Corsica Ferries

From the French mainland

Four ports on the French Mediterranean coast serve Corsica, each with its own character and catchment area.

Marseille is the public-service gateway. Corsica Linea and La Méridionale run year-round overnight car ferries under a contract with the Collectivité de Corse: Corsica Linea to Bastia, L'Île-Rousse and Propriano, La Méridionale to Porto-Vecchio, and both to Ajaccio. Departures are timed to arrive in the morning. At around 10.5 to 12 hours (longer to Porto-Vecchio), the Marseille crossings are among the longest from the mainland, but an overnight sailing means you arrive rested and save a night's hotel. Marseille suits travellers from western France, Paris by TGV, or those combining Corsica with a visit to Provence.

Nice is the closest French port to Corsica. Corsica Ferries sails to Bastia in about 6 to 6.5 hours and to L'Île-Rousse in about 5 hours (spring to autumn), with seasonal sailings to Calvi and a few summer sailings to Ajaccio, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano. The departure along the Baie des Anges is memorable. Nice suits travellers on the Côte d'Azur or arriving at Nice airport.

Toulon sits between Marseille and Nice and has the widest choice of Corsica Ferries sailings: Ajaccio in about 8 hours, Bastia in around 10 hours or more, plus L'Île-Rousse, Propriano and Porto-Vecchio, with a mix of day and overnight departures. It is the most practical option for travellers from the Var or Aix-en-Provence, or driving in on the A8 or A57 motorways. Only Corsica Ferries sails from Toulon.

Sète, west of Montpellier, has Corsica Ferries sailings to Ajaccio and L'Île-Rousse, which can suit travellers coming from south-west France or Spain.

From Italy

Corsica has strong historical and geographical ties to Italy, and Italian ports offer competitive alternatives to the French mainland crossings.

Livorno (near Pisa and Florence) to Bastia takes about 4 hours, a clean daytime hop across the Ligurian Sea. Corsica Ferries and Moby both operate the route, with daily departures. It is the natural choice for travellers driving up from Tuscany or central Italy.

Savona, between Genoa and Nice, has Corsica Ferries sailings to Bastia of about 6 hours, and seasonal sailings to L'Île-Rousse.

Genoa to Bastia is run by Moby in summer only (roughly late May to late September), taking about 5 to 5.5 hours. Genoa suits travellers from Liguria, Milan or the Italian north-west.

Piombino, the Tuscan port for Elba, has a seasonal Corsica Ferries crossing to Bastia of about 3 hours.

Corsica's Italian connections mean island-hoppers can easily do a loop: cross from France, explore the island, and return via Italy, or the other way round.

Corsica to Sardinia: the Bonifacio crossing

At the southern tip of Corsica, Bonifacio is linked to Santa Teresa Gallura in northern Sardinia by a car ferry of about 50 minutes across the Strait of Bonifacio. Moby and Ichnusa Lines operate the route, with several departures a day in summer and fewer in winter. This is one of the most spectacular short crossings in the Mediterranean: the strait is only about 11 kilometres wide, with Bonifacio's white limestone cliffs on one side and the Lavezzi islands nature reserve nearby.

The Bonifacio crossing is ideal for travellers combining Corsica and Sardinia in a single journey, or for those island-hopping between the two islands by car or motorbike. Corsica Ferries also has a few seasonal sailings between Sardinia (Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci) and Ajaccio or Bastia.

Overnight vs daytime crossings

The choice between overnight and daytime ferries comes down to timing, budget and comfort preference.

Overnight ferries (mainly from Marseille, and some from Toulon) are efficient in the sense that you travel while sleeping and arrive ready to go. A cabin, even a simple shared one, makes a significant difference to comfort over 10 hours or more. Seats are available as a cheaper option. Ships are large ro-pax vessels with restaurants, bars and deck space.

Daytime ferries (mainly from Nice, Toulon and the Italian ports) take about 4 to 8 hours from the French and Ligurian ports, or 3 to 4 hours from Piombino and Livorno. The crossing is short enough to enjoy from the deck with a coffee. Corsica Ferries uses conventional car ferries rather than high-speed craft.

Taking a car

Corsica is an island where having a car makes a decisive difference. The interior mountain roads, the Col de Bavella, the western coastal route from Calvi to Porto, and the remote villages of the Castagniccia are all but inaccessible without your own transport. All the main ferry routes to Corsica carry cars, motorcycles and campervans.

Vehicle space is the first thing to sell out in summer. For July and August sailings, booking 6–8 weeks ahead is not excessive. Even for late June and September travel, booking 2–3 weeks in advance is advisable. Fares vary with demand and date.

The main Corsican ports

Bastia (north-east coast) is the island's main commercial port and the arrival point for most Italian crossings and several French ones. The old Genoese port, the Terra Nova citadel and Cap Corse lie just beyond the city. Bastia is functional rather than picturesque, but it is an authentic Corsican city and a good base for the north.

Ajaccio (west coast) is the island's capital, the birthplace of Napoleon, and a livelier, more attractive city than Bastia. It is well connected to the island's southern beaches and the Ajaccio gulf. The ferry terminal is central.

L'Île-Rousse (north-west coast) is a smaller, resort-oriented port serving the Balagne region, an area of olive groves, hilltop villages and excellent beaches. It is on the Corsican railway's Balagne line to Calvi, with connections to Bastia and Ajaccio.

Calvi (north-west coast) has seasonal ferries from Nice and sits below a dramatic Genoese citadel. The coast between L'Île-Rousse and Calvi is some of the most beautiful in Corsica, with long sandy beaches backed by the mountains.

Propriano (south-west coast) sits on the Gulf of Valinco and is served by Corsica Linea from Marseille and Corsica Ferries from Toulon. It suits travellers heading to Sartène and the south-west.

Porto-Vecchio (south-east coast) is a popular resort town close to some of Corsica's finest beaches, Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, and a short drive from Bonifacio. It is served by La Méridionale from Marseille and by Corsica Ferries from Toulon, with occasional summer sailings from Nice.

Operators

Corsica Ferries (Corsica Ferries – Sardinia Ferries) carries the most passengers to Corsica, with sailings from Toulon, Nice, Sète, Livorno, Savona and Piombino. The company is recognisable by its yellow livery. Corsica Linea, founded in 2016 after the collapse of the former operator SNCM, runs most of the subsidised public-service sailings from Marseille. La Méridionale, owned by CMA CGM, shares the Marseille–Ajaccio route with Corsica Linea and runs Marseille–Porto-Vecchio. Moby is a well-established Italian operator covering Livorno–Bastia, seasonal Genoa–Bastia and the Bonifacio–Santa Teresa crossing, and Ichnusa Lines also sails between Bonifacio and Santa Teresa.