Lying in the middle of the Mediterranean, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia offer some of the most beautiful cruising grounds in the world. Combined they provide the perfect mix of class and charm.
What’s not to love about this duo of islands? From the wonderful wild wind lashed Cap Corse in the north to the port of Bonifacio on the southernmost tip, there is much to discover along the coastline of Corsica.
Further south, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda sparkles with designer boutiques and exclusive restaurants, while the surrounding coves offer some of the most stunning anchorages in the Mediterranean.
And lying in between the French and Italian islands is the Maddalena archipelago – seven islands and 50-plus islets, they are home to some beaches akin to those found in the Caribbean.
Combine a little French culture on Corsica with a dose of Italian cuisine on Sardinia and you have the perfect itinerary.
With over 1,000 kilometres of coastline, the French island of Corsica remains largely unspoilt, despite having been a popular holiday destination for the past few decades.
The west coast is a stunning backdrop to any charter, with plunging cliffs, sheltered summer anchorages, and deep bays. Further south, Bonifacio is unique, with its fortress town high up on the cliff overlooking the straits on one side and a fjord-like port on the other.
The beaches of Corsica are amongst the most varied and attractive in the Mediterranean. Many of the best are only accessible by yacht, making them wonderfully private.
A trio of stunning beaches lie in the south of the island: Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Rondinara all comprise perfect crescent-shaped stretches of sand. For further recommendations on the best beaches to visit by yacht, be sure to read our feature on 9 of the best white sand beaches in Corsica.
The sheltered anchorage of Santa Manza is on Corsica’s southern coastline, a short hop from the stunning harbour of Bonifacio.
Close to the entrance to Porto Vecchio, San Ciprianu is a small shallow bay that offers wonderful diving and snorkeling sites. Girolata, on the west coast, is also perfect for snorkeling and diving among wonderful caves.
While Corsica is French, Bonifacio has a strong Italian flavour, so you get the best of both worlds on the cuisine front. For more information on local Corsican delicacies to try while cruising the island, read our guide to the top 9 delicacies you need to try whilst visiting Corsica on a superyacht.
For those stepping ashore in Bonifacio, the current restaurant favoured by the superyacht set for its fresh seafood is the Michelin-starred Da Passano.
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Da Passano
Restaurant
Boasting some 60 islands and islets, the Maddalena Archipelago lies between Corsica and Sardinia. The islands are home to some of the best beaches in the area, while the waters are ideal for snorkeling.
Maddalena itself has a bustling town, while many of the islands are uninhabited and offer idyllic anchorages.
The crystal clear waters surrounding the Maddalena archipelago are also perfect for snorkeling. The best sites can be found between Budelli and Isola Santa Maria.
The archipelago has a few restaurants of note. Porto Faro is home to the Michelin-starred La Gritta, while the family run L’Ottava Isola is a wonderful floating restaurant that serves lobster as its signature dish.
For lunch, the stunning setting of the beachside restaurant La Scogliera is matched by its excellent seafood cuisine.
Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda is one of the most popular superyacht cruising grounds in the Mediterranean. Stretching from Golfo Aranci to Baia Sardinia, the waters surrounding offer some of the best sailing conditions in the world.
Enjoy long mornings spent stretched out in the sun before lazy lunches on board. Come the afternoon, take a stroll around the exclusive enclave of Porto Cervo.
The shoreline sparkles with designer boutiques and a plethora of restaurants and bars. Elsewhere, forested mountains, citrus groves, emerald seas and medieval villages combined with five-star resorts, all in all providing the perfect charter itinerary.
Sardinia’s best-known beach is the sweeping Liscia Ruja, but if you want soft white sands, take the tender ashore to Pevero.
There's also some great snorkelling spots to be enjoyed. Diving in Sardinia offers aquarium-like conditions; many believe that it is the best diving in the Mediterranean.
The main area is the Costa Smeralda, and a major reason it is so good is that this corner of Sardinia is protected by virtue of being part of La Maddalena Archipelago National Park. Some of the best dive sites include Picchi di Punta Coticcio and the Grotto di San Francesco.
For dinner or lunch ashore, weave to gilded hotels the likes of Hotel Cala di Volpe, Hotel Pitrizza, Hotel Romazzino and Cervo Hotel.
A rite of passage for any bonafide charterer visiting Sardinia for the first time is to take the tender to the Hotel Cala di Volpe for a poolside lunch at Bar La Piazzetta. Early evening, take a stroll through the Piazzetta and dine at Il Pescatore. Specialising in seafood and fish, the restaurant is best described as rustic chic.
The Piazzetta in Porto Cervo offers the island’s most compelling nightlife options. Il Portico is the place to head for an aperitif or cocktail as you soak up the views.
Elsewhere, the lively passeggiata and the old-town streets of the 16th century fortified town of Alghero in the north west of the island are crammed with Italian bars and tavernas of every description.
At the southern end of the island, Cagliari’s nightlife runs from the convivial pavement cafes opposite the port to the chic late-night venues among Castello’s cobbled lanes.
Try Caffè Latino overlooking the marina for an aperitif, or La Bajada behind the cathedral for a late cocktail and chilled playlist.
Caffè Libarium Nostrum in the old Castello quarter offers fabulous views and is one of the city’s most popular spots for a late night cocktail. For live music, the wine bar and jazz club Vinvoglio is extremely popular.
The biggest names in fashion adorn Porto Cervo’s Piazzatta. Step ashore and discover Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, along with lesser-known Italian labels and independent boutiques. Read our article Porto Cervo: Sardinia's shopping paradise, to discover more about shopping in the resort.
For more details on planning a yacht charter in the region, speak to your preferred charter broker.
Alternatively, view all luxury yachts available for charter in the Mediterranean.
A SELECTION OF YACHTS FOR CHARTER IN CORSICA AND SARDINIA
