Corsica in a word is stunning! The name itself conjures images of raw, mountainous landscapes crashing into a sea of impossible blues. The French call it “L’Île de Beauté” – the Isle of Beauty – and nowhere is this more evident than along its coastline. But with so many options, how do you find the truly perfect spots – the best beaches of Corsica? The ones that match the postcards but skip the crowds?

Forget the generic lists. We’ve explored the island, made the mistakes so you don’t have to, and compiled our definitive guide. This isn’t just about the most famous Corsica beaches; it’s about the most beautiful ones that fewer people know about. We’ll show you where to go, and just as importantly, how to get there.

How to Get to Corsica

Before you can feel the sand between your toes, you need to reach the island. Luckily, it’s well-connected.

• By Air: Corsica has four airports strategically placed across the island. Figari (FSC) in the south is ideal for the beaches around Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio. Ajaccio (AJA) serves the west coast, Bastia (BIA) the northeast, and Calvi (CLY) the northwest. Numerous airlines, including Air Corsica and several budget carriers, fly from mainland Europe, with service increasing dramatically in the summer.
  
• By Ferry: Arriving by sea is a classic Mediterranean experience, especially if you want to bring your own car. Ferries depart from ports in France (Marseille, Nice, Toulon) and Italy (Genoa, Livorno, Savona). The journey can be a few hours or an overnight trip.

We came via ferry from Livorno after an amazing stay in the Cinque Terre. Combining Corsica and Cinque Terre together on a trip is highly recommended as the best times to go to both places match up perfectly! More on that later.

Renting a Car in Corsica 

Unlike other parts of mainland France, Corsica is not easy to get around without having some form of transportation. Especially to explore the best beaches of Corsica! Most of the best Corsica beaches are not on main routes and it is simply not feasible to rely solely on public transport and hitchhiking.

We learned this the hard way.

Our plan seemed simple: rent a car in Bastia, explore the island, and then take a bus from Bastia to the Bonifacio pier on a Sunday in early June to catch a ferry to Sardinia. We even checked with the tourism board, who assured us that buses were running. They were not.

The reality of Corsican public transport, especially outside of the July-August peak season, is stark. Schedules are sparse, and before June 15th and on any given Sunday, many routes simply cease to exist. We were stranded. 

The solution? Renting a second car just to drive to Figari airport.  Avis actually has locations in Bastia and Figari (which is closer to the southern port).  Hertz, the rental car agency that we rented our first car from did not.

I dropped Rob and our backpacks off in Bonifacio, drove the rental car back to Figari, and then—in a move I wouldn’t recommend to anyone but the most determined runners—ran the 22 kilometers back to Bonifacio.

Don’t be like us. Buy yourself some freedom and create a car rent Corsica plan that takes you to where you want to go. Reddit forums are filled with similar advice. Because to see the real Corsica, you need your own wheels. Some additional tips:

• Book Way in Advance: Especially for summer. Cars, particularly automatics, sell out fast and prices skyrocket.
• One-Way Rentals are Tricky: Many rental companies don’t have multiple locations. If you plan to pick up a car in Bastia and drop it in Ajaccio or Figari you’ll likely need to plan this out because even larger brands like Hertz (the cheapest car rental on the island – when we looked) is only in a few locations.
• Use a VPN to save money and get better car choices: We found that by navigating our VPN to the USA (we were booking from Canada), we got much better choices for vehicles and at a better price.
• Crossing to Sardinia: Thinking of taking your rental to Sardinia? Most companies forbid it. You must check the specific terms and conditions. Europcar is a good choice as they allow crossings between Corsica and Sardinia.

As a side note, renting cars is our least favorite part of travel and Google reviews are filled with car rent Corsica horror stories. However, our experience with both cars (Hertz and Avis) were terrific. We got new cars that were a delight to drive.

Best Time to Visit Corsica’s Beaches

For the ultimate beach holiday, aim for the shoulder seasons. Late May, June, and September offer the sweet spot: the weather is glorious, the sea is warm enough for swimming, and the crowds are far more manageable than in the peak of July and August.

Our Handpicked List of the Best Beaches in Corsica

We’ve combed the coast and spent hours on Reddit forums cross-referencing notes. Here are the beaches in Corsica that truly captured our hearts, with details on where to find them.

West Coast Wonders (Near Ajaccio & Porticcio)

The west coast has a wild, untamed feel. The beaches south of the Gulf of Ajaccio are spectacular, framed by maquis shrubland and rugged cliffs. Your best base for exploring them is the resort town of Porticcio or the city of Ajaccio.

Plage de Mare É Sole (The “Silver Beach”)

In our opinion, Plage de Mare E Sole is one of the top three beaches in all of Corsica. Its official name is Mare e Sole, but it’s universally nicknamed Plage d’Argent (Silver Beach) for the silvery sheen of its fine sand. Don’t confuse it with another, more remote Plage d’Argent near Sartène. This one, near Porticcio, is a sprawling paradise backed by a pine forest, with incredibly clear, shallow water perfect for families and relaxation.

Isolella Peninsula: Plage d’Isolella and Plage de la Medea

Just south of Porticcio, is the small Isolella Peninsula which is located near the town of the same name. It is a treasure trove of hidden coves and small beaches. The main Plage d’Isolella is beautiful, but the real joy is exploring the area to find your own secluded spot.

