Porto VecchioCorsica · France

All About Porto Vecchio

In the southeastern part of Corsica, Porto Vecchio is a relatively new settlement, even though its formation dates all the way back to Roman times. Left deserted over centuries because of its marshy disposition, the Genoese in 1539 finally developed the area as a port city. However, between 1850-1870, during the reign of Napoléon III, the town drained and became more liveable.

Still, it wasn’t until after 1950 that things dramatically improved, bringing in more locals to reside in the area. Today, Porto Vecchio is a world-famous tourist destination where thousands come to enjoy the city’s beaches, food, diverse topography, and vibrant nightlife.
 

Routes and Ferries to Porto Vecchio

The best way to reach Porto Vecchio is via the sea. A lovely sail across the Mediterranean creates that perfect mood for an enjoyable island holiday. Ferryscanner can help you find and book your ferry tickets to Porto Vecchio from Nice and Toulon.

Three boats a week from Nice take just over 8 hours to cover the distance between the two cities. The ferries from Toulon take 11 hours and 30 minutes. There are also limited boats during the week between Porto Vecchio, Golfo Aranci, and Porto Torres. The primary operator sailing on these routes is Corsica Ferries, offering its passengers luxuries like fine dining, cabins, reclining seats, and shopping.

If traveling to Porto Vecchio by air, the closest landing strip to the city is at Figari–Sud Corse Airport. It’s a small airport, about 23km from Porto Vecchio, with regular AirCorsica flights from Nice, Marseille, and Paris. Seasonal flights during summers help connect Porto Vecchio with more cities in France, Germany, and England. You’ll also find a shuttle bus between the airport and the city center during the warmer months.
 

Port of Porto Vecchio

The Port of Porto Vecchio is an idyllic site at the far end of a sheltered gulf. Calm and deep waters, along with an excellent anchorage, makes it a favorite among the seafaring community. With origins dating back to the 6th century BC, today the Port of Vecchio is a busy harbor that handles both private boats and RO-RO ferries on a daily basis.

The port’s marina can accommodate 350 leisure vessels and offers all types of facilities required by yachters. Passengers arriving with ferry tickets to Porto Vecchio find the harbor to be very convenient, it being the main center of activity and entertainment in the city.
 

Best Beaches

Blessed with some of the best beaches in Corsica, Porto Vecchio is now a preferred destination among avid sunseekers and watersports enthusiasts.

Plage de Palombaggia

The award-winning Plage de Palombaggio is a 20-minute drive from Porto Vecchio and is its most famous and crowded beach. The strand boasts a scenic setting featuring pine trees, calm blue waters, and soft white sand. A natural strip without much commercialization, Palombaggia’s 3km length is expansive but seems small when jam-packed at the height of the tourist season.  The beach does have parking and a café on-site.

Plage de Santa Giulia

Plage de Santa Giulia is one of the more popular beaches in Porto Vecchio, and thus, it can get a little busy. However, its location in a sheltered bay and calm and shallow waters makes it an unavoidable seaside escape. A 15-minute drive from town, the central area of the beach has more facilities such as parking, shops, cafes, and watersports. The north side is less crowded, but you’ll find white sand and deck chair rentals along its entire length. Do keep in mind, beach amenities tend to be on the expensive side during the summer season. Sunbed rentals can cost up to €20 per person, with parking coming in at €10 per day.

Plage de Carataggio

Known locally as Tahiti Beach, the turquoise waters of Plage de Carataggio lure desirous sunseekers from across the island. This sandy and wild beach has limited facilities, but it is nevertheless kid-friendly, thanks to shallow waters near the shore. Furthermore, Carataggio is a lovely location for snorkeling but can sometimes have seaweed and jellyfish floating around. Although only 11km from Porto Vecchio, access to the beach does require a 20- to 30-minute-long walk from the parking area. Alternatively, you can arrive here by boat.

