Where to Go in Corsica – A Two Week Itinerary

The island of Corsica, France is an undeniable gem in the Mediterranean and should not be overlooked. I hope this two week itinerary helps you decide where to go in Corsica and how to get the most out of your time there. You could easily spend months and months discovering new beaches, mountain roads, tiny hill towns, and hidden restaurants but if you only have two weeks, you can still experience and see a lot!

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History of Corsica, France

The island of Corsica has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has had many influences throughout from Greek to Roman to Byzantine and then most notably Genoese who controlled the island for centuries. After a very brief period of independence, Corsica was annexed to be a part of France in 1768. There has been a nationalist movement in recent history, sometimes leading to violence.

Things to Know About Corsica

Corsica is divided into two departments or administrative districts: Haute-Corse in the north and Corse-du-Sud in the south but their populations are comparable.

Population

The most recent known population of Corsica is around 355,500. The largest cities and their population estimates are:

• Ajaccio: 75,000 (Capital of Corsica and Napolean’s birthplace, has an airport and seaport)
• Bastia: 48,000 (busiest seaport on the island, located in the north, has an airport)
• Porto-Vecchio: 12,000 (port town in the southeast, close to Figari–Sud Corse Airport)
• Borgo: 10,000 (commune near where the Bastia airport is located in the northeast)
• Corte: 7,500 (historic inland capital with dramatic citadel and gateway to Restonica Gorge)
• Calvi: 5,500 (coastal town in the northwest with rich Genoese history)
• Propriano: 3,500 (coastal town in the southwest with lovely nearby beaches)
• L’Île-Rousse: 3,000 (lovely coastal port town in the north)
• Bonifacio: 3,000 (dramatic clifftop port town at the southern tip of the island)

Geography and Climate of Corsica

Corsica is located southeast of mainland France, west of Italy, and just a few miles north of the island of Sardinia.

Corsica is 3,352 square miles and the 4th largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus. From north to south, Corsica is around 114 miles and from east to west it’s around 52 miles at the widest. But don’t let that fool you, it can take all day to drive some roads and cover much distance across the island.

Corsica has a nature reserve called Parc Naturel Régional de Corse covering 40% of the island. 

The GR20 is a notable advanced hiking trail that runs from north to south across the majority of Corsica and typically takes around 15 days to complete.

The highest mountain, Monte Cinto, reaches 2,706 meters (8,878 feet) high.

Corsica typically experiences hot dry summers and mild wet winters, except in the high elevation alpine zone.

Tips for Visiting Corsica, France

Currency

The Euro is used, just like the rest of France. Pay attention to the exchange rate so you’ll have an idea of how much to budget since it can fluctuate. Most everywhere accepts cards but cash is nice to have for random things like some food trucks may not take cards or for tipping. ATMs are readily available. When asked whether to accept the bank conversion or not, always decline. And when you use your card, if someone asks if you want it in dollars or euros, you want to select euros.

Language

French is the official language and spoken by basically everyone. But there is also a regional language, Corsican, which is more closely related to Italian (Tuscan specifically) due to close ties to Tuscany and Pisa in the early middle ages. Corsican is mostly spoken in the older generations but also taught in schools. Italian is also spoken and was the official language up until 1859, long after being annexed into France. Even fewer speak English in Corsica so sometimes we had a tricky time communicating.

Getting Around

Corsica has limited public transportation, especially for small mountain hill towns and beaches. There is a basic train system running between Bastia, Ajaccio, Calvi, and a few other smaller cities. You can see more HERE and translate your browser to English. There are different bus companies servicing different areas of Corsica so finding one great website with complete information is not available. The best website I found recommended was Corsica Bus and it’s not very good.

If you don’t want to spend an arm and leg on hiring taxis everywhere, it’s best to have a rental car. We always use Discover Cars and have found it to consistently have the best rates in most of Europe, although Corsica rental prices seemed higher than almost anywhere we’ve rented a car. We rented a car at the Figari airport and returned it there. It was a super easy airport for driving because it’s so tiny. Check rates for rental cars below:

When driving in Corsica, get as small of a car as you can for navigating narrow windy roads. Most rental cars will be manual transmission so be prepared for that or make sure to rent an automatic. Also watch for speed monitoring sings like shown below. That means there is a speed camera coming up and you want to make sure you’re going the speed limit—otherwise you’ll end up with a speeding ticket like us with a fee from the rental company.

