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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The little-known sunshine spot with stunning beaches, 32C heat, rich history and world-famous hiking trails
TAKE a look at the little-known sunshine spot with stunning beaches, 32C heat, rich history and world-famous hiking trails. Corsica is a stunning Advertisement 4 Corsica is a stunning French island in the Mediterranean Credit: Getty Images 4 It is known for its stunning beaches Credit: Getty Images 4 There are also a number of scenic hiking trails Credit: Getty Images The hottest month of the year in Corsica is August, when temperatures reach 32C, making it a perfect destination for a summer getaway. This stunning island is famous for its dramatic mountains, quiet villages and crystal-clear coastline that's full of fabulous beaches. Known as one of the most scenic islands in the And although it is one of France's most underrated sunshine spots, there is plenty to do to keep the whole family entertained. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL The island is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, offering sweeping views and plenty of opportunities for water activities throughout the summer. Close to the coast, you'll find some of the most unspoiled beaches in This includes breathtaking spots like Palombaggia and Santa Giulia - both known for their white sands and calm turquoise waters. From the coastline, you can take boat trips to the Lavezzi Islands or explore sea caves around Bonifacio. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Aside from its Corsica's villages, such as Pigna and Sant'Antonino, are also a must-visit. The beautiful island just a few hours from the UK with 30C summers and more than 200 beaches These hotspots are filled with charming stone houses, narrow streets, and local artisans selling traditional crafts. For history enthusiasts, the island's capital, Ajaccio, is the birthplace of Advertisement Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Corsica, with the famous GR20 trail, one of Along with its natural beauty, Corsica is known for its distinct cuisine, blending French and Italian influences that are seen throughout its many cafes and restaurants. Corsican 'EXPERIENCE OF LIFETIME' Despite being a tourist destination, Corsica retains an unspoiled feel, with protected nature reserves and remote beaches offering tourists a quiet retreat from mainland France. Advertisement The island also offers plenty of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, from sailing and diving to horseback riding and canyoning in the island's diverse landscapes. Corsica's world-famous rivers offer tonnes of opportunities for kayaking and rafting, particularly in the Restonica and Golo gorges, where the scenery is breathtaking. Cycling is another popular way to explore the island with many scenic routes throughout, including climbs along the mountains and coastal rides with stunning sea views. People have taken to TripAdvisor to share their thoughts on the island's hiking trails. Advertisement One person wrote: "It's a lifetime experience, a magnificent hike with breathtaking landscapes! Completely incredible human and animal encounters." Another commented: "Lovely place to hike! I've been hiking for about five days with a group of friends and this was amazing; lakes, mountains and canyons are unique." 4 The island is full of stunning towns and villages Credit: Getty Images
National Geographic
12-07-2025
- National Geographic
The rebellious French island of Corsica has been shaped by time and tradition
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). There's something contrarian about Corsica, the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Seen from above, it resembles a hand with its index finger raised in defiance — the digit in question being the Cap Corse, a rugged peninsula of dark green mountains, bobbing fishing boats and beaches like Plage de Barcaggio, untouched by human development and famed for its herd of sunbathing cows. Corsica's story is one of fierce resistance in the face of repeated attacks and colonisation, and the longer you spend on the island the more the headstrong spirit of the Corsican people reveals itself — and the more its apparent paradoxes seem to unfold. 'Corsica, for most of its history, was an island that was afraid of the sea,' says guide Catherine Lehmann as we navigate the coastal capital, Ajaccio, through honeyed stone streets and squares where old men play pétanque in the shade of plane trees. 'Pirates, invasions and malaria — that's what the coast traditionally meant to Corsicans. In 1769, when Napoleon was born here, Ajaccio was nothing.' Napoleon reflected on the obdurate spirit of his homeland: 'Even today, children are raised like warriors here.' Photograph by Jonathan Stokes We walk from the city's coral-hued Renaissance cathedral up a leafy hillside boulevard to an imperious statue of Corsica's most famous son, Napoleon Bonaparte, gazing out over Ajaccio to the sapphire-blue Mediterranean Sea. The statue projects the same image as countless paintings and films have over the past 250 years: a stout man in riding boots and an overcoat, one hand tucked inside his waistcoat, steely eyes staring from beneath a bicorn hat. 