- Corsica
Cap Corse, Corsica
Often described as an island within an island, Cap Corse is a rugged, maquis-clad peninsula with a character and history distinctly its own. Jutting into the Mediterranean from northern Corsica, its dramatic coastline, secluded coves and timeworn fishing villages offer a glimpse of a quieter, more traditional side of the island.
Why visit Cap Corse?
- To uncover stunning natural beauty
- Wander through tiny fishing harbours
- To discover a slow-paced lifestyle
Around 40 kilometres long and just 15 kilometres wide, the rocky peninsula of Cap Corse is a world apart, with some of the most beautiful and unspoilt coastline in northern Corsica. Its character changes as you travel around the peninsula: dramatic cliffs and secluded rocky coves define the west coast, while tiny fishing harbours and sandy beaches line the east.
What to do in Cap Corse
Walking
With so much natural beauty around, there are many walking routes to discover in the area, so grab your walking boots and get out there!
Discover Nonza
A flower-garnished slate roofed village, which seems to have sprouted from its craggy foundations. The beach here is black.
Visit Erbalunga
A fishing port clinging to a jagged promontory, opal waves slap against fishing boats and a Jazz festival is held here every August.
An in-depth guide to Cap Corse
The rugged northern coast is particularly rewarding for walkers, with coastal paths offering spectacular views across the Mediterranean. Inland, the landscape becomes greener and more fertile. Surrounded by vineyards and lemon groves, the village of Luri is a lovely place to pause, and each July it hosts a wine fair celebrating producers from across Corsica.
A complete circuit of Cap Corse takes around four hours without stops, although it is well worth allowing a full day to explore the villages, viewpoints and coastline along the way. The roads can be narrow and winding, particularly around the northern tip, so driving clockwise is generally the more comfortable way to experience the route.
Among the highlights is Nonza, one of Cap Corse’s most striking villages. Clinging dramatically to the mountainside above the sea, its slate-roofed houses and flower-filled streets make a beautiful contrast to the rugged landscape. Further north, Centuri-Port is a delightful place to stop for lunch, with restaurants gathered around the old fishing harbour and menus centred on the day’s catch.
With its wild scenery, atmospheric villages and relatively untouched coastline, Cap Corse rewards those who take the time to explore it slowly.