Cap Corse in a day: the east coast from Erbalunga to Macinaggio, the tip, then the west coast from Centuri to Nonza and Patrimonio.
North of Bastia, Cap Corse juts out northwards between two seas. A single road goes round it: the D80, which follows the east coast to Macinaggio, rounds the tip and comes back down the west coast to Saint-Florent. On one side, marinas at the water’s edge; on the other, villages perched above the cliffs.
From place Saint-Nicolas in Bastia to Saint-Florent, the drive covers about 120 km and takes 2½ hours, outside summer and without stopping (route calculated with OSRM). With the detour to Barcaggio beach, allow 135 km and 3 hours. Getting back from Saint-Florent to Bastia over the Teghime pass takes another half-hour. The road is narrow and bends constantly: set aside a whole day, ideally with an early start.
| Stage | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Bastia → Erbalunga | 10 km | about 15 min |
| Erbalunga → Macinaggio | 27 km | about 30 min |
| Macinaggio → Barcaggio (detour) | 18 km | about 30 min |
| Barcaggio → Centuri | 16 km | about 30 min |
| Centuri → Pino | 15 km | about 15 min |
| Pino → Canari | 15 km | about 30 min |
| Canari → Nonza | 12 km | about 15 min |
| Nonza → Patrimonio | 16 km | about 15 min |
| Patrimonio → Saint-Florent | 7 km | about 15 min |
Without the detour to Barcaggio, Macinaggio and Centuri are 19 km apart, about a quarter of an hour’s drive. The route is shown on the map at the bottom of the page.
A quarter of an hour from Bastia, Erbalunga is the marina of the commune of Brando. Its tall stone houses huddle together on a rocky point, around a small harbour where fishing boats lie at their moorings. On the rock at the harbour entrance, the ruined 16th-century Genoese tower is listed as a historic monument.
Photo : Isiwal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
You explore it on foot: a few lanes, the little square, the harbour, then the tower. The nearby beach is a pebble beach, the first chance for a swim on the drive. Park at the entrance to the village, on the Cap road: the lanes are not made for cars.
Photo : Espandero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Erbalunga is also known for its Holy Week. On the morning of Good Friday, the Cerca procession sets off from the old pieve church of Brando and stops at eleven churches and chapels, with the commune’s four confraternities. At nightfall comes the Granitola, a procession of penitents that coils round on itself. In summer, at the end of July and the start of August, the village’s open-air theatre hosts the concerts of the Nuits du piano d’Erbalunga.
After Erbalunga, the road runs past a string of marinas to Macinaggio, the port of the commune of Rogliano, at the eastern tip. This is the start of the customs officers’ path (sentier des douaniers), which goes round the tip to Centuri. It sets off from the end of the harbour, past the last car park. Within an hour and a quarter on foot, you pass the Finocchiarola islands, Tamarone beach, and the Santa Maria chapel and tower.
Photo : Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To Barcaggio, the Agence du tourisme de la Corse (the Corsican tourist board) allows 3 to 3½ hours on foot. From April to early October, a shuttle boat links the two harbours in about an hour: you walk there and come back by sea. By car, Barcaggio beach is half an hour from Macinaggio, at the end of a narrow road. It is a long curve of sand facing the island of Giraglia.
Between Macinaggio and Centuri, the road passes below the Mattei windmill, in the commune of Ersa. Park below it: a ten-minute walk is enough to see both coasts of the Cap.
Centuri is the first harbour on the west coast. The tourist office describes it as France’s leading port for spiny lobster fishing. Fishing boats sit alongside café terraces, facing the islet of Capense. The commune has eight hamlets, including Camera and Cannelle, on the hillside. In Cannelle, the main lane runs under vaulted passages to the fountain: worth the detour if you have an hour to spare.
Photo : Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Heading south, the D80 runs high above the sea. Below Pino, the round Scalu tower guards the marina and the remains of a former convent. Above the village, a small road leads to the Sainte-Lucie pass, then to the Sénèque tower (Seneca’s tower): a 25-minute walk from the public car park, with a view over both seas.
Photo : Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Canari, stop on the square by the bell tower: the view opens out along the whole west coast. Further down, the marina of Albo has its own beach and tower. Between Canari and Nonza, the road runs past the former Canari asbestos plant, which is being dismantled (see the practical information).
Nonza sits on a rocky spur that drops sheer into the sea. The village grew up around the church of Sainte-Julie (Santa Ghjulia). At the top of the rock, the square Nonza tower is listed as a historic monument; despite its appearance, it is not a Genoese tower. From up there, the view stretches along the whole west coast of the Cap.
Photo : Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Below the village lies Nonza beach, a long beach of black pebbles. Two paths lead down to it. From the village, near the church, a stairway goes down to the Sainte-Julie fountain and on to the beach: more than 500 steps in all, which you have to climb back up. The other way is shorter: coming from Saint-Florent, carry on about 1.5 km past the village, then turn left onto the small road to the car park. The main beach is five minutes’ walk away.