Costs

We found Corsica to be pretty expensive. Of our three months in Europe in 2025 (each year we pick a few countries to focus on for 2-3 months), Corsica was the most expensive. It helped to have a hotel that included breakfast so we didn’t have to go out to eat in the mornings. We’d save money by sharing a pizza for dinner or grabbing sandwiches or wraps from gas stations or boulangeries. It also helps to go in the shoulder season like May/June or September/October but not the winter as you’ll find some areas essentially shut down.

Hours

Something to consider is many restaurants are closed between lunch and dinner, and as with much of Europe, Corsicans tend to eat dinner relatively late. Many restaurants will not open until after 7 pm. For someone like me who feels best eating an early dinner around 6 or earlier, this can be tricky. Sometimes a late 2-3 pm lunch was my last meal of the day and sometimes we just had to eat dinner later than usual.

How Long Do You Need in Corsica?

Even though Corsica appears to be small, it takes a long time to get from place to place. I think you need at least 1-2 weeks to properly get a taste of Corsica, although longer would be better.

One Week in Corsica

Where you concentrate your time depends on where you arrive and depart from on the island. Try to focus on just two areas like the south and west or the north and east. My personal preference was the north and west, but Bonifacio in the south is a high recommendation not to miss too.

Two Weeks in Corsica

Much better than one week, with two, you could theoretically spend time in 3-4 areas if you wanted which is what we did. We spent 2 nights in Bonifacio, 5 nights in the north, 2 nights in Porto, 1 night in Ajaccio, and 2 nights in Palombaggia near Porto Vecchio.

Where to Go in Corsica

This is totally subjective, but I’m going to write this section as if I was helping a friend plan a first time visit to Corsica for two weeks. Our favorite areas were Bonifacio in the south, the west, and the northern parts of the island. We found the eastern side to be less appealing and with heavier traffic. Maybe it was just our limited experience but our initial impression was:

East: more popular crowded sandy beaches with resorts. This may be better if you have kids. I’m sure there are beautiful isolated beaches as well, I just didn’t spend enough time there to find them.

West: more remote, rugged, mountainous, winding mountain roads, fewer people.

You’ll have to structure your itinerary based on where you arrive and depart from.

If you arrive in the south and depart from the north for example, you’re itinerary would make sense to go something like this:

• Bonifacio to arrive
• Porto
• Ajaccio
• L’Île-Rousse
• Corte
• Nonza
• Bastia to depart

Bonifacio – Two Nights

Arrive to Bonifacio from ferry from Sardinia (because Sardinia is amazing and you should absolutely combine the two on an epic month long trip) or fly into Figari airport. Or you could drive there from other regions or even take public transportation which we found to be complicated and didn’t use it.

Getting to Bonifacio

You don’t need a rental car while in Bonifacio but if you fly into Figari airport, it may be easiest just to pick it up when you arrive then park you car in one of the lots in Bonifacio while you’re there or at a hotel that offers parking. Otherwise you’ll have to take a taxi back to the airport to pick up a rental car, which could run upwards of 50 euros each way.

It is possible to take a rental car on the ferry from Sardinia, but we found many rental car companies don’t allow it or if they do, the fees are excessive and it costs more than just walking on the ferry. But if you’re visiting both islands, it would absolutely be worth it as we found the cost of rental cars in Corsica to be more than Sardinia.

Check prices for rentals Bonifacio. This is the site we use almost exclusively in Europe and it’s almost always the cheapest.

What to Do in Bonifacio

Bonifacio is mostly about strolling the narrow alleys and the marina and eating delicious food. There are enough things to do for a couple days to keep you busy but if you’re short on time, you can get away with just one night or a day trip.

Explore the Marina

Bonifacio is a port town. So the long narrow port is most impressive when arriving by water. The marina is loaded with waterside cafes, restaurants, sweet treats, and shops. There are a number of hotels here as well. Stroll along the promenade and ogle at the fancy yachts and catamarans while you’re at it.

Stroll the Citadel

The citadel, or fortification of the old town is undoubtedly the main character of Bonifacio.
MAP Location

Climb L’Escalier du Roy d’Aragon

This 189 step staircase has been cut into the cliffside of Bonifacio for over six centuries! You can see the steps from the water as you approach on the ferry. But to actually climb down them (and back up again) is quite impressive – and a little tiring. It costs just a few euros and you should wear proper shoes.
MAP Location

Take a Hike Near Bonifacio

There are tons of easy to moderate trails around Bonifacio and you can go for as short or long of a walk as you want. For example, Campu Rumanilu Trail goes along the cliff east from the citadel with views looking back at Bonifacio.
MAP Location

Visit the Lavezzi Islands on a Boat Tour

Boats to the islands can be found at the port and depart and return frequently. More information can be found HERE. Reputable tour sites like GetYourGuide offer tons of local tours as well and it’s nice to be able to see reviews before booking. Here are some highly rated options:

Where to Stay in Bonifacio

Bonifacio has some unique and lovely properties. You’ll have to decide if you prefer to stay by the waterfront along the marina or up in the walled city on top of the hill. You can’t go wrong either way, but I will say I think the quaint narrow streets up top with restaurants tucked into alleyways is more romantic and the waterfront restaurants struck me as more touristy and walking up and down in the dark at night after eating dinner may not be your cup of tea.

