The 5 best road trip itineraries to visit Corsica by car

You’re planning to do a road trip in Corsica?

Great idea!

Visiting Corsica by car is the only way to reach the best beaches and discover all the must-see attractions of the island.

Contrary to other countries where you can easily use public transportation, in Corsica, it’s really impossible. A road trip is thus the only solution to discover Corsica!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared this travel guide with the 5 best road trips itineraries in Corsica depending on the duration of your stay (2,3,4 5, 7, 10 and 15 days). For each duration, I will give you a summary of the itinerary as well as the link to read the detailed itinerary article.

And at the end of this guide, I will also give you my list of the best accommodations in Corsica depending on your budget as well as my best tips to enjoy the perfect road trip.

Let’s plan your road trip!

What’s the best airport to start a road-trip in Corsica?

If you want to do a road trip in Corsica, you can get there by plane. There are 4 airports on the island:

• Bastia, in the North-East
• Ajaccio, in the South-West
• Figari, in the South of the island, between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio
• Calvi, in the West

Most of my itineraries in Corsica are starting from Bastia and Ajaccio. It’s easier to get around Corsica by car if you arrive in one of these 2 cities.

What’s the best port to start a road-trip in Corsica?

You can also take the ferry to go to Corsica. It’s the only way to get there with your own car!

There are many boats departing from Nice, Marseille, Toulon, Italy and Sardinia.

Corsica’s main ports are:

• Bastia
• Ajaccio
• Porto-Vecchio
• Île-Rousse (near Calvi)
  
• Bonifacio (only if you arrive from Sardinia)

As for the airports, you should arrive in Bastia or Ajaccio, as these 2 cities have more ferry connections with the mainland.

Renting a car for a road-trip in Corsica

Obviously, you will need a car for your road trip in Corsica, as there are very few public transports on the island.

If you arrive in Corsica by ferry boat and with your own vehicle, you can directly go to the next paragraph of this article.

Otherwise, whether you arrive by plane or by boat, you’ll find many car rental companies on the island. But you should book your car in advance online to get the best prices!

As you already know if you’ve read some of my other articles, I always book my cars on Booking.com Cars,whether I’m in Greece, Sardinia or even Thailand!

On this website, you can easily compare prices between all the rental companies in Corsica. You’ll discover the cheapest companies and those with the best customer’s reviews.

Booking Cars also offers a “Full Protection Insurance“, to be fully refunded in case of accident or theft. It’s clearly the best option if you don’t have an insurance with your credit card. Tested and approved, they already refunded me more than 1300€😎! 

And if you find a cheaper car rental elsewhere, they will reimburse you the difference.

Last but not least, you can modify or cancel your booking for free, up to 24 hours before departure. That’s why you should book your car as early as possible!

Click the button below to compare car rental prices in Corsica:

Road trip in Corsica: 2, 3, 4 or 5 days

If you’re going to Corsica for a short stay, you should stay in the same city and discover its surroundings during day-trips.

For a short road trip in Corsica, your port or airport of arrival will really define the places you will be able to visit.

I’ve thus prepare road trip itineraries to make the most of your 2 to 5 days stay in Corsica, depending on your arrival city (Bastia, Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, Calvi)

For each trip, you’ll discover the best places to visit every day as well as my selection of the best accomodations depending on your budget.

You’ll find everything you need in my article: The best itineraries for a short stay in Corsica.

 

One-week road trip in Southern Corsica

Here is the best itinerary if you’re doing a one-week road trip from Ajaccio, to visit Southern Corsica by car.

During your tour, you will discover:

• Ajaccio (1 day)
• Bonifacio (3 days)
• Porto-Vecchio (1 day)
• The Bavella Pass (1 day)

1st day – Get around Corsica’s largest city and visit:

• The Fesch Museum
• The Imperial Chapel
• Foch square and the Ajaccio market
• The National Museum of the Bonaparte Residence
• The Ajaccio Cathedral
• Place d’Austerlitz
• The Sanguinaires Islands

I’ve prepared an itinerary to visit Ajaccio in 1 day in my article: The definitive guide to visit Ajaccio.

