Corsica is the greenest and most mountainous island in the Mediterranean. Peaks reaching the heights of our Tatras, white beaches, and fortified cities create a perfect idyll for a summer vacation. The capital city Ajaccio is even the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Cheap flights from Vienna for 80€ are often available in June or September through Eurowings.
What will you learn in the article?
- You will find a detailed map with attractions
- How much such a trip will cost you
- What not to miss in Corsica
- How to visit the European Seychelles
Detailed Google map with attractions
Detailed map of our points of interest[/caption>
Summary of prices per person
Flight price: 80€ | Flight duration: Vienna – Bastia: 1h 15min (follow cheap flights)
Accommodation: 183€ / 7 nights | Car + fuel: 60€ | Entrance fees to attractions: 30€ | Boat to Lavezzi Islands: 37€ | Food and drinks: 200€ |Price per person: 590€
Practical information
- Accommodation (south vs. north) – the main tourist area is the south – they have nicer beaches, boat trips, but also more expensive accommodation starting from 30€/night (in the north around 20€/night)
- Prices – prepare for higher prices of food (approximately double) as well as gasoline prices (1.70€/liter, data from 6/2019)
- Terrain – the island has rugged terrain, so many beaches are accessible by serpentine roads or off-road (note that car insurance does not cover off-road driving)
- Beaches – the beaches are sandy, so you don’t even need water shoes
- Parking – parking lots at better beaches and in tourist towns like Bonifacio are paid
- Transport – the roads are excellent here, ideal for renting a car, just be aware that locals often do not use turn signals at roundabouts
Day 1 – From Bastia to the south of Corsica
In our planning, we focused on the southern part of the island, which is theoretically more beautiful, but we also wanted to see some of the north. So, as a compromise, we chose to spend 4 nights in the south and 3 nights in the north. We estimate that we will drive around 800 kilometers on the island.
We arrive at Bastia Airport at 8:00 in the morning, so we have the whole day ahead of us. In this town, we just landed and rented a car. We booked it through the website EasyTerra with Europcar. We also have full car insurance from EasyTerra, so we don’t have to deal with anything on the spot, they just block the standard deposit on the credit card.
In the south, we are staying at Résidence Les Pavillons du Belvédère on the outskirts of Porto-Vecchio. They are terraced apartment houses with a grill and beautiful views of the sea. A bonus is a small private beach with sun loungers. Since it takes approximately 2 hours from Bastia Airport to our accommodation, we will also visit a few beaches along the way. The road runs along the coast, and in the distance, we admire majestic snow-covered mountains similar to the High Tatras. The island is greener than we are used to from Sardinia or Mallorca.Our stops are Plage de Canella and Plage de Favone, which are close to each other. They are open beaches with white sand and beautiful green scenery. We enjoy the sun with a cup of coffee. Before the town of Porto-Vecchio, we find the beach Cala Rossa, which we find even more beautiful. It is also a large open beach, characterized by red rocks on the left side. Parking is available for free by the road.
Day 2 – Petit Sperone Beach and Pertusato Lighthouse
The area of Bonifacio is the main attraction of the whole island. The town on the cliffs has its harbor, promenade, characteristic citadel, and beautiful viewpoints. However, parking in the town is very expensive; it costs 0.70€ for every 15 minutes. Even though we tried to park for a longer time at the Spar supermarket, we were warned by a guard that we could only stand there for the duration of shopping. So today, we just checked out the situation and decided to postpone our visit to Bonifacio itself and the excursion until tomorrow.
TIP: If you buy a boat trip to the Lavezzi Islands, you get free parking in Bonifacio for the whole day. There are two such parking lots, not far from Spar.
Behind the town of Bonifacio, we stop at the Bonifacio Viewpoint. From there, you have chalk-white limestone cliffs at your fingertips. After taking enough photos, we continue further. Our plan includes the beach Petit Sperone. You can only park the car at the edge of the road, even though the navigation initially directed us to a private area of a yachting club. From there, you walk along the coast for about 15 minutes. Around noon, the sea is beautifully lit in three shades of turquoise-blue-green.