SantaTeresa

This is a pretty, newer hotel in the upper town, and although this hotel is not along a quaint street, it is a short walk outside the citadel and there is free parking and the price is very reasonable.

Hotel Solemare

Beautiful mid-priced, marina-front hotel with a swimming pool and great style. You can park for free and they have an optional paid breakfast.

Náš Hotel Colomba v Bonifaciu

This is the perfectly located hotel where I would love to stay if I came back. It’s nothing fancy but stylish and quaint on a beautiful street and reasonably priced. They offer an excellent paid breakfast and amazingly they have their own private free parking!

Hotel Spa Le Genovese

Certainly in another category of pricing, this stylish and beautiful hotel is located in an ideal clifftop position, has a pool and restaurant, and beautiful views. They also offer free parking and a paid breakfast.

Ajaccio – Two Nights

A little over two hours north of Bonifacio, you’ll come to the most populous capital city of Ajaccio with around 76,000 people. It also happens to be the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. We really enjoyed this city but only spent one night here unfortunately. I would have loved an extra day.

Parking in the city can be tricky. There are a number of paid parking lots but they fill up quickly by mid morning and you’ll find yourself looping around the waterfront over and over looking for a lot to open up. I recommend booking a hotel that has free parking or driving to the downtown pretty early.

Ajaccio has an airport with connections to mainland France and a few cities in Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, and the UK. There is also a ferry port with connections to mainland France and Sardinia with varying days of the week.

What to Do in Ajaccio

Ajaccio is situated along the western coast with plenty in the city to see and do as well as nearby things to keep you occupied.

Visit Nearby Beaches

Although the immediate coastline around Ajaccio tends to be a bit rocky, there is no shortage of beaches in the area around Ajaccio. Some examples include Capo di Feno, Plage de l’Ariadne, Plage de Barbicaghja, Plage Trottel, Plage Saint-Francois, Plage du Ricanto, and the massive expanse of multiple beaches just south of Ajaccio like Plage de Campo dell’Oro and Plage d’Agosta.

But one of the most beautiful? Plage de Mare É Sole

Explore the Historic Old Town

Maison Bonaparte

You can visit Napoleon Bonaparte’s family home for 7 €. They are open every day except Monday. Visit their linked website to check opening times which varies by time of year.

Visit the Ajaccio Market (Marché d’Ajaccio)

This amazing central market in Ajaccio has outdoor and indoor stalls with local food, baked goods, more olive varieties than you can handle, produce, meats and cheese, and more.

Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 7am-2pm
Saturday and Sunday 7am-1pm: Additional vendors like clothing and jewelry.
Wednesday and Saturday 7am-1pm: Local farmers who are part of a charter with the French Chamber of Agriculture to provide specialties and transparency of farming practices.

Fesch Museum

If you’re interested in art, visit this museum of Italian art created by Napoleon’s uncle.

Citadelle d’Ajaccio

The 15th century citadel is in the center of Ajaccio along the water and access to the citadel is free but you can also do a paid tour.

Where to Stay in Ajaccio

There are plenty of hotels in most price ranges in Ajaccio. One of the nice things about it being a larger city is the availability of more affordable apartments. Hotels tend to be more expensive. Here are some great options of increasing price to take a look at:

T2 Hyper Centre Apartment and T2 Centre Ville

These two apartments are in great location, have great reviews, are pretty affordable, with plenty of space and a kitchen to prepare meals if you’d like. Do consider that you may have to pay for parking if an apartment doesn’t list free parking. Always ask what your options are.

Hôtel Villa Martini

A more midrange priced hotel, this one is around 2 km from the center of town and very close to the beach, so you could theoretically walk if you wanted. Their hotel offers parking but it is paid unfortunately. They also offer an excellent breakfast for an additional charge.

Hotel San Carlu Citadelle Ajaccio

If you want a hotel perfectly located in the center by the citadel, look no farther. The price is reasonable for the location and amenities although you will have to find and pay for parking.

