Porto is a village to the west of Corsica, overlooking the Golfe de Porto. Porto is part of the commune of Ota, a village in the mountains a few kilometres east of Porto.
It is true that Porto is in quite a remote location but it is in the centre of some of the most scenic highlights in Corsica so many visitors come here.
Explore Porto
France This Way review: Porto is perhaps an unremarkable town, but its location and easy access to several beautiful natural highlights make it a very pleasant destination
Porto village extends over quite a large distance, but is largely a long row of hotels and apartments that have been built along the river valley. Happily these are quite small and create the impression of a village with a holiday atmosphere rather than of a seaside resort.
Behind the hotels the pretty river valley and the looming tall mountains create a spectacular backdrop.
There is a small group of older houses at each end of the main road: it is the part of the village near the port which is of interest to visitors.
In the part of Porto near the port you will discover a very small area that was the historic village and now contains shops and restaurants, as well as several ticket offices where you can book your boat trips along the coast.
As far as I could see, all the companies charged the same price for the same trips and there are never last-minute reductions if places remain available - so there is not a lot of point in shopping around!
At the end of the headland there is an ancient tower, built by the Genoese in the 16th century. There is a small charge to pay to enter the tower (which also allows access to a small museum explaining the history of Corsica), but the chance to walk out along the headland and the views from the top of the tower, both out to sea and back across the village, justify the expense.
After exploring this part of the village, take a stroll through the bustling waterfront in Porto. This is where tourists set off on one of the many boat trips available and is always bustling with activity.
On the other side of the port you will find a sandy beach, not perhaps the best beach in Corsica but very convenient for visitors and very welcome after a day exploring the surrounding countryside.
Attractions nearby
It is the scenery and activities in the surrounding mountains that are of course the main attraction in Porto. In particular these include:
- driving and hiking through the Calanques de Piana, with dramatic rocks providing some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the Mediterranean
- boat trips along the coast to see the calanques from a different perspective and to see the Scandola Nature reserve
- visiting the villages of Ota and Evisa, and walking through the Spelunca gorges, to the east of Porto
- visiting Piana, listed among the most beautiful villages in France and with access to two very lovely small beaches: see Piana guide
- driving along the coast to the north-west of Porto (towards Calvi) for more beautiful coastal scenery
These are in what I would think is their order of popularity with visitors but I highly recommend you allow time to do all these things!
You can find more travel ideas in the Corsica guide.
To make travel arrangements to visit Porto see HERE
Find Porto Ota Hotels and Holiday Rentals
Reserve excursions near Porto
Photos of Porto
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See complete Porto Photo Gallery
Map of Porto and places nearby
Places to visit near Porto
Ota
Ota is a village in south-west Corsica, near the Mediterranean and surrounded by mountains
Ota guide
Calanche de Piana
The calanche de Piana, red cliffs plunging to the Mediterranean, is one of the most scenic highlights in Corsica
Calanche de Piana guide
Piana
Piana is a small and very picturesque village, well placed to explore the stunning coastal scenery of western Corsica
Piana guide
Gorges de Spelunca
The Gorges de Spelunca in west Corsica is a lovely river valley that passes through the mountains
Gorges de Spelunca guide
Evisa
Evisa is a traditional granite village in the beautiful scenery of the west of Corsica
Evisa guide
Restonica Valley
The Valley of the Restonica includes the lovely Restonica gorges as well as a hike to Lake Melo and Lake Capitello
Restonica Valley guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Corse-du-Sud
The French version of this page is at Porto (Francais)