2nd day – Drive between Ajaccio and Bonifacio along the coastal road to discover:

• Agosta beach
• Ruppione beach
• Mare e Sole beach
• Propriano
• Sartene
• San Giovianni beach
• Paragan Beach
• Fazzio beach
• Tunara Beach
• Stagnolu beach

3rd day of this one week road trip in Corsica – Visit Bonifacio and its surroundings:

• The Citadel
• The Fortress of the Standard
• King of Aragon’s staircase
• The marine cemetery
• The Gouvernail (The Rudder)
• The Campu Romanilu Trail
• Cap de Pertusatu and its lighthouse
• Saint-Antoine beach

For the 4th day, take the shuttle boat to the Lavezzi Islands. It’s one of the best things to do during your 1-week road trip in Southern Corsica!

You can find more information about Bonifacio’s must-see attractions in my article: The 20 best thigs to do in Bonifacio.

And if you want to visit the Lavezzi Islands, have a look at my detailed guide: How to visit the Lavezzi Islands?

On the 5th day, you’ll spend a relaxing day swimming and sunbathing at the beach, near Porto-Vecchio. The region is renowned for its magnificent beaches, often ranked among Corsica’s most beautiful! You can choose between:

• Rondinara beach
• Santa Giulia beach
• Palombaggia beach
• Tamariccui beach

You want to learn more about the best places to visit in Porto-Vecchio and its surroundings? Have a look at my article: Visit Porto-Vecchio: the definitive guide.

6th day – Hike in Corsican mountains. If you don’t feel like doing those 2 hikes in one day, choose the one that suits you best!

• The Piscia di Gallu hike in the Ospedale forest, to reach Corsica’s highest waterfall
• The Trou de la Bombe (Bomb Hole) hike, starting from the Bavella Pass.

7th day – Your one-week road trip in Corsica is already over! Get back to Ajaccio for your return flight or ferry.

7 days road-trip in Northern Corsica

If you’re planning to do a 7 days road-trip in Northern Corsica, you should read my article: The best 7-day itinerary in Northern Corsica.

You’ll arrive in Bastia and discover all the best places to visit in the North of the island: Cap Corse, Saint-Florent, the Agriates Desert, Calvi, Porto, the Calanques de Piana and Corte.

Here is a short summary of this road trip to help you plan your 7-day stay in Corsica: 

• 2 days in Cap Corse, north of Bastia. On the first day, hike the customs officers’ path from Maccinaggio to Barcaggio. The next day, drive along Cap Corse’s West Coast to reach Saint-Florent.
• 1 day in the Agriates Desert to enjoy the white sandy beaches of Saleccia and Lotu.
• 1 day in Calvi: visit the city in the morning, and spend the afternoon at Calvi beach or at the Revellata peninsula.
• 1 day in Porto, to do a boat trip. It’s clearly one of the best things to do during your 7-day road trip in Corsica! You will discover Scandola Nature Reserve and the Calanques de Piana.
• 1 day in Corsican mountains, near Corte. There, you can go swimming or hiking in the forest of Aïtone, Nino Lake, the Golo river or the Radule waterfalls. During your journey, you’ll also drive through the Scala di Santa Regina parade. End your day with a short stroll in the city of Corte.

For more details and a guide of the best places to stay during this 7-8 days road trip in Corsica, have a look at my detailed itinerary (click here)!

10 days road-trip in Corsica

If you want to visit Corsica by car in 10 days, here is the best itinerary to discover both the South of the island and the mountains and forests.

This 10-day road trip starts from Ajaccio, Corsica’s largest city. During your tour, you’ll be amazed by the island’s sublime beaches, beautiful hikes and breathtaking natural landscapes!

During this 10-day road trip in Corsica, you’ll visit:

• Ajaccio
• Bonifacio
• Porto-Vecchio
• The Bavella Pass
• Corte
• Porto
• Scandola Nature Reserve
• The Calanques de Piana

You’ll find a short summary of this itinerary below, but you should have a look at my article for more details: The best 10-days itinerary in Corsica.

1) Ajaccio (1 day)

Let’s start this 10-days road trip in Corsica in Ajaccio. As it’s a rather small city, you won’t need more than one day to discover its best points of interest!

