Exploring Corsica: My 10-Day Road Trip Itinerary from Porto-Vecchio to Calvi

Exploring Corsica, Corsica is a stunning island in the Mediterranean, known for its dramatic mountains, crystal-clear beaches, and lush forests. Often called the “Island of Beauty,” it offers a perfect mix of rugged nature and coastal charm, making it one of the most rewarding destinations in Europe to explore slowly, over a week or two, rather than rush through.

This 10-day itinerary takes you from the sun-soaked southeast coast in Porto-Vecchio, down to the dramatic cliffs of Bonifacio, along the turquoise waters of Golfu di Lava, into the historic streets of Ajaccio, and finally up the wild west coast to the charming citadel town of Calvi. Here’s how to make the most of every stop.

Do You Need a Car for This Corsica Itinerary?

For this itinerary, I strongly recommend renting a car. Many of the beaches, hiking areas and smaller stops are difficult to reach efficiently without one. The roads along Corsica’s west coast can also be narrow and winding, so allow more driving time than the distance on the map might suggest.

Exploring Corsica: Days 1–3: Porto-Vecchio

We landed at Bastia Airport, rented a car via Booking.com, and drove around 2.5 hours to Porto-Vecchio, where our road trip began on the southeast side of the island, a great base for beach days, hikes, and some of the best seafood restaurants in Corsica.

Where to stay?

We have stayed in this great 3 stars hotel Golfe Hotel & Spa Porto Vecchio which was our base for this part of the trip.

Attractions

Point de Vue – a beautiful viewpoint that’s worth the short stop for photos alone. Barrage de l’Ospedale – Lavu di U Spidali – a peaceful reservoir surrounded by forest, perfect for a relaxing afternoon away from the coast.

Hiking

One of the things that surprised me most about Porto-Vecchio was how quickly you can leave the beaches behind and find yourself hiking in the mountains:

Cascade de Piscia di Ghjaddu – a rewarding hike through granite boulders leading to a beautiful waterfall. Punta di u Diamante Monte Calva Trou de la Bombe – a striking natural rock formation with a hole carved straight through the mountain.

Beaches

Plage de Carataggio – To reach this beach, it will require a bit of hiking, but in the end, it’s worth it. Plage de Tamarucciu – from here, you can walk along the coast to the famous Palombaggia Beach, one of the most photographed beaches in Corsica. Plage de Santa Giulia – calm, shallow turquoise waters, ideal for families.

💡Pro Tip: During the warmer months, seaweed often washes ashore, leaving some beaches less clean and occasionally causing an unpleasant smell. For a more enjoyable beach experience, I recommend visiting the southern part of the beaches, where these conditions are generally less noticeable.

💡Worth Knowing: You don’t need to visit every beach, as many of them are quite similar and located close to one another. Some offer limited parking, while others charge a parking fee. To help you make the most of your time, I’ve included the beaches that I found to be the most beautiful and worth visiting.

Recommended Restaurants

La Cascade – Take a snack and a break after completing a hiking tour. A Brasgia – Enjoy Corsican cuisine for lunch or dinner with a beautiful view of the harbour Restaurant A Merendella – French, Italian and Mediterranean restaurant. A Storia – Enjoy the great atmosphere by sitting outdoors and your French meal. Restaurant La Pergola – Enjoy the Corsican dinner in this special restaurant. Le Petit Chose Palombaggia – Nice cocktail bar on the beach which also offering the speciality drink of the island which called Matei Spritz or Capo Spritz.

Day 4: Exploring Bonifacio

A short drive from Porto-Vecchio, Bonifacio is one of the most dramatic towns in Corsica, perched on limestone cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean.

Attractions

Ruins du Camp Militaire – atmospheric old military ruins with sweeping sea views. The Stairs of the King of Aragon – a steep stone staircase carved into the cliffside, said to have been built in a single night. The Port and the white cliffs – wander through the marina and up into the old citadel for some of the best views on the island.

Beach

Plage du Petit Sperone – a small, secluded cove with beautifully clear water.

Restaurant

Chez Francis – a very delicious grill restaurant where I have decided to eat dinner on my birthday.

