France travel guide

Corsica

The Isle of Beauty in the Mediterranean – a destination where dramatic landscapes, distinctive culture and strong traditions meet in a character that is unmistakably Corsican.

Corsica has a strong and distinctive identity, shaped by centuries of Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Genoese, Tuscan and French influence, yet still unmistakably its own. The Greeks called the island “Kalliste” – the most beautiful – and in France it is known as “L’île de Beauté”, the Isle of Beauty.

Corsica offers an impressive combination of dramatic nature and rich history. Here you find steep mountains, crystal-clear beaches, deep gorges and charming villages clinging to the hillsides. Historic towns such as Bonifacio, with its white cliffs and fortifications, contrast beautifully with the island’s wild interior and legendary mountain routes such as the GR20.

To enjoy Corsica is also to experience the local cuisine and the distinctive flavours the island is known for. Typical Corsican specialities, based on local produce, are best enjoyed with island wines and long meals that reflect the rhythm of the Mediterranean.

Selected destinations

Places to discover in Corsica

Explore selected places in Corsica – from dramatic cliff towns and historic harbours to mountain regions, small villages and some of the island’s most atmospheric coastal areas.

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Ajaccio

Corse-du-Sud

Ajaccio is the capital of Corsica, beautifully set on the west coast between mountains and the Mediterranean. Best known as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, the city combines museums, palm-lined promenades, beaches, lively cafés and a relaxed harbour atmosphere. It is also a good base for boat trips, local restaurants and scenic drives towards the Sanguinaires Islands, nearby beaches and sunset viewpoints.

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Bastia

Haute-Corse

Bastia is a lively harbour city in north-eastern Corsica, known for its authentic atmosphere, old port and historic quarters. It is the island’s second largest city and an important ferry gateway, but still feels local, with narrow lanes, baroque churches, markets, sea-view cafés and restaurants. The city is also a natural starting point for exploring Cap Corse, vineyards, small beaches and the north coast.

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Bonifacio

Corse-du-Sud

Bonifacio is one of Corsica’s most spectacular towns, set on white limestone cliffs high above the Mediterranean. The medieval old town, narrow lanes, marina and dramatic viewpoints create a memorable mix of history and nature. Boat trips reveal caves, sea arches and the coastline from below, while clear days offer views towards Sardinia across the strait, giving the town a unique island frontier feel.

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Cap Corse

Haute-Corse

Cap Corse is a scenic peninsula at the northern tip of Corsica, often described as an island within the island. It is known for winding coastal roads, fishing villages, black beaches, Genoese towers and authentic local character. Places such as Nonza, Erbalunga, Centuri and Macinaggio make the area perfect for a slow road trip with seafood stops, sea views, vineyards and peaceful coastal villages.

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Calvi

Haute-Corse

Calvi is a charming coastal town in north-western Corsica, known for its wide bay, sandy beach, marina and historic citadel. The town combines beach life with culture and is a strong base for exploring the Balagne region, nearby mountain villages and coastal boat trips. In the evening, the harbour area offers restaurants, cafés and a relaxed Mediterranean holiday mood with views towards the citadel.

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Corte

Haute-Corse

Corte is Corsica’s historic mountain capital, set deep in the island’s rugged interior with a dramatic citadel, stone streets and wide views over the Restonica and Tavignano valleys. The town is a strong base for hiking, river swimming and exploring authentic Corsican culture, with cafés, museums and mountain routes close at hand. It offers a very different mood from the coast, shaped by history, nature and island identity.

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L’Île-Rousse

Haute-Corse

L’Île-Rousse is a relaxed seaside town in the Balagne region, known for its warm colours, sandy beaches, harbour and red porphyry islands just off the coast. The town has a pleasant centre with cafés, shops and market life, and works well as a base for exploring Calvi, nearby villages and the north-west coast. It offers a gentle Mediterranean mood with easy beach days, sunsets, local food, markets and short coastal walks.

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Porto-Vecchio

Corse-du-Sud

Porto-Vecchio is one of southern Corsica’s most popular holiday towns, known for its marina, old town and easy access to famous beaches such as Palombaggia and Santa Giulia. The town offers a lively Mediterranean atmosphere, good restaurants and a practical base for exploring the south-east coast, mountain roads, beach clubs, hidden coves and clear-water bays nearby, especially in summer or early autumn.

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Saint-Florent

Haute-Corse

Saint-Florent is a small and elegant harbour town in north-western Corsica, often compared to a quieter Corsican Saint-Tropez because of its marina and relaxed seaside mood. Surrounded by vineyards and close to beaches such as Saleccia and Lotu, it is a fine starting point for boat trips, wine tasting, coastal walks and exploring the wild Agriates coast, Cap Corse and nearby villages at an easy pace.

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Selected places

Other places

Corsica guide

Experiences

10 things to do

Corsica offers a rare combination of dramatic landscapes, historic towns, turquoise water and true Mediterranean atmosphere. The island suits both active travellers and those who want slow beach days, local food and scenic road trips.

Experience the Calanques de Piana, where red cliffs plunge into the Mediterranean in one of Corsica’s most iconic natural landscapes.
Visit Bonifacio, a spectacular cliff town built on white limestone above the sea.
Swim at Palombaggia or Santa Giulia, two of Corsica’s best-known beaches with pale sand and turquoise water.
Drive around Cap Corse, one of France’s most scenic coastal road trips.
Hike in the mountains around Corte and discover Corsica’s wild interior.
Explore the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO-listed coastal landscape best experienced by boat.
Spend time in Ajaccio, Napoleon’s birthplace, with beaches, museums and relaxed city life.
Taste Corsican food and wine, including charcuterie, cheeses, chestnut products and island wines.
Walk part of the GR20, one of Europe’s most famous mountain routes.
Explore the villages of Balagne, with views, culture and authentic Corsican atmosphere.