Petit Sperone (Little Sperone) is a small bay with beautiful white sand. The water at this beach was the coldest, but that didn’t stop us from swimming. Crystal clear water and no jellyfish.
TIP: If you have enough time, stairs and a path lead from this beach to a larger beach Grand Sperone. Along the way, there is a large golf course.
Our next stop today is the Pertusato lighthouse. The path to the lighthouse is a pleasant walk through scrubland. However, the view overlooking St. Anthony beach was obstructed by sleds. It was probably the most beautiful viewpoint we saw in Corsica and even exceeded the early morning view of Bonifacio.
At the end of the day, we drove to the town of Sartène, considered the most Corsican town. The Place de la Libération with Pascal Paoli’s bust is the heart of the town and a favorite spot for relaxing tourists sipping coffee or enjoying excellent local wine. This town is closely linked to the bloody vendetta, known as a blood feud. Here, one of the most serious cases occurred when two families living across the street got into a vendetta. For 5 years, they shot at each other through the windows until only one person from both families remained alive.
Day 3 – Bonifacio and Lavezzi Islands
We arrive in Bonifacio early in the morning to catch the first boat at 9:30 to the Lavezzi Islands. You can park your car for free in one of the two SMPB parking lots behind the city. You can also buy the boat tickets there and payment by card is accepted. The boat trip costs €37 per person, but it is definitely worth it. The boat took us there directly, and the journey took about half an hour.
Lavezzi Islands are also known as the European Seychelles due to the large granite rocks similar to those in the Seychelles. The boat drops you off at a small harbor, and you have free time to explore. You can stay on the island as long as you wish and board any afternoon boat. Near the harbor is a cemetery of sailors from the ship Sémillante, and a pathway further south leads to a lighthouse. The main beaches are to the north. There are about 7-8 beaches, with two larger ones where most people gather. We recommend the top beaches in the north and then in the northwest. Snorkeling is recommended on the northwest beach, but we didn’t see many fish there.
TIP: You can be inspired by our GPS route around the island (approx. 5 km circuit)
We leave the island by boat around 2 p.m. to make sure we have time for Bonifacio. On the way back, we sail past the millionaire’s island of Cavallo, along the beaches Petit Sperone and Grand Sperone, the cliffs near Bonifacio, and finally make a stop inside the beautiful cave Sdragonato, which is open at the top.
After getting off the boat, we stop for ice cream and coffee on the promenade by the harbor. Then we continue with a tour of the city citadel, where you have to climb up to the walls to reach the original ancient core through the gate. The main attraction is undoubtedly the 60-meter staircase King of Aragon staircase carved into the rocky cliff, leading down to the sea. On a clear day, Sardinia can be seen in the distance. Legend has it that the staircase was carved by Aragonese soldiers during one night when they were besieging the city in 1420. Going down is easy, but climbing up the 187 steps will definitely make you sweat 🙂 The entrance fee is 2.50€
TIP: A combined ticket for the stone stairs and tower in the walls is more advantageous at 3.50€ (instead of 2.50€ + 2.50€)
After climbing the stairs, we continue along the edge of the walls. At the end of the city, there is a sailor’s cemetery and nice views of the cliffs, lighthouse, and the entrance channel to the harbor. At the beginning of the city, there is also a bastion with a beautiful view of the harbor and promenade. The mentioned entrance fee of 2.50€ applies. We return to the promenade, where after a demanding walk, we have dinner. The multi-course meals here ranged from a reasonable 15€.
Day 4 – The most beautiful beaches of the south – Palombaggia and Santa Giulia
Today we visited the beaches that mesmerized us the most in Corsica. Both are long sandy beaches with white sand and rolling hills on the edges. And if you want to fully enjoy them, we recommend spending at least half a day at each.
The first one closer to Porto Vecchio is the beach Palombaggia. You can park at a paid campground on the northern part of the beach or on the main access road, which can be crowded. We chose the campground. Palombaggia beach has crystal clear water, white sand, and pine trees. The entrance to the water is gradual and has a smooth bottom. On the left side of the beach, there are red granite rocks, perfect for snorkeling just beyond them. During our time in June, there were only a few fish here.
