Corsica Travel Guide

Corsica is the French Mediterranean island of mountains and sea. This guide covers the main sights, beaches and boat trips, day trips to Scandola, Bonifacio and Bavella, hiking, when to go, and 59 bookable tours, with information drawn from official and primary sources.

Sights Tours Day Trips Where To Stay Getting There

One Day In Ajaccio: Napoleon, The Old Town And The Gulf

Ajaccio, the island capital, is Napoleon's birthplace. The Maison Bonaparte and the Palais Fesch sit a few minutes apart in the old town, so both fit in one morning, though the Maison Bonaparte closes on Mondays. At the western end of the gulf, the Sanguinaires islands round off the day.

First time in Corsica
1Morning
A quiet palm-lined square with pale facades and cafe terraces in the old centre of a Mediterranean port town

Place Foch And The Old Town

Place Foch is the main square near the port and a good place to start on foot. Cafes line the square, and the old town streets run from here toward the citadel and the harbour.

2Late Morning
Narrow stone street with the plain ochre facade of a historic townhouse and shuttered windows

Maison Bonaparte

The Maison Bonaparte is the national museum on Rue Saint-Charles, 200 m from the bus station and ferry terminal. It is open every day except Monday, with a full ticket at €10. Winter hours are shorter than summer hours.

Adult ticket €10
3Afternoon
Grand neoclassical museum building with a pale facade and a quiet courtyard in afternoon light

Palais Fesch

The Palais Fesch, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, is an indoor stop that works in any weather. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Tickets cost €10 full, €6 for over-65s, and entry is free up to 18.

Adult ticket €10
4Evening
Low rocky islets and a Genoese watchtower silhouetted against an orange sunset over calm sea

Sanguinaires Sunset

The Îles Sanguinaires sit at the western tip of the Gulf of Ajaccio near the Tour de la Parata. Sunset boat trips with an aperitif leave from Ajaccio, and the road to the Parata tower is the land option.

A small tour boat on calm water below an orange sunset sky near low rocky islets
Sanguinaires Sunset, 2.5 Hours 4.8 from 133 reviews · from $67.40
Check availability

Things To Do In Corsica: The Short List

Corsica covers 8,722 km2, making it the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean. It has more than 1,000 km of coastline and rises to Monte Cinto at 2,706 m. The main towns are Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio and Calvi. The list below sorts the sights, tours and day trips across the island.

All Things To Do In Corsica
Tall pale houses and ramparts at the edge of undercut white limestone cliffs above bright turquoise sea Bonifacio Citadel And CliffsThe walled old town of Bonifacio sits on limestone cliffs at the southern tip. Dark red volcanic cliffs and sea caves along a wild roadless coast with a small boat far below UNESCO World Heritage Scandola Nature ReservePart of the UNESCO Gulf of Porto site, and osprey habitat. A mountain road winding between red granite pinnacles above a blue gulf UNESCO World Heritage Calanques De PianaRed granite rock towers above the Gulf of Porto. A sweep of fine pale sand backed by umbrella pines and rounded red granite boulders with shallow clear water Palombaggia BeachA fine sand beach near Porto-Vecchio backed by umbrella pines and red rocks. Interior of a historic townhouse room with period furniture and tall shuttered windows Adult ticket €10 Maison BonaparteThe family house where Napoleon was born in Ajaccio, now a national museum. A rocky mountain river over smooth granite boulders into clear green pools under steep pine slopes Restonica ValleyA mountain valley above Corte with river pools and the trail to the glacial lakes. Weathered standing stones carved with faces among olive trees on a quiet hillside Adult ticket €9 FilitosaA prehistoric site with carved standing stones; allow about 1 h 30. Jagged granite needles above dark pine forest under a clear sky Aiguilles De BavellaGranite needles in the southern mountains.

Corsica Regions At A Glance

Corsica divides into Haute-Corse in the north-east and Corse-du-Sud in the south-west. Ajaccio is the capital. Bastia anchors the north-east and Bonifacio stands at the southern tip. Porto-Vecchio serves the south-east beaches; Calvi and the Balagne fill the north-west. Corte lies in the mountain interior and Cap Corse reaches into the far north. The Gulf of Porto and Piana lie on the west coast.

