There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in northern Corsica each year. The main ones are listed below.
January 1: New Year's Day (national holiday) May 1: Labour Day (national holiday)On May 1st, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!
May 8: Victory Day (national holiday)Commemorates the Allied victory in Europe that ended World War II on this day in 1945. Various ceremonies are held around town.
June 21: Fête de la Musique (celebrated nationwide)Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues around Corsica.
July–September: Bastia in Festa (local event)Over this 90-day period, Bastia organizes 90 concerts, stage shows, exhibitions and other events. Unmissable!
July 14: Bastille Day (national holiday)This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution, and the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. Festivities in northern Corsica include concerts and dance parties. At nightfall, dazzling fireworks displays light up the skies over many Corsican towns and villages.
August 15: Assumption Day (national holiday)This celebration, still very popular in Corsica, is marked by the faithful with several religious ceremonies and processions through the streets.
Third weekend in September: European Heritage Days (celebrated nationwide)The aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public. A great opportunity for a lovely stroll through the city to admire architectural treasures!
November 11: Remembrance Day (national holiday)On this day, French citizens gather at war memorials to commemorate the signing of the 1918 Armistice officially bringing an end to the First World War.
December 25 : Christmas (national holiday) December 31: New Year's Eve (national event)On the night of December 31st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Bastia, with families and friends celebrating the new year.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 5/41 | 14/57 | 67/2.6 | Not the best period to go |
February | 5/41 | 14/57 | 57/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
March | 7/45 | 16/61 | 60/2.4 | Not the best period to go |
April | 9/48 | 18/64 | 76/3.0 | Not the best period to go |
May | 12/54 | 22/72 | 50/2.0 | Good period to go
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June | 16/61 | 26/79 | 41/1.6 | Good period to go
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July | 19/66 | 29/84 | 13/0.5 | Good period to go
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August | 19/66 | 29/84 | 21/0.8 | Good period to go
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September | 16/61 | 26/79 | 81/3.2 | Not the best period to go |
October | 13/55 | 22/72 | 127/5.0 | Not the best period to go |
November | 9/48 | 17/63 | 114/4.5 | Not the best period to go |
December | 6/43 | 14/57 | 93/3.7 | Not the best period to go |
Bastia Poretta Airport
Bastia's Poretta Airport is located about 22 kilometres (14 miles) from the city centre.
To discover northern Corsica, the simplest option is to rent a car or motorcycle/scooter. And for more athletic visitors, bicycles are also an excellent choice!
Getting around northern Corsica by rail is fairly slow, but does offer spectacular views of the area's magnificent landscapes. Trains connect Bastia and Calvi in the north with Ajaccio in the south via Ponte Lecchia and Corte in the centre of the island. You can also take a fantastic journey along the astounding coastline from Calvi to L'Île Rousse on the little U Trinichellu train affectionately referred to as a “gondola on rails”.
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 at the airport and in the largest cities of Northern Corsica.
If you would rather not rent a vehicle, taxis are sometimes the only other way to get around Corsica, to and from the airport.
Only recommended for the most athletic visitors as Corsica can be pretty steep! Bastia offers numerous quality bike lanes, but the latter are seldom found outside of larger cities. There are a number of bike rental shops in the island's main towns and cities.
Of course, walking is without doubt the ideal way to visit the historic centre of towns and villages in Corsica and admire the island's landscapes.
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 OfficeOffers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
See your doctor before you travel. Bastia counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists. It is recommended that you obtain insurance covering health care expenses as well as medical evacuation or repatriation before you leave home.
VaccinationsThere are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
Food safetyThere are no specific food safety risks. French government authorities promote good hygiene practices and put in place strengthened control procedures for sites especially frequented by tourists during the summer months.
WaterTap water is safe to drink in Northern Corsica.
Directory of foreign embassies and consulates in France
The directory made available online by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in French only) includes addresses and contact details for all foreign embassies and consulates in France:
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/annuaires-et-adresses-du-maedi/ambassades-et-consulats-etrangers-en-france
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Bastia and France, be sure to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country for the latest travel information and recommendations.
Here are a few basic French phrases that will make your stay in Corsica a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: Bonjour (morning)
Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup
I don't understand: Je ne comprends pas
Could you repeat ?: Pouvez-vous répéter ?
What time is it ?: Quelle heure est-il ?
Sorry: Pardon
Excuse me: Excusez-moi
I'm looking for (…): Je recherche (…)
How much is (…)?: Quel est le prix de (…) ?
Do you have (…)?: Avez-vous (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Où puis-je trouver (…) ?
Tipping
In Northern Corsica like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. Still, if the service is appreciated (in restaurants, hotels, at the hairdresser...), you may leave an extra 5 to 15%.