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By Johanna the 04/11/2022

5 essential steps for organising your trip to Corsica

Make your Corsican holiday a certain success by following the 5 tips in our practical guide!

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You’ve finally chosen your next holiday destination and it’s Corsica that’s won your favour. To make sure your stay on the Isle of Beauty goes as well as possible, with no unpleasant surprises, I’ve prepared a 5-step travel guide to help you simplify the preparations you need to make...Close your eyes, you’re already in Corsica!

1. By plane or by sea, two ways to get to Corsica at any time of year 

 

First of all, choose your means of transport. It’s an easy one - there are only two to choose from! Whether you opt to travel by air or sea, you can find the airlines and ferry operators that take passengers to Corsica here  

 

As a reminder, Corsica has 4 airports: 

  

  • Bastia Poretta
  • Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte
  • Figari Sud Corse
  • Calvi Sainte Catherine

 

… And 5 ports

 

  • Bastia
  • Ajaccio
  • Porto Vecchio
  • Ile Rousse
  • Bonifacio (only if you’re arriving from Sardinia)

 

Note: before and after the summer season, certain continent/Corsica/continent flight or sea transport rotations are less frequent than in the high season 

 

2. Now you’ve chosen how to get to Corsica, you need to decide how to get around when you’re there! 

  • If you need a rental vehicle, you’ll find all the big national rental companies when you get to your destination’s airport. It’s best to book in advance, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. If you plan to arrive by ferry, you’ll find some rental companies in the cities themselves, but again, I strongly advise you to do your research before setting off. 
  • If you’re travelling in a campervan, be aware that wilderness camping is strictly forbidden on the island’s coastline and beaches, in listed woods, forests and parks, on public roads and thoroughfares, within 500 metres of designated or listed sites and within 200 metres of a water pick-up point. You can find a list of the island’s campsites here , be sure to choose one that is equipped to welcome campervans! 
  • For the sportiest among us, who opt to get around the island by bicycle, I suggest you follow our GT20 (Grand Crossing) routes , which have been studied and designed for e-bikes (with recharge stations along the way) or traditional bicycles.  If you want to go off on an adventure, that’s possible too! But roads in Corsica are often narrow and winding, so be very careful. 
  • You can also travel by coach, setting off from the island’s bus terminals (you’ll find more information through each region’s Tourist Offices or Chambers of Commerce and Industry) 
  •  or, as a final friendly and less common option, why not travel, where possible, by train? Affectionately known as “U Trinichellu”, meaning “The Trembling”, in reference to the models of yesteryear with their trembling framework, these trains will take you through Corsica’s villages and mountains, from Ajaccio to Bastia. Often packed in the summer, you’ll have ample opportunity for long chats with your neighbours  but be aware that it’s not possible to book in advance: you can only buy tickets in stations. Click here for timetables, lines and prices!  
  • And if none of these travel options suit you for getting around Corsica, there are a multitude of hiking paths that you can access on foot, in full safety: for example, Mare a Mare, Mare e Monti, GR20 and various other marked trails. I strongly advise you, however, to visit the Corsican Regional Nature Park’s website when making your plans  and also take a look at the list of shelters and lodges to be found on the paths that it manages. 

Note that a wide range of transport options are available for hire in Corsica: these include boats (although be aware that mooring is forbidden in natural reserves), cars, motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, camper-vans and converted vans. 

 

FOR INFORMATION : 

And bear in mind that in Corsica, distances are calculated in hours, not kilometres! So to get to Corte from Ajaccio, it will take 1 hour 30 minutes to travel the 80 km separating the two cities. To get to Bastia city from Ajaccio, 180 km away, will take you 2 hours 45 minutes...Or even longer if you’re travelling by coach! 

 

3. Choose your accommodation 

 

Corsica is incredibly rich in accommodation options ...whether you’re looking for something environmentally responsible, traditional, atypical, unusual, rustic, trendy, high-end or very affordable, in the open air, a cave or a yurt, with all meals provided, bed and breakfast or “just somewhere to sleep”, it’s all possible - there’s something for all tastes and every budget! 

  

I suggest you choose from the accommodation listed in our guide , by type, by price, by labels or brand names or by region. It also contains information on real estate agencies and reservation centres. 

 

4. Look into the activities on offer in Corsica 

 

Corsica is a wonderful playground in all seasons, for high-level athletes and recreationalists alike. Whether you’re crazy about extreme sports or generally prefer gentle exercise, before you set off, find out about the sporting and leisure activities available : these include canyoning, parachute jumping, skiing, horse riding, paddle-boating, sea kayaking and many more...there’s something for everyone.  

  

NOTE :

Certain activities require you to be accompanied by a professional. 

Always check the weather forecast before leaving for an activity. 

Corsica is also rich in natural, cultural and historical heritage just waiting to be discovered. Whether travelling with family, solo or as a couple, I hope you’ll be inspired by my reports from the ground!    

5. Administrative formalities and obligations associated with COVID-19 

 

All passengers travelling between Corsica and the Continent must be in possession of identification papers: i.e. a national identity card, passport or residence permit. For minors, whatever their age, it is possible and strongly recommended to obtain a passport or an identity card (the family record book does not replace an identity document).

COVID UPDATES:

Corsica has put all measures in place to ensure the health safety of its holiday-makers, and all companies are implementing procedures to ensure the health safety of their clients and their staff. Complying with protection measures will ensure a trouble-free stay. 

 

A specific device is in place for journeys to Corsica: passengers must have completed an RT-PCR test 72 hours before departure

Thus, from Saturday February 6 and until further notice, passengers aged 11 or over wishing to travel to Corsica must present the following two documents upon boarding:

  • the already existing declaration of honor ;
  • and proof of an RT-PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before travel. Antigenic tests will no longer be accepted. The RT-PCR test is indeed more reliable and more likely to detect variants of the virus, hence the need to use this screening modality. Note that road carriers are exempt from the test requirement.

Transport companies will deny boarding to travelers who do not have these two documents (declaration of honor and proof of the RT-PCR test).

This declaration of honor, printed and signed, as well as proof of completion of the test will be required upon boarding by the transport company. Boarding will be refused to travelers without these two documents (declaration of honor and proof of the RT-PCR test).

Declaration of honor to be completed by passengers traveling to Corsica .

►Declaration of honor

In addition to the checks carried out by transport companies upon boarding, checks will continue to be carried out by law enforcement to ensure that these measures are properly applied.Consequently, proof of the completion of the RT-PCR test must be kept throughout the stay in Corsica.It is likely to be requested by law enforcement when passengers arrive on the island but also when they return to the mainland.

Where can I get tested close to my home? 

All testing points are available   https://sante.fr  

All information relating to health measures 

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