Córsega, France: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Córsega is a French island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Côte d'Azur and just north of Sardenha, which is part of Italy. It has been French territory since the 18th century, but the history with Gênova left traces in the fortified towns, the coastal watchtowers and the names. Signs are often in French and in the Corsican language: Ajaccio also appears as Aiacciu, and Bonifácio as Bunifaziu.

Ajaccio, the island's capital, is on the west coast in an open gulf. It is the city where Napoléon Bonaparte was born in 1769, and the family's house became a museum. From here depart trips to the Pointe de la Parata and the Îles Sanguinaires at the mouth of the gulf, and to the Calanques de Piana and the Golfe de Porto, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Bonifácio sits on the southern tip of the island, atop a white limestone plateau with about 60 metres of cliff above the sea. The upper town, walled, looks out over the strait that separates Córsega from Sardenha. Boats leave the port for the caves, the cliffs and the Îles Lavezzi, and a half-hour drive away are the beaches of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, in Porto-Vecchio.

You arrive by plane or by ferry, and the island's roads are winding mountain roads: travel time is usually much longer than the distance suggests.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Ajaccio, Bonifácio.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Córsega is

Contornos: © IGN, ADMIN EXPRESS, Licence Ouverte 2.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Córsega

✈ Aéroport d'Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte (AJA), in Ajaccio · 10 km to Ajaccio

By plane, via the airports of Ajaccio (AJA) and Figari Sud Corse (FSC), near Bonifácio, with flights from Paris and other French cities. Check before buying. By ferry, there are crossings from Marselha, Nice and Toulon to Ajaccio and other ports on the island.

Suggested arrival point: Ajaccio

Córsega · Córsega Capital Suggested arrival point

Ajaccio

Ajaccio is the capital and largest city of Córsega, on the island's west coast. Napoleon was born here, and the Maison Bonaparte, the cathedral where he was baptized and the Palais Fesch tell that story. The centre brings together Place Foch, the market and the harbour. At the mouth of the gulf are the Pointe de la Parata and the Îles Sanguinaires, and about a morning's drive away are the Calanques de Piana and the Golfe de Porto, with boats to the Scandola reserve.

Córsega · Córsega

Bonifácio

Bonifacio is the southernmost town of metropolitan France, on the tip of Corsica, atop white limestone cliffs about 60 meters high. The walled upper town, fortified by the Genoese, features the Escalier du Roi d'Aragon and the sea cemetery on the cliff edge. Boats depart from the harbor to the caves, the cliffs and the Îles Lavezzi, and about a half-hour by car are the beach of Palombaggia and the Pertusato lighthouse on the way.

The local experience

Things to do in Córsega

Bonifácio · Córsega · Historic neighborhood

Haute-Ville de Bonifacio

Walled upper town on the cliff, fortified by the Genoese, with narrow streets, medieval churches and viewpoints over the sea and the harbor.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Museum

Maison Bonaparte

House where Napoleon was born in 1769, transformed into a national museum about the Bonaparte family and 18th‑century Córsega.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Cathedral

Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption d'Ajaccio

Cathedral from the late 16th century, in the historic center, where Napoleon was baptized in 1771.

Bonifácio · Córsega · Monument

Escalier du Roi d'Aragon

A staircase of 189 steps carved into the limestone cliff, descending from the upper town down to near the sea.

See 10 more places in Córsega

Bonifácio · Córsega · Cemetery

Cimetière marin de Bonifacio

Cemetery of white chapels at the tip of the plateau, on the cliff edge; beside it is the Gouvernail de la Corse, a tunnel with views over the strait.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Museum

Palais Fesch – Musée des Beaux-Arts

Fine arts museum created from the collection of Cardinal Fesch, Napoleon's uncle, with one of the largest collections of early Italian painting in France.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Square

Place Foch

Square by the port, with the Fountain of the Four Lions and the statue of Napoleon as First Consul; next to it are the town hall and the market.

Bonifácio · Córsega · Port

Port de Bonifacio

Marina in a narrow fjord at the foot of the upper town, from which tour boats depart to the grottos, the cliffs and the Îles Lavezzi.

Bonifácio · Córsega · Island

Îles Lavezzi

Granite archipelago in the Strait of Bonifácio, a nature reserve with clear-water coves, visited by boat in season.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Observation deck

Îles Sanguinaires – Pointe de la Parata

Rocky point at the exit of the Gulf of Ajaccio, with a Genoese tower and views of the Sanguinaires archipelago; it is a Grand Site de France.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Natural landscape

Calanques de Piana

Red granite cliffs above the Golfe de Porto, cut by a narrow road; they are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bonifácio · Córsega · Observation deck

Phare de Pertusato

Lighthouse on the Pertusato headland, 4 km from Bonifácio, at the end of a cliffside trail with views of the upper town and Sardenha.

Ajaccio · Córsega · Boat tour

Golfe de Porto et Réserve naturelle de Scandola

Gulf with the marina of Porto and the Genoese tower, the departure point for boats to the Scandola reserve and the village of Girolata, which are accessible only by sea.

Bonifácio · Córsega · Beach

Plage de Palombaggia

Light-sand beach with reddish rocks and pine trees, in Porto-Vecchio, about 30 km from Bonifácio, facing the Cerbicale islands.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From May to October. The sea usually gets warmer from July to September, when the island also receives more visitors. June and September tend to have good weather and fewer crowds. The sightseeing-boat season generally runs from April to October. In the European winter, from December to February, many beach services close.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Allow at least five days: two in Ajaccio, one for the Calanques de Piana and the Golfe de Porto, and two in Bonifácio, including the boat trip and the beaches of Porto-Vecchio. With a week or more you can travel unhurriedly and include the mountainous interior. Allow for the drive time between Ajaccio and Bonifácio, about two and a half hours.

Which city to stay in

In Ajaccio, the historic centre between Place Foch, the harbour and the cathedral keeps everything within walking distance, including the train station and the ferry terminal. The seafront Route des Sanguinaires to the west has sea-front hotels, but needs a car or bus. In Bonifácio, the upper town (Haute-Ville) lies within the walls and has sea views; the marina below sits beside the excursion boats. Porto-Vecchio is an alternative for those who want to stay close to the beaches of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Córsega

Is Córsega part of France or Italy?

It's part of France. The island has its own language, Corsican (corso), which appears on signs alongside French, and a lot of Italian influence in its history and cuisine. Sardenha, just to the south, is the one that belongs to Italy.

Do you need to rent a car in Córsega?

It helps a lot. The train only links Ajaccio to Bastia and Calvi, through the centre and the north, and does not reach Bonifácio. There are buses between towns, with fewer departures outside summer. The roads are mountainous and full of bends, so plan short sections per day and avoid driving at night on unfamiliar roads.

Is it possible to visit Córsega on a day trip from Nice or Marselha?

It's not worth it. The ferry crossing takes several hours, and some are overnight. The flight is short, but the island requires at least a few days because of distances and winding roads.

Can you go from Bonifácio to Sardenha?

Yes. There are ferries from Bonifácio to Santa Teresa Gallura, in northern Sardenha, on a short crossing across the strait. Remember that Sardenha is Italy; check schedules and whether the route operates at the time of your trip.

Córsega

A region to enjoyat your own pace.