Corsica boasts a fascinating mix of culture, terrain, and types of vacations. Although a French island, Corsica radiates the spirt of the Italian, as well as the mountain and beach landscape of a fairytale. The Isle of Beauty will not disappoint; this red-tipped mountain island in the western Mediterranean is filled with hiking trails, historic sights and buildings, and dramatic coastlines. A small hotel in Northern Corsica, on the Southern Coast, or inland offers an intimate escape from your sojourn into total paradise.

Where to stay at a small hotel in Corsica? Corsica’s regions at a glance:

Northern Corsica: Unreal natural landscapes

© Hôtel Case Latine Northwestern Corsica is the choice for true lovers of nature. Surrounded by idyllic mountainous terrain, fairytale villages, and untouched natural sites, you’ll feel a long way from home. A small hotel near the northern coast of Corsica places you in the most beautiful nooks and crannies of this spectacular terrain, equipping you with all you need: whether its a lounger by the pool or boots for one of the many hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. With some of Corsica’s most stunning beaches at your fingertips, like Désert des Agriates and Plage de Saleccia, enjoy a day spent in the water. Or, trek out to the famous Calvi, a cobblestoned beach town with a citadel that peers out into the ocean from an island finger. Just a little inland in Muro and Feliceto, find sleepy villages boasting long lists of sites of natural beauty interspersed with Baroque-style churches and red-rocked cliffs.

Southern Coast: Picture-perfect beach vacation

© Hôtel Version Maquis Santa Manza For those seeking a true beach vacation, with all hours spent sprawled out under the sun on golden sand, southern Corsica has what you need. A small hotel provides you with all the amenities, most with a sprawling hotel pool and terrace restaurants & bars, but with a more intimate setting for you and your group. Just steps away from dreamy beaches, like the public Beach Rondinara, and just a stone’s throw from some of the larger towns of Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, settle in for a pure beach holiday. Make sure to check out the Staircase of The King of Aragon near Bonifacio — this stone staircase carved into the side of a limestone cliff at a near 45 degree angle offers unique views of the sea as you descend toward it. With the help of your small hotel, organize boat trips to surrounding beaches, rent bikes, or head into the nearby cities to discover the fascinating culture Corsica has to offer.

Inland: Escape to the mountains

For devoted mountain lovers, a small hotel in Corsica’s inland nestles you between lakes, river ravines, and undisturbed nature. A true escape, lose yourself in the rural quiet of a mountainous wonderland. Hike through the nonstop sunshine, unreal color palettes, and serenity of the Corsican mountains. At a small hotel near Bastelica, gear up for full breakfasts on the sun-drenched terrace, trips for skiing in the winter, and some of the best meat & cheese you’ve ever had. With constant views of the sprawling mountains and not too far from Corisca’s bustling capital, Ajaccio, take advantage of all the opportunities Corsica’s inland has to offer.

Good to know

Getting there: There are four, well-located airports on the island, making air travel the easiest way to get to your destination. Fly around 2 hours into Figari (FSC) for a hotel in the south, into Ajaccio (AJA) for a hotel inland, and into Calvi (CLY) for somewhere up north. Because Corsica’s four airports are still island airports, many of the budget airlines don’t pass through and there is often only one flight between London and each airport per week — make sure you do some planning in advance so as to ensure you find your way in. From the respective airport, you can rent a car or schedule a door-to-door transfer to get your hotel with ease.