At the base of the Isolella Peninsula is the Plage de la Medea; a pretty crescent of white sand with remarkably warm, turquoise water.

The Balagne Coastline (Near L’Île-Rousse)

The area around L’Île-Rousse and Calvi in the northwest offers some classic crescent beaches, easily accessed from the charming town of L’Île-Rousse.

Plage de l’Ile Rousse

A lovely and convenient white sand beach right in the town of L’Île-Rousse. It’s perfect for an easy beach day without a long drive, offering beautiful views and calm waters.

Plage de Lozari

A bit further from L’Île-Rousse (heading east), this large crescent beach has fine sand and a more open, wilder feel than the town beach. Because of its size, it rarely feels crowded.

The Unforgettable Southeast (Near Porto-Vecchio, Bonifacio & Sartène)

Plage Palombaggia, Plage de Tamaricciu, and Plage de la Folaca (near Porto Vecchio)

This is where you’ll find some of the most famous stretches of sand of Corsica beaches. Our approach is to target the best of the best while sidestepping the biggest crowds.

These three iconic beaches are all located close to each other, just southeast of Porto-Vecchio. Palombaggia is the most famous, a long stretch of white sand and red rocks.

Tamaricciu and Folaca are stunning, slightly smaller coves right next door. The best part? You can park near one and walk between them, finding your perfect spot away from the main crowds and with free parking to boot!

Plage Roccapina (between Sartène & Bonifacio)

An adventure and a reward. Reaching this beach requires a 15-minute drive down a bumpy dirt road off the main highway roughly halfway between Sartène and Bonifacio. Your reward is a secluded, wild bay of white sand watched over by the famous Lion Rock formation. It’s a world away from the busy beaches further south.

Plage de la Tonnara (near Bonifacio)

A few kilometers west of Bonifacio, is Plage de la Tonnara – a unique beach with whitish/yellow sand flanked by rocky outcrops. It’s a great spot for windsurfing when the wind picks up, but the main bay is generally calm and excellent for swimming.

The East Coast Gems

Often overlooked, the east coast has long sandy beaches and a more relaxed vibe.

Plage de Canella (near Solenzara)

Plague de Canella is a stunning beach just below the main road near the town of Solenzara. The water is exceptionally clear, especially on the calmer left side. There are a few good restaurants, and a lovely campsite is perched on the hill above.

Plage Quarcione (near Ghisonaccia)

If you want long, wild, and undeveloped, this is your beach. Plague Quarcione is near the charming town of Ghisonaccia. This vast stretch of sand offers brilliant water and virtually no amenities. Pack everything you need and enjoy the solitude.

The Overhyped Beaches of Corsica: Our Honest Opinion

You’ll see these two on every “best of” list, often at #1. While they are undeniably beautiful, for us, the experience was diminished by the sheer volume of people. Both are located near Porto-Vecchio.

Plage de Santa Giulia

It’s a stunning lagoon, but it’s also wall-to-wall with people, beach clubs, and boats. Add in the mandatory €5 parking fee, and we felt our time was better spent elsewhere.

Plage Rondinara

Another perfectly shaped bay with gorgeous water. However, the experience involves a drive down a winding road to a packed beach where you’ll pay €6 for parking. If you don’t mind sharing your paradise with a thousand other people, it’s beautiful. If you seek tranquility, refer to the list above.

A Note on Saleccia & Lotu Beach (from Saint-Florent)

These legendary beaches in the Désert des Agriates are consistently recommended. We opted to skip them. Why? Access is difficult, requiring either a jarring hour-long 4×4 ride or a pricey speedboat ticket from the port of Saint-Florent. We believe the beaches of Corsica on our list offer equal or greater beauty without the hassle. However, if your heart is set on it, companies like Popeye get consistently high ratings for their scenic boat transfers from Saint-Florent.

Wrap Up – Best Beaches of Corsica

So, to wrap it all up, our journey exploring the incredible beaches of Corsica was a lesson in looking beyond the hype. This island’s beauty is truly staggering, but we found its real magic not always at the top-billed attractions, but in the coves and stretches of sand that required just a little more effort to find.

If there’s one piece of advice I can’t stress enough, it’s this: you absolutely must rent a car or some form of wheels. Our own nightmare of being stranded without a bus on a Sunday in early June—which ended with me running 22 km to a ferry terminal—is a mistake I hope you can avoid. The freedom of having your own transport is the key that unlocks the entire island, especially the more secluded beaches in Corsica.

For us, true paradise wasn’t found on the overcrowded shores of Santa Giulia or Rondinara, beautiful as they were. We found it on the silvery, sprawling sands of Plage de Mare e Sole near Ajaccio, in the joy of walking between the stunning coves of Palombaggia, Tamaricciu, and Folaca, and in the wild, earned seclusion of Plage Roccapina.

Ultimately, a trip to Corsica is what you make it. Don’t be afraid to take the bumpy road, to explore beyond the first car park, or to visit in the golden light of May or September instead of the August rush. Plan your car rent Corsica in advance, aim for those beautiful shoulder seasons, and you won’t just see the Isle of Beauty—you’ll truly experience it. 

Have you been to Corsica?  We would love to hear from you about your favorite Corsica beaches in the comments below.