Car hire Porto Vecchio

Introduction

Porto-Vecchio is a magnificently located seaside resort: many beautiful beaches against the background of the mountains of central Corsica. The town also has a pleasant, historical center with bars, restaurants and so-called boutique hotels. Add to that the picturesque harbor and it's not surprising that the town attracts many tourists annually.

Population

The town has approximately 13,000 inhabitants.

Location

Porto-Vecchio is located in the southeast of Corsica. Most tourist resorts are situated north of town, along the beaches. Off the coast lie four small islands, the Îles Cerbicale, a protected nature reserve which forms part of a larger reserve, the Bouches de Bonifacio.

Economy

In the old days, until the middle of the twentieth century, cork industry and salt extraction were the town's main sources of income. These industries are still present, but nowadays Porto-Vecchio makes its money from tourists. In summer months the town's population triples.

Airports

Figari South Corsica Airport (in French: Aéroport Figari Sud-Corse) is situated 25 kilometers southwest of Porto-Vecchio. It's easily reachable by rental car via the N2198 and the D859. Travel time amounts to approximately 30 minutes. The way to the airport is clearly signposted.

Public Transport

Corsica has good bus connections between the island's most important cities. The line Bonifacio-Bastia for example stops at Porto-Vecchio. From the harbor there are also ferry connections with for example Marseille, and the Italian cities Livorno and Naples.

Traffic and Parking

The old city center is a pedestrian zone and many streets accessible to cars are one-way streets. This may make it difficult to find your way around. If you want to visit the town in summer months, it's best to get to the city early (before 10 a.m.). After that time it'll be difficult to find a free parking place for your rental car near the center. A rental car is an ideal means of transportation to discover the rest of Corsica. The main roads are good, but bear in mind that the hilly inland roads are narrow and winding.

Hotels

Although there are some charming boutique hotels in the old center of Porto-Vecchio, you can find most hotels and tourists resorts along the sandy beaches nearby town, like Poretta and Fiori Marina. Palombaggia Beach, 3 kilometers south of Porto-Vecchio is also popular. The nudist beach La Chiappa lies east of town. There are also many campsites nearby, but prices are rather high during the summer.

External Sources

For more information about Porto-Vecchio, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Porto-Vecchio
• Official website Porto-Vecchio
• Tourist Information Porto-Vecchio