Corsica's most beautiful beaches: which are the French favourites?

The Ile de Beauté is an ideal destination for summer holidays. In fact, it an abundance of beaches and coves each more beautiful than the last. If you decide to spend your holidays here, here's a non-exhaustive list of the island's most beautiful beaches, which you really must visit if you want to make the most of your stay in the sun.

What are the most popular beaches in Corsica?

These beaches are emblematic of Corsica, and already very popular with the French, so you won't be disappointed:

• Rondinara located between Porto-Vecchio and BonifacioThis beach in the middle of nature offers a striking landscape. With its shell-shaped bay of fine sand and colourful pebble coves, it has been voted the most beautiful beach in France and the third most beautiful in Europe.
• Palombaggia mythical beach of Porto-VecchioIt is actually a peninsula dotted with coves of fine white sand. The scenery and turquoise waters are sure to enchant you.
• Saleccia a beach for the most adventurous of travellers, because it is hidden near the Agriates Desertnear Saint-Florent and only accessible by 4×4 or boat. But you'll be rewarded with a long, wide stretch of wild white sand lined with Aleppo pines.
• Capo di Feno : close to Gulf of AjaccioThis is another of Corsica's wildly beautiful beaches. This one also has the particularity of being a ideal surf spotwith its many high waves.
• Santa-Giulia Another beauty of Porto-Vecchio. It's a lagoon at the foot of a mountain. White sandy beaches, a lagoon and a mountain meet here to form a unique landscape.
• Gulf of Calvi A beach with shallow waters and fine white sand next to the pine forest.

What are the best beaches near towns?

If you'd like to go swimming without having to drive too far, you should know that there are some very beautiful beaches close to Corsica's largest towns. Here are some destinations that might suit you, depending on where you are.

Near Porto-Vecchio

If you're looking for quieter spots than Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, there are a few small beaches that might suit you. The small beach at Porto Novo, in 30 minutes' walk from Santa GiuliaIt is little-known to tourists. The northern part of Saint-Cyprien beach is also wild and little frequented. For naturists, the Carataggio cove is a meeting point, 15 minutes from Piccovaggia.

Near Bonifacio

In addition to the sublime Lavezzi Islands 10km south of the town, you'll find La Tonnara beach, a former fishing port that has given way to a little-used sandy and rocky beach popular with surfers. Piantarella beach, meanwhile, offers a host of activities, including windsurfing and kitesurfing, but also one of the finest golf courses in the world nearby.

Near Ajaccio

There are many beautiful beaches nearby. Don't forget to visit Mare e Sole where you can take spectacular dives from the top of the rocks. La plage d'Argent is right next door and is perfect for families, as is the Isolella beach to the south-west.

Near Calvi

Between the beaches of Algajola, de la PinèdeThere are plenty of beaches to visit in the Balagne region.

Near Bastia

There are a number of beaches near Bastia, including the beach of theArinella, but to enjoy the best that Corsica has to offer, you'll have to get away from it all.