Travelling to Corsica

Well folks, I don't know where you are from, so I really can't tell you in detail how to get there. If you are from Germany or a country nearby, have a look at the German version of this document which contains more detailed info for you.

By air

If you are not from Europe, this is surely the best choice. The only disadvantage: you have to know in advance when you are done with Corsica.

Europeans should check for last-minute offers; they are often as cheap as (or even cheaper than) any other possibility to travel to Corsica.

If you live in or near France, check for cheap inland flights (Corsica is France).

By car / motorbike

Depends on what you are going to do on Corsica if this is the best choice or not. Generally spoken, it's a good way to see a lot of the island, but renting a car or a motorbike isn't that expensive on Corsica and the ferry companies charge good money if you take your own car with you. Plus you'll need a cross-country car if you want to see the remotest places, the "roads" are often miserable.

If you are going to hike as we did, a car is not necessary, it is even an obstacle.

By train

If you live in Europe, ask your travel agent for railroad prices. We found that going by train isn't much more expensive than going by car if you take tolls and ferry and/or parking prices into account.

The ferries

If you don't choose the plane, you'll have to use a ferry. Ferries to Corsica go from France (Marseille, Nice, Toulon) and Italy (Genova, Livorno, La Spezia, Piombino).

If you use a Corsica ferry during the season, you are charged a supplement of 30 FF. I don't know the purpose and I don't know who receives this, but you'll have to pay it twice. It's called something like "Corsica tax", and you might be charged also when arriving or departing by air.

The SNCM has another trick: If the cheap tickets are sold out, you'll have to buy a more expensive ticket; you won't get it for the same price. So buy your tickets as soon as possible.

Our journey to Corsica

We took a train from Saarbrücken (Saarland, southwest of Germany) to Marseille and a ferry from Marseille to Bastia. On our way back, we took the ferry from L'Ile Rousse to Nice and a train from Nice to Saarbrücken.

If you decide to make use of the SNCF (the French railroad company), look out for discounts! Ask for a "Billet de Séjour" if your journey contains more than 1000km of french railroad, it gives you 25% off the normal price.