'He looked very Corsican. Short, slumped shoulders, but very intense and self-confident,' says Catherine. A Corsican herself, she shares some of his features — she's small but resolute, her olive skin offset by grey-blue eyes, which are surprisingly common on Corsica. In personality, too, Catherine says, Napoleon reflected the obdurate spirit of his homeland. 'Even today, children are raised like warriors here,' she remarks. 'In France, if a kid gets bullied at school, their parents tell them to tell the teacher. Here, we tell them to punch the bully back. Be a Corsican. Not a chicken.' Corsica's strategic position between France and Italy has long made it a target for occupying outsiders, from the Romans, Greeks and Carthaginians of the ancient world to the modern governors — or colonisers, as many Corsicans still see them: the French. So while it's fitting in a way that Corsica's most famous son should be a militaristic outsider like Napoleon, reception to him in Corsica itself is mixed. Not only is he the embodiment of French imperialism, but as ruler of France, he's widely believed to have neglected his Corsican homeland. The view, however, is different in Ajaccio, which he transformed from a coastal backwater into a capital city. 'Here we have a much more positive view of Napoleon than elsewhere in Corsica,' says Catherine as we stroll along the harbour, its swaying palms and gleaming yachts like a vision of the Côte d'Azur. 'And we feel more French.' Into the mountains To discover the Corsican spirit in its most distilled form, I'm heading inland, where medieval hilltop villages rest in blankets of cloud, and hairpin roads wind through mutated outcrops of granite that erupt like popped corn from swathes of cool, thick forest. As I drive, the fragrance of the maquis — the herby shrubland that defines the Corsican interior — floods in through my open window. The aroma of rosemary, sage and the curry-like smell of immortelle, a yellow flower used in some of the world's most expensive fragrances, mingle together in a glorious melange. Corsica is a perfumed isle; a wistful Napoleon, during his final exile on the remote Atlantic island of Saint Helena, is said to have spoken longingly of the scent of his homeland. The aroma of rosemary, sage and the curry-like smell of immortelle mingle together in a glorious melange. Photograph by Jonathan Stokes The serenity is shattered periodically: by death-wish drivers overtaking me on blind corners and, more subtly, by damage to the road signs — in the form of spray paint or bullet holes — erasing the French translations of the Corsican-language place names. The pointed vandalism serves as evidence of abiding discontent with the status quo. Corsica's political climate remains fraught. Although calls for outright independence from France are no longer mainstream, the movement for greater autonomy remains strong and occasionally spills over into violent protest, most recently in 2022. An hour-and-a-half's drive from Ajaccio, the town of Corte reveals itself: a picture-book huddle of medieval houses set on a hilltop citadel that rises imposingly above the maquis. Corte was the capital of the short-lived Corsican Republic — declared an independent state in 1755 by Pasquale Paoli, who sought to liberate Corsica from its ruler at the time, the Republic of Genoa. The Corsican Republic fell when the island was taken over by France in 1769 — the year of Napoleon's birth — but to this day it's Paoli, far more than Napoleon, who's Corsica's national hero. Besides his fierce battle for Corsican independence, Paoli was a liberaliser and innovator; his Corsican Constitution was the world's first written constitution, and incorporated democratic principles including female suffrage. I sit at a cafe in the town square and order a clementine juice — a Corsican speciality — in the shadow of a defiant statue of Jean-Pierre Gaffori, a hero of Paoli's revolutionary movement, who was assassinated in 1750. The building behind him, his former home, is still riddled with bullet holes; above his head, the Corsican flag flaps in the breeze. Like neighbouring Sardinia's, the flag depicts a Moor's head, a legacy of Corsica's time as a territory of the Spanish kings of Aragon. On pre-revolutionary flags the Moor was blindfolded; legend has it that Paoli ordered the bandana to be lifted onto his forehead to symbolise the awakening of the Corsican people. Corsica's political climate remains fraught. Although calls for outright independence are no longer mainstream, the movement for greater autonomy remains strong. Photograph by Jonathan Stokes After another 90-minute drive, I reach my final destination for the day: the home (and holiday cottages) of musician Christian Andreani, in the village of Patrimonio. In the garden, in the shade of an age-thickened chestnut tree, Christian — a short, white-bearded man in glasses and a denim jacket — lays out a selection