1 Week in Corsica
Of all the trips I’ve taken, our late summer road trip across Corsica remains one of my favorites.
Beautiful beaches, quaint towns built right into the mountains and an island just small enough to circle made it the perfect place to go for a quick 1 week road trip.
My friend Silvia and I were searching for an end-of-summer beach getaway and quickly agreed on Corsica.
The untamed, idyllic island isn’t that familiar to Americans but it’s well-known in France for having some of the most magnificent beaches.
I can confirm it lives up to the hype!
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Corsica’s beaches, lakes and rivers have the clearest, bluest waters I’ve ever seen.
It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing and relaxing.. literally one of the most blissful vacations I’ve taken!
Also, unlike the South of France, these French beaches come with soft golden sand instead of hot bumpy rocks! There’s plenty of beach clubs too, if that’s your thing.
We went in mid-September, well after the hoards of French and German tourists had left, and nearly had the island to ourselves.
Here’s everywhere we went, stayed and visited, plus my tips for planning a trip to Corsica!
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the water was so blue and the beaches were actually soft and sandy
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7-10 Day Corsica Itinerary
With a week on the island, we had just enough time to drive around most of the island, stopping at some of the big cities along the way.
Here’s the cities I’d recommend using as bases and how much time to spend in each.
| City | Known For | Suggested Days |
| Porto-Vecchio | Base in Porto-Vecchio for beaches (Palombaggia, Santa Giulia) and amenities | 2 days |
| Bonifacio | Day/evening trip to Bonifacio for the dramatic cliffside old town and boat trips | 1-2 days |
| Calvi | Clifftop citadel, marina beach, laid-back harbor vibe | 2-3 days |
| Ajaccio | Napoleon’s birthplace, old town charm, easy beaches nearby | 1-2 days |
And here are some notable cities to stop in along the road trip:
| Stop | Known For | Time Needed |
| Corte | Historic citadel, university town, gateway to inland hiking | 2-3 hours |
| Zonza | Dramatic granite peaks, the Col de Bavella mountain pass | 1-2 hours |
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Corsica Travel Tips
Make Sure to Rent A Car
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Renting a car is truly the best way to explore Corsica
I like using AutoEurope as they aggregate pricing from all the major car companies so you can compare rates in one easy search. On the island, Enterprise, National or Alamo are all pretty reputable agencies.
We rented a tiny little Renaut, which was a little cramped (wouldn’t recommend for more than 2 people or if you have lots of luggage). But, it was excellent at winding through Corsica’s narrow lanes and curvy cliffside roads!
Also, having a small car made it much easier to park!
Car rental rates were quite affordable, as long as you picked up and dropped off at the same place. We did this from Ajaccio (but skipped the car on our days in the capital) and it was ~$30 a day.
Book ahead to save, and try to avoid peak summer for the best deals.
Compare rental rates for your dates here.
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Buy an eSIM
I always get an esim for international travel and typically use Jetpac.
They have packages for anywhere in the world and rates are as low as $1/ day. Plus, the coverage is excellent and their app lets you see exactly how much data you have left.
I always recommend staying connected when you travel, especially for a road trip where you need Google Maps navigation.
And the big reason to have WiFi in Corsica?
To make dinner plans! Restaurants in Corsica take reservations via Instagram DM so you’ll definitely want to stay connected on your trip or you might find yourself without a spot to eat.
France does the whole ‘no reservation? sorry can’t seat you‘ even though half the restaurant is empty, ha.
Buy a travel eSIM here.
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Things to Do in Corsica
I’m writing a more in-depth guide on all the best things we did in Corsica but here are some of the best activities:
- Sailing Discovery Day: a blissful sailing discovery day in the Bay of Ajaccio with swimming, paddle boarding and beautiful views
- Scandola Nature Boat Tour: a half-day boat tour along Corsica’s beautiful volcanic coastline and a visit to UNESCO world heritage Scandola Reserve
- Corsican Wine Tasting: An indulgent wine trip to tour Calvi’s unique vineyards, with a cellar tour and chef-prepared picnic of local Corsican specialties
- Lavezzi Islands Catamaran Trip: a relaxed, scenic boat day to the Lavezzi Islands, with open-water sailing, swimming stops, and views of Bonifacio’s dramatic cliffs
- Guided Marine Park Boat Tour: a small-group scenic boat tour of Bonifacio’s marine park, with dramatic cliff views, snorkeling and coastal exploration
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How Many Days in Corsica?
