The 20 things to do in Corsica

Gross diamond loved between sea and mountain, Corsica offers a breathtaking spectacle. Treasures nestled here and there, which we invite you to discover in our essentials...

Visiting Corsica is one of the best choices you will make if you feel with other European destinations! Indeed, no need to leave away from France to be completely overwhelmed. At 1:30 am Paris , the Mediterranean island only awaits you.

For many people, the island of beauty is inseparable from Napoleon Bonaparte who was born in Corsica in Ajaccio on August 15, 1769. If this is one of the reasons that made the island famous, Corsica is as a travel destination a superb jewel of the Mediterranean that stands out at every stage of your stay in Corsica.

From the Scandola Nature Reserve, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the historically remote villages on the hills, Corsica is full of spectacular places of interest. The island cannot boast of as many seaside resorts as in Sardinia or on the French Riviera, but nevertheless, Corsica has more than 1000 km of coast to explore. Therefore, you can easily juggle from the beach to the tops of the mountains and then to the forests where the fauna is rich there in one afternoon.

But what to do in Corsica? Where to start? The island of Beauty is above all a precious heritage. A profound cultural heritage that we invite you to discover right now.

To discover also :

1. Visit Ajaccio

The capital of Corsica is the gateway to the island and the department of Corsica-du-Sud. Ajaccio is a small, very dynamic town, with a population of almost 65,000. On site, you will not miss the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption at the end of 16th, the citadel and for the most gourmet, the market of the city, rich in discoveries.

Enjoy a boat trip for a three-hour trip to discover the local fauna and flora. On the programme, several stopovers in the most beautiful bays of the West Coast. And don’t forget: mask and tuba are rigged to fully enjoy the trip...

2. Discover Porto-Vecchio

For many, the small port of Porto-Vecchio is a summer refuge. The population of the Quintuple commune in July and August, its marina filled with activities. On the coast, paddle, windsurfing and water skiing have the wind in a stern! Porto Vecchio enjoys a wide range of entertainment, to share with family or friends.

The history ferus will give a special interest to the ruins of the Bronze Age scattered among the rocky hills that border the city (Araghju, Turri, Ceccia, Tappa, Bruschicia) but also to the city citadel , built by the Génois in 1539.

Far from the summer tumult, the most sporting will enjoy a mountain bike ride on the heights of the island. An escape out of the beaten paths that promises to discover the wild Corsica.

Finally, let the magic work and finish your trip with a hint on the beach of Palombaggia The splendid. To describe it is quite simple, there are no words: just see it to believe it...

3. Flâner in the picturesque village of Sartène

Just 60 km west of Porto-Vecchio, Sartène is a picturesque village with medieval roots.

The tiny town has a beautiful rural aspect, with narrow streets and a myriad of beautiful small places to explore. Add to this a remarkable wine and culinary heritage, and Sartène appears as a prime destination in Corsica.

4. Hiking with family

To visit Corsica as it should be, nothing like hiking. Between strong sensations and tranquility, it is an activity that suits your whole family. The island of beauty offers a wide range of marked trails that are suitable for any type of hikers.

So if you want to become real experts in the region and discover the most beautiful hiking trails in the family, we advise you to go on Explora Project , the agency that offers you unforgettable escapades. With their stay « Family hike in Corsica » , you will dive into the heart of Corsica. With the local guide, it is a 6-day programme for small onions that awaits you: breathtaking landscapes of one of the wildest shores of Corsica, warm cottage and memorable views. Unbelievable!

5. Visit Calvi

The commune of Haute-Corse always claims to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and on the same occasion, makes this legend persist. Like many other locations on the island, Calvi was built on a hill-fall, on the waterfront, which offers Calvi an unforgettable face.

A unique postcard that visitors like to discover by strolling through the streets of the old city, authentic shops to small restaurants, until you reach the citadel.

