Things to do in Saint Florent Corsica (France) – Tips + Photos

Why visit Saint-Florent Corsica and top things to do

If you don't want to read the whole article, below is my selection of the top 5 things to do in and around Saint-Florent:

• Take a boat trip to Lotu beach and hike to Saleccia beach
• Explore the vineyards of Patrimonio
• Tour Cap Corse
• Eat ice-cream in the town center
• Appreciate the view of the Citadel with the mountains in the background

The town of St Florent is really well located to explore the North of the island: Only 30min from Bastia it is niched between the mountains of Cap Corse and the Agriates Desert.

The original medieval town was called Nebbiu.

It has become a popular seaside resort town but has kept all the charm of the ancient town, which is a great combination! It is protected by a Citadel from the 15th century.

Planning tips - St Florent Corsica

Saint-Florent and all my favorite locations around are included in my eBooks:

• I have found that St Florent is one of the easiest town to visit in Corsica. It has large carparks near the marina, near the Citadel and near the stadium. Parking fees from May to October
• The town is surrounded by mountains but not too hilly. So it is easy to explore on foot
• There is a great pathways along the port and it is easy to get around
• Many restaurants, café and famous ice-cream shops along the marina

Where to stay in St Florent - Hotels and accommodations

As I wrote earlier, I think it is a great idea to either stay in Saint-Florent or in the nearby Patrimonio

I personally opted to stay in the nearby Patrimonio. I love the landscapes of that little region: vineyards, hills and peakaboos of sea between them. Plus I have found it quieter than Saint-Florent. It is just 10min drive away from the port.

For example I stayed at Auberge Lustincone. I enjoyed my stay. The house has charming rooms, great food and fantastic views from the terrace and pool!

Check out photos and availability

Below are my own photos:

Or check out more accommodations in Patrimonio

​However if you prefer access to beach, restaurant and nightlife, then you should stay in Saint-Florent. There is a large choice of accommodations.
Check out the best rated accommodations in Saint-Florent

Want more ideas about where to stay in Corsica? Check out my accommodation article.

Saint-Florent Center

Then you can explore the inside of the medieval town center: 

• The Cathedral of Nebbiu of Roman-pisan style. It was built in the 11th and 12th century - It style is simple with little openings 
• The Church of Saint-Anne, the most noticeable with the pointy tower peaking over the roofline. It dates back to the 17th century
• And of course the Citadel (see next section)

Saint-Florent Citadel

The main point of interest of the old town is the Citadel.
It was built in 1439 and it was one of the first places to be occupied by the Genoese.
It used to be one of the most important commercial places in Corsica.

It has a very original architecture and shape with 2 square towers and one round.

Saint-Florent Beaches

La Roya beach

The main beach of Saint-Florent is La Roya. It is located just a short walk South of The city center.
Its shallow waters and protection in the gulf make it great to enjoy with kids.
Free carparks along the road.

Along the road - Ospedale and Olzu

North of the Citadel, you can also find Small beaches: Ospedale Beach and Olzu Beach.
One has small pebbles and the other sand.
Those beaches however are not visually appealing as they are surrounded by hotels and concrete.

Best beaches near St Florent Corsica

But the most beautiful beaches around Saint-Florent are located in the Agriates Desert. The most famous one is Saleccia beaches (one of the best beaches in Corsica). See the next section of this article.

Boat to Lotu Beach or Saleccia Beach

Below is Lotu beach with the lagoon behind. Shallow transparent water and sand... this is a great place to relax. It is definitively the beach with the most amazing view in the whole of Corsica.
I recommend you take the path inland towards Saleccia. This way you get higher and get splendid views of of the desert and like the one below:

At the end you reach the famous Saleccia beach where the colors seem unreal.
The white of the sand... the turquoise of the water...
Plus it is protected by a pine forest and also offers views of the Cap Corse mountains... what more could you want?

4WD Desert des Agriates

Tours depart from Saint-Florent or the small village of Casta.
And ou get to explore this land that is actually not really a desert (it even has temporary streams).
But the landscape is like no other on the island with rugged peaks at around 450m.

Wine in Patrimonio

Because of the hills and the sea right behind, the scenery in the region is stunning. So even if you don't drink wine, I recommend driving through the region.
But if you do enjoy wine, you can stop and visit one of the vineyards. 
Most of them are family-run and most of the production is savoured on the island.

A region of churches

Contrary to other places I have visited, Corsica's churches are not that visually appealing. 
But my 2 favorites are located not far from Saint-Florent.

Saint Martin - Patrimonio church

There is of course Saint-Martin in Patrimonio.
It has a beautiful ochre color and a great location with the surrounding hills.
It dates back to 1653  and was renovated in the 19th century. 

Saint Michel - Murato church

The other one is the beautiful Saint Michel in Murato.
The polychromy is fascinating.
It was built in 1140 using white and green stones and remodelled later (the reason why the bell tower is so tall)

Day trips from St Florent

The main day trip from Saint Florent is of course the tour of Cap Corse.
The northern part of the island is one of the most famous region.
The tour can be done in one day, although I recommend planning 2 days to do a little bit of walking.  You can see my whole guide to plan your Cap Corse Tour.

Cap Corse is a wild area with only a few villages and impressive mountains plunging into the sea.
Nonza and Erbalunga are worth a visit. And this is the only place to find black beaches in Corsica. However the color is not due to volcanic ashes (like in other countries) but to an old abandoned asbestos mine on the coast.
It is a wild gem you should not miss!

Plan 4h of driving (time without stopping) to do the whole tour.
Mostly easy to drive, but there a few narrow sections on the West coast where crossing path with a bus is a challenge...
I recommend to drive anti-clockwise for the best views.

Otherwise you can head South.
Drive on D81 along the Agraites Desert, stop by the fabulous Ostriconi beach and continue to L'ile-Rousse.
Here you can discover a town very different from Saint-Florent as it was built by Pascal Paoli.

Take the time to walk all the way to the Pietra lighthouse on the main island.
This way you can see the intense color up close and you get fantastic views of the Corsican mountains.

L'Ile Rousse is 1h drive away from Saint-Florent. You can plan your visit with my guide here.

However don't try to get to Porto and the Calanques de Piana on a day trip. It does not seem far away on the map but the drive is long because it is a small and winding road.
That being said, the gulf of Porto is one of my favorite regions in Corsica so I do recommend you go visit. Just make it an overnight trip. Check out my guide.

And if you are tired of Nature (not sure how you could, but not everyone has the same taste as me...) you can head to Bastia, the second largest city in Corsica.
One day is sufficient to explore the Citadel, visit the Governor palace with the many paintings and stroll around the old port.
It is only a 30min drive from Saint-Florent.

All the best places in those regions are included in my eBooks