Are you planning to spend a long weekend in Corsica without spending all your time on the beach so you are considering a 2-day road trip to Cap Corse...
Here is my itinerary which allows you to make a loop circuit to visit the cultural heritage of the North Corsica while combining the discoveries of the magnificent natural spaces of Cape Corsica. So you will enjoy seeing Bastia, Cape Corsica, Agriates desert, Calvi ...
This tour in the most beautiful island of France is a simple template that I share with travelers for the sole purpose of giving them an idea that they can use as inspiration for their own trip. Estimated travel times may vary depending on the period (summer or winter), traffic, strikes, detours, etc.
2 days road trip in Haute Corse - Car rental
As this route is designed for a driving tour, you may be wondering: where should I hire a car? Directly at the airport, in Bastia? Do we have to book it in advance? What are the recommended websites?
Of course, you can rent your car directly at the airport, but also online with Booking.com for example. On this platform, it is very easy and secure to rent a car: they always display the best prices and only offer serious and reliable rental companies.
Road trip in Corsica - The essentials of North Corsica
Impossible to discover all the North of Corsica in just 2 days… Here are the unmissable places in Haute Corse that I programmed for my road trip:
- Bastia
- Erbalunga
- Macinaggio
- Baracaggio Beach
- Mattei Mill
- Pine
- Desert of Agriates
- Saint Florent
- Saleccia Beach
- Calvi (optional for those who have the time)
2 days in Haute Corse - Map of the itinerary
Before giving you more details, here is the map plotting the route to go around the North of Corsica by car in just 2 days. Of course, if you have 3 or 4 days, this tour will be even more pleasant because you will be able to better enjoy the sites and the beautiful beaches while taking more time. But for a optimized weekend road trip, It's a good compromise !
Cap Corse in 2 days - Circuit DAY 1
2 days Cap Corse - Bastia tour
My road trip starts very early in the morning from Bastia (8h), a city that I advise you to visit quickly in 1h or 1h30 to reserve enough time to be able to make my complete circuit.
Built on the mountainside, Bastia has a few must-see tourist sites: The Citadel and the old town they call Terra Vecchia (Place Saint-Nicolas, Place du Marché, Cardo's old port).
2 days Cap Corse - Erbalunga tour
Cap Corse is like a peninsula, an island in the island of Corsica! With its 40 km long against 10 wide, Cap Corse has beautiful wild beaches, coves, small fishing ports and unspoiled and unspoiled nature.
To reach Cap Corse from Bastia, you have to walk along the coast in the direction of Erbalunga our 1st stage. After 10 km of road, you will arrive in this small Erbalunga village who knew how to remain authentic and welcoming. It can be visited for its famous Genoese tower, its small alleys and its pretty port.
2 days Cap Corse tour - Pietracorbara
Then my circuit will take you 15 km further north to Pietracorbara. This is where you can discover one of the most beautiful sandy beaches of Cap Corse. The village is known for its beautiful houses of Americans (former wealthy Corsicans expatriated in America). If you have time, you can take a short 3 km hike (white water trail) along a river (information at the tourist office).
2-day Cap Corse tour - Macinaggio and the customs officers' path
After a 1 hour drive, you will reach Macinaggio, next step of our road trip to Cap Corse.
After having a quick lunch, you will spend the afternoon at the beach or walking. Indeed, it is from here that the customs trail hike. And you can borrow the portion Macinaghju-Barcaghju of this path which leads in 3 hours to the beach of Baracaggio. This beach offers an exceptional view of the Finocchiarola Islands. For the return trip, you can save time by taking a shuttle from the customs path that will take you back to Macinaggio. Remember to book on 06 14 78 14 16 or by email (info@sanpaulu.com) or see the ticket office (opposite the pharmacy and tobacco shop in Macinaggio).
For the less courageous who prefer a lazy afternoon, they will find here several coves and beautiful beaches, accessible on foot (following the customs path) or by boat (Tamarone, Cala Genovese Beach, Cana Francese Beach).
Weekend in Corsica - Where to sleep in Cap Corse?
To be well placed (near the beach and in the center), I recommend the hotel Starfish à Macinaggio.
Indeed, located 80m from the beach and departure of the customs path, you can enjoy its swimming pool and the convenience of a free parking. For more information about this hotel
Cap Corse in 2 days - Circuit DAY 2
Haute Corse in 2 days - Moulin Mattei
The 1st morning visit will be done by ersa to discover the Mattei Mill. It can be visited for free and is a 10-minute walk from the car park.
Then my road trip continues on the other side of Cap Corse with around 1 hour drive to reach the Pino village. This is our 2nd stopover of the day to have a little coffee at the edge of the beautiful Scalo Navy and its Genoese tower. And why not a morning swim on the magnificent Anse d'Aliso beach ?
Haute Corse in 2 days - Desert of Agriates
After 2 hours of driving, you will arrive at the Agriates desert. No less than 40 km of unspoiled and still wild coasts await you! White sand beaches and turquoise waters, the landscapes are simply PARADISIAC !!! On the other hand, they are complicated to reach because there is no road except a few tracks ...
Haute Corse in 2 days - Saleccia beach
Among the many beaches of the Agriates desert each more beautiful than the other, I advise you to choose the famous Saleccia beach considered to be one of the most beautiful in Corsica.
For this, the best will be to go to Saint Florent and take a water taxi (Reservations possible on 06 62 16 23 76). The crossing from Saint Florent lasts about 20 minutes and allows you to enjoy a beautiful promenade at sea, to admire the village with its citadel and its ramparts, the Agriate coast, the Mortella tower, the tip of the Cavallata and the Lotu beach right next to the Saleccia beach.
Corsica tour in 2 days - Calvi
To go from Saint Florent to Calvi, allow at least 2 hours by road (off season). It is therefore optional that I offer this visit (possible if you have at least a 3-day weekend).
To go to Calvi, you will pass through Ile Rousse leaving Cap Corse to arrive by Balagne region nicknamed "the Corsican garden".
Very beautiful small hilltop villages are to be discovered in Balagne when we have a little time (Sant Antonio, Pigna, Lumio, Occi or Speloncato) but impossible to integrate them into our 2 days tour.
On the other hand, I advise you to visit Calvi, its citadel, its 18th century Saint-Jean-Baptiste church, Place Christophe Colomb, the salt tower, the marina ...
The ideal would be to be able to enjoy your evening in Calvi and sleep there ... but if you only have 2 days in Corsica, it's time to drive back to Bastia (minimum 2 hours drive).
Cap Corse in 2 days - Where to sleep in Calvi?
For your last night in Corsica, treat yourself to one of the most beautiful hotels in Calvi: theHotel Saint Christophe.
I let you discover it :
Cap Corse in 2 days - Rental tip
Fancy a cheap rental for the whole family? TO Santa Maria di Lota, north of Bastia, I know a rental with probably the best quality price ratio !
Discover below a comfortable accommodation with sea view, less than 1 km from Miomo beach and whose geographical location is simply perfect for visit Cap Corse.
Do you have a few more days?
Why not continue with a
ou go see the dolphins off the most beautiful coasts of Corsica ?
and if you like the islands, here is an idea for a circuit on the Hyères Islands