Corsica, France

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

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Introduction
Corsica (Corse) is France's mountainous Mediterranean island — the 'Île de Beauté', where 2,700-metre peaks rise straight from a coastline of turquoise bays, and a distinctive island culture, language and cuisine set it apart. For travellers it combines some of the Mediterranean's finest beaches with serious mountains: the limestone cliffs of Bonifacio, the red rocks of the Calanques de Piana and the Scandola reserve, the citadel ports of Ajaccio, Calvi and Bastia, the legendary GR20 hiking trail, and a proud Corsican table of charcuterie, brocciu cheese and island wines.

Discover Corsica

Corsica's cities cluster on the coast, each with a Genoese citadel at its heart. Ajaccio, the capital, spreads around a wide bay on the west coast and is forever associated with its most famous son: Napoleon Bonaparte was born here in 1769, and the Maison Bonaparte, the family home where he grew up, is now a national museum, while statues, squares and the Fesch museum (with its outstanding Italian paintings) carry the imperial theme through the city. Calvi, in the north-western Balagne, is among the loveliest spots on the island — a tall Genoese citadel rising above a marina and a long crescent of beach backed by mountains. Bastia, the largest northern city and a main ferry gateway, has a lively working old port (the Vieux-Port), a Genoese citadel quarter (Terra Nova) and a grand baroque church-filled centre that feels distinctly Italian. And in the mountainous interior, Corte — the island's historic capital — sits dramatically beneath a clifftop citadel at the meeting of valleys, home to the University of Corsica and the gateway to the Restonica gorge. L'Île-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio round out the coastal towns, the latter the buzzing base for the famous southern beaches.

Travel Types

Cities & Citadels

Ajaccio and Napoleon's birthplace, the Genoese citadels of Calvi and Bastia, and Corte beneath its clifftop fortress in the interior.

Beaches & Sea

The cliffs of Bonifacio, the beaches of Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Rondinara, the Calanques de Piana and the Scandola reserve.

Mountains & the GR20

The Mediterranean's most mountainous island — Monte Cinto, the Restonica and Bavella, the regional park, and the legendary GR20 trek.

Corsican Food & Culture

The Corsican language and polyphonic song, chestnut-fed charcuterie, brocciu cheese, chestnut flour and the wines of Patrimonio and Ajaccio.

Frequently asked questions

Corsica is France's mountainous Mediterranean island, the 'Island of Beauty', where high peaks rise straight from a coastline of turquoise bays. It is famous for the cliff-top town of Bonifacio and beaches such as Palombaggia and Rondinara, the red rocks of the Calanques de Piana and the UNESCO-listed Scandola reserve, the citadel cities of Ajaccio (Napoleon's birthplace), Calvi and Bastia, the demanding GR20 mountain trek, and a distinctive culture and cuisine of charcuterie, brocciu cheese and island wines.

Ferries sail from the French mainland (Marseille, Toulon and Nice) and from Italy (Livorno, Genoa and Savona) to Bastia, Ajaccio, L'Île-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio, and there are airports at Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari. On the island a hire car is by far the most practical way to explore, though the mountain roads are winding and slow, so allow plenty of time. The scenic narrow-gauge railway linking Ajaccio, Corte, Bastia and Calvi is a memorable journey in its own right.

Yes. Corsica is a region of France (the Collectivité de Corse) with a special administrative status, so the practicalities are the same as on the mainland: the currency is the euro, it is within the Schengen area, and French is the official language. Corsican (Corsu) is widely spoken and seen on bilingual signage. Travellers from elsewhere in France or the Schengen area arrive without border formalities, by ferry or by air.