Like Porto Vecchio, Calvi is an important tourist hub where there are many nautical activities. In the summer, the port grooves from all sides due to the many restaurants that have elected home there, and its marina that hosts huge yatchs.

6. Visit Saint-Florent

The vineyards of Patrimonio enjoys a mythical reputation in the oenophilic circles and for cause... It is the Corsica wine at the oldest AOC of the island. To delight, it is at the pretty fishing port Saint-Florent that you have to go.

In addition to delighting the taste buds, the Saint-Tropez Corse hosts a Genoese fortress of the 15th century, the remarkable Cathedral of Nebbio but also and above all, a superb local beach.

7. Take the most beautiful pictures in Ota

Ota is one of the real jewels to visit in Corsica. The small village has one of the most enviable decors in all the towns of the island. A mountainous decor, authentic, wild and above all, Splendid.

A tip: bring your camera to capture any memory! You can visit Ota during a road trip in Corsica : a step that you are not ready to forget...

8. Discover Bonifacio

It is an address that we no longer present, and yet. For a day, a stay or a few hours, Bonifacio is a must for a trip to Corsica.

If the small town has a strong tourist footprint, neither time nor world seems to have an impact on its splendor. Its cliffs, its old town, its marine cemetery, its "sand grain" , its breathtaking miradors and then the staircase of the King of Aragon... All his charms conjure him a certain authenticity. Of those who make it all its beauty.

9. Visit the marina of Bastia

The marina Bastia Once the summer tourist season has come, the remarkable wines of the commune flowing freely on the terrace tables in the Old Port district. The latter is indeed an incredible beauty.

With over 40,000 souls, Bastia is one of these cities to discover... otherwise. It is out of the beaten paths, away from the landings and why not accompanied by a local guide you will discover its true face, that of a proud and authentic Corsica. Let yourself be carried between Terra Nova and Terra Vecchia: during the walk, they will tell you the true story of Bastia.

10. Visit the old capital of Corte

Once the capital of Corsica during its independence, the city paoline is still considered to be such. Corte , perched on its heights, enjoys a superb cultural heritage: from above, it offers a beautiful collection of terracotta roofs, immersed in the middle of hills with lush vegetation.

From the alleys of the historic centre to the citadel, the "sentinel of the island" reveals a raw and authentic character that does not need a filter to seduce all those who pass through its lands.

11. Visit Cargesis

Installed on the island for more than 2000 years, the village of Cargesèse is renowned for its cultural heritage.

A witness of a long discord between the Greeks and the Corsicas, Cargesis is today a cosmopolitan beauty. Here, the baroque blends with the iconoclast for a unique setting on the island of Beauty. A historic centre of character that is worth the detour, like the marina of the village and the many hiking trails that surround it.

12. Explore the Lavezzi Islands

Located in front of Sardinia, the archipelago Lavezzi Islands illustrates a little paradise.

Its endless horizon, its clear waters, its rocky coves and its wild beaches give it an authentic character that is worth it today as a natural reserve. The time of a day, enjoy a boat trip to set up a few hours on one of the islands of the archipelago. On the programme: swimming, sun and fierce...

13. Discover Porto

It is named after the only Corsica site listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site since 1983. It was in his midst that he was born, like the Natural Reserve of Scandola, the Gulf of Girolata and the Calanques of Piana... Lové in the jewel of the Gulf of Porto, the small village of Porto call to the detour in its setting between sea and mountain. Its bay, its steep alleys, its gray pebble beach, its red cliffs...

All its features of character illustrate a particular postcard decor, that of the insured heart stroke.

14. Make a boat ride

If you are on the island of beauty, it is a step that you must not miss under any pretext: the boat rental in Corsica ! Whether at the departure of Corsica from the north or south, with the aim of discovering the most beautiful calanques or simply along the coast, you will not be disappointed!

On the programme, blue lagoon, view of the maquis and swimming in the middle of the Mediterranean! Here are some ideas of itineraries and boat discoveries below.