Regions overview
Palm-lined seafront promenade with a pastel old town and a wide gulfAjaccioThe capital and Napoleon's birthplace on the west coast, with an airport, ferries and a gulf of beaches. A harbour with tall ochre houses and a church tower on the north-east coastBastiaThe main port of the north-east, with an old harbour, a citadel, and its own airport and ferry links. Walled town on white cliffs above a turquoise straitBonifacioA walled town on limestone cliffs at the southern tip, with boats to the Lavezzi islands offshore. A bay of pale sand and umbrella pines with granite rocksPorto-VecchioThe base for the south-east beaches, with Palombaggia and Santa Giulia within easy reach. A citadel on a headland above a long curved bayCalvi And The BalagneA citadel town and long bay on the north-west coast, with the hill villages of the Balagne inland. Red granite cliffs plunging into a deep blue gulfGolfe De Porto And PianaThe UNESCO coast of red rock, with boats running to Scandola and the Gulf of Girolata. Stone houses below a citadel on a rock with high mountains behindCorte And The InteriorThe old capital in the mountains, with its citadel and the Restonica valley above it. A stone watchtower above a rocky shore on a long narrow peninsulaCap CorseThe northern peninsula of Genoese towers and small harbour villages such as Erbalunga, Nonza and Centuri.
19,658 traveller reviewsacross 59 checked tours
From $13.48cheapest paid tour
Prices checkedagainst the booking page, refreshed monthly

Corsica Tours Worth Booking

59 tours cover the categories above: boat trips to Scandola, Piana, Bonifacio and the Lavezzi islands, sunset cruises, 4x4 and jeep days, canyoning, snorkelling and diving, and food and wine. From-prices per person run from $13.48 to $247.14. Every card shows its rating and review count.

1. What Kind of Day Are You After?
2. What Should It Cost Per Person?
3. Busy and Known, or Quiet?

A starting shortlist of the best-reviewed picks. Answer a question or two and it rebuilds around you.