Hôtel Le Week End

Certainly on the high end of prices and a bit out of the center of down, this hotel is beautiful with an infinity pool overlooking a stunning beach. The pro of being out of town though is you get easier parking and the hotel lists it as free.

Lagnonu

Now if you really want to go all out and look for those Instagram worthy, stylish and creative hotels, this is a unique 5 star boutique hotel. It’s a bit far from Ajaccio, 37 minutes driving to be precise, but some people prefer a hotel out of the city. It’s definitely a work of art.

Porto – Two Nights

You can drive to Porto from multiple routes. If you are coming from the south, it’s an approximately 2 hour drive from Ajaccio without any stops.

To get to Porto from the north, there are two beautiful driving route options. You can either drive the windy coastal road past Calvi, which is scenic and stunning and takes a little over 2 hours without stops. The other option is inland D84 through Canyon de La Ruda which is another windy dramatic road along a river canyon. This route passes near Corte so you could pair it with visiting Corte. Along the route you’ll pass high mountain forests, hiking trails, and access to waterfalls and natural pools along the river. It also passes beautiful little hill towns worthy of a stop like Evisa and Ota.

Porto is a relatively new village, only in the last 50 years or so has it developed. It can draw a lot of tourists and traffic in the high season, but honestly this was my favorite landscape and area of Corsica.

Things to Do in Porto

A river divides the port into two sides. There is the ferry port side and the beach side. You can drive to each separately on different roads. The road to the beach, Plage de Porto, comes to a large dirt parking lot which is free. From there you can walk across the bridge to the more developed port side. The port side also has all the hotels, restaurants, and paid parking lots.

Climb the Genoese Watchtower

From the port, you can climb the watchtower for 2.50 € and get an amazing view of Porto and the coastline. Don’t expect much up there aside from the view.

Watch the Sunset

Few places in Corsica make for a better spot to watch the sun go down. We got some of the most incredible sunsets of my life here. You can either drive north a little ways on the D81 and find a pullout spot to park (there a couple great spots) or go down and park at the marina. People sit on the rock ledge and watch it each night.

Plage de Bussaglia

Believe it or not, this was my favorite beach on the entire island of Corsica. No, it’s not a white sand beach with perfect turquoise water like we saw in other areas. It’s rock and pebbly (which I actually love for cleanliness) with big boulders and a stunning mountain backdrop.

Parking is free and there’s one beach restaurant on-site. If you walk towards the far southern end of the beach you’ll find more privacy and little pockets of shade in the shadow of the huge rocks. It seemed to be a nude friendly beach as well.

Take a Boat Tour

This is one of the most popular things to do in Porto and it’s absolutely worth it. The boat tours are not cheap but definitely worth it to see the most stunning coastal section of Corsica that you can’t see any other way. You can also take similar tours to the region from Calvi or other cities but from Porto they will be the most affordable and shortest duration without having to ride in the boat for so long to get to the destinations.

I linked some of the top rated ones above. Basically, at the port in Porto, there are a number of boat companies with all different kinds of boats. But most are soft sided zodiac style boats for a small group. I would advise sticking to a smaller boat rather than a large one that can’t fit into some of the caves.

Réserve Naturelle de Scandola

To the north along the coast from Porto, is this stunning nature reserve known for its richly diverse marine and bird life, clear water, and dramatic colorful rock formations. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1975.

 

Calanques de Piana

If you continue driving south from Porto, the road will go through the dramatic scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Calanques de Piana and finally the town of Piana. Along the drive are different hiking trails as well. Many of the boat tours from Porto will combine the coast of the Calanques de Piana with the Réserve Naturelle de Scandola.

There’s also a really neat restaurant called Les Roches Bleues along this road. We didn’t eat there but the location and view is quite stunning.

Girolata

This tiny fishing village between Porto and the Scandola Reserve is reachable only by boat or by foot. There are just a handful of cafes and restaurants and maybe one guesthouse. All the tour boats use to include a stop here on their trips but stopped last year due to over tourism affecting the tiny town.

Most tours either visit one or the other or both of these nature reserves. It’s honestly hard to pick which one is better or more beautiful. I suggest you just go to both since it’s not a particularly long boat tour.

Visit Vallée du Fangu

This is a long drive from Porto, like over an hour, but it’s worth driving to the river to swim and see the beautiful gorge. You can drive as far along the river as you’d like and find a private swimming hole. You can also get here from L’Île-Rousse in about an hour as well.

