CONTENTS
TRAVELING TO CORSICA ☀️
Dreaming of going to Corsica and discovering this stunning island, but not sure yet which transportation to take? You’re in the right place: we’ll go through the pros and cons of the two options.
Corsica is a paradise island; you can discover my various articles on the must-do activities in Corsica. Whether you’re coming for a weekend or longer to “the Isle of Beauty“, follow my tips, save money and choose the transportation that suits you!
You need to understand that there are only two ways to get to Corsica: by plane or by ferry, with the option of bringing your car on the ferry. Let’s look at these two options together and compare them. 🔥
GOING BY PLANE? ✈️
The plane is the fastest way to get to Corsica: allow 50 minutes from Marseille to Ajaccio, and if you’re coming from farther away, like Paris, it only takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the Corsican capital.
If you live in Paris, Lille or Strasbourg, it’s more worthwhile to fly, because the ports to Corsica are on the French Riviera. Flying will save you a lot of time, but you’re limited in terms of luggage weight (unless you pay for extra checked bags).
There are 4 arrival airports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari; the best deals will be at the Ajaccio and Bastia airports, where you’ll find the best prices to reach “the Isle of Beauty“
If you book your plane tickets early, you can get round-trip flights for €50 per person. Of course, during summer vacation prices may be a bit higher, but in general you can find very affordable fares.
I recommend using flight comparison sites like Google Flights (it’s the one I use all the time, and for me it’s one of the best).
If you have flexible dates and several airports near you, run some searches to see which is cheapest. You’ll probably get some nice surprises on the price! 💶
✔️ THE PROS
➕ Fast (it takes less than 2 hours to reach Corsica)
➕ Good prices (lots of deals for round-trip flights at excellent rates)
➕ Choice of airport (4 airports available)
➕ Getting to your accommodation (a taxi can take you straight there)
❌ THE CONS
➖ Limited mobility (impossible to get around Corsica without a car, so think about renting one)
➖ Amount of luggage (you can’t bring as much as you want; you’re limited in weight)
GOING BY FERRY? 
The second option is to take a ferry from one of the ports in France or Italy. That’s how we went to Corsica last summer, to Ajaccio to be exact.
One of the biggest advantages of the ferry is being able to bring your vehicle and be completely free and independent as soon as you arrive. Prices are also very attractive, since on the companies’ websites you can choose your options (cabin, car…). If you take the bare minimum, with no cabin and no vehicle, it can cost about €30 round trip, which is a very attractive price. On top of that, you can arrive at many ports: Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, L’Île-Rousse, Calvi, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano. You’re bound to find what you need among all these ports 
(there can be big price differences for a round-trip ferry depending on your departure and arrival ports.)
Of course, the earlier you book your trip, the more attractive the prices can be, especially during summer vacation.
On the French mainland 🇫🇷, you can leave for Corsica from these 3 ports: Marseille, Toulon & Nice.
For me, there are two companies where you’ll find what you need in terms of fares and options for your crossing:
- Corsica Linea – Private French shipping company
- Corsica Ferries – Private Franco-Italian shipping company
Depending on your departure and arrival ports, both companies may not be available.
👉 You can also leave from Italy with the company “Moby“, from Genoa or Livorno.
✔️ THE PROS
➕ Price (round-trip tickets for just €30 depending on the season)
➕ Unlimited luggage (bring as much as you want, no limits)
➕ Your car (you can take your car and be free and independent to explore the Isle of Beauty)
➕ Choice of port (7 ports available)
❌ THE CONS
➖ Slow (the crossing takes at least 8 hours, and up to 12 hours depending on your port.)
➖ Seasickness (rest assured, the ferry is so big that you barely feel it during the crossing, but if you’re very prone to it, don’t hesitate to take medication just before boarding)
MY PERSONAL CHOICE?
After going through plane versus ferry to get to Corsica, I think in the end your choice of transportation will depend on what you want to do there and how long you want to stay.
If you’re going for a weekend or even 1 week but staying in the same town without moving around, the plane is the better choice, given the time you’ll save on the round trip, especially since you won’t need to get around. If needed, you can always rent a car there, but that can add to your vacation budget
On the other hand, if you’re going for 1 week or more and want to explore Corsica far and wide, take the ferry with your car: you’ll come out ahead, since you can bring your food, all your diving gear and plenty of clothes, without asking yourself “I can only take 8 kg max, what do I leave out?”.
When we went to Corsica in summer 2020, we chose the ferry: we were going for 2 weeks and needed the car for the whole 15 days to be independent. And since we’re from Avignon, we’re very close to Marseille and Toulon.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 👏
If you have any questions or comments about this article, or simply enjoyed it, feel free to leave a comment! Thank you for following me and reading this first article; it’s only the beginning of a great adventure.