15. Explore Scandola Natural Reserve

This is an extraordinary, almost dreamlike place. Joy of nature, the Scandola reserve preserves a precious ecosystem that it protects deeply.

And for cause: the place is only accessible by boat (but some areas do not benefit from any anchorage permission) and is strictly spared from mass tourism. A visceral, almost maternal instinct that now houses a fauna and flora with sometimes rare species.

Embrassed by a sea with powerful blue, caves and cliffs engulfed in a blood red for an extraordinary camaieu. Scandola is to see at least once in his life.

16. Discover Piana calanques

Always in the sublime Gulf of Porto, the mountainous Calanques of Piana .

A few kilometers from the eponymous village, the cliffs both designed and teared illustrate a breathtaking landscape, 400 meters above the sea. An onirical panorama, out of time. Inaccessible by car, the Calanques of Piana deserve first and foremost: they are discovered through a steep walk, in the middle of a preserved nature.

17. Visit Rousse Island

Portrait of the terroir Corsica, the Rousse Island is a must for the journey. Founded by the political figure, the "Father Corsica" , the "Babù" Pascal Paoli , the city bears witness to a charm... undeniable.

Its place Paoli, its beaches and houses with the Florentine airs live in the sandstone of this beautiful Corsica that seduces each of its visitors. Take a coffee, stroll through its alleys and especially yes, stop at the Halles. They will guide you straight to the market stands where local specialties promise your taste buds a real moment of happiness.

18. Cross it Desert of Agriates

The Desert des Agriates is a picturesque nature where the maquis is king. The Desert des Agriates, along the steep paths and steep paths, reveals an arid and authentic character: that of the Corsican land, without artifice.

A spontaneity that extends to its natural beaches: Lotu, Saleccia and Ghignu call for change. Preserved for tourism, the places do not host any construction and are only accessible on foot or by boat but one thing is sure, the effort is worth comforting...

19. Make the path of the Douaniers

It all starts in Macinaggio. A small hamlet lost in the heart of Rogliano in which visitors love to waste time for a few days, away from mass tourism. So farniente and swimming are of rigor during your stay, it is a must that it would be a shame not to agree: the Trail of the Customs ( see the trace ).

A famous 3-hour hike from the beach of Macinaggio, to the charming village of Barcaggio, which promises breathtaking landscapes. endless horizons, breathtaking views, vestiges, cliffs and even local fauna invite you to a unique experience that you are really not ready to forget...

A tip to live this moment as it should be: leave early in the morning, plan cap, bottle of water and change for the boat back.

20. Visit Nonza

Its beauty is reversing, dizzy. Nonza , small discreet village of Cap Corse, nests in the heart of the mountain to which it seems to hang, febrile. Overlooked by its citadel, the Paoline Tower, Nonza hosts small houses with authentic charm. Among them, shops, cafes. There is one that literally, is breathtaking. Installed on his rocky piton, " The Sassa “is a restaurant born of a soft madness, spy and passionate.

We come here to sip a lemonade, drink a glass of wine or taste homemade dishes. But it comes mainly for its magic: an exceptional panorama on the pebble beach, and the surrounding beauty. The feet in the void, the breath cut: it doesn’t explain, it happens.

How to get to Corsica?

There are two ways to go to Corsica: by boat or by plane. Both solutions are valid given the wide choice of air and sea routes. However, you have to pay attention to the period you book. Flights are only in place at certain times of the year. To go by ferry to Corsica, you can read our article on the crossing Corsican for more information. If you wish to arrive by plane, compare prices on Ulysses .

Where to sleep in Corsica?

In Corsica, it is sometimes more appropriate to sleep in stage cottages or in the living room. You can also find vacation rentals on specialized sites. Wanderlix has also listed for you the best places to stay in Corsica .

Of course you will find hotels and resorts in Corsica. To find the best prices, search this Compare hotels .