Corsica Holidays - Compare Prices & Departure Dates

Corsica (or La Corse as it’s known in French) is a stunning island in the Mediterranean sea, 170km off the south east coast of France and 80kms off the west coast of Italy.

The island is divided into two areas (or departements as they say in France) Corse du Sud and Haute Corse, with major towns and cities including Ajaccio (the capital), Bastia, Bonifacio, Calvi and Porto Vecchio.

The island has a somewhat turbulent history, with Corsica being the subject of many a feud between France and Italy, as everyone clearly wants to get their hands on such a gorgeous island, but the island has been French since 1768.

Many marvel at how the island, although very popular with tourists, has always managed to maintain its natural beauty and offer a superb place to relax on great beaches, be active in the mountains and explore villages and towns – all on one small island. In fact, Corsica is a place the French go to on holiday and although they may prefer to keep quiet about it, we think you deserve to enjoy it too!

French is the official language in Corsica, but Italian is also spoken and you’ll hear the Corsican language of Corsu, particularly in rural areas. The island is one hour ahead of the UK and the currency is the Euro.

Corsica has four airports, namely Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari (next to Porto Vecchio).

Ajaccio Airport (IATA code AJA) serves the capital city and the likes of easyJet, British Airways and Air France fly there. Bastia Airport (IATA code BIA) is also well-served by the same airlines. Air France also flies into Calvi Airport (CLY) and at the southerm most airport of Figari (IATA code FSC) there are flights in from the likes of Ryanair and Thomson Air. UK nationals do not need a visa to visit Corsica and flight times from the UK are just under two hours from the London area and just over two hours from the north of the UK.

If you’re arriving on the island as part of all pre-arranged holiday package, you will probably be transferred in a minibus or taxi to your resort, or many companies include car hire in their holiday price.

Should you arrive independently at an airport, you’ll find public transport is sparse, save for Calvi airport which has an hourly bus into the town centre. Otherwise it’s taxis or the best option is a hire car, although make sure you book in advance, especially in the summer school holidays.

Once on Corsica, buses are the main means of public transport for travelling around the island, but again even between main towns there may only be one or two departures a day. There are also taxis dotted around the main hotels and town centres.

As for trains, there is the U Trinighella (the little train) which runs from Ajaccio to Bastia via Corte and although it may not be the fastest way to travel, it is actually a ‘must do’ activity in itself as you pass through the mountains and watch the scenery go by as you relax in your seat.

Corsica truly lives up to its name the ‘Island of beauty’, with mountains seamlessly running into the sea. Defiantly staying uncommercialised and unspoilt, the Corsicans themselves are proud, generous and free-spirited folk who make hospitable hosts.

Corsica boasts 1000km of coastline and nearly 200 beaches, including fine, coarse, white and golden ones. Many are in hidden coves that can only be reached by foot or by boat, which only adds to the charm. The main touristy beaches are gently sloping, which makes for an excellent choice of family sunshine holiday, but Corsica is so much more than just sunshine and beaches.

If watersports are your thing, there are loads to try including windsurfing, wakeboarding, kite surfing and even scuba diving and snorkelling.

The island is full of interesting monuments, museums and places to visit. Some of the main suggestions are to visit the Citadel and bright pink Santa Maria church in Calvi, the Vieux Port marina in Bastia, and the Baroque-style churches in the Balogne area.

You can also visit the birthplace of Corsica’s most famous son, Napoleon Bonaparte, in Ajaccio which is now a museum. And don’t forget to check out at least a couple of the 60 Genoese watchtowers which can be found along the Corsican coastline.

The Corsicans enjoy a good festival too, so you’ll find ‘fetes’ all over the island themed around music, crafts, religious dates or historical events and these are great fun to take part in and visit.

With such a varied topography many people go to Corsica for the walking. The famous ‘Grande Randonnee’ GR20 hiking route runs from the north of the island to the south for over 180kms. It’s not for the average Sunday stroller as it takes in mountains, remote paths and windy ways, taking an average of 15 days to complete. Worry not if you’re doubting your ability, there are loads of other hikes to be done as well.