Plage de Benedettu

Known only to the locals and returning tourists, Plage de Benedettu is a hidden gem of Porto Vecchio. It’s about 12km from the center and is a pleasant place to admire panoramic views of the bay and boats bringing in wide-eyed tourists holding ferry tickets to Porto Vecchio. Benedettu is primarily a sandy beach, dotted with trademark red rocks and a few secluded spots at its ends. The beach has a small jetty going into the clean waters, limited parking, and a shack from where you can rent kayaks.

Plage de Cala Rossa

Only a 10-minute drive from Porto Vecchio, Page de Cala Rossa is a tree-lined, relatively quiet strip of sand bordering the Mediterranean. There are two beaches here, Grande and Petite, with the former having more space and facilities on offer. Furthermore, the beach here is sandy, but the seabed is rough in places. The sea does deepen pretty quickly, making Cala Rossa a great site to snorkel. Sunbathers wanting to spend an entire day here will appreciate the presence of two bars on the beach along with a sailing school and sun loungers on rent.
 

Things To Do

A vacation in Porto Vecchio is all about relaxation mixed with a hint of exploration. When experiencing some of the city’s characteristic attractions, you’ll get to savor its island charm, learn about Porto Vecchio’s history, and indulge in fun activities amongst Corsica’s natural beauty.

Tour the Lavezzi Islands

Situated in the Strait of Bonifacio, the Lavezzi archipelago makes for a lovely full-day boat tour from Porto Vecchio. This must-do attraction includes a sail around the islands followed by a stopover at Lavezzu, the largest in the group. Here, you can enjoy the beach, sunbathe, and go for a swim.

The tour boats are typically small, serve snacks and drinks en-route, and create an intimate, non-touristic atmosphere. The trip is also the perfect opportunity to witness the dramatic coastline of Corsica from afar, especially if you are not one of the many people who arrived on the island with ferry tickets to Porto Vecchio.

Partake in Watersports

Porto Vecchio is a mecca for watersports lovers and thrill-seekers. Local operators offer a variety of water and land-based excursion possibilities, ranging from scuba diving around Cerbicale Islands Nature Reserve to 4WD excursions that take you to small villages and beaches off the beaten track. That’s not all, though, for you can also go canyoning in Bavella or enjoy horse riding, birding, and hiking in Ospedale Forest.

Explore Alta Rocca

Alta Rocca is a mountainous region in Corsica that is very close to Porto Vecchio. Besides being lush with vegetation, this region is also home to 16 picture-perfect villages. All of the settlements have distinct personalities, culinary specialties and are a genuine delight to sightsee. Zonza is the most popular of the villages having a Resistance Museum and lovely eateries in scenic locations. Zoza, on the other hand, is known for its natural pools and ancient bridge.

Walk Around the City

Porto Vecchio is a city with a warm heart that welcomes tourists, enticing them to stay and discover its many gems. The harbor is by far the most vibrant neighborhood with its bars and restaurants. Le Patio is one of the topmost bars in this area, famous for its cocktails, tapas, and music. In contrast, the Old Town, located up the hill, is a footstep into the past, having narrow winding streets and delightful surprises around every corner. While in the Old Town, you can pick up souvenirs, stop by an ice cream parlor, have coffee at a quaint café, and shop at any of the local clothing boutiques.

Relish Porto Vecchio’s Gastronomic Scene

Porto Vecchio has some of the best restaurants on the island that serve traditional Corsican cuisine. Le Refuge is a mountain eatery that promises delectable food amidst a pastoral setting. Sous la Tonnelle is a family-owned culinary institution in the Old Town, plating local delights such as zucchini flower fritters since 1967. While Chez Anna is among the best Italian restaurants in Porto Vecchio, Casa Corsa offers wholesome food with a romantic harbor view.
 

Transportation Around Porto Vecchio

When planning on sightseeing Porto Vecchio, simply walk. The city is small enough and easily navigable. Taking a car in town will most likely result in spending too much time stuck in traffic jams.

If staying for a few days and traveling around the island, renting a car or a scooter is better than relying on the local bus service. Paid parking spots are available near the marina, the City Hall, and next to the city center of Porto Vecchio. Private taxis are easily bookable but best reserved for airport transfers, emergencies, or short distances.