Bastia

If your idea of fun includes dangling from a glorified bedsheet while hurtling thousands of feet above Corsica's Nebbio region-and honestly, it should-paragliding near Saint-Florent is your ticket to adrenaline-fueled existential reflection. Nebbio, that effortlessly photogenic corner of northern Corsica, has seen Greeks, Romans, and pirates scratching their heads, deciding whether to pillage or retire quietly with a glass of local Patrimonio wine. There's no better introduction to this postcard-perfect landscape than flinging yourself off a hillside strapped to a cheerful local instructor who grins reassuringly as gravity does its seductive thing. Mornings provide the crispest thermals and gentlest winds (and fewer tourists gawking from below), so book ahead at least a few days and budget around €100 to €150, plus enough pocket change for a post-flight pastis to celebrate your continued existence. Don't forget sunscreen, a sturdy stomach, and a healthy appreciation for the absurd. Sure, you could just lounge on the beach, but why deny yourself bragging rights and a cocktail party story so wonderfully reckless you'll still be embellishing it decades later?

Perched smugly atop the rugged cliffs of Cap Corse, La Villa du Cap is the kind of place you'd imagine Bond villains retiring to, sipping martinis and plotting world domination while gazing at the Mediterranean below. Dining here isn't just dinner-it's a leisurely dip into Corsica's fiercely independent soul, plated up spectacularly with dishes like decadent langoustine tartare or wild boar slow-roasted with chestnut honey, accompanied by a suave sommelier whose charm rivals the scenery. To really drink in the grandeur (both figuratively and literally-Corsican wines are nothing to sneeze at), book your table around sunset; it's the kind of golden-hour spectacle that makes Instagram influencers weep with envy. Reservations open weeks ahead, especially in summer months, so plan accordingly. And don't show up without your wallet: figure €100 per head at least, maybe more if you indulge in that suspiciously tempting bottle of Domaine Gentile. Bring a stylish jacket (this isn't a flip-flop establishment) and perhaps a notebook-you'll want to jot down the one-liners from your waiter, who seems equally adept at recommending Corsican cheeses as he is at wry political commentary. Do it for the sophisticated indulgence, the unparalleled view, or simply for the joy of casually name-dropping "La Villa du Cap" at future dinner parties-because let's face it, dining like a millionaire villain, even just once, is a story worth telling.