Last year, after attending a wedding in the mountains of Megeve, I met up in southern Corsica with some friends who were living in Europe at the time. I had been craving a visit to Corisca for a while, captivated by the dramatic cliffs, crystal clear waters, and of course, the stylish French towns. After some debate, we decided to spend two days in Porto-Vecchio, which we had heard was more of a "party town" and to take a day trip into Bonifaccio, which we had heard was quieter, but had one of the most beautiful ports in the world.

We began our trip in Porto-Vecchio, walking through the impossibly chic town streets, shopping for hats and straw tote bags and catching glimpses of the Tour de France, which Corsica was hosting at the time. There was a lovely beach steps from our hotel, Plage de Santa-Giulia, but the real gem was Palombaggia, known as one of the best beaches in Europe. For lunch, you must eat at Tamaricciu, a chic restaurant with a St. Tropez vibe right on Palombaggia that serves grilled fish, meat, and pasta. You can also rent beach beds from the restaurant, and their waiters will keep the rose flowing all afternoon.

While in Porto-Vecchio, we ate at Chez Anna, and Le Bistro, both of which came highly recommended and did not disappoint. After dinner, we tried our hand at Corsican nightlife at Le Patio and Via Notte. Both were lively and fun, but I would definitely suggest arranging a car home in advance. After one particularly fun night out at Le Patio, we were unable to locate a taxi and might well have been stranded all night on the dock had the receptionist from our hotel not spotted us and kindly offered us a ride home.

On the final day of our trip, we drove into Bonifaccio, and spent the morning strolling along the peaceful port, stepping into shops and eating at one of the many restaurants which line the waterfront. After lunch, we hopped on a boat to explore the cliffs, caves and nearby Lavezzi islands, which are beyond picturesque.

If you're craving an understated, but elegant European beach vacation, southern Corsica is a hidden gem that I would highly recommend. In August, keep an eye out for celebrity yachts, as they tend to moor in Porto-Vecchio or Bonifaccio before setting sail to Sardinia.