Looking out to the Mediterranean Sea on the northeast coast of Corsica is L’Arinella Beach. The beach’s appealing stretch of sand offers a perfect escape from the busy port life of Bastia. Its wide, flat area is great for playing beach sports and popular with families with young children. At the heart of the beach is a watersport center where you can rent sailing and windsurfing equipment.
Walk to the north end of the beach to enjoy uninterrupted views of Bastia’s cityscape and the surrounding mountains of Corsica. Watch as cruise ships and private yachts arrive at the Port of Bastia from mainland France and Italy. Gaze out across the glistening sea toward Italy’s west coast. On an especially clear day you might be able to make out the distant islands of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Off the beach you’ll find plenty of entertainment for younger visitors. At the southern end is a children’s playground, complete with slides, swings, climbing frames and a small zip-line course. Bring a ball to play soccer or basketball. Adjacent to the watersport center is a well-maintained skate park.
L’Arinella Beach is about a 10-minute drive from Place St.-Nicolas, in Bastia’s city center. Both metered and free parking are available, although the free spaces fill up fast during the summer months. Public trains operate regularly between the beach and Bastia’s central station. If you are feeling energetic, make the enjoyable 1-hour walk to the beach from Bastia’s Vieux Port via a waterfront boulevard.
Combine your day at L’Arinella Beach with a visit to picturesque La Marana Beach. This 10-mile-long (16-kilometer) beach sits between the enticing Mediterranean waters and Étang de Biguglia, one of Corsica’s largest lagoons and a natural habitat for turtles, fish and myriad birdlife. Find bars, watersports centers and ample parking at various points along the beach.