Corsica is in my opinion, a very underrated island! There is a small part of me that wants to keep it a secret, and a larger part of me that wants other people to know how wonderful it is too! I hope that if you’re reading this, you eventually decide to go! Here are some things to know that will help you in planning your trip!
How to get there
There are a few options for getting to Corsica depending on where you are coming from.
Essentially, you first must get yourself to France.
Flights: You can fly directly to Corsica from Paris or Nice, France. You could also likely fly indirectly from many places in Europe but you’ll have to go through France to get there by air. We flew from Nice and the flight was about 40 minutes from take off to landing.
Ferries: You can take a ferry from some locations in southern France as well as some ports in Italy. The fastest ferry route from mainland France is between Nice & Bastia. There are also some ferries that come to Corsica from parts of Italy
How to get around on the island of Corsica
By Car: I highly recommend renting a car on Corsica. This gives you the flexibility to see and do whatever you want, whenever you want. I’ll be honest I didn’t do much research on getting around without a car, because I felt we’d miss out without one.
We pulled over randomly on this road trip more than we ever have on any other. There are just so many things to stop and see! Beautiful rock formations, short road side hikes, stunning beaches seemingly coming out of nowhere, wineries, and so much more. You’d miss out on so much without a car in my opinion.
Driving through the Calanques of Piana is an experience I’ll never forget. The roads are insanely windy, the landscape is other worldly, and people are just pulling over LITERALLY all over the place to take in the views. I highly recommend going through (and staying in) this area if you’re driving around Corsica.
It is important to note that if you drive automatic it is very likely that you’ll be given an electric car. We were very nervous about this leading up to the trip, but it was in fact very easy and we had a good experience. There were charging stations all over the island and even at our hotels. The cost ended up being minimal and actually may have been less than the prices of gas. We had no issues and would rent an electric car again now that we’ve had success, so don’t let it deter you.
By Bus: I do understand that driving in other countries is not for everyone. Corsica does have a system of busses that can get you around the main points of the island. It is possible that there are some areas you will not be able to reach by bus. You should also be sure to check timetables for each time of year as busses may run more frequently during more popular times of year.
By bike: Corsica is a VERY active island and there are a lot of people here looking for adventure! There are routes in which you could bike through Corsica if that is your style of adventure!
By Train: There is a train system on Corsica, but admittedly I am not very familiar with it. If the train interests you, you can find more information here The Train Website
Money/Cost
We had no issues using credit cards most places in Corsica. The currency is the euro. I think when traveling it is always beneficial to have some cash for small purchases or more local spots, but overall you’d be fine here.
I wouldn’t call Corsica a budget destination and in the smaller towns and villages we needed to spend a bit more. In Bonifacio and Bastia you could find accommodation and food for a more reasonable price as there are more options in these locations.
Hotel costs: We stayed in what I think would be considered mid range accommodation. We paid around 150 per night in Bonifacio and 220 per night in Piana. We only stayed one night in Bastia and one night on the road when we arrived and each of those stays were closer to 100.
You can click here to search for accommodation
Meal Costs: For meals we generally have a shared starter, two entrees, two drinks, and sometimes desert. I’d say our dinners ranged in cost from 60-100 usd per meal. Lunches could be a lot more affordable, sometimes we split charcuterie, grabbed paninis, or other quick lunch options. Lunches I would say averaged 20-30 usd for 2 people.
Car Rental Cost: The rental car cost about $375 usd for a week.
You can check out rental car costs here: Rental Cars
Free: We honestly did a TON of free activities. We hiked a lot, visited beaches, walked the towns, and just enjoyed the epic scenery all around the Island.
Tours: We really only did one organized boat day on Corsica and I will admit it was a bit pricy, but it was a full day and 100% worth it. It was a boat to the Lavezzi Islands.
You can look at and book tours here: Lavezzi Island Tours
I actually wrote a post about it, you can find it here —-> A Day Trip to the Lavezzi Islands
Visiting Villages
There are so many villages and cities to visit on Corsica. We only saw a small fraction of all there was to see and I’d love to go back someday to see more. When planning your route you need to consider your interests. There are a number of inland villages that are perched on hills and through the interior of the island. Many of these villages have incredibly stunning views. There are also villages nearer to the water and beaches. No matter what route you’re taking from place to place it’s likely you’ll pass some other villages and we really enjoyed stopping to check them out.
If you’re looking for more info about some villages we chose to stay —–> 7 Reasons You Should Visit Piana, Corisca & Things to Do in Bonifacio, Corsica
Hiking on Corsica
There are many options for hiking on Corsica ranging from the G20 (arguably one of Europes most challenging hikes) to simple little day hikes or walks along the cliffs of Bonifacio. Whatever type of hiker/walker you are, this island has something for you.
Beaches & Boating
There are so many ways to enjoy the insanely stunning water around this island. Some of the water is so electric blue you’d think you’re in the Maldives or the Caribbean! There are all types of beaches around Corsica, and there is truly something for everyones style. The Lavezzi Islands are one of Corsica’s most special beach areas, and they are completely untouched as far as facilities. You do have to take a boat to visit them. Corsica has a lot of untouched beaches, where you can really just bring what you need and have a peaceful time. There are also beaches that have facilities, bars, restaurants, etc. These spots tended to be a bit more crowded (as you’d expect) but equally as lovely. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here.
Language Spoken/Culture
The culture of Corsica is really neat, as it is quite a mix of Italian and French (what could be better?) Many people speak both languages and in Bonifacio I think we even heard a bit more Italian (even though it is technically a French Island). Many people in the areas we visited spoke a little bit of English as well, enough to get by. If an English speaking guide is important to you for a tour, make sure to check the booking before hand.
Food & Wine
The food on Corsica was excellent! Everywhere we went on the island we had dishes that surprised us! I thought the island would have a huge focus on seafood (and the seafood was fantastic). But I was surprised by how amazing the meats were on Corsica as well. We spent many of our lunches just enjoying charcuterie & cheese and it seemed to be a very common thing to do. Corsica is also known for wild boar, we actually saw a few when we were driving around the island. In Bonifacio they cook with a lot of eggplant and let me tell you, it was delicious! Order anything you can involving eggplant if you’re in this area of Corsica! Overall whether you’re a meat or seafood lover, or even a vegetarian, Corsica has wonderful food to offer you.
The wine on Corsica was another thing I was quite excited for. I had sampled a few Corsican rosés before, and I was excited to try more. We only made it to one winery during our time on the island “Domaine Zuria” but we loved trying the wines at wine bars & dinners all around. Turns out Corsica makes excellent white, red, and rosé. We enjoyed all of the wines we tasted here and we even brought some back to mainland France to share with our friends!
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