You are going to discover Corsica during your next vacations? Historic citadels, dreamy beaches, breathtaking mountains and charming villages… there’s a lot to see once you get there!
Here is our guide on how to get to Corsica: by ferry or by plane, how to choose, in which city to arrive, prices, advantages and disadvantages…
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visit Corsica anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
How to get to Corsica: plane or ferry?
You have 2 options to go to Corsica (and then some sub-options)… the ferry and the plane. For each, see the advantages, disadvantages and essentials to know.
Going to Corsica by ferry
Benefits:
- It is more economical when there are more than two of you
- The view from the ferry as you approach and leave the island is very beautiful with the mountains.
- You can cross with your own car, without having to rent one
- You can carry more luggage if you come by car
Disadvantages:
- The crossings are long
- It is already necessary to go down in the south of France or in Italy to take the ferry
What you need to know:
- There are 4 companies: Corsica Ferries, Corsica Linea, Moby Lines
- The ports of arrival in Corsica from the mainland are Bastia, Ile-Rousse, Ajaccio, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano.
- You can leave from France from: Marseille, Nice or Toulon
- You can leave from Italy from: Genoa, Livorno, Piombino or Savona
- Crossings last between 2h45 and 11h30
- Compare ferry schedules and availability
Learn more in our article on which ferry to take to Corsica.
Going to Corsica by plane
Benefits:
- An easy departure from Northern Europe without having to travel long distances
- Much faster journey (2h30 from Paris for example)
Disadvantages:
- Price if you are numerous – but to see if you are 2 with the low-cost companies.
- Limited luggage
- If you want to explore, you will need to rent a car
What you need to know:
- 4 international airports in Corsica: Bastia, Ajaccio, Figari and Calvi
- Bastia and Ajaccio are the most important
- Airlines that fly to Corsica include: Air France, Air Corsica, British Airways, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Easyjet, Volotea, Ryanair and Transavia and more.
- Compare prices and availability of flights to Corsica
Need to rent a car in Corsica?
Our advice:
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
3 critical points for your choice
Finally, to make the decision the 3 critical points are:
- Where do you live – far from the south of France or not?
- If you need a car on site
- How many you are
Option 1 – How to get to Corsica by ferry (by car or on foot)
Companies
You can choose between 4 companies.
- Corsica Ferries
- Corsica Linea
- La Méridionale
- Moby
The ones with the most choices of crossings are Corsica Ferries and Corsica Linea.
There is no ‘Best Company’, it depends on your needs, destinations and schedules.
The journey times are between 2h15 (from Italy) and 12h (night crossing).
Price
Prices vary according to the number of participants, the size of the vehicle, the options, and the reservation of a cabin: count between 50 and 500 euros… We know, it doesn’t help you much! The best thing to do is to search on Directferries to see the prices and options.
Compare ferry schedules, prices and availability
How to book your crossing
Our advice is to use the Directferries platform to be able to compare the offers of the different companies. Not all of them are available in all ports of arrival and departure.
Attention! Book early, especially if you are going in the summer, as places become scarcer and more expensive the longer you wait.
Taking the ferry: with or without a car?
If we compare the price of the car in the ferry to the price of the rental, it depends on how long you stay in Corsica. From 5 days, the question does not arise, it is better to take your car.
If you are coming for less than 5 days, you may settle in one place and not need a car. Or the cost of the rental will be less than the cost of transportation. You can easily take the ferry on foot.
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In which city to arrive in Corsica?
It depends on your program. All the corners of Corsica have a lot of charm:
- Bastia
Very well served, access to Cap Corse and the seaside resort of Saint-Florent - L’Île-Rousse
Very good option to visit the North of the island. Charming town with access to the Balagne, Calvi and the Agriates desert.
