Corsica itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Corsica, day by day: Napoleon's birthplace in Ajaccio, the Calanques de Piana and Scandola first, then Bonifacio, Calvi, Bastia and the Genoese towers, and prehistoric sites, villages and mountain lakes as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Corsica in 1 day
Day 1
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Corsica in 2 days
Day 1
Bonifacio
Walled town on white limestone cliffs at Corsica's southern tip, with a citadel, a harbour and views toward Sardinia.
Aiguilles de Bavella
Jagged granite peaks in southern Corsica, reached by a mountain road, with forest walks and viewpoints.
Day 2
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Corsica in 3 days
Day 1
Bastia
Corsica's main port city in the north-east, with an old harbour, the Terra Vecchja quarter and the citadel above.
Nonza
Cliff-top village on Cap Corse with narrow lanes, a Genoese tower and a black pebble beach far below.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Day 2
Calvi
Seaside town on the north-west coast with a Genoese citadel above the harbour and a long sandy beach.
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Day 3
Musée Fesch
Palais Fesch, the fine arts museum of Ajaccio, holding a large collection of Italian paintings gathered by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Filitosa
Prehistoric site in southern Corsica with carved menhir statues and stone buildings from the Bronze Age.
Cucuruzzu
Archaeological site near Levie with Bronze Age and Iron Age stone buildings reached by a forest trail.
Corsica in 4 days
Day 1
Bastia
Corsica's main port city in the north-east, with an old harbour, the Terra Vecchja quarter and the citadel above.
Luri
Commune on Cap Corse made up of hillside hamlets and valleys, with paths and old towers around it.
Nonza
Cliff-top village on Cap Corse with narrow lanes, a Genoese tower and a black pebble beach far below.
Day 2
Calvi
Seaside town on the north-west coast with a Genoese citadel above the harbour and a long sandy beach.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Tour de Capo di Feno
Genoese watchtower above the Capo di Feno bay west of Ajaccio, near a surf beach and the coastal path.
Day 3
Torra di a Parata
Genoese tower on a headland west of Ajaccio, facing the Sanguinaires islands, a popular spot for sunset.
Musée Fesch
Palais Fesch, the fine arts museum of Ajaccio, holding a large collection of Italian paintings gathered by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Filitosa
Prehistoric site in southern Corsica with carved menhir statues and stone buildings from the Bronze Age.
Day 4
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Torra di Campumoru
Genoese tower on the Campomoro headland in the south-west, with a coastal path and views over the Valinco gulf.
Cucuruzzu
Archaeological site near Levie with Bronze Age and Iron Age stone buildings reached by a forest trail.
Corsica in 5 days
Day 1
Tour de Capo di Feno
Genoese watchtower above the Capo di Feno bay west of Ajaccio, near a surf beach and the coastal path.
Torra di Castelluchju
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast west of Ajaccio, seen from the coast.
Torra di a Parata
Genoese tower on a headland west of Ajaccio, facing the Sanguinaires islands, a popular spot for sunset.
Musée Fesch
Palais Fesch, the fine arts museum of Ajaccio, holding a large collection of Italian paintings gathered by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Filitosa
Prehistoric site in southern Corsica with carved menhir statues and stone buildings from the Bronze Age.
Day 2
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Torra di Campumoru
Genoese tower on the Campomoro headland in the south-west, with a coastal path and views over the Valinco gulf.
Cucuruzzu
Archaeological site near Levie with Bronze Age and Iron Age stone buildings reached by a forest trail.
Day 3
Bonifacio
Walled town on white limestone cliffs at Corsica's southern tip, with a citadel, a harbour and views toward Sardinia.
Aiguilles de Bavella
Jagged granite peaks in southern Corsica, reached by a mountain road, with forest walks and viewpoints.
Day 4
Lac de lOriente
High mountain lake in the central Corsican mountains, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de Goria
High mountain lake at about 1,852 m in central Corsica, small and remote, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de Nino
High mountain lake at about 1,743 m in central Corsica, with grassy meadows and grazing horses, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac du Cinto
Mountain lake below Monte Cinto, the highest peak on the island, reached on a hiking trail.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Day 5
Torra d'Omigna
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast near Cargèse, above the sea on the west side of the island.
Calvi
Seaside town on the north-west coast with a Genoese citadel above the harbour and a long sandy beach.
Corsica in 6 days
Day 1
Calvi
Seaside town on the north-west coast with a Genoese citadel above the harbour and a long sandy beach.
Nonza
Cliff-top village on Cap Corse with narrow lanes, a Genoese tower and a black pebble beach far below.
Luri
Commune on Cap Corse made up of hillside hamlets and valleys, with paths and old towers around it.
Day 2
Bastia
Corsica's main port city in the north-east, with an old harbour, the Terra Vecchja quarter and the citadel above.
Lac du Cinto
Mountain lake below Monte Cinto, the highest peak on the island, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de Nino
High mountain lake at about 1,743 m in central Corsica, with grassy meadows and grazing horses, reached on a hiking trail.
Day 3
Lac de Goria
High mountain lake at about 1,852 m in central Corsica, small and remote, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de lOriente
High mountain lake in the central Corsican mountains, reached on a hiking trail.
Aiguilles de Bavella
Jagged granite peaks in southern Corsica, reached by a mountain road, with forest walks and viewpoints.
Day 4
Cucuruzzu
Archaeological site near Levie with Bronze Age and Iron Age stone buildings reached by a forest trail.