of ancient Corsican instruments. There are several extravagantly curved sheep horns, an array of wooden recorders and a flute made from a goat's leg bone. This latter instrument, Christian says, is similar to ones used by Corsica's mysterious prehistoric people, about whom little is known beyond the stone menhirs, or standing stones, they left behind. They bear millennia-old carvings of human figures that stand, open-mouthed, frozen as if awestruck by some higher power. Thousands of these figures still scatter the maquis; some stand proud in lonely groves, looking like they were carved yesterday; others lie face-down, cracked and strangled with ivy, waiting to be resurrected. Christian can often be found playing his instruments alone in the mountains, his only accompaniment the burbling of a stream and the tinkle of mule bells. 'It's a rapport with the land and with the cosmos,' he says, before picking up a huge conch shell and brandishing it with a raised fist. 'But this,' he says, 'is the sound of revolution.' He blows a bellowing note that sends birds scattering from the branches and threatens to rain a harvest of chestnuts down on our heads. 'Pasquale Paoli and his troops would blow these shells as a battle cry and to communicate across different valleys,' he says. Although Christian's instruments hark back to a time out of mind, the tunes he plays on them are Corsican folk songs, a genre that's undergone a renaissance in the past 50 years or so. 'We call it the Riacquistu — the reacquisition,' he says. From the 1970s onwards, Christian explains, the Corsican nationalism movement empowered islanders to rediscover the country's unique cultural elements: its Italianate language, long suppressed by the French authorities; winemaking; and folk music. Echoes of the Riacquistu are everywhere here. That very morning, I'd come down for breakfast in my gîte to find the proprietor playing a YouTube video entitled 'One hour of Corsican rebel/combat folk music', humming along between sips of his cafe au lait. These days, not everybody agrees with the methods of the more militant Corsican rebels, but many of these characters have nonetheless gained a place in the collective consciousness as folk heroes. For Christian, though, Corsican national pride doesn't disturb the harmony of present-day Patrimonio. 'This is a peaceful place now,' he says, before leaning in and adding with a conspiratorial whisper, 'there's even a Frenchman in the village.' Christian lays out a selection of ancient Corsican instruments. There are several extravagantly curved sheep horns, wooden recorders and a flute made from a goat's leg bone. Photograph by Jonathan Stokes Christian soon has a chance to showcase Patrimonio's community spirit. There's a musical performance taking place tonight at the San Martinu Church in the village, an imposing structure that looks, with its pockmarked walls and rugged stonework, almost as old as the prehistoric monoliths strewn across the Corsican hinterland. The church is dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, a fourth-century Roman soldier-turned-monk whose travels inspired the new island-wide Saint Martin Pilgrimage Trail, a walking route that's been opening in stages since 2024. I enter the church as it's getting dark. Christian and a dozen or so other men take to the stage, dressed in grey cassocks, and deliver a rousing set of hymns, their voices coalescing in deep, rich harmony. After the performance, I get chatting to the person next to me on the pew: a smiling, grey-bearded man named Ange Torre. He's a musician, he tells me, and fronts the band Eppò, which combines rock with traditional Corsican folk music. He gives me a blast of one of their songs through his phone. It's a riotous blend of acoustic guitars, bass, drums and the polyphonic singing traditional to the Corsican countryside, all delivered passionately in the Corsican language. Ange acknowledges the influence and importance of the Riacquistu, but says his band initially faced opposition from some purists within the movement. 'A lot of people asked how we could mix traditional Corsican music with rock — they thought we were crazy,' he says. He's also on a mission to upend the atmosphere of the nationalist movement itself, and restore some joy to Corsican music. 'A lot of the music right now is sad or angry about the fight for independence, the injustice, the people that were killed or put in prison,' Ange explains. 