16 July 2008
Flights to Bastia:
Paradise is only a couple of hours away from anywhere in Europe with direct flights going in and out Bastia-Poretta airport in north Corsica all year long.
Numerous budget and standard airlines operate flights to and from the UK (London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh) and Germany (Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart, Dortmund, Cologne, Friedrichshafen), but also Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Belgium (Brussels), Norway (Oslo), Sweden (Stockholm, Goteborg) and Denmark (Billund, Copenhagen).
The airport also links major French towns and cities to the Island of Beauty, flying to Marseilles, Nice, Paris, Clermont-Ferrand, Beziers, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Lille and Strasbourg.
The island will also become directly accessible from Milan and Albenga in Italy and Tortoli in Sardinia with Alitalia Express from today until the end of September.
Among the airlines operating in Bastia we count: Air France, CCM Airlines, Air Linair, Lufthansa, Luxair, but also low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Intersky, Germanwings and Germania.
As north Corsica's main airport, Bastia-Poretta is also currently leading a promotion policy to attract potential airline operators, including budget airlines to the island.
To and from Bastia's airport:
There is an airport shuttle operating from Bastia's rail station. The journey takes about 35 minutes and costs €8.
Alternatively, there are also a number of taxi firms offering €37.15 for daytime journeys to Bastia's town centre or €51.23 at night.
Travel by ferry:
Corsica's two main ferry companies include Corsica Ferries, travelling from Bastia to: Toulon and Nice in France, Savona, Livorno, and Piombino in Italy, and Golfo Aranci in Sardinia, and the SNCM which goes to Marseilles in France.
Trips to Nice in southern France take about five hours, while ferries to Piombino in western Italy take just under two hours.
Transport within Corsica:
Bastia is the perfect place to explore the Balagne area including Calvi and Ile-Rousse, which have become the island's most popular destinations and are located only one to one and a half hours away.
Visits to Cape Corsica and the Agriates desert or inland Corsica through the island's "dorsal spine" can also be organised from northern Corsica's capital.
By train:
By far the ideal way to explore the island's expensive landscapes in a totally lay-back atmosphere, visitors always chose Corsica's rail.
The Trinighellu dates back to 1888 and travels through Ponte Leccia, all the way to Ile-Rousse and Calvi, or Corte and Ajaccio.
The train is an integral part of the island's identity and history, and the ideal way to experience Corsica's sheer cliffs, steep mountainsides and Mediterranean coastline.
It takes just under four hours to cover the distance from Bastia to capital Ajaccio.
By bus:
Several bus companies also crisscross the island, going to Saint-Florent, Calvi, Corte, Ajaccio, Porto Vecchio, Macinaggio and Canari.
Own transport:
For the adventurous travellers looking for more freedom and challenge, exploring the island by car, motorbike or even bicycle can be an even more fulfilling experience.
Touring the Island of Beauty can be rushed in a day but to truly appreciate the road trip, a full week is ideal.
The journey from Ersa at the very top of Cape Corsica to Bonifacio, which is the last town before Sardinia, can be done in less than four hours, covering a total distance of 220 km along the eastern coast.
Another two hours split Bonifacio from Ajaccio on the west, and a final 2 hours 15 will take you all the way to Ile-Rousse for a complete tour of the island.
