Perched between sea and maquis, Bastia is Corsica’s northern gateway and its former Genoese capital. The city’s very name comes from “bastiglia,” a fortified keep—look up at the honey-colored citadel and you’ll see why. Its old port, Terra Vecchia lanes, and baroque oratories tell centuries of Mediterranean stories.

Use Bastia as your base for a week of coastal drives, slow trains, and boat days to luminous bays. Cap Corse wraps you in untamed scenery and tiny fishing marinas; Balagne brings lacy beaches and cliff-top villages; inland Corte adds citadels and river gorges. It’s an itinerary that pairs culture with swims and superb Corsican food.

Practical notes: summer roads are winding and busy—start early and book boats ahead. The Corsican narrow-gauge train is scenic but leisurely; bring water, sun protection, and reef-safe sunscreen. Taste brocciu when in season, try veal with olives, and toast sunsets with a Cap Corse Mattei apéritif.

Bastia

Bastia blends a workaday port with painterly corners: the Vieux Port bobbing with fishing boats, Rue Napoléon’s shrine-studded stroll, and the stately sweep of Place Saint-Nicolas. The Musée de Bastia in the Governors’ Palace frames the city’s Genoese roots, while the Oratoire Sainte-Croix shelters the famed Black Christ.

Beaches skirt the city: Arinella for an easy dip; further south, the Marana strip for wide sands and sunset strolls. Food is heartfelt here—charcuterie and cheeses from the mountains, seafood straight off the boats, and canistrelli biscuits for the road.

• Stay: Search central Old Port, Terra Vecchia, and Citadel areas for convenience and views:
  • VRBO (apartments, villas): Browse Bastia stays on VRBO
  • Hotels.com (hotels, boutique stays): See Bastia hotels on Hotels.com
• Getting to Bastia:
  • Flights (within Europe): major routes from Paris, Marseille, Nice, Lyon, and Rome to Bastia Poretta (BIA). Compare on Omio (flights in Europe). Typical times: 1h from Nice/Marseille, 1h40 from Paris. Summer fares often $60–$180 one-way.
  • Flights (from outside Europe): connect via Paris/Nice; search on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
  • Ferries: overnight or daytime crossings to Bastia from Nice, Toulon, Marseille, Livorno, and Genoa. Check Omio (ferries in Europe). Typical durations 4–10h; cars welcome.
  • Trains and buses to ferry/flight hubs: use Omio (trains in Europe) and Omio (buses in Europe). On Corsica, the scenic island railway links Bastia–Île-Rousse–Calvi and Bastia–Corte–Ajaccio (plan extra time).

Day 1 – Arrival in Bastia: Citadel views and Old Port flavors

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and stretch your legs along Place Saint‑Nicolas, the city’s grand square shaded by palms and plane trees.

Afternoon: Check in, then wander Terra Vecchia to the Vieux Port. Step inside the Oratoire de la Confrérie Sainte‑Croix to glimpse Corsican baroque at its most ornate. Continue up to the Citadel (Terra Nova) and the Musée de Bastia for Genoese history and panoramic terrace views.

Evening: Aperitivo with a Cap Corse Mattei at the historic boutique near Place Saint‑Nicolas, then dinner with a view at A Vista (Mediterranean plates and local fish; time your reservation for sunset over the masts). Sweet finish: gelato at Glacier Raugi, a Bastia institution.

Day 2 – Markets, shrines, and a beach afternoon

Morning: Browse Bastia’s open‑air market on Place du Marché (best on weekends). Snack on canistrelli, olives, and brocciu tarts alongside a café crème at the square’s terraces. Walk Rue Napoléon to spot the small chapels and the gilded Oratoire de l’Immaculée Conception.

Afternoon: Beach time at Plage de l’Arinella: soft sand, calm water, and easy services. Stroll the Marana lagoon walkway for birdlife and mountain‑to‑sea vistas.

Evening: Old Port bistro night—order aziminu (Corsican fish stew) or spaghetti aux oursins when in season. For wines, ask for Patrimonio reds and Muscat du Cap Corse for dessert.