More information about hidden gems, you can find on my next articel: Corsica’s Secrets: Hidden Gems Most Tourists Never Find

Days 5–6: Exploring Golfu di Lava

From Bonifacio, we made our way to the quieter west coast to unwind at Golfu di Lava — a peaceful escape from the more touristic spots.

Where to stay?

In this area of the island we have stayed in this magnificent 3 stars hotel: Hotel-Restaurant Marina Di Lava – Review.

Beach

Golfu di Lava – a long, relaxed stretch of beach, perfect for simply doing nothing for a day or two.

Attractions & Activities

Relaxing on the beach with a book (highly recommended after a few busy days of hiking). Water sports – jet ski, diving, and boat tours are all available through JPS Aventure, along with several other water activity operators nearby.

Restaurants

Stella Di Lava – Fench, Italian and seafood restaurant. They have an outdoor stove (Tabon) for making a delicious pizza. Restaurant Marina di Lava – The restaurant of the hotel, which offers great selection of different types of food, mainly French and seafood and also enjoying the outdoor sitting with the beautiful sunset.

Day 7: Exploring Ajaccio

We still stayed in Golfu di Lava and drove 30 minutes to explore Ajaccio. Ajaccio is the island’s capital and birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, offers a nice change of pace with its history and old town charm.

Attractions

The House of Napoleon Bonaparte (Maison Bonaparte) – the birthplace of Napoleon, now a museum dedicated to his early life. The Old City – narrow streets, local markets, and a lively waterfront perfect for an afternoon stroll.

Restaurants

Le Bilboq Chez Jean-Jean – French and seafood restaurant which offers a very pleasant vibe. Café Solferino – coffee shop / restaurant which offers great cocktails and corsican food.

Corsica’s fascinating history adds another dimension to its coastal towns and mountain villages. Discover the island’s unique traditions, language and heritage in my: A Guide to Corsican Culture and History.

Day 8: The Road to Calvi

This is, without question, one of the most scenic drives in Corsica. I recommend setting aside a full day to enjoy the journey, as the winding mountain roads take longer to navigate than you might expect. Take your time, stop frequently to admire the breathtaking views, and end your day with a relaxing swim in your hotel’s pool in Calvi or a delicious dinner at one of my recommended restaurants below.

Along the Route

Tour Génoise de Porto – a Genoese watchtower overlooking the Gulf of Porto. Calanques de Piana – dramatic red granite cliffs plunging into the sea; one of Corsica’s true must-see landscapes. L’Arbre de l’Amour (“The Tree of Love”) Ancien Chemin des Muletiers – an old mule path with lovely views over the valley. Fango River – a great spot to stop, cool off, and enjoy the clear mountain water. You will be able to find along the river the Ponte Vecchiu – a striking 21-meter-high old stone bridge, which will be ideal for a place to stop and go to the water. For an unforgettable view with your meal, stop at La Cabane Chjarasgiu just right above the stone bridge.

Days 9–10: Exploring Calvi

After several days of driving, hiking and changing hotels, Calvi felt like exactly the right place to slow down at the end of the trip.

Where to stay?

For this last part of the trip, we have booked this Hotel Corsica & Spa Serena luxurious 5 stars hotel, in order to spoil ourselves a little bit.

Attractions

The Old City and Citadelle – wander the cobbled streets of the fortified old town, perched above the harbor with panoramic views over the bay.

Beaches

Plage de Sainte Restitude Plage d’Aregno

Restaurants

Calvi (U Nichjaretu) – around 20 minutes drive from Calvi, I highly recommend eating there and watch the sunset. Make a reservation before! La Fringale – Pizza restaurant ****** La Bohème** – Enjoy the corsican food and seafood with a great view on the harbor and the mountains.

Calvi is the perfect place to end a 10-day Corsican adventure — spend your last days relaxing on the beach, wandering the old city and citadel, and enjoying a final good meal before saying goodbye to the island.

On the last 11th day we drove all the way back to Bastia. We explored a bit of the city and returned the car next to the airport.

In case you are intrested to discover more hidden gems in Corsica, check out my articles: Corsica’s Secrets: Hidden Gems Most Tourists Never Find and some more information about the culture and history: A Guide to Corsican Culture and History