La Ciucciarella

This restaurant is at the intersection where you want to turn to visit the Vallée du Fango. The restaurant has awesome pizza and other dishes and is VERY popular.

Ponte Vecchiu

This is the perfect destination in the valley to put into your maps. There is plenty of parking, it’s a beautiful spot along the river to see it from the bridge above or (carefully) climb down to go for a swim. There are also two restaurants on site.

Restaurant Ponte Vecchiu

Beautiful views and fantastic food.

La cabane chjarasgiu

Adorable bar right by the river, beautiful setting and views, but honestly overpriced for what you get. I ordered an ice cream for like $6 and it was one tiny scoop haha.

Visit Evisa

This beautiful little mountain town is around a half hour from Porto. We saw donkeys and pigs roaming the streets and they were adorable. There are a few restaurants and cafes, specifically U Caracutu for pizza has great reviews.

Where to Stay Near Porto

L’Aiglon

Not in Porto, but along the road to my favorite beach of Plage de Bussaglia, this stunning small hotel has a pool and is walking distance to the beach. Midrange priced.

Hôtel Colombo- Porto Corse

We stayed here for two nights and it was affordable and comfortable with lovely views. Parking was limited along the road in front of the hotel but we had no problem.

Le cap’o

This two bedroom apartment has a kitchen and lovely view.

Résidence Hotelière Capu Seninu

This lovely apartment is mid priced and has a washer and kitchen and a stunning view.

Les Flots Bleus

Location doesn’t get much better than this hotel right on the port, and the midrange price is reasonable for the location, however keep in mind the large port parking lot is not free.

L’Île-Rousse – Three Nights

We stayed 5 nights in this cute little beachside port town and loved walking the beach for sunset or sunrise. It’s small but not boring and it’s a great base for exploring the northern part of Corsica. We didn’t spend our days here in town, just the evenings after a day of driving and exploring. It would be a good base with kids because the beach is nice and calm.

Things to Do in L’Île-Rousse

L’Île-Rousse is perfectly and centrally located in the north for visit a ton of beaches and other towns. It would make a good base for 3-5 days where you don’t have to move locations and if you enjoy driving and long days exploring like we do. Alternatively you could stay 2-3 nights there and then spend a night or two in other areas as well.

Visit the Lighthouse for Sunset

A very popular activity in L’Île-Rousse is to walk out to the lighthouse for sunset. It is around a 15 minute climb but provides beautiful views of the sea and looking back at the town.

Visit Nearby Beaches

The town itself has a stunning beach but it can get crowded. But it’s large with lots of room and the water is a beautiful blue. Other nearby accessible beaches with free or cheap parking include:

• Plage de Lozari
• Plage de Bodri
• Plage de Ghjunchitu

Visit Beaches by Boat or 4×4

Some of the most spectacular and secluded beaches are not so easily reached. You can either take a boat tour or rent a 4×4. Or you can go to the boat tour companies at the harbor in L’Île-Rousse and inquire about tours.

• Plage de Saleccia
• A Cavella
• Plage de Trave

Here are some tours that will take you there:

Visit Nearby Towns

Within pretty easy driving distance are the larger cities of Bastia, Calvi and other smaller towns likeSaint-Florent or Corte and other hill towns in the area. You may even want to base yourself in some of those instead of a day visit.

Bastia

Bastia is one of the largest cities and is different from the capital of Ajaccio. It feels more “local” and the beaches aren’t as nice as some areas. It is also the gateway to exploring  Cap Corse, the rugged northern peninsula. You can arrive to Bastia via plane or numerous ferry connections so it is an easy base for coming and going to Corsica. But you can easily visit Bastia as a day trip as we did (twice). I’ll talk more about Bastia later on.

Calvi

We didn’t get to spend much time in Calvi but it’s only a 30 minute drive from L’Île-Rousse so we went twice, mainly to see it and drive the entire coastal road to Porto. It has a lovely feel. Almost like a California beach town, but French. There are lovely beaches in the area like Plage de Sainte Restitude, Sant’Ambroggio, and Bodri.

Lama

This was the first little hill town we discovered by just randomly following the road and it was so quiet and cute.

There is a beautiful restaurant called L’oru with wonderful views that we kept trying to go to but the opening hours just didn’t coincide with what we were doing each day. But I’d love to have gone.

I would even consider staying in Lama for a quiet couple days. For example, this hotel looks GORGEOUS!

