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Camping in Corsica by the sea: coast, ferries, wildfire rules
Camping by the sea in Corsica combines sandy bays, rocky coast and mountains on an island with about 1,000 kilometres of coastline. The ferry crossing and the roads on the island shape your planning more than on a mainland holiday.
Here you will find an overview of coastal regions and protected areas, ferry ports and booking tips, realistic drive times, climate and swimming season, and the fire rules in summer. Below you will see the campsites in Corsica with a sea or beach location. Figures and rules come from official sources and travel portals. The overview helps you choose a coastal region and plan your journey.
Coast, beaches and protected areas
According to the French tourism portal, well-known beaches include those near Porto-Vecchio (Palombaggia, Santa Giulia) and, at the northern tip, Barcaggio. The coast is varied, from sandy beaches to rocky cliffs.
Several stretches of coast are protected. The official tourism portal names six nature reserves covering some 83,500 hectares in total. They include Scandola on the west coast (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1,919 hectares), the Bouches de Bonifacio in the south (79,460 hectares) and the Îles Cerbicales off Porto-Vecchio, where landing, fishing and hunting are prohibited. Find out about the relevant rules before boat trips. Places the tourism portal also mentions include Bonifacio, Calvi and Ajaccio, with their citadels and historic town centres respectively.
Ferries: ports and booking
Four shipping companies sail to Corsica: Corsica Ferries (from Toulon, Nice, Sète and Italian ports), Corsica Linea (from Marseille and Sète), La Méridionale (from Marseille) and Moby (from Italy). There are six ports on the island: Bastia, Île-Rousse, Ajaccio, Porto-Vecchio, Propriano and Bonifacio.
Choose the port according to your destination on the island, not the price: according to Korsika Aktuell, the wrong port can mean two to three hours of extra driving. Night crossings from Sète take about 14 hours. For the summer holidays you should book several months ahead, especially with a vehicle. For motorhomes and trailer outfits, exact height and length details are required. For overnight crossings, a cabin is recommended.
Drive times and roads on the island
The island has five main routes (RT 10 to RT 50), including Bastia–Bonifacio and Ajaccio–Bonifacio. Guideline times according to France 3: Ajaccio–Bonifacio about 2 hours, Bastia–Porto-Vecchio about 2 hours 40 minutes, Ajaccio–Calvi about 2 hours 30 minutes.
These times can lengthen in summer when traffic is heavy. So allow some leeway for day trips, and do not schedule long legs on arrival days. Four airports (Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi, Figari) and six ports connect the island with the mainland. You make faster progress on the main routes than on side roads into the mountains; for trips into the interior of the island, allow more time. Experience shows that the narrow, winding mountain roads take more time than the mileage suggests.
Climate and swimming season
According to Berge & Meer, Corsica gets around 2,700 hours of sunshine a year. In summer, highs reach 28 to 29 degrees and the sea warms to 25 to 26 degrees. May to October is considered the best time to travel for the coast; the south and west (around Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio) are sunnier and drier than the north.
The French tourism portal names July and August as high season with up to 30 degrees, and September and October as a quieter time without the summer rush. If you prefer it less crowded, travel in early summer or in autumn. The north is damper than the south and west. For swimming, May to October is considered suitable for the coast, and in June and September the sea is already warm.
Fire rules and access to forests
The environmental authority DREAL Corse names a complete ban on fires from 15 June to 30 September. Smoking in forests is prohibited, and barbecuing is allowed only on private land or designated areas, well away from vegetation. In an emergency, call 18, 112 or 114.
Access to forest areas is set every day at 6 p.m. for the following day:
Yellow: be alert.
Orange: limit your stay and leave the areas before 11 a.m.
Red: do not enter.
Black: entry prohibited.
Individual massifs can be closed without warning during high-risk periods. The ADAC named temporarily raised warning levels for Corsica in one report. If you are hiking in summer, check the map the evening before and start early to leave orange areas in good time.
What to do: ideas and a day-by-day plan
Corsica offers coastal nature reserves, coves, mountain villages and gorges, but journey times between the coastal regions are long. Choose just one region per day, and use the ideas and day plans as a template for your excursions from the campsite.
Nature & beaches
Calanques de Pianahalf a dayA rocky coast of red porphyry of volcanic origin and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Boat trips leave from Porto Ota, and the D81 road runs right through the formation. The colours are most intense in the late afternoon.
Scandola Nature Reservehalf a dayA protected reserve reachable only by sea. Boat tours from Porto Ota take about 3 to 4.5 hours, depending on whether combined with the Calanques; book early in summer.
Lavezzi Islandshalf a dayAn island group off Bonifacio with unspoilt beaches, about 30 minutes by boat from the town. It combines well with a day around Bonifacio.
Fango Valley in the Balagnehalf a dayA valley designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve, with natural swimming pools along the River Fango. On the Tra Mare e Monti trail you can cool off in the water along the way.
Culture & sights
Citadel of Bonifaciohalf a dayThe upper town, with narrow cobbled lanes, the Genoese Gate as the main entrance, the bastion with views over the ramparts and Santa Maria Maggiore, the oldest building in town.