Corsica is a French territory, but physically located closer to Italy. When you look on a map, the island looks small but is deceptively large in reality.
This is because the island’s rugged, mountainous interior means driving takes much longer than straight-line distances imply.
For example, a drive between Bastia and Corte, just 42 miles (67 km), can take up to two hours.
Many of the roads are small and narrow and when driving along the cliffs, it’s dangerous to attempt passing.
I flew from New York to Paris, then to Ajaccio, one of the island’s four international airports.
AJA had the easiest connections to Paris CDG as well as the most rental cars so it was easiest to fly in and out of Ajaccio’s airport versus the others.
If we wanted to road trip, we needed enough time to circle the island so spent 9 days all in. You could do a shorter route with just 7 days or stick to just one region of the island!
Set a fare alert for your dates here.
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Corsica has a beautiful mix of coastal beaches and a mountainous interior, making for a really scenic road trip
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When to Go
I recommend booking your flights, car rental and hotel right away, especially if traveling in peak season.
August is a madhouse, with lots of French and German families making the most of summer vacation time.
We went in mid September and while some beach clubs were crowded, some remote beaches were just us and a couple retirees.
Getting Around
The only car rentals we found were for manual cars, so you’ll need to be able to drive stick if you want to road trip.
Luckily my friend lives in Norway and is more comfortable driving stick than automatic these days so she handled all the driving!
It’s pretty hard to get around the island without a car, and the mountains and winding roads are stunning, so I really do recommend renting a car and road tripping around.
And finally, Corsica is most famous as the exiled home of Napoleon.
People speak French and Corsican (and not all that much English), so it helps to know some very basic French!
Luckily I was a French major in college so Silvia handled the driving and I did the navigating/ menu reading.
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Corsica Itinerary
The route at a glance:
- Fly into Ajaccio, pick up rental car
- Drive straight to Porto Vecchio (stopping along the way)
- 3 nights in Porto Vecchio / Bonifacio
- Drive to Calvi, stopping midday in Corte
- 3 nights in Calvi
- Drive to Ajaccio along the scenic coastal road
- 2 nights in Ajaccio
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Day 1: Land in Ajaccio and Drive South to Porto Vecchio
We flew into Ajaccio but didn’t linger, opting to save it for a proper visit at the end of our road trip.
Since you don’t need a car in Corsica’s capital, we picked up our rental car and began the drive straight south towards Porto Vecchio.
The route takes you along the N196 coast road and takes about 2–2.5 hours without stops.
Don’t rush it, because it’s a beautiful drive and there’s plenty of great places to stop along the way.
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Worth stopping for:
- Filitosa: a Bronze Age site with megalithic carved standing stones, tucked between Ajaccio and Propriano. One of the most important prehistoric sites in the Mediterranean, and an easy detour if you like ancient history
- Propriano: a quaint port town where we stopped for lunch and a coffee
- Sartène: often called “la plus Corse des villes Corses”, or the most Corsican of Corsican towns. Granite buildings that look like they grew straight out of the hillside, a labyrinth of medieval alleyways, and Place Porta at the center of it all, where locals gather for a drink in the shade. Easy to walk through the old quarter in ~30 minutes
- Roccapina: there’s a beautiful coastal viewpoint here that’s one of the most photographed spots in southern Corsica. Look for the pink granite rock that’s been eroded by wind and time into the shape of a reclining lion.
- Spin’a Cavallu bridge: a 13th-century Genoese “horseback” bridge over the Rizzanese river, with a small swimming hole
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Overnight: Hotel Costa Salina in Porto Vecchio
We pulled into Porto Vecchio in the late evening and immediately checked into our hotel to rest.
We stayed at Costa Salina, right by Porto Vecchio’s yacht filled marina. It’s a short 15 minute walk from the Old Town and has comfortable rooms as well as a pool and jacuzzi on site.
Check rates: Booking.com, Hotels.com
Read reviews: TripAdvisor
Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio are two towns right near each other, about 20 minutes by car.
There’s bigger hotels and more accommodation options in Porto Vecchio, so most people use the town as a base and day trip to Bonifacio.
We planned our trip a bit last minute and there weren’t many hotel options left in Bonifacio. But if I ever get a chance to revisit, I think I’d like to try this bougie beach hotel in Palombaggia or rent a cute seaside apartment in Bonifacio!
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Days 2-5: Porto Vecchio & Bonifacio
Porto Vecchio itself is sometimes called the St. Tropez of Corsica.
It’s polished, a little glossy, full of boutiques and terraced restaurants… but it doesn’t have its own beach.
