Bastia`s Poretta Airport (www.bastia.aeroport.fr) is located about 14 miles from the city center. There is one terminal for both international and domestic flights. You have a few options from Bastia`s Airport to the city center.

By Car: There are several car rental companies located at the airport. Bastia city center is accessible via the N193 road.

By Bus: Autobus Bastiais operates shuttle bus services between the airport and the city center. Travel time is about 35 minutes and a one-way fare is about €9.

By Taxi: Taxis are available at the ranks just outside the arrivals hall. The daytime fare to the city center is about €45. Between 7 pm and 7 am, expect a night fare of around €65.

Day and Night you`ll see a line of ferries crossing the horizon to land at Bastia`s commercial port. You can get ferries from Livorno, Italy (4 hours) or Toulon, France on Corsica Ferries. Other ferries can get you to Bastia from Marseille, Nice, and Savona.

The ferries are not of consistent quality, even within the same company. They get very busy during the summer, so book early, even if you`re just a foot passenger without vehicle or cabin.

The ferry terminal, Gare Maritime is located to the north end of the New Harbor. The passenger terminal area is typically very cramped. Foot passengers may exit the port by the turnstile opposite Town Hall.

Car rental offices are located on the streets facing the turnstile exit. They are open from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday - Saturday (closed on Sunday).

Yes, the train station of Bastia is a hub in the French transport network that enables travelers to reach the region around Bastia (upper Corsica), located on Chemins de Fer Corse, Place de la gare.

A narrow gauge train service links Bastia with Ajaccio, Corte, Calvi, L`Île-Rousse. The train takes passengers through beautiful valleys and over spectacular passes. A single railway line connects Bastia with Ajaccio (3.5 hours and around €22 one-way). The locals call it `the shivering one` (U Trinighellu) for good reason.

How do I get around by bus to other areas of Corsica? You`ll find bus stations scattered through town, depending upon their destinations. It`s best to ask at the tourist office in the corner of the Place St. Nicolas that is nearest to the ferry port. There are frequent bus routes to various destinations in Corsica such as Calvi, L`Île-Rousse, Saint-Florent on the northwestern part of the island, Solenzara, Porto-Vecchio on the southeast, occasional services to the Cap Corse on the North. The main Bus terminal is at Gare Routière de Bastia, 1 rue du Nouveau Port, 20200 (Just off the Place St Nicolas and the ferry terminal).

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 on the airport property. A car offers the freedom to explore and learn as much as possible about the area without having to deal with the unpredictable public transportation.

Note: Driving in busy towns can sometimes be a little challenging but not particularly dangerous. Most visitors quickly get used to the Corsicans` liberal interpretation of the Highway Code and find the whole experience relatively stress-free.

If you would rather not rent a vehicle, taxis are sometimes the only other way to get around if you want to explore further outside the Bastia area.

Only recommended for the most athletic visitors as Corsica can be pretty steep! There are a number of bike rental shops in Bastia and in the island`s main towns and cities.

Explore the town on foot. Much is pedestrianized, and the vehicle routes get very congested. The city bus network is operated by Société des Autobus Bastiais (phone: +33 4 95 31 06 65).

A tramway runs from Bastia railway station, for some 16 mi south along the coast to Casamozza, where it connects with the mainline train between Bastia and Ajaccio. The tram passes within 1 mile of Bastia airport, the nearest stop being Lucciana, but there`s no connecting link so it doesn`t work as a means of `Getting in` from the airport.

Bastia and Corsica in general is a very safe place and as long as you take normal precautions with your valuables, you should not have any problems.

Upon your arrival in northern Corsica, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay. Bastia Tourist Office (www.bastia-tourisme.com) provides practical information and useful recommendations. The office can be found on place Saint-Nicolas, 20200 Bastia and is open 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 1 pm on Sunday.

As part of France, the currency used in Corsica is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted. Credit cards have become more widely accepted, but it is worth noting that some restaurants and hotels (mostly B&Bs) in Corsica don`t accept credit cards, this is especially true in the mountain villages. Some places refuse cards for small amounts (typically under €15). Always enquire first. Also note that ATMs are scarce in rural areas. It`s wise to stock up with euros.

Northern Corsica enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Summers (June to September) are hot and dry, while winters are especially mild (only 5 days with freezing temperatures each year in northern Corsica, on average). Winds can be strong at times and rainfall rather heavy (particularly from September to December). But Corsica is also well known for its exceptional sunshine!

The sea temperatures are warmest in July and August and generally stay warm in September and October. Although the outside temperatures can be high in May and June, the sea is usually cooler and generally takes until July to really warm up.

The official language in Corsica is French, but a large number of Corsicans speak Corsican - Corsu. It has no current legal status and French Government has yet to ratify the European minority language charter.

Quite a few of the locals will speak a little English, especially in shops and restaurants in the larger towns and menus are often translated into English. Most hotels will have an English speaking member of staff although, generally, in the more remote villages few people will speak English. We suggest you get a good English-French guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

This varies in different areas, but can be any time between 12 pm and 4 pm, when most shops will be closed but re-open between 4 pm or 5 pm and remain open until as late as 11 pm in the height of the season. However, the larger supermarkets tend to remain open all day (except Sundays).

The cuisine of Bastia is simple and based largely on what the sea provides. Popular culinary specialties from are the baccala and sardines au brocciu. The sardines au brocciu are fresh sardines that have been stuffed with cheese made from sheep milk. The crisp Corsican white wines are a good match for a plate of mussels, but you`ll also want to be sure and try a beer called Pietra, an amber chestnut beer. (The brewery has a Brasserie on Route de la Marana in Furiani if it turns out you really like it.)

Corsica food, in general, has French and Italian influences, but has many unique dishes of their own. The chestnut was one of the ancient (and even current) Corsican`s traditional foods, and many meals and even desserts are prepared with this. Also, most of the domesticated pigs on the island are semi-wild, released to forage for food much of the year, and the charcuterie reflects this flavor. Typical Corsican meats include lonzu, coppa, ham, figatellu and saucisson made from pig or boar meat. Canistrelli are typical Corsican pastries which come in many different flavors. Corsica also produces a uniquely flavored olive oil made from ripe fruits collected under trees. Many villages have small shops where locally produced food is sold. That said, it may be difficult to find a restaurant that prepares truly Corsican dishes, and you may find yourself eating at a tourist oriented Pizzeria, which nonetheless serves excellent food.

Bastia has a few discos which tend to be busier out of the summer season due to the student population and locals returning to their family village for the holidays. In Bonifacio the majority of bars will close before midnight but some stay open a little later in the port area and there are nightclubs in nearby Porto Vecchio which stay open till 4 am.