Corsica Itinerary: 2-Week Road Trip by Campervan (2026)

Corsica is a fantastic destination for a road trip by campervan or motorhome: rugged coastlines, wide bays and high mountains in the interior follow one another across a small island.

We spent more than a month exploring the island in our campervan, in June and October 2026, and saw the best highlights and sights Corsica has to offer. We have turned our experience into the perfect Corsica itinerary for 2 weeks, so you can plan your own Corsica road trip with ease.

Last updated: October 2026.

Corsica 2-Week Itinerary at a Glance

Our Corsica road trip takes you from Bastia once around the Cap Corse peninsula and then along the spectacular west coast down to the south of the island. This is where you will find the big highlight, Bonifacio, along with the most beautiful beaches in Corsica. You then work your way back north along the east coast, which is less spectacular in itself.

In the southeast you visit the exciting Solenzara Valley and, if you still have time, the mountain region in the center of Corsica. Then it is back to Bastia and on the ferry to Italy.

For the whole route, plan on no more than 100 to 150 kilometers per day. Many roads in the interior are narrow and winding and take much longer than the distance alone suggests.

How long do I need for a Corsica road trip?

If you want to see the whole island, you should allow at least 2 weeks. You will not have much time at each highlight, but you can still fit everything in. Three weeks or more is of course better.

If you want or need to save time, you can skip Cap Corse and the mountain region around Corte.

A | Arriving in Bastia & Driving Around Cap Corse

• Recommended stay: 1-2 days
• More info: Cap Corse Road Trip: Best Route, Villages & Highlights

After the ferry, your Corsica road trip by campervan, motorhome or rental car starts in Bastia, the island’s second-largest city. If you feel like settling in first, take a stroll through Bastia’s lovely old town. The citadel, with its government buildings and Baroque cathedral, sits above the city and offers a first beautiful view out over the sea.

Right below it lies the Vieux Port, the old harbor, with its colorful facades and plenty of restaurants where you can end your first evening on Corsica. A walk through the two districts is all you need for the first day, before you continue the next morning.

If you arrive in Bastia on the early morning ferry, it can make sense to drive part of the way toward Cap Corse the same day, so you have more time for the loop.

The 40-kilometer peninsula in the north of Corsica, nicknamed the “index finger of Corsica” because of its shape, is best driven counterclockwise, from Bastia toward St-Florent. On the east coast, Erbalunga is worth a stop for its picturesque Genoese tower. Further north lies the fishing village of Macinaggio, from where you can make a detour to the remote northern tip near Barcaggio if you have enough time. You can also do a spectacular coastal hike here.

On the west coast of Cap Corse, the route passes through the former fishing village of Centuri, known for its spiny lobster, and continues to Nonza with its distinctive black pebble beach. Allow around 3.5 hours of pure driving time for the full loop. With stops, it turns into a whole day.

Tip: The roads on Cap Corse are very narrow and winding in places, and in a large motorhome it can get tight at some points. You can find more details in our article on the best sights on Cap Corse.

B | Balagne Villages & Calvi

• Recommended stay: 1-2 days
• More info: Everything about Calvi

From St-Florent, the route leads through the Désert des Agriates, a wild expanse of scrubland, into the Balagne, a hilly region with several beautiful stone villages. Particularly lovely are Pigna with its blue shutters and Sant’Antonino, one of the oldest villages in Corsica, which perches on a rock and offers wide views over the region.

Both are about 30-35 minutes from Calvi and are easy to combine on the way there.

If you simply follow the coastal road, you will inevitably pass the pretty seaside town of L’Île-Rousse, which is also worth a visit.

In the afternoon you reach Calvi with its impressive citadel above the bay, where you can easily spend half a day or a full day.

Visiting the citadel itself is free and offers a great view over the bay and the sea. From there, winding lanes lead down toward the harbor, past restaurants, souvenir shops and ice cream parlors. The harbor is perfect for a stroll, and you can eat right there at a restaurant with a view of the sea. If you still have time and energy, spend the afternoon on the wide sandy beach directly below the citadel.

Tip: The villages of the Balagne are connected by narrow roads, so allow a bit more time for the loop than the distances suggest.

C | Fango Valley 

• Recommended stay: 1-2 days
• More info: Fango Valley Corsica: Swimming Holes & Kayak Tour

In the northwest of the island lies the Fango Valley, a nature reserve around the Fango River with emerald-green swimming pools and dense forests. We stayed at the nature-based campsite Casa di Luna, from where you can reach the famous swimming holes in the valley in just a few minutes by bike.

There are several ways to get to the water, and the further you drive toward the mountains, the quieter it gets. Parking along the river is mostly free, but the walk down to the water is sometimes a bit tricky.