'But many of us just want to dance. Nowadays that can seem quite radical — but people need joy.' The evil eye & the white witch The following morning, I take a walk on a forest trail outside Patrimonio through stands of chestnut and pine trees. While showing me around his garden the previous day, Christian had told me that he viewed its most ancient trees as totems. This idea of the totemic power of nature abides in rural Corsica, alongside a deeply rooted belief in a spirit world that exists with and influences our own, unseen to most, but not all. I'd read and heard whisperings about white witches, called signadoras, expert herbalists who purport to have the power to neutralise the evil eye, traditionally feared in Corsica and in cultures across the Mediterranean. I never expected to meet a signadora, but Christian tells me he knows one: a woman called Francesca Desideri. I drive back through the maquis to meet her in the village of Querciolo. The idea of the totemic power of nature abides in rural Corsica, alongside a rooted belief in a spirit world that exists with our own. Photograph by Jonathan Stokes Francesca greets me in her garden, outside a log cabin that serves as her kitchen and workspace. She's elderly, white-haired and has a deeply lined face, but is still sturdy and strong from a life outdoors, picking plants in the maquis. Her eyes are electric blue, bejewelling her eye sockets like semi-precious stones. We take a seat in the workshop, which appears untouched by the passing of centuries. Scythes and bundles of dried herbs hang on the wall, and a black-and-white cat peers nervously around an ancient-looking stove. On the table is a ceramic bowl full of water and a stoppered bottle of olive oil. Francesca motions for me to place my hand on one side of the bowl, then drips three drops of oil into the water, muttering incantations as she does so. These secret prayers, she tells me later, invoke the Virgin Mary — a Christian element absorbed into a pagan tradition to avoid having it stamped out by the Church. 'Christianity came to Corsica very late,' Francesca says. She repeats the oil-and-water process three times, and says that with each repetition, the behaviour of the oil changes, no longer scattering but joining together as one blob — a sure sign that any trace of the evil eye has been cast out. I can't tell much difference, but Francesca seems satisfied. Not all of Corsica's mystical inhabitants are a benign as the signadoras. Francesca tells me that most Corsican villages are home to people known as mazzere, who claim to enter the spiritual plane in their sleep and all have the same dream: that they're hunting in the maquis, where they kill a wild boar. They then turn over the animal's dead body to see the face of someone in the village, who'll be the next person to die in the waking world. These dream-hunters, Francesca says, are bestowed with their powers against their will, and are feared and ostracised in their villages as prophets of death. 'So although I know some,' she says, sharply, 'they won't want to talk to you.' Heroes & villains The final stop on my journey is Bonifacio. The town is split between a somnolent harbour, where little fishing skiffs bob next to expensive pleasure boats, and a grand hilltop citadel. From here, there are sweeping views over the glittering Strait of Bonifacio and the coast of Sardinia, just 10 miles to the south. On both levels, the buildings are handsome, centuries old and hewn from amber stone. The Corsican nationalism movement empowered islanders to rediscover the country's unique cultural elements: its language, winemaking, and folk music. Photograph by Jonathan Stokes 'In the past, the French government made Corsicans believe that they had to move to France to become successful. Recent generations have been empowered to stay and become successful here." Photograph by Jonathan Stokes As it happens, my visit coincides with De Renava contemporary art biennale, which is held in Bonifacio and runs from May to November. The event is hosted in spaces across town, but primarily in a vast, crumbling 19th-century building in the heart of the citadel that was formerly an army barracks. I pull up outside and am greeted by De Renava's co-founder, Dumè Marcellesi. He's a colourful character: a tall, broad-shouldered man in his early 30s, with wild curly hair and a moustache. He shows me around the gallery and I'm a little surprised, in a trendy Corsican contemporary art space, to find the opening room dominated by a huge oil painting of Napoleon Bonaparte, dressed in his coronation furs. It soon becomes clear, though, that this is a subversive statement. 'To some people he's still a hero; here on Corsica he's a villain,' says Dumè. 'The theme of the biennale is 'The Fall of Empires'. You English are specialists in the subject, of course,' he adds with a grin. Dumè signals to a tawdry souvenir vase, emblazoned with Napoleon's image, which sits on a plinth beside the painting. 'This is the modern legacy of Napoleon: cheap tat and tourist marketing,' he remarks. In a previous life, Dumè tells me, he was an investment banker in Paris and a professional rugby player for Stade Français. But during the pandemic he gave up the city life and moved back to the countryside near Bonifacio to take over his parents' farm, producing olives and cheese and becoming a mogul of Corsica's contemporary art scene. 'In the past, the French government made Corsicans believe that they had to move to France to become successful,' he says. 'But since the Riacquistu, that's all changed. Recent generations of Corsicans have been empowered to stay, or come back and become successful here. Corsica is no longer a cage.' In spite of which, he adds, in typically iconoclastic Corsican fashion, 'The Riacquistu is dead. It was a reaction — what we need now is some action.' Dumè's worry, he says, is that the movement to reposition Corsica's role within France plays down the island's merits. 