Corsica Villa Rentals in France
Think of Corsica as mountains with a coastline attached. Granite runs down the middle of the island, Monte Cinto at the top, and the coast keeps changing as you drive: red cliffs, then white limestone, then long beaches with pines behind. On a warm day the scrub smells of myrtle and rosemary. Locals call it the maquis. Our ten villas are near the coast [CHECK which towns], four to seven bedrooms, most with the sea in view.
10 villas · 4 to 7 bedrooms · up to 14 guests
Villas in Corsica
No villas match these filters.
Filters
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Guests
Features
Life in Corsica
The beaches
The south has the beaches you've seen in photos. White sand, umbrella pines, and water so clear you can see your toes when it's up to your chest. Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, near Porto-Vecchio, are the famous two. Other coves you reach down a dirt track, and a few only by boat. In August go early. The car parks fill by eleven, and so does the sand.
The mountains behind the coast
Drive inland for half an hour and you forget the beach. The road climbs through chestnut and pine into granite peaks over 2,000 metres, with snow on the highest into early summer. The GR20 follows the spine of the island. It's hard going. Plenty of people walk one stretch of it for a morning, then find a river pool and get in. The water is freezing, even in July.
Hill villages
Nearly every valley has a village somewhere above it. Stone houses on a ridge, a bell tower, a café terrace with two or three old men keeping an eye on the road. Lots of them are half empty in winter. Then summer comes, families come back, and there's music in the square. The drive up is slow, all hairpins, and you'll meet goats on the road more often than you'd think. Take your time.
Days on the water
With so much coast, plenty of days end up on a boat. In the south, boats run out to the Lavezzi islands and along the white cliffs at Bonifacio. In the north-west, trips head into the Gulf of Porto and the Scandola nature area, red rock dropping straight into the sea. We don't run boats ourselves. We'll tell you which villas are closest to a harbour, though.
When to go
June to September is the main season, July and August warmest and busiest. Late spring and early autumn are quieter, and lovely for walking inland.
Before you go
What guests ask us most before a stay in Corsica.
How do we get to Corsica (flights and ferries)?
Four airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari, near the south. Flights run from Paris and many European cities, more of them in summer. You can come by sea too. Ferries leave Marseille, Toulon and Nice, some overnight, and there are crossings from Italy. Bringing your own car? Then it's the ferry. Which airport suits you depends on the villa.
Which part of the island are the villas in?
Our ten villas are near the coast [CHECK, Eric to confirm which areas we name]. Each listing shows the location. Look at a map, then add time. The roads wind so much that a short distance can take well over an hour. So pick an area first and do day trips from there. Tell us what you want from the week and we'll suggest where.
Do we need a car?
Yes. Buses are few and far between, the villas are spread out, and nearly every beach, village and walk you'll want needs a road to reach it. Roads are narrow, and inland they twist a lot. Allow extra time. You'll share them with cyclists and cows, and now and then a pig. A compact car is easier on mountain roads.
When is the sea warm enough to swim?
From around June to October for nearly everyone. It's warmest in August and September, when it's properly pleasant for long swims. In May it's bracing but swimmable for the brave. The clear water in the south warms up a little faster in shallow bays, which is one reason families like it.
Is it busy in August?
Yes. August is when much of France and Italy goes on holiday, and Corsica gets busy, especially the famous beaches in the south and the roads near them. Flights and ferries sell out early, so sort travel first. June and September are our pick if you can manage it. The sea's warm, restaurants are open, there are far fewer people. The mountains stay quieter all summer.
Planning a stay in Corsica?
Tell us your dates and who's coming, and whether it's mostly beach or mountains. We'll come back with villas that fit.