The swimming holes are simply wonderful for swimming and relaxing. The water is wonderfully warm, and you can easily spend a whole day here.

Another absolute highlight for us is the kayak tour in the Fango Delta, where you paddle independently through tall reeds with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains.

The biggest attraction here are the many turtles that sunbathe on small wooden boards along the paddling route.

D | Gulf of Porto & Calanques de Piana

• Recommended stay: 2-3 days
• More info: Calanques de Piana: Hikes & Boat Trip

The Gulf of Porto has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, and even the approach from the north along the coastal road beside the cliffs is one of the most thrilling drives on all of Corsica. The Calanques, the bizarre reddish granite rocks between Porto and Piana, rise up to 400 meters out of the sea, with new views around every bend.

A boat trip from Porto* is highly recommended and gives you a completely different view of the rocks from the water.

Above the Calanques runs the scenic route between Porto and Piana, where several exciting hikes start. The shortest is the hike to the so-called Dog’s Head. From here you have a spectacular view of the sea and the Gulf of Porto.

If you have a little more time, drive into the hinterland of Porto and do a hike through the Spelunca Gorge.

On this hike (starting point on Google Maps) you follow a historic mule path past rugged rock walls to an old Genoese bridge. Along the way and at the bridge itself, you will find great spots to cool off in the river.

Tip: In high season, book boat trips online in advance, as they sell out quickly. The “Dog’s Head” viewpoint is most beautiful in the late afternoon, when the sun is perfectly placed for photos over the gulf.

E | Bonifacio

• Recommended stay: 2-3 days
• More info: Everything about Bonifacio

On the way south you pass a wonderful historical highlight. Filitosa in the southwest of the island is Corsica’s most important archaeological site. Here, skillfully carved menhirs of the Corsi stand next to the fortifications of the Torreans, who settled the island around 1800 years before the Common Era.

The site is open daily from April to early November, from 9 a.m. until sunset (see the official opening hours and prices). Admission is 9 euros for adults and 7 euros for children aged 6 to 17, and younger children get in free. Allow about 1.5 hours for the roughly 1.5-kilometer circuit.

In the afternoon, continue to Propriano on the Gulf of Valinco, where the north side of the bay has several pretty swimming coves, ideal for cooling off after your visit to the excavations.

Then continue south to what is probably the biggest highlight of Corsica. With its houses perched on white limestone cliffs, Bonifacio is arguably the most impressive and best-known town on Corsica. The southernmost town in France sits up to 80 meters above the sea, and the view from the citadel over the turquoise water is one of the most spectacular on the whole island.

You can spend several hours wandering through the narrow lanes of the upper town and gazing out over the cliffs from the quay wall. Bonifacio’s old town juts out into the sea like a long, narrow peninsula.

Be sure to walk the trail east of the old town as well. After a few hundred meters you get a wonderful view of the steep cliffs and the buildings perched on top of them.

F | Rondinara & More Beaches

• Recommended stay: 2-3 days
• More info: All Corsica highlights

Not far from Bonifacio you will find Plage de Piantarella. The beach itself is not hugely spectacular, but it lets you paddle by canoe or SUP to a small uninhabited island and from there on to the little Grotte des Amoureux.

This is a cave that the sea has carved into the rock over thousands of years. On the way back, you can stop at Plage du petit Sperone. Framed by rocky headlands, the water is very shallow here and wonderfully turquoise.

The real highlight on the southeast coast, however, is Rondinara Beach. The almost perfectly round bay of Rondinara, between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, is regularly counted among the most beautiful beaches in Europe, and after our visit we can only agree. Fine white sand, shallow, calm water and a sheltered location make the bay ideal for swimming.

Of course, other people know this too, so the beach is extremely busy, especially in high season, and the paid parking lot is often full by lunchtime. On the beach itself you hardly notice, since the crowds spread out along its length.

The nearby Palombaggia Beach is extremely popular and no less spectacular. Reddish granite rocks rise out of the water in the northeast, which, together with the green umbrella pines and the turquoise water, gives the beach an almost Seychelles-like feel. 

Parking at Palombaggia and Rondinara in particular is extremely tight in midsummer. Be at the beach by 9:30 a.m. at the latest, otherwise you will have trouble finding a space. In the off-season it is somewhat more relaxed, but since these beaches are among the most popular in Corsica, aim to arrive by 11 a.m. at the latest. The parking lots are, unsurprisingly, mostly paid.

Porto Vecchio

Had enough of the beach? Then you can continue your Corsica road trip north and take a look at the coastal town of Porto Vecchio. Porto-Vecchio lies on the southeast coast of Corsica and, with around 11,000 residents, is the island’s third-largest town.