1st day – The best places to visit in Ajaccio are:

• The Fesch Museum
• Foch square and the Ajaccio market
• The National Museum of the Bonaparte Residence
• Ajaccio Cathedral
• The foreigner’s district
• The Sanguinaires Islands

Spend the night in Ajaccio.

You can find more information about Ajaccio’s must-see attractions in my article: The 20 best things to do in Ajaccio.

2) Bonifacio (3 days)

For the 2nd day, continue your 10-days road trip in Corsica and drive South, towards Bonifacio.

You’ll spend a whole day on the beautiful coastal road connecting Ajaccio and Bonifacio. During your journey, you’ll discover pretty villages and splendid beaches, perfect for a refreshing dip! The best places to see are:

• Agosta beach
• Ruppione beach
• Mare e Sole beach
• Sartene
• San Giovianni beach
• Paragan beach
• Fazzio beach
• Tunara beach
• Stagnolu beach

Spend a first night in Bonifacio.

For the 3rd day, you’ll visit the city of Bonifacio. Take a stroll in the Citadel, then hike the Campu Rumanilu path. It’s the best place to enjoy breathtaking views over the citadel, perched on the edge of the white limestone cliffs at more than 70 meters high!

Spend another night in Bonifacio.

4th day – Take the shuttle boat to discover the Lavezzi Islands, mostly renowned for their beautiful beaches and coves with turquoise waters. It’s one of the best places to swim during your 10-days itinerary in Corsica!

If you want more details about the Lavezzi Islands, you should read my article: How to visit the Lavezzi Islands?

Spend a last night in Bonifacio.

Do you want more information about the best places to visit in Bonifacio? Have a look at my article: The definitive guide to visit Bonifacio.

3) Porto-Vecchio (1 day)

On the 5th day, you’ll discover the magnificent beaches around Porto-Vecchio: 

• Rondinara beach
• Santa Giulia beach
• Palombaggia beach
• Tamariccui beach

All these heavenly beaches feature white sand and turquoise waters!

Spend the night in Porto-Vecchio.

You can find more details about the best places to visit in Porto-Vecchio in my article: Visit Porto-Vecchio: the definitive guide.

4) Ospedale / Bavella Pass (1 day)

For the 6th day of your road trip in Corsica, it’s now time to go hiking in the Corsican mountains!

Drive North of Porto-Vecchio, to the Ospedale forest. There, you can hike to the Piscia di Gallu, Corsica’s largest waterfall.

You can also go to the Trou de la Bombe (“Bomb Hole”), a famous hike starting from the Bavella pass.

5) Corte (1 day)

On the 7th day, you’ll stay in the Corsican mountains and choose between several hikes.

You can for example hike to the Cascade des Anglais (English waterfalls), located in Vizzavona forest. There, you’ll discover several small waterfalls and beautiful natural swimming pools to take a dip!

The most popular hike near Corte is the Restonica Gorge. Follow the marked trail to reach the Melo and Capitello Lakes, at nearly 2,000 meters of altitude!

After your hike, you’ll have some time left to discover Corte. 

During your stroll, you should visit the Citadel, the Musée de la Corse, the Belvedere, Gaffory Square and the Cours Paoli.

Spend the night in Corte.

You can find more information about the Corte’s must-see attractions and most beautiful hikes in my article: The 20 best things to do in Corte.

6) Corte / Porto (1 day)

8th day – You’ll leave Corte and drive through the Scala di Santa Regina Parade, one of the island’s most impressive landscapes!

On the road between Corte and Porto, you’ll have plenty of time to stop for a refreshing swim or to go on a beautiful hike. You can choose between:

• Calacuccia lake
• A refreshing dip in the Golo river, near the village of Albertacce
• A short hike to discover the Radule waterfalls
• A longer hike to Nino Lake, Corsica’s second largest lake!
• A relaxing afternoon in the forest of Aïtone, where you can swim in large natural swimming pools
• A short hike to go swimming at the Genoese bridge of Zaglia, in the Spelunca Gorge.

Spend the night in Porto.

7) Scandola Nature Reserve / Calanques de Piana (1 day)

For the 9th day of your 10-days trip to Corsica by car, you’ll do a boat trip to discover Scandola Nature Reserve and the Calanques de Piana.