'We need to stop defining ourselves by the past, be happy with what we are and focus on what we can do ourselves.' Dumè's aim with De Renava, he says, is to prove that Corsican artists can stand up alongside better-known international names. Between sketches by Jean-Michel Basquiat and a film by acclaimed Egyptian artist Youssef Nabil is an installation by Corsican artist Yan Leandri: an array of flickering TVs play footage from the 1980s and '90s, when nationalist violence was at its peak. On a wall outside, unrelated to the exhibition, is a stencil of Yvan Colonna, a Corsican nationalist who repeatedly maintained his innocence after being controversially jailed for the 1998 murder of Corsica's highest-ranking official, Claude Érignac. Colonna was himself murdered in jail by a fellow inmate in 2022 and has since become a symbol of the modern nationalist movement. Stencils like this can be seen sprayed on walls across the island. 'The villain became a hero,' Dumè says. 'And so the cycle goes on.' Getting there and around: British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Figari three times a week in summer. Average flight time: 2h From the French mainland, Air Corsica offers year-round flights from Paris, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Lyon to the Corsican airports of Ajaccio, Calvi, Bastia and Figari. Public transport is limited in Corsica. There's one train line, the U Trinichellu, which runs from Ajaccio to Bastia, stopping at Corte. There's also a limited bus service between large towns. Most visitors will find it easiest to rent a car; offices including Avis and Enterprise are represented at the island's airports. When to go The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn (March to May and September to November) are fantastic times to visit Corsica, without the heavy crowds and searing heat of summer. Temperatures often exceed 30C in August, for example, as opposed to average highs of 22C in October. Where to stay: Hôtel Spunta di Mare, Ajaccio. From €75 (£64), B&B. Roc Seven Casa Santini, Porto-Vecchio. From €225 (£188), B&B. More info: DK Top 10 Corsica. £8.99 How to do it: Exodus Adventure Travels has an eight-night Mountains & Villages itinerary in Corsica, covering stops in Ajaccio, Corte and Bastia and visits to prehistoric menhirs, museums and beaches. From £1,349 per person, including transfers, train travel, all meals and guided hikes. Excludes flights. This trip was supported by ATC Corsica, Air Corsica and Atout France. Published in the July/August 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
The Irish Sun
10-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
20 of Europe's most beautiful islands that have direct flights from the UK – and some of the world's best beaches
WHO doesn't love an island holiday? You get the best of both worlds with bustling old towns and of course, incredible beaches. Here are 20 of the best Advertisement 8 Some of the destinations have the most beautiful beaches in the world Credit: Alamy Corfu The buildings are orange rather than the classic white and blue because of Venetian influence and the island is famous for its old town full of shops and cafes. One You can fly from Birmingham airport to Corfu (CFU) in three hours 10 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £23.99 (on October 20, 2025). Advertisement Read More on European Breaks Corsica The island has over 200 beaches and is known for having chic shops, cafés and restaurants. The island is also a great place to hop on a boat tour. There's one that stops off to enjoy a Corsican wine tasting hosted by a sommelier and a local wine-grower while watching the sunset. You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Corsica (BIA) in two hours 14 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £39.89 (on September 23, 2025). Advertisement Most read in Beach holidays Exclusive Exclusive Crete It has ancient ruins, but also incredible beaches, including one of the best in the world. The TUI guide to Crete from best beaches to passport rules 8 Elafonisi Beach is known for it's rare pink sand Credit: Alamy Advertisement One You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Crete (HER) in three hours 55 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £38.99 (on November 2, 2025). Fuerteventura For a summer feeling on sandy beaches head to Highlights on the island include Corralejo and the Jandía peninsula, and the Advertisement You can fly from London Stansted airport to Fuerteventura (FUE) in four hours 20 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £21.00 (on November 26, 2025). 