My tips for organizing a Road Trip in Corse

Planning on a trip to Corse? Discover in this article my favorite activities and my favorite beaches during my previous stay in Corsica. Let’s go. Before leaving for the adventure, your savings in your pocket, a car, and a bunch of friends: prepare your departure well. I left Nice for a week in September. It’s the perfect season because the weather is still summery and most of the tourists have left. My itinerary was: Rousse island – Calvi – Corté – Portovecchio and finally Ajaccio (no beach lovers and no idleness)

Housing : ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ I booked all the hotels on Booking.com at the last moment and got the correct rates. I advise Airbnb if you stay in the same city. The month of September is particularly attractive because tourists have deserted the place.

Booking.com

Finance : ★ ★ ☆ ☆ Corsica is one of the destinations where I spent the most. Indeed, the activities are expensive and the restaurants are not given away. I advise you to find your addresses on TripAdvisor.

Corsica : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ I will repeat it many times in this article: TRAVEL OUT OF SEASON! For my case, it was in September and I found Corsica very welcoming after the madness of the summer season.

The restaurants : ★ ★ ☆ ☆ As everywhere it is necessary to search a little before throwing yourself on the first restaurant; pay attention to the tourist traps. I am not going to list you the restaurants I liked because frankly I don’t remember them and we had chosen to take apartments to be able to cook ourselves.

How to get to Corse 

To get to this beautiful island, I took the Corsica Ferries. Count 4 hours of crossing (it can be longer) with a magnificent sea view, refectories, and your car parked on the ground floor. The price is around 200€ for two people with a car in a high season round trip. We had taken a cabin to arrive in shape for an extra 30€, but I think it is worth it because the boat moves a lot. Hello awin!

Book here !

For a real road trip: the car is essential. Real freedom.

One week program

L’Île Rousse – Rousse Island

On the program: beach,  sand, sun, flippers and snorkels ! The most beautiful beaches of the island Rousse and their characteristics :

• • • • Market couvert: an essential stop to taste the local specialties. I recommend the brocciu doughnuts: a delight.

• The Napoléon beach: this beach is the closest to the city center. It is bordered by a nice promenade with many restaurants.
  
• Caruchettu: Fine sand with a few rocks on the right and a few small creeks continuing north.
• Bodri: Big favorite, small restaurant on the beach, paid parking (hic!) and small step before accessing the beach.
• La marine de Davia : A beach below the town of Corbora between wild nature and sea air. It is little known by tourists but nevertheless very accessible! Davia has 3 beaches, Vignola, Capité and Fornella.
• Lozari: This large beach is located 7km from the Rousse island in the direction of Bastia (RN 193) with free parking. Jet Ski enthusiasts will find what they are looking for.
• Algajola: Top for budding surfers !

Calvi

I loved strolling around the city: the pretty stores, with their local products and the typical restaurants.

• Take a walk around the citadel which offers breathtaking views. 
• The village of Occi: An easy walk (30 minutes) from the restaurant “Chez Charles” in Lumio. The path climbs quite a bit but there are stone steps all the way up. Wonderful view all along the walk.

Corte

• The village : typical in the mountainous heart of Corsica, it is one of the only important cities far from the sea but with all its charm. Start your visit with the citadel, the most dominant monument of Corte by following the narrow streets that go up the hill through the center of the upper town.

• The lake of Melo: altitude of 1520m. A real breath of fresh air!

• The lake of Capitello : Located at 1930m of altitude, the glacial lake of Capitello is the deepest of Corsica.

Porto Vecchio

•  Palombaggia beach: one of the most beautiful beaches of Corsica to my taste. Very touristic unfortunately.
• Tamaricciu Beach : my favorite! It is reached by a small path in the scrubland. It is rather difficult to park, avoid in high season. Little advice: go there on foot from Palombaggia.
• Santa Giulia beach: beautiful beach with fewer tourists. Ideal for the little ones because you can walk in the water far enough or for romantic walks along the beach. I recommend it 100%. 
• Saint Cyprien beach: beautiful beach, easy access and less touristic.
• Cala Rossa beach: beautiful beach near Porto Vecchio. Calm, orange sand but be careful with the kids. 
• Saint Jean Baptiste Church : a beautiful heritage not to be missed “Peace & Health”.
• If you stay for a few days: a day boat trip to visit the nature reserve of Scandola and the creeks of Piana.

Bonifacio

•  Bonifacio caves: A boat trip that offers a non- typical visit to the cave (Corsica is cut out in the vault). The different viewpoints of Bonifacio and the cliffs are fabulous. 
• Plage du petit spérone: Starting from Piantarella on your right you will discover after a 15 min walk a much more intimate beach.
• The Lavezzi Islands: A boat from Bonifacio (35€/pers) is relatively high but it’s worth it. To avoid in high season at all costs! But out of season it’s magic, protected from urbanism and the influx of tourists. Total disorientation for the uninhabited side: rocks and small beaches (ps: plan your picnic). The small minus is that billionaires have appropriated the other part of the islands. If you stay a week in Corsica I strongly recommend it!

Ajaccio

• Hiking on the customs trail: park at the level of the chapel of the Parata. A 3-hour (12km) walk or mountain bike ride with a magnificent view of the bloodthirsty islands. Free parking from October 31st.
• Tolla Lake: After taking picturesque roads through the maquis you will reach the lake of Tolla. Beautiful walks, photos and kayaking for the more sporty. Very nice for families.

I would also like to discover: Bastia, Cap Corse, Les Agriate, Patrimonio, Piana, Porto, Roccapina, Saint-Florent, Sartène, Restonica Valley, Propriano… There are still so many activities and beautiful beaches to be discovered.

Going to Corsica in September is the perfect season to enjoy the calm and warm sand.

Did you enjoy this article? Do you want to discover the island of beauty next summer?

Don’t forget to read my article on Antibes.

(Peace, Love and Corsica Ferries ❁ )

Océane