There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in southern Corsica each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national) March 17–18: Madunnuccia (local)This festival honours Ajaccio's patron saint, the Madunnuccia. Infused with faith and tradition, the celebrations include a huge procession through the streets of the city, a concert at city hall, and a mass officiated by the bishop of Corsica.
March or April: Easter Monday (national) May 1: Labour Day (national)On the 1 May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to friends and loved ones, so the streets fill with people selling them!
May 8 : Victory Day (national)This national holiday commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.
June 21: Fête de la Musique (national)During this popular nationwide festival, many free concerts are held all over Corsica.
July 14: Bastille Day (national)This holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution, and symbolises the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. Festivities include parades, concerts and dance parties, and at nightfall, dazzling fireworks displays light up the skies over many Corsican towns and villages.
August 15: Assumption Day (national)This celebration, still very popular in Corsica, is marked by many religious ceremonies and processions.
Third weekend in September: European Heritage Days (national)The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments such as castles and private collections, many of which are normally closed to the public. It's a great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!
November 11: Remembrance Day (national)On this day, French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.
December 25 : Christmas (national) December 31: New Year's Eve (national)On the night of 31 December, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Ajaccio, with families and friends coming together to celebrate the new year.
| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4/39 | 14/57 | 62/2.4 | Not the best period to go |
| February | 4/39 | 14/57 | 56/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
| March | 5/41 | 15/59 | 57/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 7/45 | 17/63 | 64/2.5 | Not the best period to go |
| May | 11/52 | 21/70 | 39/1.5 | Good period to go
|
| June | 14/57 | 25/77 | 23/0.9 | Good period to go
|
| July | 17/63 | 28/82 | 10/0.4 | Good period to go
|
| August | 17/63 | 28/82 | 10/0.8 | Good period to go
|
| September | 15/59 | 26/79 | 24/0.9 | Good period to go
|
| October | 12/54 | 22/72 | 92/3.6 | Good period to go
|
| November | 8/46 | 17/63 | 95/3.7 | Not the best period to go |
| December | 5/41 | 15/59 | 68/2.7 | Not the best period to go |
The best way to discover southern Corsica is to rent a vehicle.
Although trains can be used to get around Corsica and admire the island's magnificent and varied landscapes, they have two main drawbacks. The first is that they run rather slowly, and the second is that the rail network does not serve southern Corsica from west to east. Trains connect Ajaccio with destinations in northern Corsica, such as Bastia and Calvi, via Corte. For more information, head to the website: https://cf-corse.corsica.
In both northern and southern Corsica, renting a car or a motorcycle is the best way to get around the island. Both types of vehicles may be easily rented at the airport or in most large towns and cities in southern Corsica.
If you would rather not rent a vehicle, taxis are sometimes the only other way to get around Corsica, whether to return to where you are staying in the evening or to get to the airport.
Cycling in Corsica is really only recommended for the most athletic visitors, as there are some pretty steep hills here! That being said, there are a number of bike hire shops to choose from. Something else to consider is that the island is spread out and there can be long distances from town to town, often with no cycle paths available.
Of course, walking is without doubt the ideal way to visit the historic centre of towns and villages in Corsica and to admire the island's incredible landscapes!
Upon your arrival in southern Corsica, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and help planning your stay.
Ajaccio Municipal Tourist OfficePractical information, recommendations (accommodation, public transport, sightseeing, tours, etc.) and tourist brochures.
Tourist information, recommendations, and brochures.
Tourist information, recommendations, and brochures.
The official tourism website of France is a goldmine of information on southern Corsica
French currency is in Euro (EUR).
1 CHF = 0,93 EUR
1 EUR = 1,08 CHF
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
There are a number of hospitals and health clinics, surgeries and health specialists in Ajaccio. See your doctor before you travel, and make sure you have travel insurance that covers medical costs and medical repatriation.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France.
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Ajaccio.
As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:
For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.
Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in their country of residence in advance of departure.
For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/
Contact information for your country’s embassies and consulates can be found in the directory published by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
Travel advice
To make your trip to France as stress-free as possible, check the information and recommendations provided by your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Corsica a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Good evening: Bonsoir
Goodbye: Au revoir
Yes: Oui
No: Non
No, thank you: Non, merci
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
Please: S'il vous plaît
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
Airport: Aéroport
Train station: Gare
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hôtel
Hospital: Hôpital
Bank: Banque
Telephone: Téléphone
I'm (…): Je suis (…)
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Where can I buy (…)?: Où puis-je acheter (…) ?
I'd like (…): Je voudrais (…)
Tipping
In southern Corsica – like anywhere else in France – a service charge is always included in the bill. If you are particularly pleased with the service, you may certainly leave a few extra euros on the table! But this additional tip is neither expected nor necessary.