The real draw is what’s just outside town!
Each morning, we’d have a leisurely breakfast and relax by the pool. Then we’d head to one of Porto Vecchio’s nearby beaches for the afternoon.
For dinner, we’d either eat in Porto Vecchio’s Old Town or head over to Bonifacio.
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Beaches near Porto Vecchio
The main draw of Porto Vecchio is it’s nearby beaches:
- Palombaggia: the postcard beach with powder-soft sand, umbrella pines, turquoise water, and views out to the Îles Cerbicale
- Santa Giulia: a lagoon-like bay south of town, calm and shallow, good for swimming and watersports, ringed with beach bars
- Piccolo/Grande Sperone: a quieter, more secluded beach with sea coves to get lost in
- Rondinara: a perfect natural bay, a bit further out but worth the drive
Where to Eat in Porto Vecchio
The Old Town is full of great restaurants. In fact, this is where we had some of our favorite meals.
Try A Cantina di L’Orriu for excellent local wine and local Corsian specialties.
La Table de Nathalie was also very good! The menu would change each day, everything was homemade and each course delicious.
At the beaches of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, have lunch with your feet in the sand at Da Mare and Paradisula.
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Dining Out in Corsica
Note: You’ll find that you often need a reservation for dinner in Corsica.
To do that, just walk around during the day and see a place you like, then DM the restaurant on Instagram.
French dining culture is so interesting to me, as a New Yorker, because it’s basically the complete opposite of dining culture here (in both good and frustrating aspects!)
The restaurant might be half empty… but they’ll be reluctant to seat you unless ‘vous allez un reservation’.
We asked nicely the first couple nights (not realizing the reservation system) and the waiters took pity on two American girls until we figured out how to book dinner plans.
Corsican restaurants typically offer a set multi-course meal. Compared to dining in NYC, it tastes so much fresher, homemade and affordable (around 30 euros per person, for 3 courses).
We loved trying new wines every night and how leisurely the French approach dinner. There’s no ‘2 hour time slot’ and the waiters leave you alone to linger over a bottle of red until closing.
In certain aspects, I think Europeans have a much healthier, more balanced approach to life!
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Where to Stay in Porto Vecchio and Palombaggia:
- Grand Hôtel de Cala Rossa: this Relais & Chateaux property has beautiful Corsican-style rooms, 3 on site restaurants and private access to Palombaggia beach. There’s also an indoor pool, sauna and spa
- Les Bergeries de Palombaggia: a back-to-nature vibe with stone buildings built into the rocks. Right by the beach!
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Bonifacio
(30 minutes from Porto Vecchio)
Bonifacio is, without a doubt, the place to see and be seen in southern Corsica.
It has a quaint medieval citadel built on white limestone cliffs right at Corsica’s southernmost tip. On a clear sunny day, you can see Sardinia across the strait!
Come summertime, the downtown harbor is littered with billionaire yachts.
Overall, it’s a postcard pretty town. The quaint harbor and lively restaurants make it a great place to watch the sunset and grab dinner.
Bonifacio has lots of restaurants that line the long boardwalk leading into town. We stopped for drinks during the day, then came back for dinner and people watching.
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Things to Do in Bonifacio
- Walk through the old town and its cobblestone streets lined with shops and cafes
- Head up to the citadel for beautiful views over the water
- Descend the Escalier du Roi d’Aragon, the Staircase of the King of Aragon: 187 steps carved into the cliffs that lead down to the water
- Take a boat tour along the base of the Bonifacio cliffs and swim in the marine park
- Visit Sdragonato cave (its ceiling opening is shaped like Corsica) and the “Grain de Sable” rock
- Take a day trip out to the Lavezzi Islands: beautiful uninhabited islands in the straight
- Have drinks or ice cream at Rocca-Serra Glacier on the docks and watch the sunset
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Where to Eat in Bonifacio
- Da Passano: a pretty Mediterranean tapas restaurant by the waterfront
- Casadelmar: Michelin-starred, led by Chef Fabio Bragagnolo
- La Table de Mina for a special-occasion dinner
- U Santa Marina for sea views and Corsican classics
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Where to Stay in Bonifacio
- Version Maquis Citadelle: for a gorgeous hotel in town but away from the crowds. All the rooms have a terrace with a view and there’s an infinity pool, spa and fitness center.
- 1 bedroom loft Airbnb: this recently renovated apt is modern and convenient, located right opposite the port. rooms have sweeping views of the marina
- 3 bedroom Cliffside Airbnb: a spacious 3 br apt right in the heart of Bonifacio, with a terrace that faces the sea. Great for groups and families, with washer + dryer in unit.