Hôtel Case Latine

Go Wine Tasting

You probably don’t immediately think of wine tasting when you think of Corsica but there are a few lovely wine regions on the island. We unfortunately missed this activity but I’m adding it to my list for next time if we ever make it back there. Corsican wines are distinct with native grapes from that region. Some of the more popular regions are Patrimonio and Ajaccio.

Visit the Vallée du Fango

I already talked about this one under the Porto section, but here’s a bit more information. One of the most spectacular drives around Corsica is the coastal D81B route south of Calvi all the way to Porto (there is also a more inland D81 route that is faster but not as scenic under an hour). With no stops, this drive takes over 2 hours. It’s a stunning drive but you should feel comfortable with very narrow windy roads with drop offs. This is many of Corsica’s roads though.

If you drive the road along the coast, around the one hour mark, you’ll eventually reach a junction with the town of Galéria (which is also a cute town to visit). Follow the road to the Ponte Vecchiu and take a little swim in the beautiful green river. There is a restaurant and small bar with over priced ice cream at the river as well. You can go farther up the road and explore more of the river.

Where to Stay in L’Île-Rousse

There are plenty of hotels and most are not very budget friendly.

Best Western Premier Santa Maria 

We stayed here and it was actually pretty great. It’s well located to walk to either along the boardwalk to town or out to the lighthouse, which is great for sunrise or sunset. It also has its own small little private beach albeit not quite as nice as the one farther down towards downtown. The free parking and exceptional breakfast really makes this spot distinct as well as the lovely pool. We were hosted for our stay here and really loved it as a base for 5 nights.

Hôtel L’Isula Marina

Relatively budget friendly and great location.

Résidence Dary

Pretty luxury but they have two bedroom apartments perfect for two couples or a family.

Hôtel & Spa Rocabella

Also on the pricey side but beautiful and great reviews.

Hotel Cala di l’Oru

For the price, this may be one of the best values you can find. It has good reviews and location for under $90/night depending on the season.

Hotel La Pietra Restaurant & Spa

This is the only hotel on the little island with the lighthouse and it’s reasonably priced for the location! It looks beautiful with a jacuzzi with big windows and great reviews too.

Corte – Two Nights

We visited Corte just as a day trip from L’Île-Rousse. It’s at least an hour drive plus longer to drive into the beautiful Restonica Valley and explore so I think it would be worth your while to stay a night or two in Corte. It is a lovely preserved historic mountain town, albeit very touristy, known for its clifftop citadel. Corte was the capital of Corsica during its very brief period of independence under Pasquale Paoli.

What to Do in Corte

Even if you only have time for a day trip, I think it’s definitely worth coming to Corte. However it is larger than many of the other tiny hill towns so I think you’d find plenty to keep you occupied for a couple days. There are beautiful cobblestone streets to wander to shops and restaurants.

Parking was difficult midday and people were waiting and circling for spots in the lot at the entrance to town.

Visit the Citadel and Museum

It is a steep climb up the hill or you can take the little train up and back down from town. From the citadel you get a lovely view of the town, valley, and mountains. You can either pay 5.50 euros to enter the citadel and museum to learn more about the history with scanning QR codes or just visit the belvedere viewpoint for free.

Visit Restonica Valley

The Restonica Valley, or Vallee Restonica, is a protected natural area outside of Corte. The narrow windy road follows the Restonica River down below. Along the road are occasional little guesthouses and restaurants, camping, and numerous pullouts for parking and walking down to the river. You kind of just find a spot to park off the road and descend on foot (carefully because many spots require bouldering down) and there are beautiful turquoise pools for swimming (very cold) or lounging in the sun.

At the very end of the road you can access the hiking trail for beautiful mountain lakes like Lac de Melu and Capitellu around 10 km from Corte. Keep in mind these are seasonal lakes frozen 6 months out of the year.

• Distance hiking to Melu: approximately 10 miles roundtrip
• Distance hiking to Capitellu: 13.8 miles roundtrip
• Elevation Gain to Melu: 3700 feet
• Elevation Gain to Capitellu: 4500 feet

NOTE: Since a storm damaged the road towards the end, you can only drive so far before the road is closed up to this point HERE. The city of Corte started a shuttle service that runs May-September between town (multiple parking areas) and along the Restonica Valley to take hikers to trailheads, with the final stop being Frasetta. However you need to book your shuttle ticket ahead and present it on the bus.

Visit Nearby Hill Towns

There were two adorable and picturesque little hilltop villages near Corte that we visited. If you are short on time, you could absolutely skip these. Other small towns will scratch that charming village itch. But if you love getting off the beaten path where there are no other tourists and get a glimpse of local life, this will do it. 

