Things to do in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica - 16 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

What to see and do in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica? This cosy little town, in the south-east of Corsica, offers both historic alleyways and a setting with fabulous beaches. Here are our top tips for things to see and do.

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Porto-Vecchio in Corsica

Porto-Vecchio, or Portivechju as it is called in Corsican, is a charming little gem. In addition, the city is surrounded by an incredibly beautiful coastline. When we visited Corsica ten years ago, we only visited the beaches. Now we've checked out the city too!

Porto-Vecchio is located in the south-western part of Corsica, 27 kilometres north-east of Bonifacio.

What to do in Porto-Vecchio?

So, what can you see and do in Porto-Vecchio as a tourist? This is a really nice town for those who like cosy alleys with outdoor cafés and shopping. Most people who come here also want to experience the area's beaches. Here we share our top tips!

1. Visit the Old Town of Porto-Vecchio

One thing you won't want to miss doing in Porto-Vecchio is visiting the old town, which is beautifully situated on a hill. Parking is available in the area around the marina and on the hill up to the centre. The latter may be best done on foot, as the city centre includes narrow alleys with limited parking facilities.

Strolling around the historic city centre is very cosy.

2. See the view from the citadel of Porto-Vecchio

You can find several different viewpoints from the old town, but one of the best is from the historic citadel, sometimes called the 'bastion of France'. Entering the citadel and seeing the view from the patio currently costs €2/person (2025).

3. Admire the church of Saint-Jean Baptiste

One of the historical sites to check out in Porto-Vecchio is the church of Saint-Jean Baptiste. Inaugurated in 1868, the church stands on the site of an earlier 16th century church. The façade was never completed, but the church still offers a beautiful example of neo-baroque/neoclassical church architecture.

4. shopping

If you like holiday shopping, the centre of Porto-Vecchio is an inspiring place. Here you'll find plenty of shops selling swimwear, summer clothes, accessories, homeware, art and more - both in the lower and higher price ranges.

5. Take a seat on an outdoor terrace

We have no idea how many restaurants and cafés there are in Porto-Vecchio, but it is many. Whether you want to order a coffee, a sandwich, a beer or a full three-course meal, you can find a cosy spot overlooking the crowd.

6. Eat ice cream at Gelateria L'art De La Glace

If you want to enjoy a good ice cream, don't miss a stop at Gelateria L'art De La Glace. This ice cream parlour offers really good ice cream with many exciting flavours, such as mandarin, clementine, chestnut, hazelnut and honey with pine nuts. Very tasty!

7. Strolling in the marina

Below the old town of Porto-Vecchio lies the city's marina. Here you can spot everything from charming small boats to exclusive luxury yachts. You'll also find a string of restaurants here, as well as the occasional shop.

8. Check out La Chiappa lighthouse

Lighthouses La Chiappa The lighthouse is located on the Chiappa promontory off Porto-Vecchio and offers a beautiful view. You can walk almost all the way to the lighthouse, which is framed by a wall, but expect narrow paths and bushy terrain.

9. Nude bathing on the Chiappa headland

Right next to the La Chiappa lighthouse is the naturist village of La Chiappa. This is a large naturist area that includes camping, cottages, restaurants, beaches, swimming pools and various activities such as yoga, spa, horse riding, diving courses and boat hire. We liked this place. A perfect getaway if you want to sunbathe and swim textile-free!

10. Sunbathing on Plage de Palombaggia

There are many beautiful beaches around Porto-Vecchio and one of the most famous is Palombaggia Beach, or Palumbagja in Corsican. This is a long and incredibly beautiful sandy beach, where you will also find several restaurants and boat hire companies. At the beach there is also a simple, affordable and very nice car park/nature campsite, called "Parking i Pini".

11. Take selfies on Plage de Tamaricciu

If you walk past the entire Plage de Palombaggia, the next beach, called Tamaricciu Beach. This beach is also very nice, and between the two beaches you will also find an incredibly beautiful stretch of rounded and very special rock formations. Here it is popular to photograph or take a selfie!

12. discover the beach of Santa Giulia

A bit south of the first two beaches you will find a beach called Santa Giulia Beach, which is sometimes mentioned when talking about the most beautiful beaches in Corsica. We scouted the beach from afar - and it did look incredible - but we arrived in the afternoon and couldn't find a parking spot for our motorhome. Anyway, here are some photos we took in a hurry!

13. Hang out at Plage de Rondinara

Another beautiful beach worth mentioning is Rondinara Beach. If you come by caravan, you can choose to stay at Camping Rondinara, and you are then within walking distance (on a relatively steep slope) to the beach. We considered staying here, but the campsite was actually full (and could only offer "extra places") so we chose to roll on.

14. Try different water sports

One thing you can do in Porto-Vecchio, no matter which beach you visit, is try different water sports. For example, you can try windsurfing, paddle surfing, jet skiing, kayaking or sailing. You can also go snorkelling or diving.

15. Take an excursion to Bonifacio

If you are spending your holiday in Porto-Vecchio, we highly recommend taking a trip to Bonifacio, which is just over half an hour south of Porto-Vecchio by car. This beautiful town enjoys an incredibly spectacular location on dramatic cliffs on the south coast of Corsica. Here, you can check out the citadel, admire stunning views and enjoy food and shopping.

READ MORE: What to do in Bonifacio, Corsica - our top 15 tips

16. Take a boat to the Lavezzi Islands

Last but not least, we can recommend a boat trip to the beautiful Lavezzi Islands. These islands are located just outside Bonifacio, so you can also make the boat trip from there, which we chose to do. The islands offer unique rock formations and nice, cosy beaches.

More to see and do in Porto-Vecchio for culture and history lovers

There is of course more to see and do in Porto-Vecchio, beyond our tips. Here are a few more suggestions for those who like culture and history:

• Archaeological sites are found in various places in Corsica.
• The Genoese gate is a historic entrance, dating from the 16th century, to the citadel in the old town.
• Local gastronomy are worth discovering, such as coppa, pancetta, Corsican veal and the cheesecake "fiadone".

More to see and do in Porto-Vecchio for nature and adventure lovers

There is of course more to see and do in Porto-Vecchio and the surrounding area for those who like nature and adventure. Here you will find even more tips:

• Ospedale forest is a natural area with forest and lake.
• Pinarellu Beach is a beach located just north of Porto-Vecchio.
• Fautea Beach is another beach that you will find in the northern direction.
• Solenzara valleys is a walking area.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course lots of different hotels and other accommodation in and around Porto-Vecchio. We came here with our motorhome and we were particularly fond of Car park in Pini, which is a very simple pitch/nature campsite on Palombaggia beach. Here you stand in the shade under the pine trees, while you have a short walk to the beautiful beach.

There is no electricity on site, but some basic services such as rubbish collection, fresh water, public toilets a short walk away and some outdoor showers. The price is currently (2025) €10/night plus €4 entrance fee on the first day.

We also camped a few nights at the naturist campsite La Chiappa. This is a well-run campsite with both shady and sunny pitches, a nice beach, excellent service buildings, very nice pools and also a wide range of activities. Excellent if you like to sunbathe and swim without clothes. Here we paid just over 50 euros / night, and you had to book at least three nights.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Near Porto-Vecchio, we can especially recommend visiting the fantastically beautiful town of Bonifacio. Here you will find more tips:

• Calanche di Piana – dramatic road
• Cupabia Beach – beautiful beach
• Filitosa – with prehistoric remains

Even more tips on things to see and do in Porto-Vecchio?

Have you been to Corsica? Do you have any other tips on what to see and do in Porto-Vecchio? Please tell us!