Are you looking for the most beautiful towns or the absolute best villages to visit in Corsica? While this country is mostly known for its pristine beaches and mountainous landscapes it’s also home to incredible picturesque towns. So if you’re looking for something different then these pretty towns in Corsica are an excellent addition to your itinerary.
Corsica is a stunning island in the Mediterranean Sea and its spectacular landscapes will leave you breathless as soon as you jump in your rental car! That’s right, the best and pretty much the only way to discover Corsica is by car. I always choose for SunnyCars because of their reliable service and no hidden costs policy.
This list should give you all of the information on which village or town in Corsica to visit first. Most of these pretty towns are located in the Northern part of Corsica but if you stay on the island for at least 10 days you’ll have plenty of time to see all of them. Some of these are actually so small that it only takes a couple of minutes to take it all in.
The 21 Best Towns And Cities To Visit In Corsica
1. Bonifacio, a beautiful coastal town in Corsica
Bonifacio is the most Southern town in entire Corsica and if there’s one coastal town you absolutely can’t miss it’s this one!
Bonifacio is the perfect starting point of your trip if you land in the airport of Figari, from there it’s only 30 minutes driving to this wonderful village. The roads inside the city itself are pretty narrow but there are plenty of parking lots. Two of them are located near the marine, the other two are closer to the old city.
The Old City of Bonifacio is located in a 9th century citadel and consists of a maze of small cobblestoned streets.
💡 TIP – Hike to the Phare de Pertusatu to get the best views over Bonifacio. It’s an easy hike which will take you alongside the cliffs.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Have lunch at Café Des Vestiges and try their Aubergines à la Bonifacienne, a lovely and typical vegetarian dish.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Hotel Spa Genovese for an unforgettable stay, a clifftop location and panoramic views.
2. Sartène
Sartène is a beautiful town located on the South Western part of Corsica. And if you’re driving from Bonifacio towards Porto you’ll drive by it for sure.
The oldest part of Sartène was built in the mid-16th century by the Genoese rulers of Corsica. They wanted to build a safe haven away from the coastal raids of the Turks and the Barbary pirates. This is also one of the reasons why the meals in Corsica are mostly meat based. Due to all of the piracy the inhabitants never really learned how to fish cause they always have to seek refuge.
The city was built on several levels which are connected by secret stairs and small alleyways. On a clear day the town of Sartène offers stunning views over the mountainous area in the back.
💡 TIP – If you’re in the south of Corsica for Easter, head to Sartène on Good Friday to watch the historic Catenacciu procession, which sees a heavy cross and chain usually kept in the church of Sainte-Marie, dragged around town by a hooded penitent.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Eat at Le Jardin de l’echauguette, a French restaurant right in the old centre. The garden where you eat is part of the defensive wall, hence very picturesque.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Hôtel Marinca & Spa which is situated near local beaches and overlooks the Valinco Gulf of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s only a few 20 minute drive to Sartène and Propriano, another beautiful town in Corsica.
3. Zonza, a beautiful town high up in the mountains
Zonza is one of the most picturesque villages in Corsica. I know, my photo really doesn’t do it justice but in reality it’s surrounded by mountains, which aren’t normally covered in rainy clouds.
It’s a very small town with less than 3000 inhabitants but this has also allowed it to remain intact throughout the years.
Besides the beautiful town itself you really want to take out a couple of days to truly explore the beautiful nature around Zonza.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT AROUND ZONZA
- Lac de l’Ospedale
- Cascade de Piscia di Ghjaddu
- Col de Bavella
- Cascades de Purcaraccia
- Bocca Di Larone
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Have lunch at Auberge du Col de Bavella and indulge in one of the typical Corsican dishes such as Civet de sanglier (Wild boar casserole) or Veau aux olives (Veal with olives).
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Grand Hôtel De Cala Rossa & Spa Nucca to fully relax after an adventurous day.
4. Corte, the cultural capital of Corsica
Corte is a historic town in the heart of Corsica as it was the capital of Corsica from 1755 until 1769 during the “government of the Corsican nation” of Pascal Paoli. And during World War I, German prisoners were held in the citadel on top of the hill.