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Day 6: The Drive North to Calvi, via Corte
After a couple nights in Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio, it was time to head north.
We took a transverse drive across the island, from the south coast up to Calvi, by cutting through the middle of the island and stopping through Corte.
The drive was roughly 3-3.5 hours, depending on how much you stop.
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Corte
Corte is Corsica’s former capital and its only major town in the interior.
All the travel guides said just an afternoon is enough, but I thought it was such a quaint town!
It’s worth lingering if you have more time.
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Corte’s citadel sits dramatically on a rocky outcrop, on a strategic spot above the place where two river valleys meet.
If you like hiking, climb up to the Belvédère viewpoint for a great view.
We opted to wander the old town around Place Paoli and have lunch. I remember the parking took a while – there’s just one lot and it gets packed, so you might have to wait for a spot to open!
But Corte is worth the parking headache.
It’s such a charming medieval town. On a road trip mostly focused on beaches, I’m glad we stopped in at least one of the mountainous towns in Corsica’s interior.
If you have more time, you can take a short walk into the Gorges de la Restonica which is famous for its clear mountain pools. Locals often go for a dip here.
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From Corte, we drove onward to Calvi, on Corsica’s northwest coast. We based ourselves in Calvi for the next couple nights, exploring the difference between Corsica’s north and south beaches.
Overnight: Hôtel & Spa Kasano in Calvi
We stayed at the modern boutique Hôtel & Spa Kasano.
It’s located right by the citadel (we could literally see it from our window) and our room had a beautiful view of the sea.
The location is phenomenal and the room had a massive center bed with a fun, modern design. I think this was my favorite hotel of the trip.
Plus, there’s a big outdoor pool and a nice indoor spa to relax in as well.
Check rates: Booking.com, Hotels.com
Read reviews: TripAdvisor
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Days 6-8: Calvi
Calvi felt quite different from the south.
It’s laid-back, a little bohemian.. and built around a 13th-century citadel.
Beneath the fortress, there’s a a long crescent beach ringed by pine trees, with the Balagne mountains behind it.
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Things to Do in Calvi
- Walk the citadel:
- See the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste at the highest point, and look out over the ramparts for sweeping views of the bay
- Stroll Quai Landry, the harborside promenade lined with cafés and restaurants
- Hit the beach! With 6km of sand, it’s easy to find your own spot even in season
- Take a boat trip to the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO site with red cliffs and sea caves
- Day trip to the tiny village of Girolata
- Or visit the hilltop villages of the Balagne: Sant’Antonino, Pigna, Speloncato
- Take the short scenic train to L’Île-Rousse
- Go wine tasting in the nearby Calvi vineyards for excellent local wines and cheese
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Where to eat in Calvi:
- A Casetta for Corsican charcuterie and cheese platter with harbor views
- La Licorne, right on the beach with citadel views
Where to Stay in Calvi
- La Villa Calvi: a Relais & Châteaux property, located up in the hills with the best panoramic view of the bay and citadel. Also has its own private beach!
- Hôtel Onda: an understated beachside property if you want to be right by the sea
- 2 Bedroom Airbnb Apartment: great for couples or families who want to be in the heart of the city, with a modern kitchen and panoramic views of the bay
- Stone House Airbnb: a pretty house big enough for groups. Located just outside the city, within a 5 minute drive from the beach and with a pretty garden and heated pool!
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I loved the pastel buildings and Mediterranean-like foliage. Such a pretty town!
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Day 9: The Drive to Ajaccio
There are two ways to do this leg.
The faster, more direct route inland gets you there in under 3 hours.
But if you have the daylight and don’t mind slow, winding roads, the coastal D81 south is considered one of the most scenic drives on the island.
It winds through Piana, the Calanques de Piana, and Porto. Naturally, we opted for the coastal drive and it was beautiful.
There were dramatic red granite spires that looked like they dropped into the sea and winding, curvy roads hugging the cliffs.
We did get caught in a traffic jam though.
A tour bus got stuck on the narrow coastal roads and everyone had to wait a good hour for it to resolve. Apparently this happens often as large buses are too big for the small roads, but try anyway.
So I would leave yourself plenty of extra time if you opt for the scenic route.
The drive, with stops in Cargèse and the Gorges de Spelunca (between Ota and Evisa) can easily turn into a full day scenic tour!