If you’re a keen mountain biker you’ll love Corsica too as there are loads of mountain biking trails offering an exciting a varied terrain to be explored on two wheels. Bike hire outlets are located all over the island.

You can even take a boat trip to the neighbouring Italian island of Sardinia. Boats leave from Bonifacio and the crossing takes about an hour.

During the summer months the population of Corsica triples and although there is a good range of accommodation options it is best to book up in advance during peak periods.

There are international hotels, mid range and family run ‘chambre d’hote’ bed and breakfast all over the island, but many are concentrated in the main tourist/beach areas such as La Balagne, Le Nebbio, Cap Corse, L’Extreme Sud and the Gulf and West coast areas.

Self-catering apartments and villas are particularly popular in Corsica, with everything from small old town studios to mountain side villas with private pools.

Corsica is still pretty uncommercialised, but you will delight in the markets which are daily in the larger towns such as L’Ile Rousse, Propriano, Ajaccio and Bastia. Good, local markets are an institution in France, so take the time to have a wander amongst the stalls with a huge range of fruit, veg, meats and locally produced foods.

If you’re looking for a suitable souvenir of your Corsican holiday, you’ll find handicrafts are very popular with pottery, glassware, stoneware, knifes and even woven baskets being popular buys. Head to rue Artisan in Calvi for a wealth of little crafty shops.

Whilst you’re exploring the island you will probably come across signs for workshops, farms and vineyards open to the public for visits. These can be great fun and you’ll pick up some excellent ‘home produced’ products from honey and wine to pottery and paintings.

Food is an interesting mix of French and Italian, but still with very distinct Corsican dishes too. The island is renowned for charcuterie (cooked cold meats), chestnuts, canistrelli (Corscian pastries) and rather unique tasting olive oils which you must try.

A dish to watch out is ‘Sanglier’, wild boar usually served with polenta or pasta. You’ll also see ‘Veau avec olives’ (veal with olives), ‘Tian’ (slow-cooked game stew) and ‘Pedrix’ which is partridge.

Being in the Med, fresh fish is as fresh as it can get, but can be expensive. Look out for ‘Rouget’ (red mullet), ‘Loup de Mer’ (seam bream) and shell fish such as ‘Huitres’ (oysters) and ‘Langoustine’ (crayfish).

Desserts are very much milk, egg and chestnut based with tasty doughnuts made with chestnut flour and Fiadone which is a soft cheese tart.

As for drinks, Corsica makes excellent wine which is rarely exported (so good, they want to keep it for themselves we reckon!). The grapes are still harvested by hand and use local varieties such as Vermentino. The best wine producing areas are Patrimonio, Ajaccio and Sartene. There are also excellent fortified wines such as Muscat which are often drunk as aperitif.

As well as wines, there are very good local beers as well, so make sure you try Colomba, Pietra and Torre beers.

As for nightlife, is mainly revolves around dining out. There are bars in the main tourist areas, but don’t be surprised if they close around midnight. Nightclubs are usually located well outside the town centres and stay open until 4am.

Eating out can be done on a budget, with excellent pizzas on offer, or you can really splurge going somewhere such as Chez Tao which is the place to celeb spot in Calvi citadel. This renowned piano bar and restaurant opened as a cabaret in 1935 and has been the place to be seen at ever since.

Corsica holds the sunshine record for France, with an average of 7.5 hours every day. During the summer months the temperatures are between 25 and 35 degrees. The days are long and sunny at the start of the summer season, but the water temperature doesn’t really get warm enough for swimming until July.

The season is long in Corsica, with the shorter, but still sunny days attracting visitors as late as October.

Of course, the busiest period on the island is the main school holiday period, with August in particular being busy.

• Family holidays with safe, clean beaches
• Anyone who loves to explore
• Independent holidaymakers who shy away from traditional package holiday resorts

• Non-adventurous types who just want to relax on a beach
• Those who want their home comforts on holiday such as the English newspapers and breakfast

Visit Corsica -the official Corsica tourist board website
Corsica Isula – an independent website covering all things Corsican

Corsica is a most beautiful island, affectionately known as ‘the mountain in the sea’, off the south eastern coast of France. A playground for those who love nature, the mountains and beaches all rolled into one handy-sized island.