  1. 3-Hour Gulf Boat Tour 3 hours from $40.44 ★ 4.36 (2,519 reviews) Check availability
  2. Open-Top Bus, 360° Views 1.5 hours from $13.48 ★ 4.3 (2,080 reviews) Check availability
  3. Full-Day Scandola Guided Cruise 1 day from $78.63 ★ 4.23 (1,571 reviews) Check availability
  4. Full-Day Bonifacio Sea Trip 1 day from $80.88 ★ 4.49 (1,139 reviews) Check availability
  5. Catamaran With Snorkeling, Lavezzi 4 hours from $62.07 ★ 4.66 (985 reviews) Check availability
  6. Eco-Friendly Scandola Boat 3 - 4.5 hours from $50.55 ★ 4.49 (970 reviews) Check availability
  7. Sanguinaires Trip, Aperitif 2.5 hours from $56.17 ★ 4.71 (884 reviews) Check availability
  8. Porto Half-Day Scandola Cruise 3 hours from $78.63 ★ 4.75 (843 reviews) Check availability
  9. Marine Evasion La Calypso Cruise 3 hours from $67.40 ★ 4.76 (836 reviews) Check availability
  10. Scandola Cruise, Swimming Stop 3 hours 15 minutes from $91.65 ★ 4.9 (565 reviews) Check availability
  11. Semi-Rigid Boat, 8 Hours 8 hours from $123.57 ★ 4.81 (535 reviews) Check availability
  12. Revellata Snorkeling, Boat Ride 2.5 hours from $39.32 ★ 4.29 (440 reviews) Check availability
  13. Calvi Sunset, Revellata 2 hours from $50.55 ★ 4.66 (427 reviews) Check availability
  14. Calvi to Scandola, 4 Hours 4 hours from $95.48 ★ 4.57 (423 reviews) Check availability
  15. Cave Visit, Film and Drink 1 hour from $16.85 ★ 4.55 (419 reviews) Check availability
  16. Piana Calanques and Caves 1.5 hours from $44.93 ★ 4.77 (384 reviews) View tour
  17. Richiusa Canyon, Bocognano 3.5 hours from $73.02 ★ 4.79 (258 reviews) View tour
  18. Ajaccio First Dive, 4 Hours 4 hours from $106.72 ★ 4.77 (253 reviews) View tour
  19. Cap Corse Boat, Paddleboard 4 hours from $73.02 ★ 4.63 (253 reviews) View tour
  20. Private Sunset Aperitif Cruise 3 hours from $74.46 ★ 4.9 (237 reviews) View tour
  21. Corse Emotion Half-Day Cruise 3 hours from $80.19 ★ 4.9 (231 reviews) View tour
  22. Cargèse Shuttle, Girolata Stop 6 hours from $84.25 ★ 4.87 (217 reviews) View tour
  23. Agriate Jeep, Lotu & Saleccia 9 hours from $123.57 ★ 4.62 (213 reviews) View tour
  24. Sagone Cruise, Swim Stop 4 - 4.5 hours from $89.87 ★ 4.78 (187 reviews) View tour
  25. Sunset Cruise, Corsican Rosé 2 hours from $39.32 ★ 4.73 (184 reviews) View tour
  26. 3-Hour Food Tour, Tastings 3 hours from $69.65 ★ 4.88 (180 reviews) View tour
  27. Afternoon Cruise, Girolata Stop 5 hours from $77.90 ★ 4.9 (173 reviews) View tour
  28. Calanche de Piana Short Cruise 1 hour 30 minutes from $45.82 ★ 4.8 (173 reviews) View tour
  29. Turtle Park Skip-the-Line 1 to 2 hours from $17.18 ★ 4.6 (159 reviews) View tour
  30. Calvi Intro Dive, Instructor 2.5 hours from $101.10 ★ 4.74 (146 reviews) View tour
  31. Full-Day Agriates Catamaran 6.5 hours from $174.12 ★ 4.89 (133 reviews) View tour
  32. Sanguinaires Sunset, 2.5 Hours 2.5 hours from $67.40 ★ 4.75 (133 reviews) View tour
  33. Ospedale Forest & Bavella 4x4 8 hours from $196.59 ★ 4.95 (132 reviews) View tour
  34. Bonifacio Cliffs & Lavezzi, 2 Hours 2 hours from $61.78 ★ 4.56 (112 reviews) View tour
  35. Richiusa Canyon, Afternoon 3 hours 30 minutes from $85.92 ★ 4.7 (110 reviews) View tour
  36. E-Bike Ride to Capo di Feno 3 hours 30 minutes from $53.84 ★ 4.2 (99 reviews) View tour
  37. Full-Day Lavezzi Catamaran 9 hours from $192.09 ★ 4.92 (93 reviews) View tour
  38. Corsican Meal, Complete Formula 1 hour from $54.99 ★ 4.7 (91 reviews) View tour
  39. Sunset Aperitif Dining Boat 2 hours from $119.08 ★ 4.84 (90 reviews) View tour
  40. Asco Valley 4x4 Day Tour 9 hours from $123.57 ★ 4.61 (83 reviews) View tour
  41. Old Hilltop Villages Day Trip 9 hours from $101.10 ★ 4.8 (76 reviews) View tour
  42. Catamaran Aperitif Sunset 4.5 hours from $129.19 ★ 4.95 (61 reviews) View tour
  43. Guided Lavezzi Snorkel, 5 Hours 5 hours from $133.68 ★ 4.93 (60 reviews) View tour
  44. Le Grand Tour From Bastia 4 hours from $121.32 ★ 4.58 (58 reviews) View tour
  45. Aperitif Sunset at Sea 2 hours from $51.55 ★ 5 (48 reviews) View tour
  46. Beginner Dive, Cerbicale Reserve 3 hours from $162.89 ★ 4.86 (48 reviews) View tour
  47. Small-Group Scandola Cruise 4 hours from $103.10 ★ 4.9 (44 reviews) View tour
  48. No Diet Club Food Tour 3 hours from $71.03 ★ 4.6 (38 reviews) View tour
  49. Cuscionu Plateau & Alta Rocca 8 hours from $196.59 ★ 5 (36 reviews) View tour
  50. Sagone 6-Hour Cruise, Swim 6 hours from $80.19 ★ 4.9 (35 reviews) View tour
  51. Calvi & Île-Rousse Wine Tastings 2.5 hours from $112.34 ★ 4.94 (33 reviews) View tour
  52. Baracci Canyon Canyoning 3 hours from $74.46 ★ 4.8 (31 reviews) View tour
  53. Gulf of Calvi Snorkel Trip 2 hours 30 minutes from $40.10 ★ 4.5 (31 reviews) View tour
  54. Private Wine Tour, Picnic 2 to 4 hours from $108.83 ★ 5 (29 reviews) View tour
  55. Private History Walk, 1.5 Hours 1.5 hours from $67.40 ★ 5 (26 reviews) View tour
  56. Red Island Agriates Catamaran 6 hours 30 minutes from $206.21 ★ 4.8 (19 reviews) View tour
  57. Bastia Tour, Art Historian 2 hours from $43.81 ★ 5 (11 reviews) View tour
  58. E-MTB Ride, Coscione Plateau 4 to 6 hours from $103.10 ★ 5 (7 reviews) View tour
  59. La Maddalena & Lavezzi Day Trip 7 hours from $247.14 ★ 4.9 (7 reviews) View tour

Corsica Beaches And Boat Trips

Corsica has more than 1,000 km of coastline. In the south-east, near Porto-Vecchio, lie Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Rondinara. Farther north, Saleccia and Lotu sit in the Desert des Agriates with no road access. A boat shuttle runs from Saint-Florent about April to October, weather permitting, or the beaches can be reached by 4x4 track from Casta or on foot. Boat trips leave from Ajaccio, Porto, Calvi, Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio.

Full beach guide
Umbrella pines and red granite boulders beside a shallow pale bayPalombaggiaFine pale sand backed by umbrella pines and red rocks, south of Porto-Vecchio. A sheltered shallow lagoon-like bay with pale sand and clear waterSanta GiuliaA sheltered bay near Porto-Vecchio. A near-circular bay of pale sand framed by low maquis hillsRondinaraA near-circular bay south of Porto-Vecchio. A long empty sweep of white sand with dunes and dry scrub behindSalecciaA long sandy beach in the Desert des Agriates with no road: boat, 4x4 track or foot only.
Boats From Ajaccio Scandola And Girolata Porto-Vecchio Boat Trips Lavezzi Islands Calvi To Girolata

Corsica With Kids

Corsica suits families who keep plans simple. Beaches with shallow water make swimming easy, and boat trips along the coast give children a view of the island from the sea. In Bonifacio, the Escalier du Roi d'Aragon counts 189 steps cut into the cliff, and children who reach the top receive a diploma. A turtle park adds another stop. Roads are winding and drives take time, so short days work best.

