9 Best Things To Do In Porto-Vecchio, France

1. Go to the beach

The beaches of Porto-Vecchio are endless, and the two most popular are Palombaggia and Santa Giulia. Palombaggia Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in Europe, and here you’ll find various bars and restaurants, water sports, sea excursions, and of course, spectacular landscape. If you drive here, there is a free parking lot. Santa Giulia, like Palombaggia, is surrounded by mountains and forest and offers its own unique spread of cafés and water sports. It seems like the only thing you’ll really have to decide is if you want golden sand or white sand.

Palombaggia Beach

Address: Access via the T10 highway, about a 15-minute drive. Google map directions: Take T10 and Rue Maréchal Juin/RT101 to Rue Danielle Casanova.

Website: Palombaggia Beach

2. Go adventuring in Bavella Canyon

Bavella Canyon is about an hour and a half drive away, in the Corsican mountains. It’s full of crystal waterfalls, with shimmering green pools, rocky cliffsides with caves, forests, and of course, canyons - specifically, the Pulischellu, Purcaraccia, and Vacca canyons. There are guides available, and hikes and canyoning tours, with varying levels of difficulty. Check out their site for some gorgeous videos, or email infos@bavellacanyon.com for more information.

Bavella Canyon

Address: D268, 20122 Quenza

Website: Bavella Canyon (in French) or Corsica Canyon (in French)

3. Explore some megalithic castle ruins

The Castellu d'Araggio is one of two prehistoric megalithic sites of castle/fortress ruins. Ancient stone walls and passages are surrounded by Corsica’s mountains, forests, and sea, and it is well preserved. There’s a short hike up to the site (about 25 minutes), and you can leave your car in a car park, south of the village.

Castellu d'Araggio

Address: D759, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Castellu d'Araggio (in French) or Castellu d'Araggio

4. Enjoy water sports

As mentioned, there are many beaches in Porto-Vecchio, and so there are plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. Jet skiing, waterskiing, boating and boat tours, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing - you name it. If you’re not sure where to begin, fear not - there are plenty of places for gear rentals and tour companies available, for all these activities.

Jet Skiing

Address: Port of Plaisance, 20137 Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France

Website: Jet Concept 2A

5. Don't forget other outdoor recreation

Don’t think water sports are the only recreational activities here. There’s also canyoning, rock climbing, horseback riding, hiking, biking tours, and ATV/buggy rentals. Tour the town on a bike, ATV through the mountains and the forests, ride a horse on the beaches - or do it all - it’s up to you! As with the water sports, there are plenty of rental and tour companies to choose from - Xtrem Sud even has an obstacle course.

Buggy Rental

Address: Chemin de la Moneliere, Pardini, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Destination Adrenaline

Rock Climbing and Canyoning

Address: Route Ospedale, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Xtrem Sud (in French)

Horseback Riding

Address: Route de Palombaggia 20137, Porto Vecchio

Website: A Staffa Poney Club(in French)

6. Tour Porto-Vecchio via a day cruise

A great way to see the sights is on a ship, out on the ocean. You can book a day cruise with Porto-Vecchio Croisières and take in the sights of Porto-Vecchio’s beaches from the decks of the Maria Serena while enjoying coffee, refreshments, or lunch. This tour also stops over at the nature reserve on the Lavezzi Islands. The cruise departs at 8:30 am and returns to the dock at around 6:00 pm.

Porto-Vecchio Cruises

Address: Marina - 20137 - Porto-Vecchio

Website: Porto-Vecchio Croisières

7. Hang out at a French bar or club

Why not sample French cuisine while you’re there? One of the most popular spots is Le Patio, a gorgeous open-air stone courtyard bar, where guests can listen to music and hang out. It’s in the heart of the city and surrounded by old stone architecture, so needless to say, the ambience is amazing.

Another hot spot is Via Notte, which could be your all-in-one night out destination - it’s a club, restaurant and bar, which serves Italian food, and it has a VIP room. Either place is perfect for a night on the town.

Le Patio

Address: 6 Impasse Ettori, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Le Patio

Via Notte

Address: Route of Porra, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Via Notte (in French)

8. Visit the Parish of Saint Jean Baptiste

Saint Jean Baptiste (St. John the Baptist) is the patron saint of Porto-Vecchio. This church was built in the 19th century, so the stonework is reminiscent of that era. It’s best feature is its gorgeous bell tower on the round side of the church, complete with a bell, cross, and clock. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s still a marvel from the outside.

Parish of Saint John the Baptist

Address: Rue Saint Vincent, 20137 Porto-Vecchio

Website: Parish of Saint Jean Baptiste (in French)

9. Art gallery, anyone?

Art is big in France, so it’s not surprising to find an art gallery in Porto-Vecchio. Galerie du Levant is full of weird art - but weird in that it’s unexpected and really cool. Unique sculptures, paintings, sketches, photographs, works focused on superheroes, collages, experimental pieces, and concepts; it’s all there. Even if you’re not big into art, you might find this gallery interesting; if not, you could enjoy a few Ferris Beuller moments.

Galerie du Levant

Address: 17 Rue du Gal de Gaulle, 20137 Porto Vecchio

Website: Galerie du Levant (in French)

Port of adventure

In a nutshell, Porto-Vecchio is a destination not to be missed - add it to your list of places to go! Enjoy the water, history, beaches and culture, as well as the nightlife and nature. This town in the south of Corsica has a lot to offer.