Bonifacio
Walled town on white limestone cliffs at Corsica's southern tip, with a citadel, a harbour and views toward Sardinia.
Day 5
Torra di Campumoru
Genoese tower on the Campomoro headland in the south-west, with a coastal path and views over the Valinco gulf.
Filitosa
Prehistoric site in southern Corsica with carved menhir statues and stone buildings from the Bronze Age.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Torra d'Omigna
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast near Cargèse, above the sea on the west side of the island.
Day 6
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Tour de Capo di Feno
Genoese watchtower above the Capo di Feno bay west of Ajaccio, near a surf beach and the coastal path.
Torra di Castelluchju
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast west of Ajaccio, seen from the coast.
Torra di a Parata
Genoese tower on a headland west of Ajaccio, facing the Sanguinaires islands, a popular spot for sunset.
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Corsica in 7 days
Day 1
Lac du Cinto
Mountain lake below Monte Cinto, the highest peak on the island, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de Nino
High mountain lake at about 1,743 m in central Corsica, with grassy meadows and grazing horses, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de Goria
High mountain lake at about 1,852 m in central Corsica, small and remote, reached on a hiking trail.
Lac de lOriente
High mountain lake in the central Corsican mountains, reached on a hiking trail.
Ajaccio Cathedral
Sixteenth-century cathedral in the old town of Ajaccio, where Napoleon was baptised, near the Maison Bonaparte.
Day 2
Musée Fesch
Palais Fesch, the fine arts museum of Ajaccio, holding a large collection of Italian paintings gathered by Napoleon's uncle, Cardinal Fesch.
Maison Bonaparte
The house in Ajaccio where Napoleon Bonaparte was born in 1769, now a museum with period rooms and family items.
Filitosa
Prehistoric site in southern Corsica with carved menhir statues and stone buildings from the Bronze Age.
Cucuruzzu
Archaeological site near Levie with Bronze Age and Iron Age stone buildings reached by a forest trail.
Day 3
Aiguilles de Bavella
Jagged granite peaks in southern Corsica, reached by a mountain road, with forest walks and viewpoints.
Bonifacio
Walled town on white limestone cliffs at Corsica's southern tip, with a citadel, a harbour and views toward Sardinia.
Day 4
Torra di Campumoru
Genoese tower on the Campomoro headland in the south-west, with a coastal path and views over the Valinco gulf.
Torra di Castelluchju
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast west of Ajaccio, seen from the coast.
Torra di a Parata
Genoese tower on a headland west of Ajaccio, facing the Sanguinaires islands, a popular spot for sunset.
Tour de Capo di Feno
Genoese watchtower above the Capo di Feno bay west of Ajaccio, near a surf beach and the coastal path.
Day 5
Torra d'Omigna
Ruined Genoese tower on the coast near Cargèse, above the sea on the west side of the island.
Calanques de Piana
Red granite cliffs and rock formations along the west coast, part of the Gulf of Porto World Heritage area, best seen from the coast road.
Scandola Nature Reserve
Protected nature reserve of red volcanic cliffs, sea caves and rich marine life on the west coast, reached by boat.
Day 6
Calvi
Seaside town on the north-west coast with a Genoese citadel above the harbour and a long sandy beach.
Nonza
Cliff-top village on Cap Corse with narrow lanes, a Genoese tower and a black pebble beach far below.
Luri
Commune on Cap Corse made up of hillside hamlets and valleys, with paths and old towers around it.
Day 7
Bastia
Corsica's main port city in the north-east, with an old harbour, the Terra Vecchja quarter and the citadel above.
Watch: Corsica in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Corsica
Late spring and early autumn, from May to June and September to October, give warm weather, open mountain paths and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and crowded, but good for the sea. Winter is mild on the coast and snowy in the mountains, with some sights and mountain trails closed. The high mountain trails are usually free of snow from about June to October.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Corsica on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Corsica on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Corsica on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Corsica with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Corsica
- Distances on Corsica are short on the map but slow by road, as the mountain roads are narrow and winding; allow extra driving time and plan on a hire car.
- Boat trips to the Scandola Nature Reserve depend on the weather and leave from west-coast ports such as Porto; book ahead in summer.
- Many museums and sites close on Mondays or for a break at midday, so check opening days before building a day around them.
- Mountain lakes need sturdy shoes, water and a check of the weather, as conditions change quickly at altitude.
- July and August are hot and busy; book ferries, flights and accommodation well ahead.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Aiguilles de Bavella: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ajaccio Cathedral: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bastia: Cosudibastia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bonifacio: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calanques de Piana: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Calvi: Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cucuruzzu: DocteurCosmos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Filitosa: Juergen E. Walkowitz, Public domain
- Lac de Goria: Eric gamp, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lac de Nino: Francis THOMAS, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lac de lOriente: Bribri2B, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lac du Cinto: Eric gamp, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Luri: Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Maison Bonaparte: Caroline Holland, Public domain
- Musée Fesch: Pierre Bona, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nonza: Иерей Максим Массалитин, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Scandola Nature Reserve: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY 3.0
- Torra d'Omigna: Jean-Christophe BENOIST, CC BY 3.0
- Torra di Campumoru: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Torra di Castelluchju: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY 3.0
- Torra di a Parata: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY 3.0
- Tour de Capo di Feno: Aa77zz, CC0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