Staircase of the King of Aragon1-2 hoursA staircase of 187 steps cut into the cliff, leading to a historic water source. It is a natural crevice that was developed over centuries.
Villages of the Balagne1-2 hoursA circular route of under two hours links the villages of Lumio, Lavatoggio and Occi. It lets you see mountain villages above the coast without a long drive.
Musée de la Corse in Corte1-2 hoursA museum in the citadel of Corte that shows the history of the island. It is an option for a rainy day in the island's interior.
Active & sports
Hike to the Château de Piana1-2 hoursThe best-known walk near the Calanques de Piana, also called the Dog's Head walk. The hike is moderately demanding and takes about 1.5 hours there and back.
Capo Rossohalf a dayA more demanding hike on the west coast, about four hours there and back. Not for beginners, but rewarded with views of the coastal cliffs.
Croix des Autrichiens near Calvihalf a dayA viewpoint with a 360-degree view over Calvi and the coast towards Galéria. The Balagne has around 250 kilometres of well-kept hiking trails of various lengths.
Campu Rumanilu coastal path near Bonifacio1-2 hoursA coastal path with viewpoints onto the citadel above the cliffs, roughly 70 metres high. Water sports such as kayaking and windsurfing are available at the Piantarella lagoon.
With kids
Canyoning tourshalf a dayTours on offer include Sapare from age five and Polischellu from age eight. Water plays the leading role here and is a counterpart to a beach day.
Corsica Zoo near Saint-FlorentA zoo near Saint-Florent in the north of the island. It is a destination for families looking for a break from the beach.
A CupulattaA tortoise park in Corsica, named in a family guide as a destination for outings with children. A relaxed excursion without any hiking.
Boat trip to Bonifacio1-2 hoursBoats show sea caves, coves and cliffs from the water, including the Sdragonato grotto with a hole shaped like Corsica. The Lavezzi Islands are about 30 minutes away.
When it rains
Aquarium de la Poudrière in Porto1-2 hoursShows fish, spider crabs, moray eels and lobsters from the Gulf of Porto. Handy if the boat trip is cancelled and you are in Porto anyway.
Naporama in Ajaccio1-2 hoursA museum with Playmobil figures depicting historical scenes. At the end, children can dress up and have their photo taken.
Le Fun in Ajaccio1-2 hoursA leisure complex with a covered trampoline park of 1,000 square metres and a children's park of 800 square metres, designed for rainy days with kids.
Bowling and laser tag in Furiani1-2 hoursA bowling alley with ten lanes as well as laser tag over 400 square metres, a destination for rainy days in the north.
Sample day plans
Day 1: The west coast around Porto
Morning
Take a boat from Porto Ota to the Scandola Nature Reserve, combined with the Calanques de Piana if desired. Book early; the tour takes about 3 to 4.5 hours.
Afternoon
Walk to the Château de Piana at the Calanques, about 1.5 hours there and back. If it rains, visit the Aquarium de la Poudrière in Porto instead.
Evening
The Calanques show their most intense colours in the late afternoon. Then dinner in Porto and a relaxed drive back.
Day 2: Bonifacio in the south
Morning
Walk around the citadel of Bonifacio with the Genoese Gate and Santa Maria Maggiore, then climb the 187 steps of the Staircase of the King of Aragon.
Afternoon
A boat trip to the sea caves and, if time allows, to the Lavezzi Islands. Alternatively, the Campu Rumanilu coastal path with views of the citadel.
Evening
An evening stroll along the marina with a view of the cliffs, then the drive back to the campsite.
Day 3: The Balagne near Calvi
Morning
A circular route through the villages of Lumio, Lavatoggio and Occi, doable in under two hours. Then continue to the Croix des Autrichiens viewpoint.
Afternoon
Drive to the Fango Valley and swim in the natural pools along the river. The valley is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Evening
A relaxed evening near the coast and dinner in a Balagne village before heading back to the campsite.
Campsites that match
39 matching campsites in our database, grouped by location.
By ferry from Toulon, Nice, Marseille or Sète, with four shipping companies. There are six ports on the island, including Bastia, Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio. Choose the port according to your destination, because an unfavourable port means two to three hours more driving.
When should I book the ferry?
For the summer holidays, Korsika Aktuell recommends booking several months ahead, especially with a vehicle. For motorhomes and trailer outfits you need exact height and length details. A cabin is advisable on overnight crossings.
How long will I spend driving on the island?
As guideline times, France 3 gives: Ajaccio–Bonifacio about 2 hours, Bastia–Porto-Vecchio about 2 hours 40 minutes, Ajaccio–Calvi about 2 hours 30 minutes. In summer it can take longer when traffic is heavy.
Can I barbecue in Corsica in summer?
Only on private land or designated barbecue areas, well away from vegetation, and never in a forest. From 15 June to 30 September the use of fire is prohibited, according to DREAL Corse. Ask the campsite where it is permitted.
How warm is the sea?
According to Berge & Meer, the sea warms to 25 to 26 degrees in summer. Air temperatures in summer are 28 to 29 degrees. May to October is considered the best time for the coast.
