Arguably the best beach in Corsica, and referred to by some as the best in France, Saleccia is only accessible by boat from Saint-Florent, so it’s relatively peaceful even in high season. It’s simple and pristine, and lies below the Desert des Agriates – a stretch of sparse, tree and cactus-dotted scrubland.
Santa Giulia is the place to go in Corsica if watersports are your thing, but there’s still space for restful sunbathing. It’s popular but still beautiful: a strip of fine, cream-coloured sand backed by a cluster of restaurants and hotels, many with their own gardens, and further inland, sun-bleached old houeses and churches, all set on the edge of a beautiful, shady pine forest.