The region of southern Corsica boasts two of the island`s most alluring port towns – the cliff-hugging citadel of Bonifacio and the glamorous resort of Porto-Vecchio – along with majestic landscapes of the island`s interior, to white-sand beaches and uninhabited islands just off the coast, to yellow and orange tones of Ajaccio (the capital), Southern Corsica is a region of spectacular natural beauty and many spectacular outdoor pursuits.

Things to see and do and Southern Corsica:

-Scandola Nature Reserve
-Calanques de Piana Cliffs
-Palombaggia Beach
-Filitosa, a megalithic archaeological site
-Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica and birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte
-Lavezzi Islands
-Bonifacio
-Aiguilles de Bavella
-The many scenic towns and villages such as: Serra-di-Ferro, Olmeto, Zonza, Propriano, Sartene, Figari, and Lecci

Aéroport de Figari-Sud-Corse, 12 miles north of Bonifacio, is the gateway to southern Corsica, with flights from mainland France, the UK and other European countries.

In total, there are four airports on the island: Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari (next to Porto-Vecchio). There is unfortunately not much available for getting into the big cities from the airport, other than renting a car, though Bastia airport has an almost-every hour bus service to town for about €8, except in the evening where the interval is longer. The last bus leaves at 10:45 pm.

Flights to Corsica from outside mainland France are not-so-frequent and rather expensive. If you want to avoid the relatively expensive air fare, you can book a flight to Nice and book a connecting ferry from Nice to Corsica. Ferry (without taking a car) is a lot cheaper than flying and you`ll also avoid the cost of getting from a Corsican airport to the nearest city.

Ferries run from Porto-Vecchio to the French ports of Toulon, Nice and Marseille, and between Bonifacio and Sardinia.

From France, the simplest and fastest solution is the NGV (High Speed Boat, Navire à Grande Vitesse): it takes about 3 to 3 ½ hours to go from Nice to Calvi, L`ille-Rousse, Ajaccio and Bastia, and you can enjoy the view of the Corsican seashore and arrive practically downtown.

Public transport is not good in Corsica, so getting around by car is the best option. Trains offer great views, but they are slow and limited to the three lines connecting Ajaccio with Corte, Bastia and Calvi. Relying on buses is not the best option either, because routes are scarce (most leave twice a day) and are difficult to find.

There are many bus companies that operate routes between the main towns, but details of the routes and timetables are difficult to find. Tourist offices in towns should be able to give you information on local bus companies, or visit the unofficial web site: www.CorsicaBus.org that provides frequently updated bus timetables arranged by the towns of departure and arrival.

The main bus routes include:

-Bastia to Corte (1hr 30 min) and Ajaccio (3 hours)
-Bastia to L`ille Rousse (1 hr 40 min) and Calvi (2 hr 20 min)
-Calvi to Porto (2 hr 30 min)
-Ajaccio to Propriano (2 hr) and Porto Vecchio (3 hr 30 min)
-Porto Vecchio to Bastia

Corsica`s little train called Trinighellu is rather an attraction for tourists than a really convenient and fast vehicle. There are only three narrow gauge lines with a junction in Ponte Leccia. One line connects Ponte Leccia with Bastia, the second one goes south to Ajaccio via Corte and Vizzavona and the third one goes to Calvi along the western coast via L`ille-Rousse.

For the freedom to explore the island, we strongly advise you to rent a car, which is what a majority of visitors to Corsica choose to get around by. This is the best way to learn as much as possible about the area because public transportation is very poor. You can rent a car on all Corsican airports, but it makes the trip more expensive.

Main roads (there are no motorways) are generally very good. However, many country roads, especially mountain roads, are likely to be narrow and winding with very little room for maneuver. Driving in 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.

This may be an alternative option for a planned day out to a town center or simply if you want to leave your car at your property for the day. Taxis in Corsica have a `Taxi` sign on the roof and prices are given on request.

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

If you enjoy a challenge it is a great area to discover the mountainous landscapes by either mountain bike or road bike. For experienced cyclists this is a great terrain to cycle. Bike hires are widespread and typically are at a reasonable price.

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, especially in Cap Corse and L`Alta Rocca. It`s wise to stock up with euros.

Corsica boasts a consistently warm Mediterranean climate reaching a blissful 82°F during the summer months, although it is not uncommon to occasionally climb into the 90`s. Winters are generally moderate and clear. Climates vary with altitude and mountain forms though. It`s rather alpine than Mediterranean in the mountains. The main mountain range divides the island roughly in half, the North is hotter than the South, while the East is wetter than the West.

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).

Corsica food has French and Italian influences, but has many unique dishes. 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.