By air
Ajaccio (AJA) or Bastia (BIA), west and east coasts
Europe · France
Corsica, France
A mountain island of wild beaches
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to June and September — warm, calmer
Don't miss
Bonifacio
The Calanques de Piana
Palombaggia beach
Ajaccio
Things to do
The GR20 trek
The beach at Palombaggia
Bonifacio's cliffs
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Hiking boots, swimwear
A quieter corner
The Scandola nature reserve, by boat
Questions travellers ask
Which months suit a Corsica trip?
May to June and September, when it's warm and calmer. Pack hiking boots for the GR20 trek and swimwear for the beach at Palombaggia.
Where should I go in Corsica?
Bonifacio and its cliffs, the Calanques de Piana, Palombaggia beach and Ajaccio. By boat, visit the Scandola nature reserve.
Is Corsica known for any food?
Yes, look for brocciu cheese and chestnut dishes.
Can I fly straight to Corsica?
Yes, into Ajaccio (AJA) on the west coast or Bastia (BIA) on the east.
About Corsica
- Island
- Mountains
Where it is
Corsica is a mountainous island in the Mediterranean and one of the regions of France, lying south-east of the French mainland, west of Italy and just north of Sardinia; its highest peak, Monte Cinto, reaches about 2,700 m, and Ajaccio is its capital.
History
Greek settlers founded Alalia, now Aléria, on the east coast in the 6th century BC, and in 238 BC Corsica became a Roman province together with Sardinia. In the Middle Ages Pisa and then Genoa ruled it, Genoa from 1284 until 1755, when Pasquale Paoli proclaimed an independent Corsican Republic. In 1768 Genoa ceded Corsica to France, whose troops ended the republic the following year.
People
Corsicans speak French and Corsican (Corsu), a language closely related to medieval Tuscan. Polyphonic singing (paghjella) is a living tradition, shepherds make brocciu, a fresh cheese of ewe's or goat's milk, and chestnut flour and cured meats such as figatellu and lonzu are island staples.
Known for
- The GR20 mountain trail
- Bonifacio on its white cliffs
- The Calanques de Piana and the Scandola reserve
- Beaches such as Palombaggia
- Brocciu cheese, chestnuts and charcuterie
Did you know?
Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio in 1769, the year French forces took control of the island, and his family home there is now a museum.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.