The town is perched on a promontory, overlooking to the north, the southern coastline of Corsica, which is only 11 miles away, and to north-east, La Maddalena archipelago.
The town centre develops around 2 inlets: Porto Longone, at the end of which there is the small port, and Rena Bianca with its fine white sand beach.
The port is a particularly important haven for pleasure boating, and offers daily ferry rides to the town of Bonifacio (Corsica).