Tralonca

Tralonca is about 15 minutes of a drive from Corte. The road to Tralonca is windy and narrow. Take it slow and watch out for oncoming cars. It was very tiny and you can drive your car right up to the main square where there’s a church and one main restaurant or tavern. So it’s not the kind of place where there’s much to see, but it’s a fun little stop.

Soveria

This little town is about a 10 minute drive from Corte. It is also very tiny. We didn’t see another human there, just a couple of friendly cats as we wondered around for 30 minutes.

Where to Stay in Corte

Where you stay in Corte depends on if you want to be in the heart of the town to easily walk around and experience it in the early mornings and evenings after the day-trippers leave, or if you want to stay  in the country, perhaps in the Restonica Valley. So I’ve listed some of the top rated places for a range of budgets in both.

Hôtel du Nord

Reasonably priced and, right in the heart of Corte. There is no free parking, but there is a nearby paid parking garage.

Corté Centre Corse

Also excellent location in the heart of Corte, this is a well priced apartment with a kitchen and washer, as well as free parking.

Dominique Colonna

At the top of the price range, this 4 star beautiful hotel is top rated, has a stunning pool in a forest setting, a bar, fitness center, free parking, and it appears to also include breakfast. It’s located right along the river in the Restonica Valley but is only 2 km out of town so you theoretically could even walk to visit town.

Hôtel de la Restonica

Basically right next door to the previous hotel, this 3 star hotel has a slightly lower price point but still gives you that riverside location and a beautiful pool in a forest setting. They also have free parking but breakfast is an additional charge.

Cap Corse – One night

Cape Corse, the peninsula in northern Corsica, was undoubtedly one of my favorite areas in Corsica and you absolutely do not have to spend the night if you don’t have the time. We explored Cap Corse as a long day trip from L’Île-Rousse stopping to have lunch in Nonza and it was perfectly fine. But in the future, I’d love to have an overnight stay.

What to Do in Cap Corse

We drove first to Bastia and then headed north. There are some lovely coastal villages along the highway to see. We didn’t drive all the way to the end of the peninsula but if you have time you could go all the way to the tip, for example to Plage de Barcaggio, a beach known for having cows on it.

Marine de Scalo

We crossed the peninsula on D180 going through a forested mountainous area. Stops along the way could be Charcuterie PAOLI, the historical landmark of Tour de Sénèque, the little church of Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption, then finally make your way to the tiny village of Marine de Scalo. It’s uniquely positioned right on a pebbly cove where the waves wash right up to the old stone fisherman’s houses.

The road is very narrow and hard to turn around. It’s best to find a spot along the road to turn around first then park and walk down to the village. There is a restaurant or bar in Marine de Scalo but it didn’t appear to be open when we were there.

Baracataggio

This is a pretty little beach we stopped at just before Nonza that just makes a scenic stop. It’s nothing too exciting, just a windy road down to the beach with a small parking area and a little snack truck parked along the road, Snack chez Tony, which has great views and reviews. The small parking area at the bottom is one of the access points for Plage de Nonza as well, requiring a bit of a walk.

Nonza

Nonza is a beautiful picturesque and touristy little cliffside village on the western side of Cap Corse, the little peninsula. It famously hangs over the black pebble beach of Plage de Nonza. Unfortunately, the striking black color comes from waste from an old asbestos mine located nearby, operating until 1965. Supposedly it’s safe, but the history keeps the beach more popular from the safe distance of the viewpoint from Nonza versus crowds frequenting the beach.

You can get to Plage de Nonza either by a steep trail down the hillside from the village or drive to the previously mentioned parking lot at Baracataggio and walk from there. And although not many take the time to climb down to the beach, some still do.

The Tower of Nonza, which was the location of a siege during the war between Pasquale Paoli and the French in 1768 during Corsica’s short period of independence, is a prominent landmark standing at the top of the village.

If I were going to spend a night or two in Cap Corse, I’d definitely choose to stay in Nonza as it’s walkable, picturesque, and has lovely cafes and restaurants.

La Sassa

This was my favorite meal in our entire time in Corsica. If there’s one thing you do in Cap Corse, make a reservation and come eat at La Sassa. It’s such a stunning restaurant perched on the cliff of Nonza, seemingly hanging over the black pebble beach and blue sea below. There rarely is a restaurant view comparable.

We came for lunch and made a reservation a couple days ahead but there were plenty of tables available. If you wanted to come for sunset, I think it would be a different story, so best to make a reservation on their website just in case. And get there early because finding a parking spot can take a while. We had to turn around multiple times and drive back and forth along the narrow road until a spot opened up and almost were late.

