What activities are worth travelling to Corsica for and what is the best way to have fun on the island? Read on in this chapter.
Hiking
Corsica has a dense network of hiking trails, with well-maintained hiking huts. There is a wide choice of routes of varying difficulty, both for families with children and for those who enjoy challenging crossings.
You can enjoy short day trips, even walks that take no more than 30 minutes from your car, as well as challenging multi-day treks that are among the most famous in Europe.
Here are some personal tips for the best treks in Corsica.
GR20
The GR20 is one of the most challenging trekking routes in Europe. It crosses Corsica from north to south, is 180km long and you will need at least 15 days to complete it, depending on your fitness level. The trail consists of two parts - the northern part between Calenzana and Vizzavona and the southern part between Vizzavona and Conca. The total elevation of the route is 11,000 m. The trek is quite busy and most of the expeditions follow it from north to south.
For more information about the trek, see: le-gr20.fr.
Shorter easy treks
Although Corsica is a very mountainous island, ideal especially for those who prefer more challenging routes, less trained hikers will also find their way here.
- Lac de Nino - A relaxed 10km trail, which even children can do, takes you up to a plateau to a lake at over 1,800 metres
- Spelunca - the famous deep canyon with its raging river and breathtaking views, but the 7km trail is manageable for almost anyone
- Bavella - The hiking hub of southern Corsica offers views of wild-looking needle-like rocks and a number of easy routes that can be extended as multi-day
- Casade des Anglais - the famous water cascades are superbly and easily accessible via a 6 km long route (round trip) from Vizzavona station
- Figarella - idyllic wooded valley full of streams and shorter walking routes
Intermediate day treks
If you're adept at hill walking but have no climbing experience, then Corsica offers the widest range of options for you. Among the best intermediate treks we would choose the following:
- Manganello - in our opinion the most beautiful of the hundreds of cascading waterfalls, an 18 km route from Tettone station leads to them
- Lac de Melu - the pair of mountain balls below the second highest mountain in Corsica are among the most beautiful places in Corsica and the 5 km long trek is among the easier ones
Challenging day treks
Take to the heights and conquer the Corsican mountains. The routes are challenging but still manageable without climbing gear.
- Monte Cinto - Corsica's highest mountain is accessible from two directions and the hike and descent will take between 8 and 12 hours
- Monte Rotondo - the second highest mountain and the one with the most beautiful views has an extremely steep climb, in total it will take you about 10 hours to climb and descend this mountain
Beaches and swimming
In Corsica you will find beaches of all kinds. Small, large, sandy, rocky, famous beaches with all the facilities, as well as picturesque deserted beaches where you will be alone. To help you find your way around, we have prepared a list of the most beautiful beaches in Corsica.
TOP 7 most beautiful beaches in Corsica
- Santa Giulia - Generally considered the most beautiful in Corsica for its exotic appearance and full facilities, located near Porto-Vecchio
- Palombaggia - one of Corsica's most famous beaches near Porto-Vecchio, a bit like a Caribbean paradise
- Rondinara - a beach in the Porto-Vecchio area in a horseshoe-shaped bay known for its calm and warm waters
- Saleccia - a remote beach in the north of Corsica, best reached by boat from Saint-Florent
- Calvi - the city's most beautiful beach with the backdrop of an ancient citadel
- Roccapina - a secluded beach west of Bonifacio, with beautiful scenery and views from the old Genoese tower
- Lotu - another remote beach in northern Corsica, best reached by boat from Saint-Florent
Cycling or Corsica by bike
Road cycling, relaxed mountain biking and extreme downhill cycling are all on offer in Corsica.
Places in Corsica perfect for cycling include Castagniccia, Casinca, Cap Corse, the mountains inland, Alta Rocca, La Balagne and the west coast between Porto and Calvi or Ajaccio and Propriano.
There are several bike rental companies on the island, for example: Bcyclet Corse, Bike-Rental-Corsica, Wild Machja.
Water sports.
Corsica also offers a wealth of water activities. On many beaches you can find water sports centres where you can rent the necessary equipment. For example, you can explore the coast by kayak or paddleboard.
Corsica also has a lot to offer you if you like diving. There are several shipwrecks around the island and a rich underwater life. The best season for diving is from May to October.
Fans of surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing can also find their way here. The ideal places for surfing are Capo di Feno and Algajola.
If you want to try rafting, head to the Golo Valley or Tavignano.
Sights
Corsica offers a huge number of historically interesting places to visit.
You'll find references to Corsica's most famous native, Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as the watchtowers built by the Genoese in the 16th century around the perimeter of the island, citadels, towns with historic cores and megalithic buildings scattered throughout Corsica.
Climbing
There are dozens of climbing areas in Corsica. Most of these sites are concentrated in the central or southern part of the island. The most famous of these is the Aiguilles de Bavella area. Other popular areas include the mountain valleys of Restonica, Roccapina, Paqlia Orba or Caporalinu.