Transportation in Corsica
Transportation in Corsica is not particularly convenient. Most tourists travel around the island by car or motorcycle. However, if your travel plans involve only the main cities of Corsica, you can use trains or buses. The advantages of traveling by car include greater flexibility and the ability to stop and admire the fantastic scenery of the Scandola Nature Reserve. However, a downside is the need to find parking (which can be very difficult in the center of Bonifacio, for example) and the dizziness caused by the winding roads.
Taking a train ride in Corsica can be a comfortable option to enjoy the island’s stunning landscapes and mountains. However, trains cover only a small part of the island, mainly in the north, so your travel options are limited.
The best way to get around Corsica is by car. You can rent a car at airports and near ports and travel freely, stopping at picturesque spots and enjoying the fantastic views. However, you need to be cautious: the steep winding roads in the western part of the island often lack guardrails, and local residents familiar with the roads may drive at high speeds at mountain roads.
Public Transport in Corsica
There are 2 options: buses and trains.
Transport map of Corsica
Trains in Corsica
The Chemins de Fer de la Corse (Corsican Railways) is dedicated to providing transport services that cater to the mobility needs of all passengers. The Corsican railway network allows you to explore the island’s breathtaking landscapes and terrains, many of which are inaccessible by car.
In fact, Le Chemins de Fer de la Corse – or U Trinicellu (Little Train, as the locals fondly call it) – isn’t just one of the best train journeys in Europe; it’s also one of the most affordable. A one-week pass, allowing unlimited train travel throughout Corsica, costs only €50.
The mountainous terrain of Corsica does not lend itself to an extensive railway network. There are some railways, primarily in the northern part, connecting Bastia, Calvi, Corte, Île-Rousse, and Ajaccio, but not Bonifacio. Traveling by train can be an interesting way to admire the fantastic landscapes of central Corsica with its large bridges and numerous tunnels.
Corsica’s 232 km railway network consists of two lines:
- one connects Ajaccio with Bastia via Corte (the central line, Trinighellu),
- the other runs from Ponte-Leccia to Calvi (the Balagne line).
Along the route, the Trinighellu train crosses plains and mountains with their magnificent views. From Bastia, the train climbs, clinging to cliffs, crossing several mountains, occasionally diving into tunnels for several kilometers, crossing streams, and encountering the “bridal veil,” a magnificent waterfall hanging over the line, and runs along a river in the tropical atmosphere of Ajaccio Bay.
On the Balagne line, the landscape is more scenic, with the train crossing successive climbs, gorges, and the Navaccia Valley desert.
Buses in Corsica
To compensate for the lack of trains, there are numerous buses that run across the island.
For more information about Corsica’s trains and buses:
Here’s a list of buses from Bastia:
- Bastia – Casamozza – Aleria – Ghisonaccia – Solenzara – Porto Vecchio
- Bastia – Casamozza – Ponte Leccia – Ile Rousse – Calvi
- Bastia – Saint Florent
- Bastia – Casamozza – Moriani Plage
- Commune de Lucciana – Navette
- Bastia – Furiani – Biguglia
- Furiani village – C.C. La Rocade
- Collines de Furiani – Beach run/Service plage – Plage Tombulu biancu
- Bastia – Nonza – Ogliastro – Canari – Barrettali
- Bastia – Luri – Pino – Barrettali
- Bastia – Marine de Sisco – Marine de Pietracorbara – Macinaggio – Rogliano
- Macinaggio – Barcaggio (navette maritime)
- Sisco – Bastia, la navette siscaise
- Bastia – Miomo – Erbalonga – Marine de Sisco
- Erbalonga – Hameaux
- Bastia Town and surrounding area / Ville et alentour
- Bastia Airport / Aéroport BIA
- Navettes saisonnières / Seasonal shuttle buses