Travel to Corsica

Travel to Corsica

Corsica is a picturesque island filled with natural beauty, a spectacular rugged coast and old-fashioned charms. Travellers come here for the mouth-watering French cuisine and wines, cultural events and a wide range of outdoor activities and sports. Corsicas largest town is Ajacciowhich is renownedas being the town where Napoleon Bonaparte was born.

Transportation to Corsica

Corsica can be a difficult place to travel to as it's not includedon any of the main air routes, so youwould need totake a linking flight from continental Europe. The majority of flights go via a connecting airport in France; Nicebeing the closest. With
Bastia, Calvi, Figari and Ajaccio all having modern airports. Airport taxes are very expensive due to payment for both departure and arrival. There is the option to reach Corsica by ferry from France (3 hours on the fast ferry service), departing from Toulon, Marseille and Nice, and a number of other mainland harbours. During peak season its necessary to book a ferry in advance.

The option to travel by train around Corsica is rather limited, with services only available on the Ponte Leccia-ele Rousse-Algajola-Calvi spur and the principal Bastia-Ajaccio via Corte line. Bus services operate between all the islands significant towns and even some smaller villages. However, buses onlyrun infrequently.
Driving yourself around is probably the best option, although you need to be awareof blind hairpin bends, narrow roads, and traffic congestion in the small towns.

What to see

The island boasts many interesting, historical and fascinating attractions. The majority of these attractions can all be reached by car. Les Calanques de Piana is one of the most stunning landscapes on the island. The Corsican railway provides some scenic views of the island as the train strays from the nearby road and rumbles and winds its way through the mountainous area. Filitosa is Corsicas renowned prehistoric attraction where you will find the mysterious ancient statuary, dating back to the early Neolithic era.

Positioned in the islands heart, near Corse city, the Parc Naturel Rgional de Corse can be found. The park spans 3,300 square kilometers and provides a large number of hiking and walking trails from which the GR20 is the most renowned, a wonderful 210kms long path that can take up to 14 daysto walkthe route from end to end.

Day trips

Northwest of Corte, around Calacuccia, the Niolo region is an outstanding area for enthusiasts of outdoor activities and sports. Must-sees here feature the jaw-dropping peaks of Calasima and Cuccia, the canyons of the the Frascaghju and Ruda, as well as the highest mountain on Corsica which is known as the Monte Cinto.

Activities and leisure

The islands natural landscape and various areas are perfect for all types of outdoor sports enthusiasts. Those who like golfing may want to stop at Regino and Bonifacio, and biking on rugged quad bicycles can be done in the former and at St Florent. For hikers and nature enthusiasts a must-see would be the Niolo region or Parc Naturel, where both easy and rugged trails and climbs provide breathtaking panoramas of the Corsican forests and mountains.

Safety issues

In recent years violent acts carried out by the Corsican separatist movement have significantly reduced. Their violence usually had little effect on visitors, travellers to the island should sill be aware of the struggle when travelling to Corsica.
Be aware of your surroundings as huge crowds of holiday makers often attract petty thieves. Obviously we recommend you take out travel insurance for you or your family.