Explore holidays in Porto Vecchio & Bonifacio
Just across the water from Sardinia, history takes a cosmopolitan turn in the winding streets, imposing citadels and elegant marinas of Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio. A luxury holiday here comes with no shortage of style, and plenty of restaurants, cafés, boutiques and museums. Not far away, you'll also find the family-friendly beaches of Pinarello and pine-shaded Palombaggia, as well as the white sands of Santa Giulia and chic St Cyprien.
To complement this elegant destination, we offer a selection of handpicked luxury villas and a sophisticated small hotel between Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio, near the beautiful south’s best attractions.
Explore our pre-bookable experiences in Corsica
A selection of our holidays in Porto Vecchio & Bonifacio
* Prices include seven nights’ accommodation, flights and transfers/car hire, based on the lowest rate for maximum occupancy.
Our guide to Porto Vecchio & Bonifacio
Overview
Introduction to Porto Vecchio & Bonifacio
Your summer playground
The magnificent stretch of coastline between Bonifacio on Corsica’s southern tip and Porto Vecchio, 30 minutes up the eastern coast road, has become a draw for Europe’s more discreet high society – and it’s easy to see why. Pristine white sandy beaches are the places to be seen sipping a cocktail, while Michelin-starred restaurants and chic bars beckon ashore the occupants of yachts lining Porto Vecchio’s picturesque old harbour.
The streets below Bonifacio’s well-preserved fortifications, where you’ll find the town’s ancient citadel, are lined with stylish independent boutiques and sophisticated cocktail bars promising a well-deserved apéritif on your descent.
A gentle pace beneath the buzz
Away from the glamorous harbours and beaches, you don’t need to go far to discover a quieter side to Corsica. If you know where to look, there are hidden beaches that remain virtually deserted even in the height of summer. Inland, the sheer scale of the dramatic Alta Rocca region means you can quickly lose yourself in a far more traditional Corsican experience, less than an hour’s drive from the coast.
Porto Vecchio sits at the end of the GR20, Europe’s toughest long-distance hiking route. But the town offers plenty of leisurely strolls, along with the gentler arts of shopping and wine tasting.
Flashes of history around every corner
Founded in 833 by Boniface, the Count of Tuscany, Bonifacio wears its historic connections proudly. The harbour is said to be the one described in Homer’s Odyssey, its citadel built by the Genoese, and the road leading to it, home to number 7 Rue des Empereurs, the onetime abode of Corsica’s most famous son, Napoléon Bonaparte.
From the harbour, a short boat trip provides a wonderful way of viewing the ancient garrison. From sea level, you suddenly realise that the town is literally clinging onto the cliffs; the giddying drop to water level explaining why Bonifacio has never been breached!
Beach life for all ages
Around the scenic Gulf of Porto Vecchio, at child-friendly beaches such as Palombaggia (voted among the best in Europe), the gently shelving, soft, pine-shaded sand makes holidays in this region a firm favourite with families.
Inject some adventure into your days at the seaside with a popular boat trip, either piloted or private hires, to the secluded islands off the main coast. Along the way, you’ll discover wonderful places to swim and snorkel, as well as deserted beaches only accessible by sea.
Mother nature – however you like her
Corsica is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean and, with over a third of the land dedicated to nature reserves, our visitors to Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio invariably appreciate how little development there has been – and how seamlessly buildings complement the environment.
Adventurous types can spend their days scrambling along canyons, navigating dizzying bridges and hiking long distances, while those who want to appreciate nature at a slower pace can stroll around waterfalls, cool off in mountain springs or take long, leisurely drives through scenic villages.