The second beach is Santa Giulia, which is completely comparable to Palombaggia. It has a longer, more gradual entry into the water, and near the shore, there are photogenic rocks that you can climb on or snorkel around. The beach is U-shaped with green hills on the sides. There is also a pond near the beach. Again, a parking fee applies.
TIP: If you have enough time, we recommend visiting the third beach Rondinara, which we didn’t have time to visit but was on our list.
Day 5 – Purcaraccia Waterfalls, towns of Corte and Algajola
Our tour of the southern part of Corsica is slowly coming to an end, and we are starting to move towards the center of the island to the north. Along the way, we plan to visit the Cascades de Purcaraccia waterfalls. According to the pictures, they are beautiful cascading waterfalls with several pools. However, nowhere did we read that they are also more difficult to reach, and reaching the very end of them is almost an art. We didn’t manage it either, despite having online maps via OpenStreetMap.
And how to get to them? In the town of Solenzara by the coast, you have to turn inland and continue on endless hairpin bends. Along the way, beautiful views of forests and hills, some resembling scenes from Lord of the Rings, will unfold before you. Eventually, you park your car by the main road. There is no signage here, not even at the beginning of the path to the waterfalls.
The first section is a pleasant path through the forest and then over rocks, offering views of the hills. The challenging part of the journey begins at the first waterfalls, where you have to cross the stream and then follow the red dots on the rocks. At a certain point, these dots disappear, and you have to find your own way.
TIP: Along the winding road by car, there is a restaurant with fine local wine and a beautiful view of the bridge and mountains (located near Camping U Ponte Grossu).
We head back to Solenzara and continue on the main road with a turn towards the center of the island. The next stop is the former capital Corte. This town at the foot of the natural park is home to the first local university and Corsican national heroes. In 1735, the declaration of independence was proposed here. The citadel on a raised site somewhat resembles Orava Castle. The most beautiful view of the town and surrounding mountains is from Point Belvedere.
TIP: A superb supermarket nearby is Leclerc in Ile Rousse.
We conclude our full-day journey at the second accommodation Cala di Sole in the town of Algajola. We strategically chose it because it is located between the beaches facing west/east and the railway line passes by. As a bonus, there is a beautiful beach just a 5-minute walk away.
Day 6 – Beaches in northern Corsica
Northeastern beaches are generally more difficult to access. To reach Plage de la Roya, you’ll need to drive for about an hour through winding roads, but at least you can get there by car 🙂 We didn’t make it to Plage de Saleccia or Plage du Lotu, which were supposed to be the most beautiful ones on paper. There’s only a long off-road track leading there, so it’s not worth trying without a 4×4. Along the road, we saw a sign at one residence offering to take you to these beaches for €25. Alternatively, you can go by boat.
Plage de la Roya is a large open beach with white sand, overlooking the town of Saint-Florent and high mountains. The water is relatively shallow and quite windy. We even saw a bull resting here, which we initially mistook for a cow. The downside was that we had to navigate back through the same hour-long winding roads.
Plage de l’Ostriconi is a much more accessible beach from Algajola. You can quickly reach it from a turn-off on the main road. It’s also a large open beach with white sand.
In the evening and during sunset, we prefer the beach near our accommodation, Plage d’Algajola. It’s a large, relaxed beach with yellow sand, clear water, and a city citadel in the background. Being a smaller town, it wasn’t as crowded.
Day 7 – Train ride to Calvi
Riding the little train in Corsica is an experience. We tried it on a shorter route to Calvi, but the train itself travels across half of the island to Ajaccio or Bastia. Our round-trip ticket Algajola – Calvi cost 8€ and along the way, we passed several beaches and coves. The final and largest beach is in Calvi, where the town citadel is visible from a distance.
After getting off the train, we walk through the town’s alleys to the ramparts, which are nice to walk along. At the entrance, there is a bust of Christopher Columbus because locals claim he was born here. The debate over whether Calvi or Genoa is the birthplace of the famous explorer continues to this day. Ferries from Calvi to Nice are available. Interestingly, a foreign legion regiment is based in the mountains near the town of Calvi.
We leave our afternoon and evening to enjoy our local beach at Algajola, which is a nice ending to our trip. The next morning, we return the car at the airport in Bastia and set off on the road to Vienna.