8 The Canary Islands are popular and only hours away from the UK Credit: Alamy Gran Canaria There's lots to do on the island of From exploring the Advertisement The island also has busy nightlife too with busy bars and nightclubs. You can fly from Ibiza Ibiza is a popular Mediterranean island when it comes to but beaches, but especially the nightlift. Dubbed the party island, it has recently Advertisement You can fly from Kefalonia It's never actually reached number one, but Myrtos Beach has been named as one of the best in Greece more than ten times. It's no surprise really as it's adorned with white pebbles, has a cliff backdrop and bright blue waters. Advertisement When one You can fly from Manchester airport to Kefalonia (EFL) in three hours 45 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 25, 2025). 8 Kos not only has beaches, but natural hot springs too Credit: Alamy Kos Advertisement While visiting the island, one You can fly from London Lanzarote The Locals revealed to Advertisement You can fly from London Southend to Lanzarote (ACE) in four hours 5 minute with easyJet - one-way flights start at £15 (on November 24, 2025). 8 La Palma has bustling towns and volcanic black sand beaches Credit: Alamy La Palma La Palma is another of the Canary Islands known for forest landscape and beaches with volcanic black sand. Advertisement One of the most famous landmarks is the Visitors who reach the top can gaze at the valley below from 8,000 feet in the air. You can fly from London Gatwick to La Palma (SPC) in four hours 25 minute with TUI - one-way flights start at £136 (on November 13, 2025). Madeira Advertisement The You can fly from London Luton to Madeira (FNC) in three hours 55 minute with easyJet- one-way flights start at £41.99 (on October 13, 2025). Majorca Trusty It's the most popular of the Balearic Islands, the capital city of Advertisement You can fly from Manchester to Majorca (PMI) in two hours 35 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £15 (on July 23, 2025). Menorca It has four main towns, including, You can fly from London Stansted to Menorca (MAH) in two hours 25 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21.99 (on August 21, 2025). Advertisement 8 Mykonos has sun, sea, sand and windmills Credit: Alamy Mykonos Over the years it's become popular with celebrities too like Beyonce and the Hemsworth brothers. There's even a Advertisement You can fly from London Gatwick to Mykonos (JMK) in three hours 50 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £38.99 (on August 25, 2025). Rhodes Dubbed as the quieter neighbour of Crete and Santorini, Rhodes is the place to be, and as one They discovered the nightlife too with rooftop bars and fine dining at Mystilli Roof Garden. You can fly from London Luton to Rhodes (RHO) in four hours and 10 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £32.99 (on October 21, 2025). Advertisement Santorini While some try to steer away from the busier Greek islands, there are some you have to see for yourself - like Popular sites are the blue-domed churches and views of the houses carved into the cliffs. You can fly from London Stansted to Santorini (JTR) in three hours 50 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £34.99 (on September 28, 2025). Sardinia Advertisement You can You can fly from London Stansted to Sardinia (AHO) in two hours 30 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £18 (on September 28, 2025). 8 Siscily has striking cliffs and plenty of vineyards inland too Credit: Alamy Sicily Just under two miles from the Italian mainland is the island of Advertisement With ancient ruins, incredible food, plenty of vineyards and beautiful coastlines, the island is understandably a popular destination for Brits. You can fly from London Stansted to Tenerife Sun, sea and sand, One Sun Writer visited Advertisement You can fly from London Luton to Tenerife (TFS) in four hours 20 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21 (on September 17, 2025). Zante Also known as Zakynthos, It's a great location for holidaymakers wanting to relax and have fun during the evening at local bars and clubs too. In 2023, in the world by the travel website Advertisement You can fly from London Stansted to Zante (ZTH) in three hours 25 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 21, 2025). 8 These 20 European islands have direct flights and incredible beaches Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
20 of Europe's most beautiful islands that have direct flights from the UK – and some of the world's best beaches
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHO doesn't love an island holiday? You get the best of both worlds with bustling old towns and of course, incredible beaches. Here are 20 of the best European islands that you can reach directly from the UK with flights from £15. