a stone wall overlooking a body of water

Ajaccio

Corsica's capital is where Napoleon was born, with a historic old town, Genoese towers and a coast road that ends near the Sanguinaires islands.

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Ajaccio is the capital and largest city of Corsica, the French island in the Mediterranean. It sits on the island's west coast, on the northern shore of the Gulf of Ajaccio, with wooded hills behind it. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769, and his family's former town house is now the Maison Bonaparte museum. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is where he was baptized, and the Musée Fesch holds a large collection of Italian Renaissance paintings.

Come for the old town and the Borgu quarter, where narrow streets suit an unhurried walk. The Foreigners' Quarter keeps the palaces and villas built for wealthy British winter visitors in the Belle Époque. The Route des Sanguinaires runs along the southern coast past villas, coves and beaches, ending near the Sanguinaires islands, a Natura 2000 nature reserve reached by boat. Summer is hot and dry and the busiest season for visitors, when traffic and parking are hardest.

Ajaccio in five

Book the ferry and car together in summerFerries to Ajaccio from Marseille, Nice and Toulon fill in July and August, and so do rental cars on the island. Reserve both as soon as dates are fixed.Getting around France
Treat the mainland link as a domestic tripA flight or ferry from mainland France to Corsica is domestic, so your Schengen entry check happens where you first land in Europe. Count the days from that arrival.EES, explained
See the Maison Bonaparte with the opening hours checkedThe house where Napoleon was born is a museum in the old town. Hours shift between seasons, so check the official site before you plan a rainy-day morning around it.
Go west for the Sanguinaires at sunsetThe road along the coast to the Pointe de la Parata is the classic evening outing, and the small islands glow at dusk. Go in the shoulder seasons if you want space.
Do not count on the train for coast tripsCorsica's narrow-gauge railway runs from Ajaccio to Corte and Bastia, scenic but slow. Use it for the mountain view, and a car for the beaches and villages.Bastia

Things to do in Ajaccio

See all attractions in Ajaccio

Museum · AjaccioFesch Museum

Beach · AjaccioPlage de Porticcio

Museum · AjaccioMaison BonaparteAim for later in the afternoon or an earlier part of the visiting period to avoid busier times.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AjaccioPut the places you like in Ajaccio on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte (AJA), about 20 min to town
Getting there: Flights from mainland France; ferries from Marseille, Nice, Toulon
Getting around: Walkable center; rental car for the coast and mountains
Best base: Old town and port area near Place Foch
Time needed: 2 days for the town; 4 or more with the west coast

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Mild, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Mild, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Spring walks
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Wildflowers
MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, quiet
JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Swim season
JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Peak, ferries full
AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Peak crowds
SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Warm sea
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Mild, calm
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Rain, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Short days

Average daily high and low in Ajaccio, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Ajaccio

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 9°
Humidity: 64%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Corsica

09:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today18°14°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue19°14°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 8%.
Wed20°15°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 15%.
Thu19°16°43%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 43%.
Fri18°15°63%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 63%.
Sat19°14°42%Saturday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 42%.
Sun20°15°16%Sunday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 16%.

Updated 06:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Sanguinaires viewpointabout 20–30 min by car or busSunset walks at the Pointe de la Parata, looking at the small islands offshore.
Corteabout 1.5–2 hours by car or trainThe old citadel town in the mountains, with gorge walks nearby.Read the guide
Bonifacioabout 2 hours by carClifftop old town above white limestone and a narrow harbor.Read the guide

Before you go to Ajaccio

Rental car on CorsicaBook early for July and AugustCompare car rental

Sanguinaires and coast toursBoat and minibus outings from townCompare day trips

eSIM for CorsicaSignal drops in the mountain valleysRead the guide

Travel insurance for CorsicaCovers ferry delays in rough weatherRead the guide

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Rules for Ajaccio, checked

Check on France-Visas whether your nationality needs a visa and how long your passport must be valid. France is in the Schengen area.Source
Dial 112 from any phone for police, ambulance or fire services.
Do not light fires or barbecue in the maquis. The dry scrub burns fast in summer.
The Sanguinaires islands are a Natura 2000 nature reserve. Stay on marked paths and follow the signs.

Plan around Ajaccio

All of France

The mainland basics before you cross to Corsica

Read the guide Corsica

Island overview and how to link the coasts

Read the guide Bastia

The northern port, an island drive away

Read the guide Corte

The mountain town in the island's interior

Read the guide Getting around France

Rental cars, ferries and rail on one page

Read the guide

Ajaccio FAQ

How many days do you need in Ajaccio?

Two days cover the old town, the Maison Bonaparte and a Sanguinaires sunset. Four days or more makes sense if you add Corte or Bonifacio by car. Ajaccio alone does not need a week.

Do you need a car in Corsica?

Almost always. Buses link the main towns on limited timetables and the railway is slow. Ajaccio itself is walkable, but beaches, villages and the west coast need a car or a tour.

How do you get to Ajaccio from the mainland?

Fly from Paris, Nice, Marseille and other French cities, or take an overnight or day ferry from Marseille, Nice or Toulon. Ferry with a car costs more but saves rental fees on the island.

Can you swim in Ajaccio?

Yes. There are town beaches close to the center, and better sand along the gulf. Water is warm enough from about June to September; check local flags and lifeguard cover before you swim.

Is Ajaccio or Bastia better to visit?

Ajaccio is warmer, more resort-like and gives easier access to the west coast and the Sanguinaires. Bastia suits Cap Corse and Italian ferries. Many drivers do both on one loop.