A child's hand holding a bucket at the edge of calm shallow water on a pale sand beachCorsica With KidsA family itinerary built around beaches, short boat rides and easy stops. A narrow stone staircase cut into a white limestone cliff above the seaEscalier Du Roi D'Aragon189 steps cut down the cliff in Bonifacio with a 180-degree view over the cliffs towards Sardinia; children get a diploma at the top. Clear green river pools between smooth granite rocks under pine treesCavu Natural PoolsNatural river pools in the granite hills inland from Porto-Vecchio.
Large tortoises resting in the shade among shrubs and stones at a turtle parkBookable TourTurtle Park Skip-the-Line4.6 from 159 reviews · from $17.18Check availability

Corsica In The Rain

Most rain falls from September to April, and November is the wettest month at 111.8 mm in Ajaccio, against just 8.6 mm in July. Indoor options are the museums in Ajaccio, the Musée de la Corse in the Corte citadel at €5.50, and food and wine tastings. Long lunches fill the rest of a wet afternoon.

Wet cobbles and shuttered ochre facades after rain on a quiet Mediterranean streetCorsica In The RainA wet-weather plan built around museums, covered markets and long lunches. Tall gallery room with framed paintings hung on deep red wallsPalais FeschThe fine arts museum of Ajaccio, open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Entry is €10 full price. A stair hall with worn stone steps and a wrought iron rail inside an old townhouseMaison BonaparteNapoleon's birthplace in Ajaccio, now a national museum. It opens every day except Monday. A grey stone citadel on a rocky outcrop above a mountain town under heavy cloudsCitadelle De CorteThe hilltop citadel in Corte houses the Musee de la Corse. One ticket covers both, at €5.50 full price.

Corsica Beach Days

Summer days on the coast are warm, with a mean high of 28.6 °C in July and 29.2 °C in August at Ajaccio. The south-east beaches sit near Porto-Vecchio, while the Agriates beaches in the north are reached by boat shuttle from Saint-Florent, by 4x4 track from Casta or on foot. Lifeguard posts watch Ajaccio's main beaches from 1 July to the end of August.

Aerial view of a turquoise cove with pale sand and granite headlandsCorsica BeachesA guide to the best beaches in Corsica, region by region, from the south-east to the far north. A wide empty beach of pale sand beside shallow clear water in a dry scrub landscapeLotu BeachA beach in the Desert des Agriates on the north coast, reached by boat, 4x4 track or on foot. A curved sandy bay below a granite ridge with a lion-shaped rockRoccapina BeachA beach on the south-west coast between Sartene and Bonifacio.
Snorkeller floating over clear water above a rocky reef near a small boatBookable TourRevellata Snorkeling, Boat Ride4.3 from 440 reviews · from $39.32Check availability

Hiking Days In Corsica

The GR20 runs 180 km north to south in about 15 stages of 4 to 8.5 hours, with refuges and gites along the way. Not every hiking day has to be a trek. The Restonica valley, the Bavella massif and the Gorges de Spelunca all work as day walks. One rule matters in summer: no fires or smoking in forest and scrub from 15 June to 30 September.

A hiker on a rocky ridge trail with red-white waymarks and a wide mountain viewThe GR20 GuideThe 180 km north-to-south trail across the island's spine, covered stage by stage. A stony path through maquis scrub above a bay with a distant headlandHiking In CorsicaThe GR20, the Mare a Mare and Mare e Monti routes, plus shorter day walks across the island. A trail climbing beside a stream through pine forest toward a glacial lakeRestonica ValleyA mountain valley above Corte with river pools and the trail up to the glacial lakes.
Canyoner abseiling down a smooth granite chute into a green poolBookable TourRichiusa Canyon, Bocognano4.8 from 258 reviews · from $73.02Check availability
Fishing boats and tall ochre houses around a small harbour at golden hour A grey village clinging to a cliff above a black pebble beach with a stone tower on top

Free Things To Do In Corsica

Many of the best things in Corsica cost nothing. Village squares and working harbours invite slow wandering, and the old port of Bastia rewards a long look. In Cap Corse, Genoese tower villages such as Nonza and Erbalunga sit above the sea. Hill viewpoints and public beaches are open to all, and waymarked walking trails cross the island. Some museums are free for young visitors: Palais Fesch is free up to 18.

