You cannot see everything in a single trip: Corsica is mountainous, and crossing the island takes two to three hours by road. Here are fifteen ideas, chosen to cover every region, each with a link to our detailed guide. To search by type of activity (hiking, sea, canyoning, diving, cycling), see our things to do in Corsica section instead. To choose a place by type (town, village, beach, mountain), read where to go in Corsica; for one half of the island, what to do in South Corsica or in Haute-Corse. To place them on the island, open our map of Corsica, which brings together towns, beaches and natural sites.
Photo : SlimMars 13 / Pexels
1. Walk around Bonifacio’s upper town
The houses of the upper town line the edge of a white limestone plateau above the sea. Take the cliff path, look down the King of Aragon’s Stairway from the top, then walk down to the Marina. Our guide: visiting Bonifacio.
2. Take a boat to the Lavezzi Islands
Off Bonifacio, the island of Lavezzu makes a day trip, with its granite coves and the cemeteries of the Sémillante shipwreck. The nature reserve rules and departure points are on our page about the Lavezzi Islands.
3. See the Scandola reserve from the sea
No road leads to Scandola: you follow its coastline by boat, from Porto, Calvi or the south of the gulf. Go in the morning, when the sea is calm. See the Scandola nature reserve.
4. Drive through the Calanques de Piana, in the Gulf of Porto
The D81 winds through red granite spires between Porto and Piana. Park and walk for an hour on the old mule track to see the rocks up close. See the Calanques de Piana and visiting Porto.
5. Walk down to Girolata
The hamlet has no road: you reach it on a path through the maquis from the Col de la Croix, a 3½-hour round trip according to the tourist office. See the Gulf of Girolata.
6. Climb up to Calvi’s citadel
The citadel overlooks the bay and the long beach by the pine wood. Calvi is also a base for the Balagne and for Scandola. See visiting Calvi. The GR20 starts from Calenzana, a neighbouring village in the Balagne.
7. Discover Ajaccio, Napoleon’s town
Napoleon’s birthplace, the Musée Fesch and its collection of Italian paintings, the market on Place Campinchi and the Route des Sanguinaires at sunset. See visiting Ajaccio.
8. Understand Corsica in Corte
The former capital of independent Corsica, with its citadel and the Musée de la Corse, in the centre of the island. See visiting Corte.
9. Hike up to the Restonica lakes
Since the road was closed in 2023, a shuttle bus runs from Corte station up to the Frasseta bridge from May to September. The Melu and Capitellu lakes take a full day’s walk. See the Restonica valley.
10. See the Bavella needles
You can drive up to the Col de Bavella from Zonza or Solenzara. With two hours to spare, the Trou de la Bombe path runs through the laricio pines. See the Bavella needles.
11. Get to the Agriates beaches
Le Lotu and Saleccia have no tarmac road: go by boat from Saint-Florent, by 4x4 track or on the coastal path. See the Agriates desert.
12. Take the mountain train
The Chemins de fer de la Corse train links Bastia and Ajaccio via Corte and Vizzavona, over viaducts and through tunnels that no road follows. See the train in Corsica.
13. Choose your beach in the south
Rondinara, Palombaggia, Santa Giulia, Petit Sperone: from a distance the southern beaches look alike, but not when it comes to access or crowds. See the beaches of Corsica and Petit Sperone beach.
14. Listen to polyphonic singing
The paghjella is sung in three voices, a cappella. Churches and summer festivals give you the chance to hear it. See Corsican polyphonic singing.
15. Taste the island’s produce
Brocciu, farmhouse tommes, charcuterie with a protected designation, wines, honey: buy them at the market, from the producers. See Corsican cheese, Corsican charcuterie and markets in Corsica.