These 2 splendid natural sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As Scandola is inaccessible by foot or by car, this cruise is the only way to get there!

These boat trips are Porto’s must-see attraction and must be booked as soon as possible.

You can find more details about Scandola in my dedicated article: How to visit Scandola Nature Reserve?

After your cruise, get back to your car and drive to Ajaccio.

There are several beautiful beaches where you can stop for a last swim:

• Arone beach
• Chiumi beach
• Peru beach
• The beaches of Menazina and Capizollu
• Liamone beach

Spend the night in Ajaccio.

For the 10th and last day of your 10-days road trip in Corsica, you just have to get back to Ajaccio to take your plane or ferry back home.

2 weeks road trip in Corsica

You’re planning a 15-days road trip in Corsica? You’re lucky, as you’ll have enough time to discover the whole island!

This 2-week road trip in Corsica starts from Bastia, North of the island.

You will find every information you need to organize your trip to Corsica in my article: The best 2-week itinerary in Corsica.

Here is a short summary of this itinerary:

1) Northern Corsica (6 days)

For the first stage of this 2-week road trip in Corsica, you’ll spend 6 days in the North of the island.

1st day – Get around Bastia on foot to discover: Saint-Nicholas Square, Napoleon Street, the church of Saint John the Baptist and the Citadel.

You’ll have enough time to enjoy Bastia’s must-see attractions I’ve detailed in my article:  The 17 best things to do in Bastia.

2nd and 3rd day – Cap Corse

Hike the customs officers’ path and enjoy the beautiful coves and typical villages. It’s one of the best places to visit during your holidays in Corsica!

If you’re looking for more details about Cap Corse, have a look at my article: The definitive guide to visit Cap Corse.

For the 4th day of your 15-day road trip in Corsica, you’ll visit the Agriates Desert. Take the shuttle boat from the village of Saint-Florent to discover the splendid beaches of Saleccia and Lotu. You’ll spend a relaxing day, sunbathing and swimming in crystal clear waters!

You can find more information in my detailed articles: The 12 best things to do in Saint-Florent and  How to visit the Agriates Desert?

5th day – Take a short stroll in Calvi in the morning, and spend your afternoon at the beach, in Calvi or at The Revellata Peninsula. If you prefer hiking, you should go to the forest of Bonifatu, a 30-minute drive from Calvi.

Everything is detailed in my Calvi travel guide.

6th day – Drive from Calvi to Porto, then do a 4-hour boat trip to discover Scandola Nature Reserve, Girolata and the Calanques de Piana.

Click the button below to book your cruise:

It’s clearly one of the best things to do during your 15-days road trip in Corsica!

2) Southern Corsica (7 days)

Let’s continue this 15-days road trip in Corsica in the South of the island.

7th day – Drive from Porto to Ajaccio along the coastal road. You can hike in the Calanques de Piana, or stop at the beaches of Peru, Menazina or Liamone for a refreshing swim!

8th day – Visit Ajaccio’s old town in the morning, then do a cruise to the Sanguinaires islands.

Click the button below to book your boat trip:

And if you’re looking for a romantic cruise to the Sanguinaires Islands at sunset, it’s right here:

You can find more information about Ajaccio’s must-see attractions in my article: The definitive guide to visit Ajaccio.

On the 9th day, you will go from Ajaccio to Bonifacio. There are many beautiful places to discover during your journey, such as typical villages and sublime beaches!

10th day – Visit one of Corsica’s most iconic cities: Bonifacio.

Get around the upper town on foot to discover the Fortress of the Standard and the King of Aragon’s staircase (among many other great places to visit). Then, hike the Campu Rumanilu path to discover breathtaking views of Bonifacio’s cliffs.

You want more details about the best places to visit in Bonifacio? Have a look at my article: The definitive guide to visit Bonifacio.

11th day – You’ll do a cruise to the Lavezzi Islands, only 30 minutes by boat from the port of Bonifacio.

You can find more information in my article: How to visit the Lavezzi Islands?

12th day – Take some time to relax at the beach near Porto-Vecchio.

You can choose between Palombaggia, Tamaricciu, Rondinara and Santa Giulia. All these beaches are ranked among Corsica’s most beautiful!

