green and brown concrete house on mountain

Corsica

Sandy coves, granite cliffs and mountain trails, all on one French island in the Mediterranean.

Find a room in Corsica Which neighborhood?Plan a trip to Corsica

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Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean, north of Sardinia and west of Italy. Its interior is mountainous, with peaks above 2,000 meters. The coast has sandy coves, granite headlands and the white limestone cliffs of Bonifacio. Ajaccio, the capital, is where Napoleon was born. Local food includes cured pork and dishes made with chestnut flour. Ferries from mainland France and Italy and flights both reach the island.

Hikers come for the GR20, a long mountain trail known for being demanding. Beach trips suit late spring and early autumn better than July and August, when the coast is busiest. A week gives time for a hike and a few beaches. Roads wind through the hills, so a short distance on the map can take much longer to drive, and outside the towns a car is far easier than buses.

Corsica in five

Book the crossing before the carFerries sail from Marseille, Toulon, Nice and Italian ports, and flights serve Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari; all fill in July and August. Fix your arrival port first, then plan the route around it.How to get to Corsica
Rent a car unless you stay in one townBuses and the small railway link Bastia, Corte, Ajaccio and Calvi, but not most beaches, villages or trailheads. Reserve a rental early for summer and check the pick-up airport.Getting around France
Plan for slow roads, not map distancesRoads climb and twist, so 100 km can take well over two hours. Base in two or three places rather than crossing the island twice.How many days in Corsica
Book GR20 refuge places through the parkThe GR20 crosses the island in about 16 stages, roughly two weeks. The regional park runs the official reservation platform for refuges, so book there rather than through resellers.Park booking site
Flying in from outside Europe? EES happens on the mainlandIf you connect through Paris or Nice, registration under EES takes place at that first Schengen border, not in Corsica. Corsica counts as France for your 90 days in 180.EES explained

Neighborhoods

Where to stay in Corsica, the full guide

a stone wall overlooking a body of water

Ajaccio

Best for: Arrivals, city beach, day trips south
To airport: Airport about 15–25 min by bus or taxi
Price band: $$

Ferry port and train station near the center
City beach and the old town on foot
Piana and the Sanguinaires coast by car

Skip if you want a quiet, beach-only stay.

Read about Ajaccio Hotels in Ajaccio

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Things to do in Corsica

See all attractions in Corsica

Garden · CorsicaParc of SalecciaAllow about two hours to follow the paths at an easy pace.

Sight · Corsicaîle de la PietraMay and June are suggested for avoiding the high-season crowds.

Historic site · CorsicaPrehistoric station FilitosaAllow around one to two hours for the walking trail and museum.

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

Need to know

Airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari; flights from mainland France and Europe
Getting there: Ferry from Marseille, Toulon or Nice; also from Italy and Sardinia
Getting around: Rental car for most trips; buses and a small rail line link the main towns
Best base: Two or three bases: Ajaccio or Bastia, plus Calvi or Bonifacio
Time needed: 7–10 days for a loop; 4–5 days for one region

Weather by month

Rainy days

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Quiet, mild
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Quiet, mild
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Spring flowers
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Hiking opens
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Maquis blooms
JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Warm, hiking
JulyClear8 rainy daysHigh30°Low22°Peak, ferries full
AugustClear10 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Peak, crowded
SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Warm sea, calm
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Mild, quieter
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°Many closures
DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low9°Many closures

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

Right now in Corsica

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%

Ajaccio

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

Before you go to Corsica

Rental car for CorsicaPick-up at Ajaccio, Bastia or FigariCompare car hire

Boat trips from Calvi, BonifacioScandola, Lavezzi and the cliffsCompare boat trips

eSIM for France and CorsicaPatchy signal in mountain valleysRead the guide

Insurance for a Corsica tripFerry delays and hiking coverRead the guide

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Rules for Corsica, checked

GR20 refuges and discovery trails are booked through the Corsica regional park's own reservation platform.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

All Corsica guides

How toHow to get to Corsica: ferry or flight, and which port to chooseChecked Oct 1, 2026

How toHow many days in Corsica? Five, seven and ten day routesChecked Oct 1, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Corsica: five bases from Ajaccio to BonifacioChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Corsica

All of France

Regions, cities and trains beyond the island

Read the guide Bonifacio

Cliff-top old town and boats beneath the limestone

Read the guide Calvi

Citadel, long beach and the Balagne villages

Read the guide

Corsica FAQ

How many days do you need in Corsica?

Seven days does one region properly, such as the south or the Balagne. Ten days lets you link north and south with a mountain day. Four or five days only works from a single base with day trips.

Do you need a car in Corsica?

For most trips, yes. Buses and the narrow-gauge train link the main towns, but beaches, hill villages and trailheads need a car, taxi or tour. Stay in Ajaccio, Calvi or Bonifacio if you want to go without.

Is Corsica part of France, and is entry different?

Corsica is part of France and inside Schengen, so there is no separate entry process. Ferries from the mainland and Italy have no extra border step; carry your passport or ID. Your 90 days in 180 count across the whole Schengen area.

When is the best time to go to Corsica?

Late May to June and September to early October: warm sea, open trails and fewer crowds than July and August. Many seasonal hotels, restaurants and boat trips close in winter, so check before booking.

Is Corsica or Sardinia better for a first island trip?

Choose Corsica for mountains, hiking and cliff scenery on a French-speaking island. Sardinia is flatter with more resort-style beach areas. You can see both: a short ferry runs between Bonifacio and Sardinia.