More about L’Île-Rousse - Ajaccio
The largest city in Corsica, very well located to explore the west coast. Easy access to beautiful beaches and nice boat trips - Propriano
Small port less served (by La Méridionale) but ideal to explore the south of Corsica. - Porto-Vecchio
Main city of the south of Corsica, surrounded by beautiful beaches with many accommodations.
More about Porto-Vecchio - Bonifacio: only from Sardinia
Compare ferry schedules and availability
How to get to Ajaccio by ferry
Ajaccio is accessible by ferry from Marseille, Nice and Toulon.
The port is served by Corsica Linea, Corsica Ferries and Moby.
How to get to Bastia by ferry
Bastia is accessible by ferry from Marseille, Nice and Toulon, in France, and Genoa, Livorno, Piombino and Savona, in Italy.
The port is served by Corsica Linea, Corsica Ferries and La Méridionale.
Learn more in our article on which ferry to take to Corsica.
Planning a dream trip to Corsica?
- 7 maps that make planning easier
- 130+ pre-selected locations
- Practical advice
- + 220 photos to help you choose
Option 2 – How to get to Corsica by plane
Airports in Corsica – where to arrive
The island has 4 international airports: Bastia, Ajaccio, Figari and Calvi.
You can leave from anywhere in Europe and the world.
But most of the direct flights are from France and some from European capitals
The choice of airport depends on your program and your departure city. All corners of Corsica have a lot of charm:
- Bastia
Very well served, access to Cap Corse and the seaside resort of Saint-Florent - Calvi
Very good option to visit the North of the island. Charming town with access to the Balagne, Ile-Rousse and the Agriates desert - Ajaccio
The largest city in Corsica, very well located to explore the west coast. Easy access to beautiful beaches and nice boat trips - Figari
Small airport ideal for exploring the South of Corsica: Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio.
Compare prices and availability of flights to Corsica
Flights to Corsica: companies and departure cities
The airlines that serve Corsica are:
- Air France
- Air Corsica
- British Airways
- Lufthansa
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Easyjet
- Volotea
- Ryanair
- Transavia
- and more
Direct flights are from a limited number of cities.
But you can always find connections via French airports.
Direct flights are mainly from France:
- Paris-Beauvais airport
- Paris CDG
- Paris Orly
- Bordeaux
- Lille
- Lyon
- Marseille
- Nantes
- Strasbourg
- Toulouse
- Nice
But, in season, you can also find them since:
- Geneva
- Zurich
- Brussels
- London
- Stockholm
- Cophenhagen
- Berlin
- Munich
- Lisbon
- Oslo
Book early, especially if you are going in summer. The planes are very full during the summer vacations and the French school vacations.
Compare prices and availability of flights to Corsica
Plan your trip to Corsica!
→ Inspiration destinations
Planning a road trip in Corsica
Itinerary: 3 days – 4 or 5 days
→ Best-of
The most beautiful beaches of Corsica
The most beautiful villages of Corsica
The most beautiful cities of Corsica
The most beautiful destinations in Corsica
→ Practice
How to get to Corsica from…
How to get to Corsica from Paris
From Paris the best options are:
- Plane from Charles de Gaulle or Orly (less than 2 hours)
- TGV train to Marseille (about 4 hours) then ferry
- Car to a port in the south of France (8 to 10 hours) then ferry (if you want to keep your car).
- Compare prices and availability of flights to Corsica
How to get to Nice
From Nice you can:
- Take the ferry from Nice to Bastia, L’Île-Rousse or Ajaccio
- Take the ferry from another city in the south of France (2 to 3 hours)
- Fly from Nice to Bastia or Calvi
How to get to Corsica from London and the UK
The best options are:
- Plane from London to Ajaccio (direct in season or with a stop in France)
- Ferry to France then road then ferry to Corsica, if you really want to keep your car, but the trip is long!
How to go to Corsica from Italy
- Drive to one of the 4 ports in Italy: Genoa, Livorno, Piombino or Savona – then ferry
- There are no direct flights to Corsica at the moment
- Compare ferry schedules, prices and availability
