Bonifacio
A cliff-top old town at the southern tip of Corsica, with a narrow inlet harbor below and ferries to Sardinia several times a day.
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Bonifacio is a town at the southern tip of Corsica, on the Mediterranean in the Corse-du-Sud department of France. It faces Sardinia across the Strait of Bonifacio, and it is the southernmost commune in metropolitan France. The old town sits on white limestone cliffs. The upper Haute Ville stands on a promontory around a citadel, and the harbor, la Marine, lies below in a narrow inlet. From the sea, the cliff-edge houses seem to hang over the water.
The town was founded as a fortress in 828 and named after Boniface II of Tuscany. The citadel has been rebuilt many times and was once an administrative center for the French Foreign Legion. Churches to see include Église Saint-Dominique and Église Sainte-Marie-Majeure. Two Genoese towers stand near the town. Ferries to Sardinia run several times a day, and Figari airport needs a car or taxi to reach Bonifacio. The dry, warm months suit a visit best, and August is the warmest month.
Bonifacio in five
- Take a boat to see the cliffs from belowThe old town looks best from the water. Boats run along the cliffs and out to the Lavezzi islands, and most leave from the harbor; book the day before in summer.Where to stay in Corsica
- Skip driving into the old town in summerParking near the harbor and the upper town fills early, and the streets are narrow. Park at a lot on the edge, or ask your hotel about space before arriving.
- Stay one night for the quiet hoursDay-trip crowds thin by early evening and the upper town is calm at dawn. One night here beats a rushed afternoon from Porto-Vecchio.Corsica travel guide
- Add Sardinia only with a planA short ferry links Bonifacio and Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. Check the season's timetable and vehicle rules before you build a day around it.
Need to know
- Airport
- Figari (FSC), about 25–30 min by taxi or car
- Getting there
- Road from Ajaccio about 2–2.5 hours; ferry from Sardinia
- Getting around
- Walkable old town; a car for beaches and the plateau
- Best base
- Old town or the marina area; Porto-Vecchio for cheaper beach stays
- Time needed
- A night, or a long day trip with a boat tour
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Quiet, closedJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Quiet, mildFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, mild
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Mostly quietMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mostly quiet
- AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Spring, openAprilClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, open
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Warm, calmMayClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low23°Peak, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, crowded
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Peak, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, crowded
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low20°Warm sea, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh21°Low17°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh17°Low14°Mostly closedNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mostly closed
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low11°Mostly closedDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mostly closed
Average daily high and low in Bonifacio, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bonifacio
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
16
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 34 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Bonifacio
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°12°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue19°12°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed18°15°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Thu17°16°83%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Fri17°15°54%Friday: Rain. High 17°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Sat18°13°24%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Sun18°13°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 06:24 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Lavezzi islandsabout 30–45 min by boatGranite islets with clear water, reached by organized boat tours.
- Porto-Vecchioabout 30–40 min by roadBeaches such as Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, plus a marina old town.Read the guide
- Ajaccio and the south coastabout 2–2.5 hours by road to AjaccioA good second stop on a loop of the island.Read the guide
Before you go to Bonifacio
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Rules for Bonifacio, checked
- Check entry rules for your nationality on the France-Diplomatie website before you travel. Corsica is part of France and the Schengen area.Source
- The ferry to Sardinia is an international crossing to Italy. Carry a passport, or an ID card if your nationality allows one for this crossing.
- The Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve covers the strait and protects birds, fish and plants. Check its rules before fishing, anchoring or diving.
- The European emergency number is 112, and it works on mobile phones across France.
Plan around Bonifacio
Ferries, roads and how many days to give the island
Read the guideWhere to stay in CorsicaBonifacio against Porto-Vecchio and Ajaccio
Read the guideHow to get to CorsicaFlights to Figari and ferries from Sardinia
Read the guideCalviThe island's northwest, for another cliff-and-beach stop
Read the guideAll of FranceRegions, cities and train routes
Read the guideBonifacio FAQ
Is Bonifacio worth visiting?
Yes, for the cliff-top old town and the view from the water. It is small, so most visitors need an afternoon or a night. It gets crowded in July and August, when parking and midday heat are the main problems.
Can you visit Bonifacio as a day trip?
Yes from Porto-Vecchio, about half an hour by road, or from Ajaccio in a long day. A night here is better if you want quieter streets and a boat trip without rushing.
How do you get to Bonifacio?
By road from Figari airport (about 25–30 minutes), from Porto-Vecchio or from Ajaccio, or by ferry from Santa Teresa Gallura in Sardinia. There is no train; check bus options before relying on them.
Is there a beach in Bonifacio?
Beaches are mostly outside the old town, a short drive away. The town itself is for walking, the harbor and boat trips. Plan a car or taxi for swimming days.
Do you need to book boat trips in advance?
In summer, yes, the day before at the latest. In spring and autumn walk-ups are easier, but sailings reduce and weather can cancel them, so keep a flexible day.