These days Corte is a university town which houses a ton of students. The old city is perched on top of a hill but is also easy accessible. Don’t even bother trying to park your car on the side of the road, instead simply park it at the underground parking lot and you’ll arrive in the heart of the Old City.
There’s a ton of things to do in Corte but I’ve listed the best ones for you:
- Visit the Citadel, Corte’s citadel is the only one located in the heart of the island.
- Ghionga grocery store: discover one of Europe’s oldest grocery stores dating back to 1769.
- Hike through the Restonica Gorge, one of Corsica’s most famous trails.
- Hike through Tavignano Valley, located at the foothill of Corte’s citadel.
- Discover the forest of Vizzavona, a 40 minute drive from Corte.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Restaurant La rivière des Vins for delicious meats cooked in a wood fire oven, accompanied by homemade french fries.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Dominique Colonna for a luxurious stay on the river’s edge.
5. Piana
Piana is a beautiful village set in and overlooking the fabulous Calanques de Piana, one of the most beautiful parts of Corsica. I’ll do you one vene better, Piana is even listed as one of the most beautiful villages in entire France. And since it’s pretty small it’s definitely worth the visit!
Its main attraction is the baroque church and the surrounding mountains! But I wouldn’t necessarily take this town as your base for exploring this wonderful region. Then you’re far better off chossing the small harbor town of Porto. But while driving there you’ll pass through the village of Piana, which is definitely worth the stop!
💡 TIP – The road between Piana and Porto takes you straight through the Calanques de Piana and is one of the most beautiful drives in entire France.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Enjoy lunch at Les Roches Bleues or have dinner at the restaurant of Hotel Les Roches Rouges, both offering incredible panoramic vista’s.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Le Bella Vista for a 2 bedroom apartment that offers incredible panoramic views.
6. Ota
Ota is a small village surrounded by two chains of mountains and is just a short distance inland from the coastal town of Porto.
The main draw to Ota is its ideal position to explore the Spelunca Gorge. Here you can hike to the wonderful old stone bridge of Zaglia or continue your hike all the way to another stunning town called Evisa.
This walk is quite easy, and you can take a refreshing dip in the river once you’re at the bridge!
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Grab lunch at BAR HUNTERS – CHEZ MARIE.
7. Porto, the best town to discover the Calanques de Piana
Porto is a small coastal town right in the middle of the most beautiful part in Corsica. While the town itself doesn’t offer that much to see it does have some great restaurants, is the main starting point for all of the boat excursions to the Scandola Nature reserve and the perfect starting point to enjoy a ton of exciting activities!
Here you’ll find my top things to do in and around Porto:
- Drive from Piana to Porto to enjoy one of the most scenic rides in all of France through the Calanques de Piana.
- Hike to Capo Rosso, an intense but incredibly rewarding hike which offers amazing views.
- Hike to the old stone bridge of Zaglia and visit the town of Ota.
- Go on a boat excursion to the Scandola Nature Reserve.
- Hike the Sentier de Facteur, an incredible hike that will take you to the small town of Girolata.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – You’ll probably stay here for a couple of days so I would recommend having dinner at Le Moulin and take their home made burger which comes with an incredible Corsican cheese sauce. Another day you should go eat at Le Maquis and order the Escaloppe Milanese! Both finger licking delicious!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Hôtel Bella Vista. There aren’t any luxury hotels in the area but this one comes with incredible panoramic views, a modern bathroom and clean rooms.
8. Partinello
Partinello is a charming village that you’ll come across on your way from Porto to the start of the hike to Girolata.
Due to its idyllic location it’s becoming more and more popular with tourists every single year.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Have a seat at the wonderful terrace of L’ Aria Marina, which offers stunning views of the gulf of Porto. Try their plate of local delicacies to recover after hiking the Girolata trail.
9. Montemaggiore, the most beautiful town in Corsica
Montemaggiore is a beautiful village in the Balagne region of north-west Corsica. Although it is only a small village, it has preserved a great deal of its historical charm and has impressive views across the region so a visit is recommended as part of your tour of the Balagne!
