1. Saint-François Beach
Just a short walk from Ajaccio town centre, Saint-François Beach is situated near the harbour and the ramparts of the old citadel.
Overlooked by a palm-lined promenade on Boulevard Lantivy, this beach with its fine sand and turquoise waters offers a panoramic view of Ajaccio Bay.
Ideally situated, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing break whilst remaining close to the hustle and bustle of Ajaccio and its shops.
2. Barbicaja Beach
Taking the Route des Sanguinaires, which runs from Ajaccio town centre to the Parata peninsula, Barbicaja Beach is the first one you’ll come to.
It isn’t one of the largest beaches in the Gulf of Ajaccio, but its small white-sand cove is stunning.
With shallow waters and crystal-clear water, it offers a unique view of the seabed. The granite boulders add to the beauty of this spot, which is very popular with beach volleyball enthusiasts.
3. Trottel Beach
Walking along Boulevard Lantivy, you’ll find Trottel Beach about a 15-minute walk from the town centre and Saint-François Beach.
It is one of the largest beaches in Ajaccio and one of the few to offer access for people with reduced mobility. With its fine sand and crystal-clear water, Trottel Beach is a supervised bathing area. It is also a popular meeting point for scuba divers and water sports enthusiasts.
On one side, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Ajaccio, and on the other, you can see Porticcio Bay, as well as Napoleon Bonaparte Airport, where your flight to Ajaccio landed.
4. Mare e Sole Beach
On the southern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, it is nicknamed the ‘silver beach’ in reference to the colour of its very fine sand.
Lined with umbrella pines and stretching out into azure waters, this 500-metre-long silver bay is very popular. And with good reason: as well as being a picture-postcard landscape, this long stretch of sand is sheltered from the wind.
It’s a favourite spot for families from Ajaccio. The calm, shallow water is ideal for children.
In the hamlet of Pietrosella, there are various restaurants and shops where you can have lunch by the water’s edge. But if you’d rather have a picnic, simply head a little way into the pine forest to find secluded, sheltered spots.
5. Terre Sacrée Beach
With its small coves of white sand emerging from behind the brown granite rocks, Terre Sacrée Beach never ceases to charm you.
Beyond this rocky landscape, the site offers a magnificent view of the Sanguinaires archipelago and the Parata site.
This beautiful beach is also known for its memorial. The Terre Sacrée Memorial was erected in 1933 to honour the memory of the thousands of Corsicans who died for France during the First World War. This memorial contains an urn holding samples of soil officially collected from the battlefields of the Marne, the Somme and Verdun… It is one of only six monuments of this kind in the world.
6. The beaches of Capo di Feno
The Capo di Feno site is home to two beaches separated by a field. Petit Capo beach is, as its name suggests, the smaller and less well-known of the two. It is an unspoilt and very secluded spot where the wilderness has been left to its own devices.
Grand Capo beach is a little more touristy, although it has very few facilities. It is a well-known spot amongst surfers, with impressive waves. This is why you must be vigilant and follow the flag signals carefully.
These beaches are accessible via a narrow road towards Minaccia. It is also possible to walk there from the car park at the Grand Site de la Parata, following the Chemin des Douaniers footpath.
7. Marinella Beach
This is one of Corsica’s most famous beaches, and also one of the most stunning in the Gulf of Ajaccio. Named after the famous singer Tino Rossi, whose house is nearby, Marinella Beach boasts crystal-clear, shallow waters, ideal for a safe swim with breathtaking views of the Sanguinaires Islands.
Make the most of this idyllic setting by enjoying a meal at one of the nearby beach huts or relaxing on a sun lounger rented on the white sand.
Photo: Flickr