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Once we reached Ajaccio, we returned our rental car at the airport and then made our way to our hotel. Luckily, the hotel we booked offered free airport pickups!
Overnight: Hotel POZZO DI BORGO
We stayed at POZZO DI BORGO Hotel, right in Ajaccio’s Old Town.
The hotel is a converted mansion that once belonged to the family of Charles Andre Pozzo di Borgo (Napoleon’s archnemesis). It’s funny to me that their family homes were basically right next to each other!
The location was incredibly convenient. It’s within walking distance of Ajaccio’s big squares and Old Town plazas.
Our room was grand, with ornate furniture to mimic the way the house once was.
It was also really large, and pretty comfortable for our last couple nights on the island.
Check rates: Booking.com, Hotels.com
Read reviews: TripAdvisor
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Days 9-10: Ajaccio
Corsica’s capital and Napoleon Bonaparte’s birthplace has a completely different energy from Corsica’s other cities.
It’s much more city-like, and lives up to its status as the island’s capital. There’s lots of big squares, great restaurants and fun markets.
It’s overall very walkable, with a lively boardwalk and views of the ocean.
We didn’t feel that there were too many ‘sights’ to hit, other than Napoleon’s house (now a museum).
So we mostly walked around the city, explored the beach boardwalk and lingered at the sidewalk cafes.
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Things to do in Ajaccio
- Spend a boat day on a sailboat, relaxing in crystal clear waters of the Bay of Ajaccio
- Walk through Place Foch: the main square, with palm trees, a big statue of Napoleon and a lively morning market
- Explore Maison Bonaparte: Napoleon’s childhood home, now a museum, right in the old town
- Visit Musée Fesch: one of France’s best collections of Italian Renaissance painting outside the Louvre
- Wander the old town streets around Rue Cardinal Fesch
- Walk along St. François Beach, Ajaccio’s city beach. The long beach is right in the city center with a palm tree promenade full of shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Marché Central d’Ajaccio at Place Campinchi for cheese, charcuterie, olives, honey
- Take a boat ride out to the Îles Sanguinaires
- Take a longer coastal day trip to Bonifacio via boat. A unique way to see Corsica’s beautiful coastline from the sea!
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Where to stay in Ajaccio:
- Hotel San Carlu Citadelle: a historic building right by the citadel, with rooftop sea views
- Hôtel Fesch & Spa: central location, small rooftop plunge pool and comfy rooms
- Airbnb 2 bed Loft: a duplex apartment right in the center of town on Cours Napoleon. Great for friends or groups, with a large kitchen, large living room and 2 bathrooms.
- Airbnb 3 bedroom Apt: a spacious apt right in the heart of the capital. Great for big groups, with space for 6
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Ajaccio definitely had a big city feel compared to Corsica’s other quaint towns. Lots of big squares, sidewalk cafes and grand restaurants
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Where to eat in Ajaccio
- Le 20123 for a traditional village atmosphere and Corsican farm classics
- Pastificio e Risotteria for classic Italian and pasta
- A Nepita
- Or try a set Corsican tasting menu
And that’s it! I really loved how relaxing Corsica felt and hope I get the chance to revisit someday.
Planning Notes – Corsica Travel Checklist
Flights | Corsica has 4 international airports but coming from outside of France, we found that Ajaccio (AJX) had the easiest connections to/from Paris as well as the most rental cars.
If you can, I recommend flying point-to-point (in/ out of different cities) to make the most of your time. Check here for flight deals here and set an alert for your dates.
Rent a Car | Corsica’s public transit is limited, and the best things to do are between towns, not in them. I recommend searching via Auto Europe as it compiles a price comparison on all the major rental agencies. Check rates for your travel dates here.
E-Sim | I highly recommend getting an e-sim so you can stay connected, translate menus & navigate. Many of the small towns in Corsica required dinner reservations, which you can do via phone call or DM. Having cell service on the go meant that whenever we passed a cute restaurant, we could instantly find them on Instagram and reach out to book a dinner slot. Jetpac offers affordable esims with daily packages as low as $1/ day.
Insurance | Lastly, be sure to visit Corsica with travel insurance. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, your phone gets stolen, or a flight delay leaves you with nothing but the clothes on your back, travel insurance will help when you need it most.
Flight delays and lost baggage happen frequently and are always a pain, especially if you don’t have insurance to get quickly reimbursed! Get a quote for your trip here.
You Might Also Enjoy:
Corsica Vacation Planning
1 Week in Corsica: The Perfect Road Trip Itinerary
7 Specialty Foods You Must Try in Corsica
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