Ajaccio, the historic capital of the island of beauty
Les Îles Sanguinaires à Ajaccio
- © Vadym Lavra / Shutterstock
Ajaccio
Ajaccio in short
Discover the town of Napoleon and its monuments, beaches and restaurants serving Corsican specialities.
Why visit Ajaccio?
Ajaccio is first and foremost a historic town, and as well as being the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, many members of the family have lived in the town over the generations. The old town is packed with museums, such as the Palais Fesch, and monuments, such as the Imperial Chapel, where the Bonaparte family are buried.
Here and there, statues and the facades of old buildings remind us that Ajaccio is a historic town and a key player in Corsican history.
Monuments to visit in Ajaccio:
- The Fesch Palace
- The imperial chapel
- The Bonaparte house
Nature around Ajaccio
Not far from Ajaccio is some wonderful countryside. Just a short drive away, you can discover Lac de Tolla, a lake perched in the Corsican mountains. Heading east, the Parata tower offers a panoramic view of the Sanguinaires islands, 4 mysterious and intriguing islets that are home to rare species of flora and fauna.
Nature activities around Ajaccio:
- The Cupulatta turtle park
- The Tolla lake
- The Sanguinaires islands
- The creeks of Piana
The beaches of Ajaccio
The beaches in Ajaccio town centre, such as St-François beach, are not exceptional. On the other hand, if you go a little further afield, you can go to Capo di Feno, a huge wild beach, where you can also go hiking.
The seaside resort of Porticcio is just a few minutes from the centre of Ajaccio and offers beaches, restaurants and bars.
Ajaccio's most beautiful beaches:
- The silver beach
- Capo di Feno beach
- Porticcio beach
- Agosta beach
Who is this destination for?
All travellers will enjoy a stay in Ajaccio. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a romantic couple or a family, Ajaccio and the surrounding area are full of activities to suit all tastes and ages.
Price of a stay in Ajaccio
A stay in Ajaccio can be expensive, especially if you're travelling in summer. Hotels, restaurants and other activities are expensive due to tourism and the island nature of the destination.
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How to get there?
Ajaccio is Corsica's largest city. Its international airport welcomes flights from all over Europe and the world. You can also get to Ajaccio by boat from Toulon or Nice, in the south of France. It's a pretty pleasant overnight trip. You can book your tickets on the Corsica Ferry website.
Ajaccio
✈️ Fly to Ajaccio!
It's easy to get to Ajaccio's Napoléon Bonaparte airport from the mainland!
From
£46
/ AR
Where to stay?
Ajaccio is a thriving port city that has been welcoming travellers for a long time. It is full of luxurious hotels where you can relax and explore the city at your own pace. We have chosen the best 4-star hotels in Ajaccio to accompany you on your stay in Corsica.
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Practical information
☔️ When should you go to Ajaccio?
Like the rest of the Mediterranean, the summer season is very busy, so wherever you go, it's essential to book your hotels and activities in advance.
If you have the opportunity to make a slight change from the traditional August holiday, we advise you to go at the beginning or end of the summer: in May-June or September, the days are still very beautiful and the weather is still warm. What's more, the island will be less touristy and all the activities will be much more accessible.
We advise against going between 15 July and 15 August, the most popular tourist period of the year in the south of France.
If you go to Corsica in winter, you should know that the island is a popular place for skiing.
The Val d'Ese ski resort is 45 minutes from Ajaccio.
💉 What vaccinations are needed to travel to Corsica?
Travellers don't need any special vaccinations to go to Ajaccio.
The compulsory vaccinations for travelling in France in general are:
- Diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (DTP)
- Pertussis (whooping cough).
- Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type B infections.
- Hepatitis B.
- Invasive pneumococcal disease.
- Meningococcal serogroup C.
- Measles, mumps and rubella.
🛂 Administrative procedures for Ajaccio
Due to Brexit, those coming to Mykonos from Britain will need to show a valid passport.
If you are a French or European citizen, you do not need to take any particular steps to travel to Corsica.
🩺 COVID situation in Corsica
As of the end of 2022, no COVID-related restrictions are in place in France or Corsica.
🚗 Car hire in Corsica
The same rules as for car hire in France apply in Corsica. In fact, you need a French or international driving licence and a credit card to hire a car in Ajaccio.
Getting around Ajaccio
🚉 By train
Trains serve the whole of Corsica. The journeys are very pleasant and beautiful, especially when you go to the centre of the island.
From Ajaccio, you can go to :
- Bastia
The train crosses the island via Corte.
- Calvi
The train crosses the island via Corte and then branches off to Calvi to the east.
- Mezzana
🛩️ By plane
From Ajaccio airport, you can take internal flights to :
- Calvi
- Bastia
- Figari
lightbulb_outline Editor's tip
For your holidays in Corsica, book your hotels and activities as early as possible, especially if you're going during the summer season. As its name suggests, Corsica is an island of beauty, welcoming more and more holidaymakers every year.
Ajaccio Tourist Office
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