Plage du Grand Capo

A preserved bay

Grand Capo, also known as Capo di Feno, unrolls a kilometre of white sand along Ajaccio's west coast. You get there via the Sanguinaires road, about 8 km from downtown, carrying on along the D111B until Capo di Feno. A large free parking area of sandy ground comes before a small path down to the beach.

For the more adventurous, there's also a walking access from the far end of the Sanguinaires, but expect around 2h30 on foot. The area is open all year and getting in costs nothing, whether for parking or laying down your towel.

Textile and naturist side by side

The naturist section occupies the southern end of the bay. There's no barrier, no official sign separating it from the rest of the beach used in swimwear: the line is more sensed than seen, and no municipal decree formally reserves this space for nudists. In practice, though, the custom is well established and respected by the regulars.

The rest of the site draws a mixed crowd, families in swimsuits and surfers included, since the west coast swell is well suited to riding waves. On a beach this long, this cohabitation happens without friction: everyone finds their own patch of sand.

Atmosphere and services

The surroundings stay very natural, with few permanent structures. A handful of straw-hut restaurants still offer food as well as parasol and mattress rental, enough to spend the whole day without hauling everything from the parking lot.

As for swimming, the turquoise water wins everyone over, but the sea here is often choppy: Capo di Feno is an exposed beach, not a calm lagoon. Better to feel confident in the water or just paddle near the shore on windy days.

What the regulars say

Feedback mostly praises the calm and the wild character of the place, far from the crowds of Ajaccio's more urban beaches. The naturist section, in particular, is described as peaceful, in sharp contrast with the buzz around the straw-hut restaurants further north.

The one recurring downside: swimming can get tricky when the sea is rough, which doesn't stop surfers from making the most of it, nor naturists from coming above all for the sand, the sun and the quiet of the place.