What is the best time to visit Corsica?
It is tempting to say that any time is a good time, and that is almost true. In spring, the maquis is in flower and heavily scented. Summer brings the festivals and the warmest sea. In autumn, the inland forests change colour. But the island is small and gets crowded quickly: the best advice is still to come before or after the height of summer.
May, June, September and early October are the most pleasant times. The weather is already, or still, warm, the sea is fine for swimming, sights are less crowded and your hosts have more time for you. Ferry and accommodation prices also drop outside July and August.
If you had to pick just one month, choose September: highs of around 26 °C on the coast, the sea still at about 24 to 25 °C, and the summer crowds gone. If you are coming for the beach, avoid December and January: they are the coolest months, and many places on the coast are closed.
The twelve months at a glance
Air, rain and sunshine: Météo-France 1991-2020 averages for the Ajaccio (west coast) and Bastia (east coast) stations. Sea: recent averages (2023-2025) from the Open-Meteo Marine dataset, offshore from each town. For other stations, see the climate in Corsica.
West coast: Ajaccio
| Month | Air min-max (°C) | Sea (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h) | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5-14 | 15 | 54 | 136 | very low |
| February | 4-14 | 15 | 48 | 156 | very low |
| March | 6-16 | 15 | 50 | 211 | low |
| April | 8-18 | 16 | 53 | 230 | rising |
| May | 12-22 | 19 | 50 | 288 | moderate |
| June | 15-26 | 23 | 26 | 332 | high |
| July | 18-29 | 26 | 9 | 374 | very high |
| August | 18-29 | 26 | 16 | 343 | peak |
| September | 15-26 | 24 | 58 | 261 | high, then falling |
| October | 13-23 | 22 | 86 | 207 | moderate |
| November | 9-18 | 20 | 112 | 140 | low |
| December | 6-15 | 17 | 74 | 124 | very low |
East coast: Bastia
| Month | Air min-max (°C) | Sea (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sunshine (h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5-14 | 15 | 67 | 139 |
| February | 5-14 | 14 | 64 | 159 |
| March | 7-16 | 15 | 64 | 196 |
| April | 9-18 | 16 | 72 | 220 |
| May | 13-22 | 19 | 54 | 270 |
| June | 16-26 | 23 | 39 | 306 |
| July | 19-29 | 27 | 14 | 347 |
| August | 20-30 | 27 | 21 | 314 |
| September | 17-26 | 25 | 74 | 238 |
| October | 13-22 | 22 | 126 | 182 |
| November | 10-18 | 19 | 134 | 134 |
| December | 6-15 | 17 | 88 | 139 |
The east coast gets noticeably more rain in autumn (126 mm in October in Bastia, compared with 86 mm in Ajaccio), but its sea is slightly warmer in summer. The season is only one factor: our comparison of north or south Corsica also sets the scenery, beaches and access of the two halves of the island side by side.
The crowd ratings are based on data from the Observatoire régional des transports (the regional transport observatory) and Insee (the French statistics institute): visitor numbers climb sharply from April, peak in August and fall gradually from September. In 2025, more than 300,000 visitors were on the island each day from 20 July to 25 August, with a peak on 12 August.
Month by month
November to March: the island belongs to the locals
This is the quietest season. Most of the rain falls in November, the wettest month of the year, but there are still plenty of sunny days and highs hover around 14 to 16 °C on the coast. Snow covers the mountains; a few small ski resorts open when there is enough snow. It is a good time for towns, markets, village fairs and coastal walks. Many hotels and restaurants in the seaside resorts close: check before you book.
In early December, the Fiera di a Castagna in Bocognano celebrates the chestnut.
April: spring in the maquis
The maquis is in flower, the rivers are full and the low-level paths are passable. The sea is still cool (around 16 °C). Boat trips to Scandola start again: they run from April to November from Calvi, Ajaccio, Porto or Propriano. On Good Friday, Calvi and Sartène hold their processions, the Granitola and the Catenacciu.
May: the best balance of mild weather and calm
Daytime highs top 22 °C, swimming becomes possible at the end of the month for those who don’t mind cool water, and sights stay quiet. The GR20 refuges are wardened from mid-May (from 16 May to 4 October in 2026). In early May, Venaco hosts the cheese fair, A Fiera di u Casgiu: see our page on Corsican cheese.
June: summer before the crowds
There is very little rain, the sea reaches 23 °C and most supervised beaches open their lifeguard stations in mid-June. It is the best month to combine the beach with hiking. At the end of June, the Jazz in Calvi festival opens the concert season.
July and August: heat, festivals and crowds
Highs approach 30 °C on the coast and exceed 31 °C inland and in the far south. The sea is at its warmest (26 to 27 °C). This is the season for village festivals, concerts and fairs: the Nuits de la guitare in Patrimonio at the end of July, the olive fair in Montegrosso in mid-July, and 15 August in Ajaccio (the feast of the Assumption and the anniversary of Napoleon’s birth).
It is also when you need to book everything well in advance: ferry crossings, car, accommodation and even some excursions. Coastal roads and the best-known beaches are busy. In very hot, windy weather, access to some massifs can be closed by prefectoral order to prevent wildfires.
September: the regulars’ favourite season
The heat is still summery at the start of the month, the sea keeps its August warmth and visitor numbers drop sharply once French schools go back. The first autumn storms can arrive at the end of the month. In Calvi, the Rencontres de chants polyphoniques bring together choirs from all over the world in mid-September.
October: the late season
Highs stay around 22 to 23 °C and the sea around 22 °C, but rainfall increases and the days get shorter. The wardens leave the GR20 refuges in early October. The festivals carry on: the Arte Mare film festival takes place in Bastia in October.
In short, depending on what you are looking for
- For the beach without the crowds, come from mid-June to early July or in September.
- For hiking and the GR20, from mid-May to the end of June or in September, when the refuges are staffed and the heat is bearable.
- For festivals, concerts and the warmest sea, July and August, booking early.
- For towns, markets and peace and quiet, from November to March, accepting that the coast is asleep.
To plan your trip, see also our pages on crossing by ferry and flying to Corsica.