If you’re looking for more details about Porto-Vecchio and its beaches, you should read my article: The 15 best things to do in Porto-Vecchio.

3) Corsican mountains (2 days)

For the 13th day of this two weeks road trip in Corsica, you’ll discover the island’s beautiful mountains.

From Porto-Vecchio, drive North towards Zonza and the Ospedale. There, you can hike to the Piscia di Gallu. You can also opt for the Trou de la Bombe (“Bomb Hole”) hike, starting from the Bavella Pass. If you’re an experienced hiker, you can do both in 1 day!

14th day – During this day, you can also choose between 2 beautiful hikes: the Cascade des Anglais (English waterfall), in the forest of Vizzavona, and the Restonica Gorge, near Corte.

Then, get back to your car and drive to Corte, where you’ll spend the night.

You can find more information about Corte in my article: The definitive guide to visit Corte.

Fifteenth and last day of this 2 weeks road trip in Corsica: return to Bastia to end your holidays!

Where to stay in Corsica during your road trip?

Now that you’ve discovered the best places to visit during your road trip in Corsica, you probably want to know where to stay at every stage of your journey.

You will find here a list of all the best accommodations in Corsica, depending on your budget, for each city you will visit during your road trip.

Have a look at my detailed itineraries to discover all the best places to stay in Corsica!

You can also click directly here to find the island’s best hotels: 

• Ajaccio: where to stay in Corsica’s largest city?
• Bastia: the 5 best hotels
• Bonifaco: where to stay in the city?
• Calvi: the 5 best accommodations
• Cap Corse: the best hotels in Macinaggio
• Corte: the best accommodations in the city
• Porto-Ota: where to stay to visit Scandola and Piana?
• Porto-Vecchio: the 5 best hotels 
• Saint-Florent: the 3 best places to stay

When is the best time to do a road trip in Corsica?

The best months to do a road trip in Corsica are May – June – July – August – September.

During these months, you can enjoy all the island’s must-see attractions: beaches, beautiful natural landscapes, hiking, boat trips and short strolls in the cities and villages.

You should also know that the sea is still a bit cold in May and early June, and that July and August are the most touristic months.

The beaches and roads are often very crowded during these 2 months! You must also book all your activities and boat trips in advance at this time of the year.

In my opinion, September is the best month to visit Corsica by car. You’ll enjoy a nice weather, the sea is still warm, and it’s a bit less crowded than in summer.

It’s also nice to do a road trip in Corsica in October, even if the sea might be a bit cold.

You shouldn’t go on holidays in Corsica during winter, as there’s not much to do. You can’t relax at the beach, and hiking might be dangerous, especially when it snows. Winters are also very windy in Corsica.

And you, what do you plan to visit during your road trip in Corsica?

You’re traveling to Corsica? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Corsica: All my articles to help you plan your trip to Corsica are listed there.

• The 35 Best Things to do in Corsica – The Ultimate Bucket list!

• Itinerary: 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Corsica – The perfect itinerary for a short stay in Corsica
• Itinerary: 1 week in Corsica – The best Itinerary to visit Southern Corsica
• Itinerary: 6, 7 or 8 days in Corsica – The definitive guide to visit Northern Corsica in 1 week
• Itinerary: 10 days in Corsica – The best 10 days itinerary in Corsica
• Itinerary: 2 weeks in Corsica – How to visit Corsica in 14, 15 or 16 days.

• Ajaccio: The 20 Best things to do
• Bastia: Top 17 places to visit
• Bonifacio: Top 20 things to do and see
• Calvi: The 15 things you must do!
• Cap Corse: The 15 must-see attractions
• Corte: 20 things to do and see
• Porto: Top 12 things to discover
• Porto-Vecchio: Top 17 things to do and must-see attractions
• Saint-Florent: The 12 best things to do

• Agriates Desert – The definitive guide
• Calanques de Piana – How to visit the Calanques de Piana by boat, by car and on foot
• Lavezzi Islands – Oganize your trip to the Lavezzi island easily!
• Scandola Nature Reserve – All my best tips to visit Scandola

• The 23 Best Beaches in Corsica: The definitive guide to the most beautiful beaches!

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