Stories · France
7 days in Corsica
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
On an island you count in tides rather than hours. 7 days in Corsica is time enough to go around it and leave a bit of yourself.
Day 1 · The icons
In the morning, meet me at Calanques de Piana. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. 4.9 out of 5 across 5,599 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Around noon, I make my way to CORSICA QUAD. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Travellers give it 4.9 out of 5 (391 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, head to La Grotte aux serpents. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Corsica is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · The icons
Early in the morning, it’s Parc Naturel Régional de Corse. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. 4.7 out of 5 across 16,793 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there · travellers’ reviews.
Then, it’s Cascade des Anglais. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (878 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
In the afternoon, I make my way to Cascade du Voile de la Mariée - Cascata di u Velu di a Spusata. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. 4.6 out of 5 across 354 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Corsica does the rest.
Day 3 · Fresh air
To start, it’s Réserve Naturelle de Scandola. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. 4.8 out of 5 across 2,637 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Late morning, meet me at Plage de Tuara. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around Osani: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
Later, meet me at Plage a Stella. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Corsica is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 4 · The icons
Early in the morning, meet me at Vallée du Fango. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (1,417 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
Around noon, meet me at Fango Delta. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
Later, it’s Plage de Ricciniccia. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Corsica does the rest.
Day 5 · Fresh air
Early in the morning, meet me at Cascade d’Aitone. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.7 out of 5 across 1,087 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or compare on Tiqets.
Late morning, I make my way to Plage d'Arone. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (1,178 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
Later, meet me at Plage de Sagone. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (278 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your tickets or go through Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Corsica is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 6 · Fresh air
To start, head to Plage d’Aleria. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Late morning, I make my way to Plage de Pinia. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. 4.6 out of 5 across 227 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise also check Tiqets.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, head to Plage de Casabianda. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (263 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Corsica is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 7 · The icons
In the morning, meet me at Vallee Restonica. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. 4.8 out of 5 across 376 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Late morning, meet me at Corsica Museum. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
For lunch, trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, it’s Corsica Mountain Bike. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
Keep the evening free. Corsica is a city that tells itself better at night.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Maison du Grand Site de France des Iles Sanguinaires - pointe de la Parata, Départ bateau scandola , calanques de Piana Neptune croisière Ajaccio, Plage de Galéria, Plage de Mare e Stagnu, Plage de Quarcione and Domaine des Milelli. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
There. The rest is yours: the detours, the encounters, the café that becomes your own.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.