Day 3 – Cap Corse road trip: Erbalunga, Nonza, and Centuri

Morning: Set off early on the D80 loop around Cap Corse (full loop 4–6h with stops). First pause in pastel‑washed Erbalunga; walk the tiny peninsula and tower. Continue to the windswept Mattei windmill belvedere for a sweeping look over both coasts.

Afternoon: Lunch with a cliff‑top view at La Sassa in Nonza (reservations advised; seasonal hours). Then descend to Centuri, famed for lobster—watch the fishermen unload and try a simple spaghetti à la langouste in the harbor when available.

Evening: Return to Bastia. If you’d like a special-occasion dinner before re‑entering town, detour back to Erbalunga for Le Pirate, a refined seaside table with a long local following.

Day 4 – Île‑Rousse and Saleccia by boat (Balagne)

Morning: Board the scenic Corsican train to Île‑Rousse (about 1h45–2h; plan for an early departure). Grab a coffee by the market hall and stroll the ochre plaza to the lighthouse on Île de la Pietra.

Afternoon: Boat day to the Agriates Desert’s legendary white sands. Join this excursion:
Saleccia and Agriates by Boat from Ile Rousse

Expect turquoise water, soft sand, and snorkeling over sea grass meadows; bring a picnic and plenty of water.

Evening: Early dinner back in Île‑Rousse at Le Marinella on the seafront—grilled fish and a sunset table—then train to Bastia.

Day 5 – Saint‑Florent and Patrimonio wine country

Morning: Drive or bus to Saint‑Florent (35–45 min). Walk the citadel ramparts and the harbor promenade. If seas are calm, dip at Plage de la Roya’s clear, shallow arc.

Afternoon: Wine tasting in Patrimonio AOC, Corsica’s flagship appellation. Book ahead with estates such as Domaine Orenga de Gaffory or Domaine Gentile for Niellucciu reds and crisp Vermentinu whites; many offer cellar tours and garden tastings.

Evening: Dine in Saint‑Florent before returning to Bastia—La Gaffe is a long‑running favorite for local seafood and seasonal menus—or go casual with a board of charcuterie and Corsican cheeses alongside a glass of Muscat.

Day 6 – Calvi citadel and snorkeling in the Gulf

Morning: Scenic train to Calvi (approx. 2.5–3h; sit on the seaward side). Explore the Genoese citadel and its cobbled lanes; views sweep from pine‑backed beaches to distant headlands.

Afternoon: Jump aboard for a snorkeling and coastal exploration session:
Boat Trip and Snorkeling in the Gulf of Calvi

Guides provide gear and a briefing before you glide over rocky coves and clear water.

Evening: Treat yourself at U Fanale (a beloved Calvi table under stone pines, celebrating island produce). Return to Bastia by evening train; check the last departure in advance.

Day 7 – Corte: citadel, museum, and river pools

Morning: Train up the mountains to Corte (about 1h45–2h). Climb to the eagle‑nest citadel and visit the Musée de la Corse for exhibits on island culture, crafts, and identity.

Afternoon: Easy gorge walk along the Tavignanu or Restonica for emerald pools and granite slabs—perfect for a cool dip in warm months. Lunch at U Museu for hearty plates like veal with olives and pulenta.

Evening: Back to Bastia for a final passeggiata around the Vieux Port. Toast the week with a Cap Corse or a glass of Patrimonio, and savor a simple seafood pasta or a board of local charcuterie you’ve come to know well.

How to get around (at a glance)

• Train: Scenic, reliable, and slow—great for Île‑Rousse, Calvi, and Corte. Use Omio to plan mainland segments; confirm local Corsican timetables on the spot.
• Ferries: For mainland hops to/from Corsica, browse Omio ferries.
• Flights: Compare regional hops on Omio; intercontinental on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

In one week based in Bastia, you’ll have tasted Corsican history in its citadels, breathed the maquis on Cap Corse, swum Balagne’s blue coves, and sipped Patrimonio under the vines. It’s a rhythm of little journeys that add up to a big sense of place—Mediterranean, mountain, and utterly Corsican.