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Some of the destinations have the most beautiful beaches in the world Credit: Alamy Corfu Corfu is known as Greece's greenest island, but it also has sandy beaches, mountains, and even flamingos that sit in shallow lagoons. The buildings are orange rather than the classic white and blue because of Venetian influence and the island is famous for its old town full of shops and cafes. One Sun Writer felt like they'd travelled back in time while exploring the island. You can fly from Birmingham airport to Corfu (CFU) in three hours 10 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £23.99 (on October 20, 2025). Corsica Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean that sits 56 miles off the coast of Italy. The island has over 200 beaches and is known for having chic shops, cafés and restaurants. The island is also a great place to hop on a boat tour. There's one that stops off to enjoy a Corsican wine tasting hosted by a sommelier and a local wine-grower while watching the sunset. You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Corsica (BIA) in two hours 14 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £39.89 (on September 23, 2025). Crete Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands, and the fifth biggest in the Mediterranean Sea. It has ancient ruins, but also incredible beaches, including one of the best in the world. The TUI guide to Crete from best beaches to passport rules 8 Elafonisi Beach is known for it's rare pink sand Credit: Alamy Elafonisi Beach has pink sand and some of the bluest waters in the Med and has been named the best beach in the world for 2025 by Tripadvisor. One Sun Writer visited the Greek island and discovered beautiful sunsets while enjoying some of the Mediterranean's cheapest pints. You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Crete (HER) in three hours 55 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £38.99 (on November 2, 2025). Fuerteventura For a summer feeling on sandy beaches head to Fuerteventura. The island is popular for beach holidays and its laid-back atmosphere. Highlights on the island include Corralejo and the Jandía peninsula, and the Betancuria old town. You can fly from London Stansted airport to Fuerteventura (FUE) in four hours 20 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £21.00 (on November 26, 2025). 8 The Canary Islands are popular and only hours away from the UK Credit: Alamy Gran Canaria There's lots to do on the island of Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands. From exploring the Maspalomas sand dunes and the beach resort on the south of the island, Playa del Inglés. The island also has busy nightlife too with busy bars and nightclubs. You can fly from London Southend airport to Gran Canaria (LPA) in four hours 20 minutes with easyJet - one-way flights start at £15 (on November 14, 2025). Ibiza Ibiza is a popular Mediterranean island when it comes to but beaches, but especially the nightlift. Dubbed the party island, it has recently reopened it's superclub, UNVRS which can hold up to 10,000 people. You can fly from Birmingham airport to Ibiza (IBZ) in two hours 40 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £17 (on August 8, 2025). Kefalonia Kefalonia is is an island in the Ionian Sea and is home to one of Greece's best beaches - Myrtos. It's never actually reached number one, but Myrtos Beach has been named as one of the best in Greece more than ten times. It's no surprise really as it's adorned with white pebbles, has a cliff backdrop and bright blue waters. When one Sun Writer explored the island, she discovered it's perfect for family getaways. You can fly from Manchester airport to Kefalonia (EFL) in three hours 45 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 25, 2025). 8 Kos not only has beaches, but natural hot springs too Credit: Alamy Kos Kos is the third largest island in the Dodecanese group and is full of fantastic coast and historical sites like Kos Castle and natural hot springs at Therma Beach. While visiting the island, one Sun Writer discovered a local restaurant called Taverna Romeo where a meal for three cost 40 euros (£34.50). You can fly from London Stansted airport to Kos (KGS) in three hours 50 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £34.99 (on October 20, 2025). Lanzarote The Spanish island is perfect for a beach holiday with highly-rated Papagayo beaches, like Playa Flamingo, which is known for having golden sand and turquoise waters. Locals revealed to Sun Travel the must-visit spots in Lanzarote including the best places for a white sand beaches and favourite restaurants. You can fly from London Southend to Lanzarote (ACE) in four hours 5 minute with easyJet - one-way flights start at £15 (on November 24, 2025). 8 La Palma has bustling towns and volcanic black sand beaches Credit: Alamy La Palma La Palma is another of the Canary Islands known for forest landscape and beaches with volcanic black sand. La Palma is another of the Canary Islands known for forest landscape and beaches with volcanic black sand. One of the most famous landmarks is the Roque de los Muchachos found at the highest point of the island. Visitors who reach the top can gaze at the valley below from 8,000 feet in the air. You can fly from London Gatwick to La Palma (SPC) in four hours 25 minute with TUI - one-way flights start at £136 (on November 13, 2025). Madeira Madeira is a region of Portugal which comprises four islands off the northwest coast of Africa. The islands have even been compared to Hawaii with subtropical forests, vineyards - and it has black and golden