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Beaches of Porto Vecchio & the South
From the famous shores of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia to the wild beauty of the Lavezzi Islands, this is Corsica’s classic beach holiday territory.
Discover the beaches of Porto Vecchio & southern Corsica
The beaches around Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio are the stuff of Corsican postcards: fine white sand, crystal-clear water, pink granite rocks and umbrella pines. Many sit within sheltered bays, creating calm, shallow waters that are ideal for swimming and families.
Yet this coastline offers far more than beautiful bathing spots. This is for Corsica’s jet set. Beach clubs, water sports, restaurants and stylish resorts add a touch of glamour, while secluded coves and protected islands provide opportunities to escape the crowds.
7 reasons to choose the South
- World-famous beaches: Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Rondinara rank among Corsica’s most celebrated shores, combining dazzling white sand, turquoise water and dramatic scenery.
- Postcard-perfect scenery: white sand, pink granite rocks, umbrella pines and crystal-clear water create spectacular Mediterranean landscapes unlike almost anywhere else on Corsica.
- Perfect for families: sheltered bays, shallow waters and gently shelving sands provide safe, inviting swimming conditions – ideal for younger children.
- Water sports and adventure: kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, sailing and boat trips offer plenty of exciting ways to explore the waters beyond the beach.
- Beach clubs and dining: stylish restaurants, beach bars, sun loungers and parasols add comfort and glamour, making for relaxed, indulgent beach days.
- A huge choice of beaches: the concentration of beautiful beaches in this region makes discovering somewhere different every day a breeze.
- Beyond the beach: explore Bonifacio, cruise to the Lavezzi Islands or head inland towards Bavella when you fancy a change of scenery.
Palombaggia Beach
Palombaggia is Corsica’s iconic beach, where fine white sand, translucent turquoise water and striking pink-red granite rocks are framed by umbrella pines.
Offshore, the Cerbicale Islands complete the postcard setting. Its beauty and easy access make it one of the island’s busiest beaches in high summer, but it also has excellent facilities.
Seasonal beach restaurants and bars provide food, drinks, sun loungers and parasols, while water sports and diving are on tap.
Families love the shallow, calm water and couples come for the scenery and atmosphere. For first-time visitors, Palombaggia is the quintessential southern Corsican beach experience.
Santa Giulia Beach
Santa Giulia is a spectacular lagoon-like bay south of Porto-Vecchio, with brilliant white sand, shallow water and a backdrop of low wooded hills.
A coastal barrier protects the lagoon, creating exceptionally calm, inviting waters that are ideal for families and younger swimmers. It’s also one of the south’s best-equipped beaches, with restaurants and bars tucked beneath the trees, plus sun loungers and parasols for hire.
Water sports are a major attraction here, with paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, waterskiing, diving and boat trips all available. Its combination of beauty, facilities and calm water makes Santa Giulia an outstanding all-rounder.
Rondinara Beach
Rondinara is instantly recognisable for its near-perfect horseshoe shape, forming a sheltered bay between Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio.
Fine white sand curves around the bay, fringed by fragrant scrubland. Its protected shape makes it particularly appealing to families, while snorkellers can explore the rocky edges of the bay.
A restaurant and parking provide useful facilities, although it feels less developed than Santa Giulia or Palombaggia.
The beach is free to access and has no extensive water sports centre, making it a good choice for couples, families and anyone seeking spectacular scenery with a more natural feel.
Pinarello Beach
Pinarello is a beautiful, family-friendly bay north of Porto-Vecchio, backed by a pine forest and overlooked by a Genoese tower on the peninsula.
Fine yellow sand and shallow water make it particularly appealing to younger children, while the surrounding pine trees provide welcome natural shade.
Seasonal facilities on the sand include sun loungers, parasols, pedalos, paddleboards and kayaks. The coastal village itself is full of character, with restaurants and cafés all close to the beach.
San Ciprianu Beach
San Ciprianu is a beautiful beautiful half moon of white sand. Its sheltered setting makes it especially attractive to families with young children, while the long beach provides plenty of space.
The area has a good choice of seasonal beach restaurants and cafés, alongside water sports and equipment hire including kayaks and paddleboards.
If you walk past the restaurants and sunbeds and beyond the red granite rocks at what seems to be the end of the bay, you’ll discover a second smaller and much quieter bay.
Our expert’s opinion
Most of the beaches in this region have parking spaces – which you have to pay for. But if you use the car parks owned by the beachside restaurants the set parking charge is usually deducted from your bill when you dine with them. So don’t forget to ask for discount when you come to pay.
Char, Corsica Product Manager
More beaches to consider in Porto Vecchio & the South
The beaches here are picture postcard-perfect. Here are a few more of our favourite spots to explore on your beach holiday – including some island getaways not to be missed.
Did you know?
Above the beach of Roccapina lies the natural rock sculpture: ‘Lion of Roccapina’. Legend has it that a powerful noble, feared by the Saracen pirates (who called him ‘The Lion’), was in love with a beautiful young girl. When she refused his advances, in despair he died and was petrified in the form that you see today.
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