Photo : Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In summer, parking in the village is very difficult: leave the car a few hundred metres before or after it, as the tourist office advises.
After Nonza, the road leaves the Cap and heads down towards the Gulf of Saint-Florent. Patrimonio is the last village on the drive, surrounded by vineyards below its church of San Martinu. This is Patrimonio AOC country, and the estates welcome visitors for tastings. Also try Muscat du Cap Corse, a naturally sweet wine (vin doux naturel) made in seventeen communes, from the tip of the Cap to the Nebbiu. See our selection of AOC wines.
Photo : Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The drive ends in Saint-Florent, a quarter of an hour from Patrimonio. Boats leave from here for the beaches of the Agriates desert. To get back to Bastia, the Teghime pass gives you a last view over both gulfs. This drive is day 7 of our 10-day Corsica itinerary, with a night in Bastia before and a night in Saint-Florent at the end of the day.
Updated 2 November 2026
You can drive round the Cap in a day from Bastia or Saint-Florent. To take it at your own pace, stay on the Cap itself: four areas, from the closest to Bastia to the wildest.
Seaside villages a quarter of an hour from Bastia: the most practical base for doing the drive in a day and having dinner in town.
Erbalunga is about a quarter of an hour from place Saint-Nicolas in Bastia, outside summer and without stopping. The beaches on the east coast are mostly pebble beaches. In the evening, you can enjoy the little harbour and its café terraces.
The marina at the eastern tip, where the customs officers’ path and the shuttle boat to Barcaggio set off.
Bastia is about three quarters of an hour away, and the Barcaggio car park half an hour, outside summer and without stopping. This is the area for walkers: the path starts at the end of the harbour, and the shuttle brings you back to Macinaggio on the days it runs.
A fishing harbour at the end of the west coast, facing the islet of Capense, with hamlets perched above it.
Allow about an hour to Bastia and less than half an hour to Barcaggio, outside summer and without stopping. The harbour faces west, so dinner comes with the sunset. The customs officers’ path ends here, coming from Macinaggio.
Quieter villages clinging to the hillside above the sea, on the road down to Saint-Florent.
From Canari, Saint-Florent is about three quarters of an hour away; from Nonza, less than half an hour, outside summer and without stopping. In summer, parking is very difficult in the village of Nonza: ask your accommodation where to leave the car. For Patrimonio, see the Nebbiu villages.
If you prefer to camp, our camping in Corsica page lists a rated campsite around Cap Corse.
All places to stay on Cap Corse→
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Leave Bastia along the east coast and come back down the west coast to Saint-Florent: this is the direction suggested by the Cap Corse tourist office. From Saint-Florent, do the drive the other way round.
The D80 goes all the way round the Cap. It is narrow and winding, especially on the west coast, and coaches and camper vans pass each other slowly. Fill up before you set off: there are few petrol stations along the way.
Between Canari and Nonza, the D80 runs past the former Canari asbestos plant, which is being dismantled: traffic there was restricted from October 2025 to February 2026. Before you set off, check the road information with the Cap Corse tourist office.
A coach route links Bastia and Macinaggio; elsewhere, services are few and far between. Bus routes and taxis on the Cap are listed by the tourist office. See getting around Corsica.
May, June and September, when the road is less busy than in July and August. Out of season, many restaurants in the marinas close: take water and something to eat. See when to go to Corsica.
The drive starts in Bastia, which has the nearest port and airport. See flying to Corsica and the ferry crossing.
Allow about 2½ hours of driving from Bastia to Saint-Florent, outside summer and without stopping, and 3 hours with the detour to Barcaggio. With stops, the walk down to Nonza beach and lunch in one of the harbours, the drive takes a day.
Yes, that is how most people do it: leave Bastia early, have lunch in Macinaggio or Centuri, and reach Saint-Florent in time for sunset. To walk the customs officers’ path or spend longer swimming, allow two days and stay overnight in Macinaggio or Centuri.
The harbour and tower at Erbalunga, the customs officers’ path at Macinaggio, Barcaggio beach, Centuri harbour, the Sénèque tower, the bell-tower square in Canari, the village and black beach of Nonza, and the vineyards of Patrimonio.
It depends what you are looking for. For sand and clear water, Barcaggio beach, at the tip, facing Giraglia. For the setting, the black pebble beach at Nonza, below the hilltop village. The east coast mostly has pebble beaches, such as the one at Erbalunga.
In Erbalunga and on the east coast if you want to stay close to Bastia; in Macinaggio or Centuri for the tip and the customs officers’ path; between Pino and Nonza for the quiet of the west coast. See the areas below.