The view of Montemaggiore as you approach the village is one of the highlights – it appears very small compared to the dramatic scenery around the village, which includes the Monte Grosso mountain, and is perched on a ledge overlooking the valleys to the west.
Inside the village you discover narrow streets of stone houses as well as the main square in the village. As you explore the narrow streets you will see various doorways surrounded by their original stone sculptures.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – L’Altezza Restaurant is your best bet in the area and offers delicious food!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Cas’Anna Lidia – Hôtel De Charme, a boutique hotel with an outdoor heated pool and a hot tub overlooking the surrounding mountains.
10. Girolata, a secluded town in Corsica
Girolata might be one of the most beautiful small villages in entire Corsica, but it’s also the most secluded one. The only way to reach the town of Girolata is either on foot or by boat.
My favorite way to see Girolate was definitely by going on foot. To do so you first have to drive to the Col de Croix and follow the hiking trail which says “Sentier de Facteur“. It’s a 9.7km loop trail that offers amazing vista’s and you’ll even walk alongside a beach. The trail is well marked and easy to follow. Make sure to bring enough water with you cause the sun is Corsica can be scorching hot!
Another way to visit Girolata is by going on a boat excursion. In doing so you won’t just visit the picturesque town but also the Scandola Nature Reserve and the Calanques de Piana.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – After reaching Girolata on foot you should have lunch at Restaurant Le Bon Espoir and try some of the best Corsican food you’ll have during your holiday!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Le Bella Vista for a 2 bedroom apartment that offers incredible panoramic views.
11. Lunghignano
Lunghignano is a Medieval village with only 40 inhabitants and is located only a couple of minutes driving from Montemaggiore.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – L’Altezza Restaurant is your best bet in the area and offers delicious food!
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Cas’Anna Lidia – Hôtel De Charme, a boutique hotel with an outdoor heated pool and a hot tub overlooking the surrounding mountains.
12. Sant’Antonino
Sant’Antonino is one of the most beautiful villages in Corsica and situated in the centre of the Balagne region of north-eastern Corsica. Because of its dramatic situation clinging around the top of a hill the village is sometimes referred to as the ‘Eagles Nest‘.
Sant’Antonino is officially classified as one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France’. It has a history dating back to the 9th century – the location was originally chosen because of its natural defences – making it one of the oldest villages in Corsica.
Much of the village is a warren of narrow lanes, steep pathways passing through vaulted passages, and ancient traditional houses, making Sant’Antonino a pleasure to explore.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Go to I Scalini for a Moroccan feel roof terrace with panoramic views over the city.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Cas’Anna Lidia – Hôtel De Charme, a boutique hotel with an outdoor heated pool and a hot tub overlooking the surrounding mountains.
13. Aregno
Aregno is another one of these beautiful mountain villages in the Balagne region. One of the highlights of a visit is exploring the perched villages of Balagne set in the hillsides to the east of Calvi and to the south of L’Ile-Rousse. There are dozens of these small villages and each has its own particular charm. Most also have their own little church.
💡 TIP – ‘Groups’ of these villages that can be visited together include:
- Corbara, Pigna and Aregno, Sant’Antonino (classified as one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France) and Cateri in the northern part of the region;
- Vallica, Olmi-Cappella, Mausoleo, Pioggiola further south-west again;
- Calenzana, Lunghignano, Montemaggiore, Cassano and Zilia at the southern edge of the region
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Go to I Scalini for a Moroccan feel roof terrace with panoramic views over the city.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Cas’Anna Lidia – Hôtel De Charme, a boutique hotel with an outdoor heated pool and a hot tub overlooking the surrounding mountains.
14. Speloncato, the best town to watch the sunset in Corsica
If there’s one town in Corsica that has to be on your must visit list it’s Speloncato. This is one of the most beautiful towns in the entire region and after about 10km driving through winding mountain roads you’ll be rewarded with a stunning view over this picturesque town.