Bastia Old Port Nonza Erbalunga Calvi Citadel Porto-Vecchio Old Town All Free Things To Do

What To Eat And Drink In Corsica

Corsican cooking rests on a few protected products. Brocciu cheese has held an appellation since 1983, while prisuttu, lonzu and coppa come from the Nustrale pig. Chestnut flour, honey, olive oil and clementines fill the markets. Vineyards around Patrimonio, Ajaccio and Cap Corse work with Nielluccio, Sciaccarellu and Vermentinu grapes, and the island brews its own beer, Pietra.

What to eat in Corsica
A wooden board of thinly sliced charcuterie, fresh white cheese and chestnut cake with a glass of red wine Corsican Food Brocciu, charcuterie and chestnut flour, plus the dishes worth ordering on the island. Rows of vines on a terraced hillside above the sea with a glass of white wine in the foreground Corsican Wine The Patrimonio, Ajaccio and Cap Corse appellations, with notes on the main grapes behind them. A small glass of amber aperitif and a bottle of local beer on a stone terrace table Cap Corse And Pietra The Cap Corse aperitif and the Pietra beer.

Corsica On The Map

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Click the map to zoom with the scroll wheel. Numbers match the list.

  1. AjaccioThe island capital and the most common arrival point, with its airport and ferry port close to the centre.
  2. BastiaTowns And Base · 104 km from Ajaccio
  3. BonifacioTowns And Base · 69 km from Ajaccio
  4. Porto-VecchioTowns And Base · 58 km from Ajaccio
  5. CalviTowns And Base · 71 km from Ajaccio
  6. CorteTowns And Base · 54 km from Ajaccio
  7. L'Île-RousseTowns And Base · 80 km from Ajaccio
  8. Saint-FlorentTowns And Base · 96 km from Ajaccio
  9. SartèneTowns And Base · 39 km from Ajaccio
  10. Désert des AgriatesNature And Hiking · 93 km from Ajaccio
  11. Plage de PalombaggiaBeach · 64 km from Ajaccio
  12. Plage de Santa GiuliaBeach · 63 km from Ajaccio
  13. Plage de la RondinaraBeach · 67 km from Ajaccio
  14. Plage de SalecciaBeach · 97 km from Ajaccio
  15. Plage du LotuBeach · 97 km from Ajaccio
  16. Scandola Nature ReserveNature And Hiking · 50 km from Ajaccio
  17. Calanques de PianaNature And Hiking · 37 km from Ajaccio
  18. Îles LavezziNature And Hiking · 78 km from Ajaccio
  19. Îles SanguinairesNature And Hiking · 11 km from Ajaccio
  20. Aiguilles de BavellaNature And Hiking · 43 km from Ajaccio
  21. Gorges de la RestonicaNature And Hiking · 44 km from Ajaccio
  22. Citadelle de CalviSights And History · 71 km from Ajaccio
  23. Citadelle de CorteSights And History · 54 km from Ajaccio
  24. Bonifacio CitadelSights And History · 69 km from Ajaccio
  25. FilitosaSights And History · 23 km from Ajaccio
  26. Port of BastiaPorts And Airport · 104 km from Ajaccio
  27. Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte AirportPorts And Airport · 5.2 km from Ajaccio
  28. Bastia Poretta AirportPorts And Airport · 93 km from Ajaccio
  29. Figari Sud Corse AirportPorts And Airport · 56 km from Ajaccio
  30. Calvi Sainte-Catherine AirportPorts And Airport · 67 km from Ajaccio

Day Trips In Corsica: Scandola, Bonifacio, Bavella And Sardinia

Most trips start from the main bases: Ajaccio, Bastia, Porto-Vecchio, Calvi and Bonifacio. Boats cover Scandola, Piana and the Lavezzi islands, while 4x4 days head for Bavella and the Agriates. Corte is 1 h 30 by road from Ajaccio and 1 h from Bastia. Sardinia is a short ferry ride from Bonifacio.

Boat below red cliffs of the Scandola coastScandola

Scandola And Girolata

Boat trips run along the UNESCO coast of Scandola, Girolata and the Calanques de Piana from Porto, Calvi, Ajaccio, Sagone and Cargese. There is no landing in the integral reserve. Many trips include swim stops.

4.9 from 565 reviews · from $91.65Check availability
Catamaran anchored off a granite island in clear turquoise waterBonifacio

Bonifacio And The Lavezzi Islands

Boats leave from Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio and pass under the white cliffs to the Lavezzi islands inside the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. Swimming and snorkelling stops feature on most outings.

4-hour tour · 4.7 from 985 reviews · from $62.07Check availability
4x4 vehicle on a forest track below jagged granite needlesBavella

Bavella And The Alta Rocca

The Aiguilles de Bavella and the forests around Zonza fill the heart of the Alta Rocca. Most visits come as a 4x4 day from Porto-Vecchio or Ajaccio.

