The beautiful European island with pretty beaches named the best for families to visit

With over 1,000km of beaches, Corsica brings together beautiful natural hotspots with a rich history of French and Italian heritage.

Drone view of people kayaking in Corsica

Corsica has been named the top European beach destination for families (Image: Getty)

A beautiful island right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea has been named the top beach destination for families in all of Europe.

Benefitting from an envious location, the French island of Corsica boasts crystalline waters, over a thousand kilometres of white, fine sand beaches and unique Mediterranean landscapes.

Its gorgeous characteristics and the variety of activities available to visitors have resulted in a new study by InsureMyVisit naming Corsica as the most family-friendly beach holiday destination on the continent.

The Calanches de Piana, located between the capital of Ajaccio and Calvi, were added to UNESCO's list of locations with both geological and ecological values.

The Calanches are part of the Regional Natural Park of Corsica and are characterised by islets and inaccessible caves hosting rich marine life.

santa giulia beach cove

Santa Giulia, in the southeast of Corsica, is one of the most popular beaches on the island (Image: Getty)

The most popular beaches on the island include Ricanto, Ostricone, Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, which has repeatedly earned the title of "nicest and best beach" in Corsica.

With its turquoise lagoon with crystal clear waters and the unmistakable strip of white sand, Santa Giulia attracts a crowd of tourists every year in search of its wild environment with tropical colours.

Sheltered from the winds, the unmissable beach of Santa Giulia is surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and granite rocks, overlooking the archipelago of the Cerbicales Islands, classified as a nature reserve.

Santa Giulia and Palombaggia are among the most popular beaches for families which means they can get very busy in high season.

But a short drive along the coast usually leads to an emptier stretch of land or small alcove where to settle down for the day to enjoy the sunshine and balmy Mediterranean weather.

palombaggia beach aerial view

Corsica boasts over 1,000km of sandy white beaches and crystalline waters (Image: Getty)

The island effectively became a mountain in the sea after breaking away, with its big sister Sardinia, from the southern part of the European continent.

Corsica is made up of two large geological areas, with the “crystalline” western part and the “shale” northeastern part.

The average altitude of the island is 568 meters, making it the highest of all the islands in the western Mediterranean. The highest point is the Cintu Massif with 2,706 meters above sea level.

This diversity of landscapes is conducive to all activities from hiking to walks to discover the Agriates desert, Castaggniccia, and the Ospédale forest, without forgetting golf in Spérone, and all the water activities.

In addition to its spending sandy beaches, Corsica claims strong links to both its Italian and French traditions which come together in harmony in its musical, artistic and culinary traditions.

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