Hi, it’s me. I’m currently on vacation in Corsica and hope you’re enjoying my guest posts! I thought I’d pop in today with a post on Corsica vacation tips in case you’re planning a trip. Haven’t even been here a week yet and already love it, so more to come about that.
Thinking of going to Corsica on vacation? If you ever get the opportunity, you should absolutely go! The Mediterranean island off the southeastern coast of France is truly beautiful and looks exactly like the pictures. Family trips, couples, friends and even solo travelers will have a fabulous vacation and I can’t say enough about how fun it is here. I’ll be writing more posts about my vacation once I return home, so stay tuned for those.
Here are 6 tips for your Corsica vacation to know before you go!
Corsica vacation tips
The following tips for your Corsica vacation are based on my family vacation experience in southern Corsica. I can’t speak to the northern part of the island since I haven’t been there.
So, here are my 6 Corsica vacation tips
1. Be prepared for changing weather conditions and pack appropriately.
It might be in the 80s sitting in the sun at the beach in your swimsuit but if you drive an hour up the mountain and go hiking, the temperature can be much cooler especially when the sun disappears, so dress in layers and bring a jacket. It was barely 50 F although it was 80 F at the foot of the mountain. Even though it’s summer, the temperature differences can catch you by surprise depending on where you are — so come prepared!
2. Avoid in July and August.
From crowded tourist attractions and restaurants to even the supermarkets, Corsica can get extremely busy during the summer. If you want a more relaxed experience, steer clear of the island at peak times and come in April or September. We’re here now and it’s comfortable. Supermarkets are still nuts but we’ve had no issues booking excursions or eating out.
3. Have cash because many places don’t accept cards.
Many businesses in Corsica do not accept credit cards of any kind and have signs that say cash only. We were also told this on the phone when booking restaurant reservations and tours. So make sure you have enough cash to cover any extras while on the island. In grocery stores, credit cards are of course accepted (with chips only though) but for a fair share of restaurants and tourist attractions, it’s cash only.
4. Renting a car is mandatory. And if you’re a nervous driver, think twice.
If you want to get the most out of your trip and explore a bit, it’s essential that you rent a car. The windy, narrow roads will take you up mountains, along the coast and into town. The roads are all nicely paved and well marked but not all roads have guardrails and are narrower than most roads in the USA. So if you’re a nervous driver or not comfortable driving manual up and down windy hills (without streetlights at night), you may want to bring a travel partner who is. You will see a fair amount of hitchhikers and people who stay at their resort but the fun of the island, at least for us, is to get out and do things!
5. Allow extra time to get places.
Although a place may only be a few kilometers away, they take a while to get to. The roads in Corsica are not fast-moving autoroutes that will get you from A to B in a straight shot. You often have to wind around and go up and down to get somewhere and the speed limits are not fast. So a simple drive that looks like it’s 20 kilometers on the map may take an hour or more. You also need extra time to allow for photo ops and little stops along the way. I love regional product stores so be prepared to get sidetracked. When it doubt, leave early!
6. If you’re thinking of getting a GoPro, do it!
If you’re debating a GoPro action camera purchase, go for it and get familiar with its features before you arrive. Regular cameras can be too big to safely use when canyoning and on a boat. But even if you’re not an adventure junkie, a GoPro Hero4 Silver will majorly come in handy on a Corsica vacation. Even just documenting the windy roads and hikes are that much cooler when you have video to show for it! And if you have no use for it once you return home? Sell it! They hold their value pretty well.
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
Corsica always sounds so lovely, it’s somewhere I really want to visit one day. So really useful tips for whenever that day comes! #allaboutfrance
Diane says
It really is gorgeous and I hope you plan a trip soon. Glad you enjoyed the post! Thank you!
French Village Jacqui says
Never been, but it’s on my wish list. We would probably arrive with our bikes! Have a great holiday.
Diane says
Yup, that’s a great way to exercise and see everything. We saw a bunch of bikers although some of the mountain rounds probably aren’t suited for biking unless you have a motorcycle. Crazy hills and no shoulder!
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says
Some useful tips here Diane, especially about the windy roads taking a long time with photo stops and food stops and general scenic slowness. One time in Corsica we got held up by semi wild pigs blocking the road! I’m so tempted to get a GroPro, I know I’d have so much fun with one. Thanks for linking up again.
Diane says
Thank you! And I believe it about the wild pigs! I love that many areas of the island aren’t overdeveloped and catered to tourists. Thank you for hosting!
Corinne says
We did go to Corsica in August, camped, and had a blast! There were so many people! We paid 35 Euros for a room on the ferry because there was nowhere to sit! We had aircon, though, so totally worth it!
Diane says
Awesome! I’m definitely not a camper but I know a lot of people really enjoy it. Glad you had a nice trip & yes I’d be all about the air conditioning too! 😉
Esme says
This is one region I have yet to visit and have always wanted to.