8-hour tour · 5.0 from 132 reviews · from $196.59Check availability
A coastal road above a rocky shore and a stone watchtower on the Cap Corse peninsulaCap Corse

Cap Corse And The Agriates

The northern peninsula of Genoese towers and harbour villages, with the Desert des Agriates and its beaches stretching beyond Saint-Florent.

4-hour tour · 4.6 from 253 reviews · from $73.02Check availability
Stone town of tall grey houses below a citadel on a rock with high mountains behindCorte

Corte And The Restonica Valley

Corte, the old capital and the island's only university town, holds a hilltop citadel above its rooftops. The Restonica valley climbs above it into the mountains.

About 1 h 30 by road from AjaccioRead the day trip
A passenger ferry crossing a blue strait with white cliffs and a low rocky coast in the distanceSardinia

Sardinia From Bonifacio

A short ferry crosses from Bonifacio to Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia, taking roughly 50 to 60 minutes, which makes a cross-border day trip possible from the southern tip of Corsica.

Ferry crossing about 50 to 60 minutesRead the day trip

All day trips

Hiking In Corsica: The GR20 And Day Walks

GR20 (Fra li Monti) runs 180 km north to south in about 15 stages of 4 to 8.5 hours from Calenzana. Refuge nights must be booked online for bunks and bivouac pitches; wild camping is banned. No GR20 departures from Calenzana after 11:00. From 15 June to 30 September fires and smoking are banned in forests and scrub. Shorter routes are the Mare a Mare and Mare e Monti trails. Day walks include the Restonica valley, Bavella and the Gorges de Spelunca.

Hiking guide
A ridge trail marked with red and white paint across bare granite above a cloud-filled valleyThe GR20The long-distance trail from Calenzana across the island's mountain spine. Walkers on a forest path below granite needlesBavellaDay walks among the granite needles above Zonza. An old stone footbridge over a river in a deep wooded granite gorgeGorges De SpeluncaA deep gorge near Evisa where the trail crosses old Genoese bridges over the river below. Tall laricio pines and a clear stream with granite poolsAitone ForestPine forest and river pools above the Spelunca gorge.

What Visitors Need To Know This Season

Fire rules

From 15 June to 30 September fires and smoking are forbidden in forests, scrub and massifs. The fire-risk map is updated at 18:00 for the next day, and from mid-June to mid-September access to some massifs can be restricted.

Scandola by boat

Scandola's land area is closed to the public and visits are by boat only. There is no landing in the integral reserve, daytime anchoring is allowed outside it, and no recreational line or spear fishing.

GR20 bookings

Nights in the guarded PNRC refuges must be booked online, for both bunks and bivouac pitches. Wild camping is banned, and walkers may not leave Calenzana after 11:00 because of fire risk.

Agriates beaches

Saleccia and Lotu are reached by boat shuttle from Saint-Florent, about April to October and weather permitting, by 4x4 track from Casta, or on foot. There is no road to either beach.

Corsica Right Now: Weather And Daylight

The forecast for Ajaccio is 18°C and mostly clear. Sunset is at 18:33, so golden hour in Ajaccio begins at about 17:33.

Forecast, Ajaccio
18°C
mostly clear, cloud 32%
Sunrise and sunset
07:45 / 18:33
22 October, local time
Golden hour
from 17:33
about an hour before sunset

Weather data: MET Norway (Locationforecast 2.0 and Sunrise 3.0, Norwegian Meteorological Institute), under NLOD 2.0 / CC BY 4.0. A forecast-model value for the grid point at Ajaccio, not a thermometer reading.

When To Visit Corsica, Month By Month

Ajaccio station averages a mean high of 14.0 °C in January, 28.6 °C in July and 29.2 °C in August. July is the driest month at 8.6 mm and November the wettest at 111.8 mm. Daylight runs from 15 h 11 min in June down to 9 h 11 min in December. Summers are hot and dry with peak crowds in July and August, while winters are mild and wet, with snow on the high mountains.

November is the wettest month at the Ajaccio station at 111.8 mm, with October (85.7 mm) and December (73.9 mm) behind it, while July, the driest, averages 8.6 mm. The wettest month gets about 13 times the rain of the driest.

Jan: 9.4℃Feb: 9.2℃Mar: 11℃Apr: 13.4℃May: 17℃Jun: 20.7℃Jul: 23.2℃Aug: 23.7℃Sep: 20.8℃Oct: 17.7℃Nov: 13.6℃Dec: 10.5℃ 065130 5°18°30° JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Rain mm Temp ℃
  • Monthly rainfall (mm)
  • Mean temperature (°C)
Meteo-France station 20004002 Ajaccio, 1991-2020 averages (a coastal-plain airport station record, not a forecast model; the mountain interior is cooler and wetter): August is warmest at 23.7°C average, February coldest at 9.2°C, November wettest at 111.8 mm and July driest at 8.6 mm, 635 mm across the year.
MonthMean tempMean highMean lowRainfall
January9.4°C14°C4.7°C54.1 mm
February9.2°C14.2°C4.3°C48.1 mm
March11°C16°C5.9°C50.4 mm
April13.4°C18.5°C8.3°C53.1 mm
May17°C22.1°C11.8°C49.8 mm
June20.7°C25.9°C15.4°C25.9 mm
July23.2°C28.6°C17.7°C8.6 mm
August23.7°C29.2°C18.1°C15.8 mm
September20.8°C26.1°C15.4°C57.8 mm
October17.7°C22.8°C12.6°C85.7 mm
November13.6°C18.3°C9°C111.8 mm
December10.5°C15.1°C5.8°C73.9 mm

