bodri always allows one to find a secluded and quiet corner to enjoy a few hours of relaxation.

Plage de Paraguan

25T40, 20169 Bonifacio, Francia

With its shallow and exquisitely turquoise waters, this large cove sheltered from the wind is a really good place for swimming.

There is no real parking, but you can leave your car along the road near the beach. It is also a 15-minute walk from here to Fazzio beach, a small fjord with large rocks, which holds a beautiful view.

Plage de Nonza

Located below the village of Nonza, on the west coast of Cap Corse, this beach has the particularity of being composed of black pebbles. The origin is not volcanic, as it might seem, but the result of an old asbestos quarry.

One does not come here to bathe but to admire a panorama different from the classic views of Corsican beaches.

Sant'Amanza Gulf

27Bonifacio Santa Manza, 20166 Pietrosella, Francia

This small gulf 7 km from Bonifacio is a true paradise, made up of small, delightful, isolated and wild beaches.

Thanks to the wind that beats the coasts incessantly, it is considered one of the best places for windsurfing and kitesurfing, particularly on the beaches of Maora and Manza.

Plage de Balistra, on the other hand, is only accessible via a very rough, 2.5 km-long dirt road.

Map

In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article

Insights

Palombaggia Beach

Palombaggia Beach

The Caribbean beach of Palombaggia is one of the most famous in Corsica and, because of this, also one of the most crowded: its paradisiacal appearance enchants all year round.
Rondinara Beach

Rondinara Beach

The spectacular Rondinara beach is an enchanting shell-shaped cove, a sheltered bay with fine sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Saleccia Beach

Saleccia Beach

Saleccia is one of Corsica's most heavenly beaches, an unspoilt oasis of crystal-clear waters and white sand that is difficult to reach.
Santa Giulia Beach

Santa Giulia Beach

The Santa Giulia beach looks like something out of a Caribbean postcard, with its shallow, crystal-clear turquoise waters and dazzlingly white sand.
Lavezzi Islands

Lavezzi Islands

The Lavezzi Islands are a corner of paradise, set in a sea of Caribbean colours and Polynesian transparency, with bizarrely shaped rocks.
Barcaggio

Barcaggio

The magnificent Barcaggio beach, white sand and crystal-clear water, is perfect for relaxing after walking a section of the famous Customs Trail.