Crossing to Corsica: best ferry (+ tips)

The crossing to Corsica: this is the first thing to decide. But it is not always easy.
Here is our complete guide, to help you choose which ferry to Corsica:

• from which port to depart,
• in which city to arrive,
• which company to take,
• map of ferry routes,
• prices, travel times and practical advice…

We try to answer all your questions!

Which ferry to go to Corsica: summary

We will detail everything for you in this article. But if you don’t want to read the whole thing, here are the key points:

1. None of the 4 companies stood out as the “Best”. But the one with the most options is Corsica Ferries.
2. The shortest way from France is between Nice and Ile Rousse (4h15)
3. The shortest distance from Italy is between Piombino and Bastia (2h45)
4. Choose your preferred ports of arrival first, based on your schedule there, and then look at where to depart from. It is better to drive a few kilometers on the highway in France to a port of departure than on small roads in Corsica to reach your destination.
5. For the best fares, we advise you to book your tickets well in advance – use our preferred comparator
6. The price of ferries depends on the demand – so weekends in summer have the most expensive prices. With a little flexibility, you can find better prices.
7. An overnight trip can save you a night in a hotel. It is to be calculated…

See ferry schedules and availability

8. Prepare a bag with everything you need on board because you cannot return to your car during the crossing.
9. Verify that your ID is valid before traveling
10. Get out and enjoy the view as you approach Corsica!

Corsica ferry routes : Map and options

Map of ferries to Corsica

Here is a map to help you understand the ferry routes with :

• Departure cities,
• Arrival cities.

It’s easier to visualize where to go. This map will help you for the rest of the article.

Criteria for choosing a boat trip to Corsica

It depends on your priorities, you may consider:

• The price
• Day or night crossing
• The duration on the boat
• The port of departure
• The city of arrival.

Prices remain similar between companies.
Our advice is to choose your arrival city (or preferred cities) first. If you have already chosen your destination in Corsica, everything you want to see, it indicates where to arrive.

We believe that it is better to drive a few kilometers on the freeway in France or Italy to a port of departure than on small roads in Corsica to reach your destination.

Compare prices and routes

Step 1 – Choosing your preferred arrival cities in Corsica

The ferries can arrive in 5 cities:

• Bastia
• l’Ile-Rousse
• Ajaccio
• Porto-Vecchio
• Propriano
• (and Bonifacio from Sardinia)

The choice depends on your program on the island of Beauty, on what you want to see.
If you haven’t decided yet, see our article on the most beautiful destinations in Corsica.

Bastia and Ile Rousse are good choices if you want to explore the north of Corsica. In particular:

• Cap Corse
• Bastia
• Saint-Florent and the desert of Agriates
• The Balagne with its villages, Ile Rousse and Calvi
• The calanques de Piana (a little further)
• …

Ajaccio is a good choice if you want to explore western and central Corsica. In particular:

• The beaches around Ajaccio
• Cascade des Anglais
• Direct access to Corte and to mountain hikes
• A few hours drive to South Corsica or to the calanques of Piana
• Ideal for a road trip

Propriano, Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio are good choices if you want to explore southern Corsica. In particular:

• The citadel of Bonifacio
• The Lavezzi Islands
• The beautiful beaches such as Palombaggia, Rondinara, Tamaricciu…
• The mountains of the South with the needles of Bavella
• …

Plan a dream trip to Corsica!

• 7 maps that make planning easier
• 130+ pre-selected locations
• Practical advice
• 220+ photos to help you choose

LEARN MORE

Step 2 – Choosing your departure port and travel time – From which city should you leave for Corsica?

From there you can find the departure ports:

Bastia is accessible by ferry from:

• Marseille: 11h30 of travel
• Nice: 6h
• Toulon: 8h30
• Genoa (IT): 10am
• Livorno (IT): 3h30 or 10h depending on the ferry
• Piombino (IT): 2h45
• Savona (IT): 5h30

Ile-Rousse is accessible by ferry from:

• Marseille: 11h30 of travel
• Nice: 4h15
• Toulon: 7h
• Livorno (IT): 5h30
• Savona (IT): 8:30 am

Ajaccio is accessible by ferry from:

• Marseille: 12 hours of travel
• Nice: 6:45 am
• Toulon: 7h

Propriano is accessible by ferry from:

• Marseille: 12h15 of travel

Porto-Vecchio is accessible by ferry from:

• Marseille: 14 hours of travel
• Toulon: 12h

Compare ferry schedules and availability

Can you arrive at one port and leave from another?

If you are planning a road trip, you can arrive at one port and leave from another.
For example:

• Arrive in Bastia,
• to go around the Cap Corse,
• Go down by the coast towards Ajavccio with Calvi and the calanques of Piana,
• Go down the coast to South Corsica to discover Bonifacio and the magnificent beaches of the south,
• Go back to Porto-Vecchio.

The boat to Corsica: advantages and disadvantages

Before taking the ferry, you must be aware of what awaits you.
The benefits are undeniable:

• You can keep your car, no car rental required
• If you travel at night, you can count on one night less of hotel accommodation
• The arrival on Corsica is magnificent
• No baggage limit
• You may see dolphins during the trip

Disadvantages:

• You have to drive to the south of France or the north of Italy to take the ferry – this can make the trip very long
• If you don’t have a vehicle, the benefits are greatly reduced

In this case, go and see the prices of planes to Corsica.

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Which ferry company for Corsica to choose ?

Which is the best ferry company for Corsica?

There are 4 companies that operate crossings to Corsica.
They all have about the same level of reputation. There is not one that really stands out.

The best way is to compare the offers on a comparator.

Just be aware that Moby only leaves from Italy and that La Méridonale has very few boats.
Corsica Ferries and Corsica Linea have the most important offers.

But if you want to know more about each, here are our descriptions.