Data: Meteo-France, station 20004002 Ajaccio (Campo dell'Oro airport), monthly climatological base 1991-2020 (Etalab Open Licence 2.0 via data.gouv.fr; daylight hours from the Copernicus ERA5 series via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Coastal-plain station: the mountain interior is cooler and wetter).

Where To Stay In Corsica

Three bases cover most trips. Ajaccio, on the west coast, is the capital with an airport and a ferry port. Bonifacio sits at the south tip, with its citadel and boats. Calvi and the Balagne, in the north-west, offer a citadel, beaches and villages. The island is mountainous, so drives between bases are long on winding roads.

Full where-to-stay guide
Pastel harbour front buildings and moored boats at the head of a wide gulf

Ajaccio

City Life And Gulf Beaches

Ajaccio is the capital and Napoleon's birthplace, with an airport and a ferry port, an old town, gulf beaches and boats to the Sanguinaires. It suits visitors who want a real city alongside the sea, though it is a long drive from the far north and south.

Ajaccio Area Guide
A narrow harbour below a clifftop walled town with moored sailboats

Bonifacio

Cliffs, Harbours And Lavezzi Boats

Bonifacio is a walled old town on cliffs at the southern tip, with a harbour, boats to the Lavezzi islands and the ferry to Sardinia. It is a strong base for the far south, but reaching the north of the island takes hours on winding roads.

Bonifacio Area Guide
A hilltop citadel above a curved bay with a long beach and distant mountains

Calvi And The Balagne

Beaches, Citadel And Hill Villages

Calvi has a citadel and marina, a long bay beach and its own airport, with the Balagne hill villages inland and boats to Scandola and Girolata. It is the base for the north-west, though the mountain interior and the south are slow drives away.

Calvi And The Balagne Area Guide

Getting To Corsica By Ferry And Flight

Corsica is served by four airports: Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte (AJA), Bastia Poretta (BIA), Figari Sud Corse (FSC) near Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, and Calvi Sainte-Catherine (CLY). Ajaccio's airport is linked to the centre by bus 8. The island is in the Europe/Paris time zone, so clocks match mainland France in both winter and summer.

Ferries run to Corsica from Marseille, Toulon and Nice in France, from Livorno, Genoa and Savona in Italy, and from Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia to Bonifacio, a crossing of about 50 to 60 minutes. Marseille crossings take about 12 to 13 hours and are mostly overnight, Nice to Bastia about 7.5 to 10 hours, and Livorno to Bastia about 4 to 5 hours. Travellers can bring a car on the ferry or rent one on arrival. Bookings are made directly with the operators.

Corsica airports · Flights to Corsica · Ferry to Corsica · Sardinia to Corsica ferry · Getting around Corsica

Flights to Corsica · Corsica car hire · Airport transfers

What Is Corsica Known For?

1

Napoleon And Ajaccio

Ajaccio is Napoleon's birthplace, and Maison Bonaparte, on Rue Saint-Charles, is a national museum open every day except Monday. Beyond the emperor, the island keeps its own history from the period under Genoa and its own language, which the Collectivite de Corse supports through programmes and immersion schools.

2

The Calanques De Piana And Scandola

UNESCO inscribed the Gulf of Porto in 1983: the Calanche of Piana, the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Reserve, together covering 11,800 ha. Scandola was the first nature reserve created in Corsica, with 1,000 ha of sea and 919 ha of land, and it was key to saving the osprey in Corsica. Visits are by boat only.

3

Bonifacio

Bonifacio is a citadel town set on white limestone cliffs at the southern tip of the island. The Escalier du Roi d'Aragon cuts 189 steps down the cliff, with a 180-degree view over the cliffs towards Sardinia. Boats run from the harbour to the Lavezzi islands inside the Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve.

4

The GR20

The GR20, or Fra li Monti, runs 180 km north to south in about 15 stages of 4 to 8.5 hours each, with refuges and gites along the way. Booking nights in the PNRC refuges is mandatory, online only, and covers both bunks and bivouac pitches. It stands among the best-known long-distance trails in Europe.

5

Corsican Food

Corsican pantries run on brocciu and the charcuterie trio of prisuttu, lonzu and coppa. Chestnut flour, honey and clementines carry their own labels, and the vineyards of Patrimonio and Ajaccio pour the island's best-known wines.

