The best beaches in Ajaccio
Around Ajaccio, the beaches are all different. Saint-François runs along the old town, below the citadel; Capo di Feno, to the west, behind the hills, takes the waves from the open sea; the Isolella, on the south shore of the gulf, has a beach on each side of its isthmus. You walk to the first, and drive to the other two, or take the shuttle boat and a bus to the Isolella.
The beaches on the map
The beaches one by one
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Saint-François Beach
Fine sand, narrow beach below the boulevard · About 3 min on foot from the Diamant · Lifeguards: 1 July-end of August, 11am-6pm, every day
See the beach guide →The town-centre beach: a ribbon of fine sand a little under 300 m long, below the citadel and opposite the cathedral, six minutes on foot from Place Foch. Town buses terminate at Place De Gaulle, four minutes away, and the paying Diamant car park is three minutes away. The sand is narrow, and wider at the eastern end. The City supervises swimming from 1 July to the end of August, from 11am to 6pm. You go down by steps, there are no showers or toilets, and dogs are banned.
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Capo di Feno Beach
Sand, dunes and maquis · A few minutes on foot · Lifeguards: 1 July-31 August, 12pm-7pm
See the beach guide →The big wild beach of Ajaccio: about a kilometre of sand, facing the open sea, between the dunes and the maquis, with no buildings. People come for the space, the sunset and the waves, which make it a well-known surf spot. The sea can be rough: according to the tourist office, swimming is supervised from 1 July to 31 August, from 12 noon to 7pm. Allow less than half an hour’s drive via the Salario and the narrow D111B; no bus goes there. To the south, Petit Capo, or Sevani beach, is smaller.
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Isolella Beach
Fine pinkish sand, coves between the rocks · Less than a minute on foot (Cala Medea) · Lifeguards: Unsupervised swimming
See the beach guide →A peninsula of granite and pines on the south shore of the gulf, in the commune of Pietrosella, with sand on each side of the isthmus. Cala Medea, to the south, stays sheltered when the wind comes from the north; Stagnola, to the north, looks across to Ajaccio and the Sanguinaires. The large car park almost touches the sand at Cala Medea, where a small cove near the slipway suits young children. Allow half an hour’s drive from Ajaccio. Swimming is unsupervised, and dogs are banned, even on a lead.
Where to stay near the Ajaccio beaches
For Saint-François, the old town and harbour area puts the beach a few minutes away on foot. For Capo di Feno, the Sanguinaires road is the closest, with other beaches right below the places to stay. For the Isolella, stay on the south shore, in Porticcio, a quarter of an hour’s drive away. Our page on Ajaccio describes each area and where to stay in it. Beyond the gulf, our guide to south Corsica covers the Valinco, the Sartenais, Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Ajaccio?
It depends on what you are looking for. Capo di Feno has the most space and the waves. Isolella beach has two shores and coves around a peninsula. Saint-François beach has little space, but it lies below the citadel.
Is there a beach in the centre of Ajaccio?
Yes: Saint-François beach, opposite the cathedral, about six minutes on foot from Place Foch. It has lifeguards from 1 July to the end of August, from 11am to 6pm. By car, park in the paying Diamant underground car park on Place De Gaulle.
Which beaches are on the Sanguinaires road?
The road leaves the town heading west, past Saint-François beach: Trottel begins about a kilometre away, then comes Terre Sacrée, both equipped as accessible beaches (handiplage) in summer according to the tourist office. Level with Terre Sacrée, the D111B leads to Capo di Feno, on the other side of the hills.
Which beach near Ajaccio can I reach without a car?
Saint-François beach, on foot from the centre. For Isolella beach, take the shuttle boat to Porticcio (about 20 minutes), then, from early May to late October, the south-shore beach bus. No bus serves Capo di Feno.