There is plenty to see and do to suit all ages and tastes in Calvi and the Balagne. Outlined below are a selection of the activities available, along with some suggestions for day trips. For information on entertainment, culture, food, drink and festivals, please see the ‘Food & festivals‘ page.

beaches: for many visitors, the beach is a major attraction.  Calvi’s main beach is just a 10 minute stroll from Casa Paradis, passing through the old town and along the harbourside, and beachlovers will not be disappointed.  As it’s 6 km long, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and its fine sand and gently-shelving bottom make it ideal for children of all ages. During the summer months there are lifeguards on duty. Restaurants and café bars are dotted along the beach, and a variety of watersports, including hobie-cats and kayaking, are on offer. The beach is backed by shady pines and sand dunes, concealing an adventure playground, tennis courts and picnic tables. Only a couple of minutes from Casa Paradis is the secluded and little-known beach Plage Roncu.  Tucked beneath the headland of Pointe St Francois, it’s a rocky cove with a shaly beach, ideal for snorkelling and exploring. Away from the tourist trail, it’s a favourite haunt of locals. Also close by are smooth flat rocks, great for peaceful sunbathing.

activities: the marina is where you’ll find several dive schools, yachts offering sailing trips and boats for hire. The coastline south of Calvi is breathtaking and largely inaccessible by road, so a boat trip to the stunning nature reserve of Scandola, a UNESCO heritage site, is highly recommended. It’s possible to combine this with a visit by boat to the island’s capital, Ajaccio. Aside from the various watersports at the beach (see above), other activities available include mini-golf, quad-bike safaris, an aerial assault course and mountain biking (bikes can be hired from the garage of the house).  Horseriding treks along the beach are another experience not to be missed. Corsica is popular with walkers and there are some excellent walks in Calvi and the surrounding countryside for both the novice and the more experienced hiker, and nature lovers will enjoy the flora, fauna and bird-watching. Activities further afield include 9-hole golf, paragliding, canyoning, climbing and hiking.

relaxation: lazy days are something Calvi does really well. Stretch out on a sunbed and listen to the sound of the sea lapping back and forth. Have a long lunch, maybe some freshly caught seafood and a chilled bottle of local rosé - there’s no rush. Take a siesta, read a book, have a massage or beauty treatment. Stop off in one of the waterfront cafés, enjoy an icecream, sit back, relax and watch the world go by . . .

out & about: the Trinighellu train runs from Calvi along the coast to the market town of Ile Rousse and beyond, stopping at several gorgeous beaches along the way. Coach excursions to various parts of the island are also available. Those who hire a car can follow the ‘route des artisans’ which passes through beautiful mountain villages such as Pigna and Sant Antonino which are well worth a stop for lunch.  Artisan studios,  vineyards and an olive oil mill make interesting breaks along the way. There are forests and rockpools you can swim in within a twenty minute drive, or you can travel further afield to the stunning Asco and Restonica valleys. A visit to the pretty port of St Florent makes an enjoyable day trip, as does a drive through the mountains to the university town of Corte and its excellent museum.