6

Beaches And Boats

Corsica has more than 1,000 km of coastline. Named beaches include Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Rondinara and the Agriates beaches of Saleccia and Lotu, the latter reached by boat shuttle from Saint-Florent, by 4x4 track or on foot. Boat trips run along the coast and out to the Lavezzi islands.

Where Is Corsica Located?

Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, sitting in the channel between the Italian coast and Sardinia, closer to both of those shores than to mainland France.

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Who Was Born In Corsica?

The one birth the sources all agree on is Napoleon, born in Ajaccio, Corsica, in a house on Rue Saint-Charles that is today the national museum Maison Bonaparte.

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Is Corsica Part Of France Or Italy?

Corsica is part of France, not Italy. The island sits in the Mediterranean closer to the Italian coast than to the French mainland, yet it is a French territorial collectivity, uses the euro and is governed from Ajaccio and Paris.

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Is Corsica Expensive?

Corsica is not cheap in the way some Mediterranean islands are, but its costs follow a pattern: sight admissions are modest, mountain huts are fixed by the regional park, and the biggest line items are the ferry crossing and a hire car.

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Is Corsica Worth Visiting?

Here is what the facts say about whether it deserves a place on your travel list.

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What Is Corsica Famous For?

A French Mediterranean island of 8,722 km2 with more than 1,000 km of coastline and a mountainous interior topped by Monte Cinto at 2,706 m, Corsica is famous for a short list of things no other Mediterranean island shares.

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How Long Does It Take To Drive Across Corsica?

Corsica covers 8,722 km2 of mountainous French island in the Mediterranean, and its road network is built around ridges, gorges and cols rather than straight lines, so crossing it takes far longer than the crow-flies distances imply.

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Is Corsica Better Than The French Riviera?

Corsica is a French Mediterranean island of 8,722 km2 with more than 1,000 km of coastline and a mountainous interior that rises to Monte Cinto at 2,706 m, while the French Riviera is the mainland coast to the east. Whether one is better depends on what you want from the trip.

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Corsica Trip Planning Guides

All guides and answers
Best Time To Visit Corsica Getting Around Corsica Driving In Corsica Corsica Costs And Budget Is Corsica Safe? Corsica Car Rental

What Visitors Say

“Very pleasant, beautiful scenery and very detailed explanations. Very friendly crew.”

sylvie, Verified traveller review of 3-Hour Gulf Boat Tour

“A great way to see the most important monuments of Ajaccio, and the view of the Sanguinaires Islands is magnificent.”

Alexandra, Verified traveller review of Open-Top Bus, 360° Views

“Great! We loved the day. The guide was very friendly, and the explanations were very clear.”

Marie, Verified traveller review of Full-Day Scandola Guided Cruise

“Discovering the Corsican coast and Bonifacio from the sea is a wonderful experience. The guide is very interesting. The 4 hours in the city is very good. The 3½ hours on the boat fly by. I highly recommend it.”

Isabelle, Verified traveller review of Full-Day Bonifacio Sea Trip

“A very nice excursion to the Lavezzi Islands on the catamaran, with a great tour guide, 2 stops for swimming, and plenty of time. Everything was well organized and straightforward. Highly recommended.”

Katharina, Verified traveller review of Catamaran With Snorkeling, Lavezzi

“It's always great to be able to visit the Scandola Nature Reserve. The stop in Girolata is also very good.”

Karin, Verified traveller review of Eco-Friendly Scandola Boat

“I was in awe of this turtle and tortoise sanctuary. I spent over three hours there and am so glad I had the pleasure of visiting.”

Elsa_J, Verified traveller review of Turtle Park Skip-the-Line

“The food was fantastic!! Learned a lot about Napolean while enjoying a traditional Corsican meal.”

Lisel_D, Verified traveller review of Corsican Meal, Complete Formula

“Superb excursion for lovers of nature and exceptional landscapes! A huge thank you to Adrien for his welcome, his good humor, and his explanations throughout the ride! Highly recommended!”

Tania_D, Verified traveller review of Calanche de Piana Short Cruise

“Very nice trip trough the area. Highly recommended! In 3 hours you go to all the sites with a good explanation from a very nice guide in multiple languages!”

Imke_B, Verified traveller review of Corse Emotion Half-Day Cruise

“The boat was very clean, the captain managed to fit the 3 ‘must see’ places within 3 hours 15 mins, including a swimming spot, and the snacks and drinks available for purchase was handy.”

Caroline_C, Verified traveller review of Scandola Cruise, Swimming Stop

“Inflatable boat. Well run and a lot of fun. Beautiful scenery and great views and sunset.”

Geoffrey_R, Verified traveller review of Private Sunset Aperitif Cruise

Verified traveller reviews, reproduced word for word including the reviewer's own wording.

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