Ancien Couvent de Saint Francois

Just a five minute drive or a 20-30 minute walk along a path south from Nonza, this abandoned monastery is in ruins. It must have been beautiful in its day, with ocean views, carved stone and arched ceilings.

Where to Stay in Cap Corse

Personally if I were going to stay in Cap Corse, I’d like to stay in Nonza just because it’s cute. But the parking situation in that town is not great. But if you could stay somewhere with parking, then walk around, that would be helpful.

U San Daniellu villas et chambres

This small one is just 5 minutes from the beach and 15 minutes to Nonza. They have a heated outdoor pool and offer an exceptional breakfast.

Cap Corse – Grande maison au bord de mer – PMR

This is an entire villa with four bedrooms so it would be perfect for a family or small group. It is located right on a pebbled black beach about 10 minutes south of Nonza.

HOTEL SAINT ROCH

With direct access to the pebbly black beach of Plage d’Albo and just a ten minute drive north of Nonza, this hotel has great reviews, reasonable prices, and ocean views. It’s located in the tiny beachfront hamlet of Albo with just 1-2 restaurants.

Hôtel U San Daniellu villas et chambres

A little farther from Nonza, but with wildly excellent reviews, this elegant 4 star hotel features a pool, gardens, a coffee shop, and terraces. Not beachfront but you can walk to a beach in around 10 minutes.

Chez Jean Nonza

To be right in the heart of Nonza, this little vacation rental has great reviews, a kitchen, washer, and has 3 bedrooms. But it appears they require a 3 night minimum stay, however the price is very reasonable for the size.

Bastia – One Night

I don’t think you actually need to stay the night in Bastia however many people will arrive or depart from there either by air or by ferry, so it’s reasonable to expect you may stay there. And it’s quite a lovely city with its colorful, pastel buildings.

What to Do in Bastia

Bastia is known for having a more authentic, real local vibe as opposed to a touristy beach community like others in Corsica. It is the main industrial and commercial hub for Corsica and the second largest port in France. Walking around the city for half a day will give you a nice feel for it.

The fortified upper part of the town with the citadel is called Terra Nova. The lower old town is referred to as Terra Vecchia.

Stroll the Old Harbor

Bastia is less of a beach town than others and the waterfront is rocky. But the waterfront street still has numerous restaurants and the harbor is quite scenic. In the high season, this area is pedestrian only.

Citadelle de Bastia

Also a pedestrian area, you’ll find cafes tucked in narrow alleyways within the fortress walls, as well as a view of the harbor. Between the citadel and old port is Jardin Romieu, a walkway through gardens that provide a nice green space connecting the two.

L’Aldilonda

This is a pedestrian promenade along the water by the citadel.

Catedrale Santa Maria Assunta

This 15th century Mary’s Cathedral is within the citadel and is a 15th century

Église Saint Jean-Baptiste

It has two recognizable towers and a lovely facade.

Place Saint Nicolas

This large open square along the waterfront is a good gathering place and you can find more restaurants. It’s a good meeting place, where many tours start, and for markets.

Get Coffee

The best (and only) true specialty coffeeshop in Corsica is located in Bastia and is called Okoffee Roasters. We are dedicated espresso aficionados so we literally made a day out of coming here. There is not a lot of good coffee in Corsica so we were desperate. They have some pricey roasts but they know what they’re doing. There is a parking garage down the road a bit if needed.

Where to Stay in Bastia

Hotel Central Bastia

A very nicely located and modest quirky hotel, this one is reasonably priced with pretty good reviews. No parking available though.

Hôtel Des Gouverneurs

A beautiful mid-range hotel with a terrace, great views of the ocean and harbor, as well as an indoor pool. No parking provided, however.

Appartement de rooftop

If you prefer the space and kitchen of an apartment, this one is large and has an amazing rooftop with the best views. Keep in mind though, there are no elevators!

Conclusion…

Ok, there you have it—roughly two weeks in Corsica, France. A bit of a whirlwind itinerary, so customize it to your travel style. If you hate moving hotels, I get it, and you could absolutely combine regions like Bastia and Cap Corse, Corte and L’Île-Rousse, and Ajaccio and Porto. Alternatively, if you have more time, explore more of the east side like Porto Vecchio. I wish we’d had more time for canyoning in the mountains of the interior of Corsica. Truly so much to do.

Anyways, I hope this helps you plan your Corsica itinerary. Let me know if you have any questions I can try to answer and if you have any additional tips I should include!

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