sand beaches. You can fly from London Luton to Madeira (FNC) in three hours 55 minute with easyJet- one-way flights start at £41.99 (on October 13, 2025). Majorca Trusty Majorca is always popular with Brits for its reliable sunny weather and high summer temperatures. It's the most popular of the Balearic Islands, the capital city of Palma is always bustling with top attractions being the Palma Cathedral and castle. You can fly from Manchester to Majorca (PMI) in two hours 35 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £15 (on July 23, 2025). Menorca Menorca is known for being the more relaxed sister of Majorca and Ibiza. It has four main towns, including, Binibeca Vell which is a fishing village with white-washed houses and has been dubbed to being similar to Santorini. You can fly from London Stansted to Menorca (MAH) in two hours 25 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21.99 (on August 21, 2025). 8 Mykonos has sun, sea, sand and windmills Credit: Alamy Mykonos Mykonos is probably one of, if not the most famous islands in Greece, instantly recognisable for its iconic windmills, white-washed buildings and beachside restaurants. Over the years it's become popular with celebrities too like Beyonce and the Hemsworth brothers. There's even a famous pelican that is the unofficial mascot of the sun-soaked island. You can fly from London Gatwick to Mykonos (JMK) in three hours 50 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £38.99 (on August 25, 2025). Rhodes Dubbed as the quieter neighbour of Crete and Santorini, Rhodes is the place to be, and as one Sun Writer discovered it's much cheaper too. They discovered the nightlife too with rooftop bars and fine dining at Mystilli Roof Garden. You can fly from London Luton to Rhodes (RHO) in four hours and 10 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £32.99 (on October 21, 2025). Santorini While some try to steer away from the busier Greek islands, there are some you have to see for yourself - like Santorini. Popular sites are the blue-domed churches and views of the houses carved into the cliffs. You can fly from London Stansted to Santorini (JTR) in three hours 50 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £34.99 (on September 28, 2025). Sardinia Sardinia is an Italian haven for celebrities and British holidaymakers. You can explore the island by speedboat, adventure up hiking trails or laze about on sunbeds. You can fly from London Stansted to Sardinia (AHO) in two hours 30 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £18 (on September 28, 2025). 8 Siscily has striking cliffs and plenty of vineyards inland too Credit: Alamy Sicily Just under two miles from the Italian mainland is the island of Sicily. With ancient ruins, incredible food, plenty of vineyards and beautiful coastlines, the island is understandably a popular destination for Brits. You can fly from London Stansted to Palermo (PMO) in three hours 10 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21.99 (on October 30, 2025). Tenerife Sun, sea and sand, Tenerife has it in spades. It's the largest of the Canary Islands and has volcanic landscapes and beautiful beaches too. One Sun Writer visited Tenerife and discovered that it's a haven for surfers as well as fun resorts and rooftop bars. You can fly from London Luton to Tenerife (TFS) in four hours 20 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21 (on September 17, 2025). Zante Also known as Zakynthos, Zante is a very popular summer resort. It's a great location for holidaymakers wanting to relax and have fun during the evening at local bars and clubs too. In 2023, Navagio Beach was named one of the best beaches in the world by the travel website World's Best Beaches. You can fly from London Stansted to Zante (ZTH) in three hours 25 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 21, 2025).
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Aberdeen launch improved Moussa Soumano transfer bid as Ajaccio resolve tested
Jimmy Thelin is keen to add more attacking options at Pittodrie Aberdeen have made an improved offer for AC Ajaccio winger Moussa Soumano. The Dons have had an opening £500,000 offer turned down. They have since upped the ante in their bid to land the 19-year-old. Jimmy Thelin is now waiting to see if it will be enough to get a deal over the line. Ajaccio have already knocked back a number of bids in recent weeks, including one from Dutch side NAC Breda. The issue has been complicated by Ajaccio's current situation. The Corsican club has been demoted to the National League due to financial issues. Ajaccio have appealed the decision and are fighting to keep their place In Ligue 2. The case is due to be heard on July 15th. Soumano is one of their prize assets and if they are to sell him then they want to maximise their income. The teenager came through at Red Stadium before he moved through the ranks at Ajaccio. Thelin is still in the market to bring in another striker, after the Scottish Cup holders brought in Iceland under-21 cap Kjartan Mar Kjartansson. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