Tip: To plan a varied route, combine coast, mountain villages and a few days by the sea rather than staying in just one place.

Gastronomy

Restaurants

Food experiences

Corsican food is closely tied to the island’s nature, seasons and strong identity. Local produce, traditional recipes and Mediterranean inspiration meet in everything from rustic farm restaurants to elegant sea-view dining.

A Mandria di Pigna – Rustic address in Balagne with traditional dishes, grilled specialities and local produce.
La Table de la Ferme – Farm-to-table experience near Sartène with a strong local profile.
Chez Francis – Known for seafood and a spectacular setting by Cala d’Orzu.
Le Pirate – Elegant seafood restaurant by the water in Erbalunga.
U Santa Marina – Stylish beachside dining near Santa Giulia with fish and Mediterranean flavours.
La Signoria – Exclusive gourmet restaurant in Calvi with a creative kitchen.
Le Belvédère – Panoramic views and refined cooking near Porto-Vecchio.
Auberge de la Restonica – Traditional mountain restaurant near Corte.
A Nepita – Ajaccio – Refined Ajaccio restaurant where modern Corsican cooking, market produce and precise seasonal menus create a polished city dining experience.
La Table de Mina – Porto-Vecchio – Elegant restaurant at Les Bergeries de Palombaggia, with refined Corsican flavours, sea views and a strong local produce focus.
L’Alivi – Porto-Vecchio – Wood-fired cooking, grilled meat, fish and generous terrace dining in Porto-Vecchio, with a relaxed and contemporary island mood.
L’Archipel – Bastia – Panoramic restaurant at Hôtel Alivi, offering sea views, Mediterranean flavours and a refined setting just outside Bastia.
La Table de Misíncu – Cap Corse – Sea-facing restaurant in the Misíncu estate, with cuisine inspired by nature, local ingredients and the quiet character of Cap Corse.

Tip: Combine food experiences with a road trip around the island to taste the difference between coastal seafood, mountain cooking and village markets.

One-week guide Corsica in one week

Corsica road trip

– one island, a thousand contrasts

Corsica is an island that refuses to be summed up in a few words. It is wild and beautiful, proud and independent – a place where mountains rise almost directly from the sea and small villages cling to hillsides as if time has slowed down. In one week, the contrasts feel far greater than the distances on the map.

Here you can start the day in cool mountains scented with pine and chestnut trees, drive through winding passes with breathtaking views, and end the afternoon on a beach with turquoise water. History appears in stone houses, citadels and old monasteries, and lives on in the language, music and pride of the Corsicans.

A week in Corsica is not about seeing everything. It is about slowing down, following the road where it leads – and letting the island do the rest. You leave with sand in your shoes, mountains in your memory and a feeling that this is a place you will want to return to.

Beaches and mountains Road trip

Read the guide of Corsica

Flavours of Corsica

Wine tasting in Corsica

Patrimonio Ajaccio

Wine tasting in Corsica is shaped by the island’s long history, varied terroir and local grape varieties. The island’s wine tradition reaches back to antiquity, and today Corsica has several appellations, including Patrimonio and Ajaccio, producing wines with clear personality and a strong sense of place.

Active holiday

Diving in Corsica

Crystal-clear water All levels

Corsica is a paradise for divers, with an underwater world full of atmosphere and discovery. Along the varied coastline you find hidden caves, dramatic rock formations, colourful reefs and wrecks surrounded by clear water and rich marine life.

Beaches in Corsica

– one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful coastlines

Corsica is often called the “Isle of Beauty”, and few places show this more clearly than the island’s spectacular coastline. Pale sand, turquoise sea and dramatic nature combine to make Corsica one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after beach destinations, attracting travellers who value both scenery and unspoilt surroundings.

What truly sets Corsica apart is the variety. Over relatively short distances you can move from lagoon-like beaches to wild, empty coves, from family-friendly bays to rugged cliff coastlines where nature still dominates the landscape, offering a sense of freedom, calm and authentic Mediterranean character.

Turquoise sea White beaches Great contrasts

The train journey to Corte

The train journey to Corte is one of the most spectacular ways to experience Corsica’s dramatic nature. The narrow-gauge railway, operated by Chemins de Fer de la Corse, winds from the coast deep into the island’s mountain landscapes – through tunnels, over viaducts and along steep valley sides.

Many also call it the “flower train”, because in spring the route passes through landscapes filled with flowering plants, shrubs and green hillsides. It is not just transport, but a nature experience in itself, with views you cannot get from the road.

Travel time from Bastia is about 1 hour 45 minutes, and from Ajaccio about 2 hours 30 minutes. Comfortable carriages with large windows and several daily departures make the journey a good choice for both day trips and longer itineraries.

Corte Mountains and viaducts Several departures

Ferry to Corsica

Ferries to Corsica

Travelling to Corsica by ferry is a flexible and atmospheric way to reach the island. You can bring a car, travel as a foot passenger and combine the crossing with a road trip in southern France or Italy before arriving on one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands.

Ferries arrive at several ports in Corsica, making it easy to choose where you want to start your journey. The main arrival ports are Bastia, Ajaccio, L’Île-Rousse, Propriano and Porto-Vecchio, so you can plan your trip around the north coast, west coast, south coast or the mountain regions.

5 ankomsthavner Bil og passasjer Fleksibel reiseform

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