The beautiful island just a few hours from the UK with 30C summers and more than 200 beaches

IF you want a holiday with hundreds of beaches to choose from just a few hours from the UK, you’re in luck.

Here is the beautiful island you should add to your bucket list this summer.

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Why Corsica?

Corsica, found between France and Italy, is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean.

Owned by France, it is often called the Île de Beauté, with many of the beaches compared to the Caribbean.

Flights are quick too – it takes around 2hr15, with both easyJet and British Airways operating routes.

There are four airports on the island, and you can also visit on a cruise holiday with 8 seaports.

The best time to visit is the summer when temperatures can hit as high as 30C.

What are the best Corsica holiday deals?

Corsica holidays don’t have to break the bank, with deals for as little as £270pp.

One of the cheapest we’ve found is seven nights at Adonis St Florent in Bastia with LoveHolidays.

For £287pp, you can also spend four nights at Hotel Mariana Calvi with all of them including return flights.

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If you want to build your own holiday, return flights start from £72 and hotel rooms and B&Bs are available for as little as £52 a night.

What is Corsica like?

The two largest towns are Bastia and Ajaccio, where most of the island lives, with the latter being the capital of Corsica.

There are more than 200 beaches on the island, with many compared to the Caribbean.

The most popular beaches are Santa Giulia Beach, Palombaggia Beach and Saleccia Beach.

One tourist, who visited Santa Giulia beach, wrote on TripAdvisor: “Amazing beach, better than the Caribbean.”

Someone else agreed: “Crystal water like in Seychelles, white sandy beach.”

Another wrote: “One of the best beaches in Europe without a doubt.”

Nature lovers can explore the lovely towns of Bonifacio and Calvi or head to The Scandola Natural Reserve, which is a UNESCO heritage site.

Thanks to its mountainous landscape, tourists often visit the island for the GR20 hiking route which runs from the north to the south.

Make sure to prepare yourself though – the 124 mile-route is one of the toughest in Europe, taking at least 16 days although you don’t have to do all of it.

Napoleon Bonaparte is probably the most famous person who was born in Corsica, back in 1769, and you can visit his family home which has been turned into a museum.

The island also has some amazing foods unique to Corsica, including the renowned charcuterie, locally sourced Corsican wines and “fiadone,” a cheesecake made from the cheese “brocciu” (like ricotta).

What else do I need to know about Corsica?

The local language on the island is French, and the island uses the euro with around £10 getting you €11.

Corsica is currently one hour ahead of the UK.

Brits can stay in Corsica for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa.

However, your passport must have at least three months left on it from the day you plan to leave.

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