Getting to Calvi

Getting to Calvi is possible even using public transport: there are direct trains from Ajaccio and Bastia, a shuttle to L’Ile-Rousse and few buses operating in the region.

Transportation in Corsica

Getting to Calvi by car

Roads in Corsica can be winding and narrow, especially in mountainous areas. Be prepared for steep gradients and sharp turns.

From Bastia to Calvi: Take the N193 from Bastia, then switch to the D81. Duration: approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. This route offers stunning coastal views and picturesque mountain landscapes. You’ll pass through charming towns such as Saint-Florent and see dramatic cliffs and beaches.

From Ajaccio to Calvi (Via D81): Take the N193 from Ajaccio, then switch to the D81. Duration: approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. This scenic drive includes breathtaking views of the Corsican countryside, including rugged mountains and coastal panoramas. You’ll traverse the Col de Vergio, the highest mountain pass on the island.

From Porto to Calvi (Via D81): Take the D81 from Porto to Calvi. ~ 1.5 h. This route is incredibly scenic, with views of the Calanques de Piana, dramatic coastal cliffs, and the beautiful Gulf of Porto. The drive includes some of the island’s most striking landscapes.

Parking in Calvi:

Calvi has limited parking options in the city center. During peak tourist season, parking may be more challenging. Corsican drivers can be assertive, so stay alert and drive cautiously.

Street parkings are devided into different color zones. Depending on the zone parking time, price and payable period may be varied. All street parkings in Calvi are free at night and during winter period (November – March).

Getting to Calvi by ferry

While ferries generally serve routes between mainland France (Marseille, Nice, Toulon) and Corsica, you can travel by ferry to nearby ports and then continue by train or bus. Calvi does not have a direct ferry service but is accessible by connecting transport. Most ferries are coming to Ajaccio and Bastia, from where you can use a train or a bus to Calvi.

The journey from Bastia to Calvi by train takes about 2.5 to 3 hours.
If you arrive in Ajaccio, you can take a train or bus to Calvi, which takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

These ferries are operated by companies like Corsica Ferries, La Méridionale, and others.

Calvi by train

Chemin de Fer de la Corse (Corsican Rail system) is a metre-gauge railway network that interconnects Corsica’s four main towns: Calvi, Corté, Ajaccio and Bastia. The network serves 16 stations and 49 stops. www.cf-corse.corsica

Trains in Corsica

Calvi – Ile-Rousse shuttle:

from the beginning of November to the end of March: 5 trains per day from Monday to Friday (Saturday and Sunday, the 2 main line trains).
from the beginning of April to the end of June and from the beginning of September to the end of October: 5 trains per day from Monday to Saturday – 4 trains per day on Sundays and public holidays.
July and August: 6 trains per day every day.

Rates:

Calvi – Ile-Rousse shuttle service: €12 return
Calvi – Bastia: from €16 one way
Calvi – Corté: from €13 one way
Calvi – Ajaccio: from €25 one way
Group rate (available on main routes – excluding Calvi — Ile-Rousse shuttle): up to 20% discount
Libertà Pass (7 days’ unlimited travel on the whole network): €50

Train frequencies:

Main lines: From Calvi, 2 trains per day to Bastia / Corté – Vizzavona / Ajaccio, all year round and every day
From Bastia and Ajaccio: in low season up to 5 trains per day 6/7 days and 2 trains on Sundays and public holidays – In July and August, 4 trains per day every day.