The town is split into two levels: the large marina below and, at about 70 meters above, the old town with its citadel. You can visit the citadel wall and enjoy a great view over the marina beneath you.

Porto-Vecchio’s old town is much bigger and more winding than we expected, which makes it perfect for wandering through the lanes without a fixed destination. Narrow lanes with colorful facades and plenty of beautiful old buildings lead to the Place de la République, the central square of the upper town. Life buzzes here and there is always something going on.  You should definitely add Porto Vecchio to your Corsica itinerary.

G | Solenzara River & Bavella Pass

• Recommended stay: 1-2 days
• More info: Solenzara River: Swimming Holes & Hiking at the Bavella Pass

The Solenzara is one of the best-known and most beautiful swimming rivers in Corsica. It rises in the spectacular Bavella Massif at over 1,200 meters and winds about 22 kilometers down to Corsica’s east coast, where it flows into the sea near the village of Sari-Solenzara.

The Solenzara is famous for its crystal-clear, emerald-green (and warm) water and the countless deep natural pools that are perfect for swimming, cliff jumping and relaxing.

There are plenty of lovely swimming spots (natural pools) along the river, and they are the main reason most visitors come to the Solenzara.

At the same time, an impressive mountain panorama begins just a few kilometers from the coast and accompanies you all the way up to the Bavella Pass. Once at the top, you can choose from several beautiful hikes.

The most popular is certainly the trail to the Trou de la Bombe. This is a roughly 6-kilometer loop to a round rock opening, with stunning views of the mountain scenery along the way.

Parking at the top of the pass is very difficult, so arrive very early, even in the off-season.

H | Corte

• Recommended stay: 1-2 days
• More info: Corte Corsica: All Highlights

Corte is considered the heart of Corsica. It sits in the middle of the mountains, crowned by an old citadel and surrounded by the Tavignano and Restonica gorges. You can go on wonderful hikes here and stroll through the old town.

Corte’s old town is very touristy, but also very beautiful. There are plenty of restaurants and the obligatory souvenir shops. The old town is not very big, though, and quickly explored. The rest of the city is not really worth seeing, so stick to the old town.

Most tourists come to Corte for the hikes. The most popular are the walks through the Tavignano and Restonica valleys. You can start the hike through the Tavignano Valley right at Corte’s citadel. You walk along the Tavignano River and can swim in it along the way.

The hike through the Restonica Valley starts a few kilometers outside Corte and can currently only be reached by shuttle. You can find more in our detailed article on Corte.

Your Corsica road trip then leads back to the coast and on to Bastia along well-built (and surprisingly smooth) roads.

Practical Tips for Your Corsica Campervan Road Trip

Wild camping or campsite?

Wild camping is officially prohibited on Corsica and can be punished with fines of up to 400 euros, which is why we stuck almost entirely to campsites on this route. There are a few beautiful spots where you can park freely on Corsica, but unfortunately they are very rare.

You can find out why this is and which campsites are especially good for this route in our article on wild camping in Corsica.

Best time to go

May, June and September are the best times for a Corsica road trip by campervan, as it is pleasantly warm but not yet overcrowded. In August, many roads and campsites are full because of the French summer holidays.

Getting to Corsica with a campervan

The most common way to arrive for a campervan road trip is the ferry from Italy, for example from Livorno or Genoa to Bastia. The crossing from Livorno takes around 5 hours, and from Genoa between 5 and 10 hours depending on the route and departure time.

Prices vary greatly depending on season, vehicle size and operator, so it is worth using a ferry price comparison in advance. In high season (July/August), book early, as the ferries sell out quickly.

FAQ: Corsica Road Trip by Campervan

Is 2 weeks in Corsica enough for a road trip by campervan?

Yes, 14 days are enough to drive all the way around the island and see the main highlights, as long as you plan no more than 100 to 150 kilometers per day, as in our route.

How do you get to Corsica with a campervan?

The most common way is the ferry from Italy, for example from Livorno (about 5 hours) or Genoa (5 to 10 hours) to Bastia.

Which direction should you drive around Corsica in a campervan?

We recommend driving the route counterclockwise from Bastia, via Cap Corse, the west coast and the south, and back up the east coast. That way you usually have the view on the passenger side along the winding west coast.

Are all roads in Corsica suitable for a campervan?

For the most part, yes, but especially in the mountainous interior and on Cap Corse, some roads are narrow and winding. A small to mid-sized vehicle is an advantage on these stretches.

Where is the best place to stay during the road trip?

At official campsites, since wild camping is prohibited on Corsica. You can find details on our three favorite campsites along this route in our article on camping in Corsica. If you are traveling by rental car, there are plenty of good hotels, which we have described for each destination along the itinerary.