Speloncato is the perfect town to visit in the early evening, wander through the small alleys and sit down on one of the terraces on the main square. Afterwards you should definitely catch the sunset over the town which will be covered in a golden glow.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – U Sechju for a delicious lunch in a historical setting.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Hotel A Piattatella, which is set in gardens, overlooking the Reginu Valley.
15. Saint-Florent
St Florent lies on a sparkling bay, sheltered between the wild mountains of Cap Corse and the magnificent, untamed Désert des Agriates. It was originally founded by the Romans but quickly grew into a flourishing medieval port under the rule of Genoa and it has remained relatively unspoiled.
In the town centre a maze of narrow streets and passages fills the space between harbor and Citadel, and the town squares, encircled by cafés, looks towards the lively waterfront with its row of restaurants. It is a friendly town, and though similar in style, less pretentious and more intimate than St Tropez.
💡 TIP – Saint-Florent forms the perfect base to explore the area of Cap Corse. There aren’t many proper hotels in the other small towns but make sure to put the following activities on your list:
- Behind St Florent, spreads the quiet attractive countryside of Conca D’Oro with Oletta village perched high above offering spectacular views over the gulf.
- The Désert des Agriates is a landscape of wild maquis and rocky cliffs. Take a boat trip to one of its beaches, inaccessible by car, or rent a boat yourself to explore the hidden coastline around the town.
- The Patrimonio region is most famous for its vineyards, much of Corsica’s best wine being produced in this area.
- Visit Nonza, a flower-garnished slate roofed village, standing 150m above a blackened shingled beach offering a dramatic viewpoint across the sea.
- Visit the Moulin Mattei near Rogliano, which was restored in the early 20th century.
- Have lunch in Centuri and and watch the fishermen offload their catch.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Enjoy the fantastic view at La Crique and indulge in some seafood.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at Demeure Loredana for the perfect beach holiday.
16. Erbalunga, a stunning coastal village in Corsica
Erbalunga was once the most important harbor on the Cap Corse, a fact supported by the magnificent houses that still stud the peninsula to this day.
There’s a small network of squares and streets which really give off that old city harbor vibe. There is a good range of facilities including shops, a cash dispenser machine, post office, bars and restaurants and a dive school at Sisco Marina, slightly further north.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Dine at Le Pirate for the most perfect setting and a Michelin star experience.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
17. Nonza, the most colorful town in Corsica
Nonza has to be one of my favorite towns in Corsica and it’s also listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. It’s colorful buildings make it stand out from all of the other picturesque towns and form a wonderful contrast to its black beach all the way down below.
Nonza is a rather small town and is best explored on foot once you’ve parked your car down.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Have lunch at La Sassa for incredible views and the best food! This is also a wonderful restaurant to have a sunset dinner cause it overlooks the entire bay of Cap Corse. Just make sure to call ahead to make a reservation.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
18. Centuri
Centuri is a beautiful coastal town that reaches all the way up into the mountains. Centuri port is the perfect place to indulge in some seafood cause the many restaurants will serve their catch of the day.
💡 TIP – Make sure to drive up to Moulin Mattei for one of the most stunning views over the village of Centuri and the Cap Corse coastline.
🥘 WHERE TO EAT – Indulge in some of the finest lobster on Cap Corse at Le Langoustier.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
19. Barrettali, a hidden gem in Corsica
Barrettali is a small town on the Cap Corse peninsula but definitely worth the stop while you’re driving down the D80.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
20. Porticiollo
Porticiollo is a small coastal town on the East side of Cap Corse. On this side you’ll find a lot more beaches so if you want to take it slow for a day or a couple of days this is the perfect destination for you.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
21. Canari
Canari is one of the most unique and beautiful towns in Corsica but what’s really impressive is its old factory that is perched on the cliff sides and looks like an old Medieval town.
🏨 WHERE TO STAY – Stay at the most stunning Misincu, a 5 star hotel that forms the perfect base for exploring the area of Cap Corse.
These towns and villages in Corsica are all beautiful and all of them offer something different. Visiting these small towns will improve any Corsica travel itinerary wether you’re going on a beach holiday or on a more adventurous trip.
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