Corsica Ferries

Corsica Ferries is the best known shipping company of the 4. She is Italian.
It is very recognizable with its white and yellow boats.
The company has a nice fleet of boats which allows it to ensure:

• Departures from several ports
• Up to 30 crossings per day during the summer
• Long crossings with private cabins
• Higher speed crossings
• An arrival at all the ports of Corsica

Corsica Linea

Corsica Linea is the modern name of the historic French shipping company SNCM.
Its boats are red in color.
It offers crossings from Marseille only.
It serves Ajaccio, Bastia, Ile-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio.
Some ships have private cabins.

La Meridonale

La Méridonale is perhaps the least known, but it is a French company.
It offers crossings from Marseille only.
It serves Ajaccio and Propiano.

Moby

Moby is perhaps the most surprising of the companies because its boats are covered with huge Looney Tunes illustrations.
The positioning is rather family oriented.
Departures are only from Italy to Bastia.
It is also the company that has a ferry from Sardinia to Bonifacio.

Compare the routes of the different companies

Prices: find the cheapest ferries to Corsica

The prices of the ferries are very variable.
They depend:

• of the number of passengers
• the type of vehicle
• of the travel season
• of the day of departure
• from the moment you buy the ticket.

A ticket without car in low season can be as low as 30 euros.
While a crossing with a car and 4 adults can cost 700 euros in summer.

To reduce the price of your ticket (if you can’t leave alone and without a car…),

• Reserve as soon as possible! The earlier you book, the more affordable the tickets.
• Go outside the high season (June to September) – the most expensive time is between mid-July and mid-August.
• Compare departure days and times
• Use a comparison tool to find the best prices. See our favorite

Crossing to Corsica: practical advice

1 – before departure

Check that your ID is valid.
Charge all your devices.
Buy food and drinks, if you want something different (and cheaper) than on the boat.
Prepare a small bag with everything you want to bring on board (see point 3).

2 – boarding

To board the ferry, you must have a valid ID, your ticket and the vehicle papers. You must arrive at least 1 hour in advance.
But don’t arrive too early either, because you will have to wait in your car in the parking lot.

By car, follow the directions given by the agents at the port and on the boat. Respect their requests to park. They choose your position, because it’s a Tetris game!

Check your vehicle carefully:

• the handbrake is on
• headlights and interior lights are off
• the mirrors are closed
• the car is closed
• does not contain anything that fears heat or lack of air

And make a note of your vehicle’s location, so you can find it easily!

3 – before entering the cabin

Take everything you might need.
You are not allowed to return to your car once the crossing has begun.

Don’t forget (depending on the chosen crossing):

• silver
• devices / books / activities to keep busy
• medication (especially if you are seasick)
• food, drink if you don’t want restaurants on board
• binoculars if you hope to see dolphins
• pillow / blanket / mask, if you want to be more comfortable on a chair to sleep
• personal effects

4. Services on board the ferries – What to do on board a ferry to Corsica ?

The different ferries have different services. Especially if you compare the long crossings with the fast ones.
But usually you find:

• Toilets
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Cabins (for long crossings)

So it’s up to you.
You can: eat, drink (reasonably), read, work… just like in a train

You can walk to take your 10,000 steps.

You can go outside and admire the view when you arrive on Corsica.

Some boats have game rooms, cinema, stores… And some ferries even have a swimming pool.

5. Disembark

Following the announcement of the crew, return to your car.
Don’t start your engine too early.
Wait until it is your turn, and follow the directions of the staff.

What to do if you get seasick

If you are seasick and do not have any medication, we advise you to:

• Get some fresh air, go on a pontoon
• Eat ice cream or suck on ice cubes gently
• Ask around to see if anyone has a medication
• Avoid looking at the horizon

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Frequently asked questions

To conclude this article, here is a summary in the form of short questions. You will find all the detailed information in this article.

Which company to choose to go to Corsica ?

Among the 4 companiesCorsica Ferries, Corsica Linea, la Meridionale, Moby), none stands out in terms of services. Corsica Ferries has the most crossing options.
The best way is to use a comparison tool. Use our favorite

What is the fastest ferry to Corsica?

From France, the fastest crossing is between Nice and Ile Rousse in less than 5 hours.
From Italy, the fastest crossing is between Piombino (Italy) and Bastia in less than 3 hours.

How long does a crossing to Corsica last?

The duration of a crossing to Corsica will vary between 3 hours (between Piombino, Italy and Bastia) and 12 hours (or the whole night).

Can we take our car to Corsica?

Absolutely. This is the advantage of ferries. You can cross to Corsica with car, motorcycle, caravan or camper.

Can I travel with my dog on a ferry?

Yes, it is possible. The rules can be different depending on the company (on board or in kennels).
Corsica Ferries even has cabins where dogs are allowed.

How to sleep on a ferry to Corsica ?

If you choose for a night crossing, you can:

• Reserve a chair (cheapest option).
• Book a private cabin (with small bathroom) – they are available for 2 to 4 people
• Without a reservation, you have to find a small place to sleep.

You can choose to take a private cabin for the crossing. They are equipped with a small bathroom and individual beds. Depending on the ship, you can also book a chair, less expensive than the cabin.

Book with cabin

Can we sleep in our vehicle on a ferry to Corsica?

No, access to the garages on board the ferries is prohibited during the crossing.

Where to take the ferry to Corsica in France

The 3 ports of departure are Marseille, Toulon and Nice.
All 3 options have excellent crossing deals.
In Nice and Toulon, only Corsica Ferries is available.

When to buy ferry tickets for Corsica?

The answer is as soon as possible. Especially if you go in the middle of summer. Ferries are filling up and prices are rising.
The advice is 6 to 9 months in advance, if you can.
Compare prices and see availability.

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