The 7 Best Hikes in Corsica, France
Planning a trip to Corsica and want to be sure to hit the best trails? Keep reading; this post is for you.
When my partner and I started researching and prepping for our two-week trip to the island of Corsica, I saw so much information online about the gorgeous, luxus beaches. And while yes, that is absolutely true, I actually enjoy the hiking scene much more.
If you live to hike, perhaps you’d be game for the 200-kilometer-long GR20 trek that crosses the whole island from north to south, or if you’re a more casual hiker, a leisurely morning climb might be more your style. Regardless of fitness level or schedule, there is a trail for everyone here. The only constant is the 360° views that abound but don’t say I didn’t warn you! Because there are so many options to choose from, in this post, I will rank my favorite hikes that IMHO you can’t miss!
First things first, what did I bring in my backpack?
Sturdy Hiking Boots or Sneakers: This sounds obvious, but your shoe choice is everything! I was surprised by how uneven and rocky many Corsica trails were and was so thankful that my partner had encouraged me to throw my boots in the van.
A Rainjacket: We visited Corsica in May, and despite my wish for a hot island girl summer, we had cold, rainy weather the first week of our trip. A good rainjacket was essential to stay dry and warm.
Sunscreen: If you know me, I’m a big fan of sunscreen, and I rarely leave the house without it. When in doubt, pack it.
Brotzeit: Brotzeit, or ‘bread time’ in English, is one of my all-time favorite words, auf Deutsch. This phrase beautifully describes the typical cold meal Germans enjoy in the evening with friends and family or hiking in the mountains. Brotzeit includes an assortment of salami, wurst, cheese, veggies, and fruit. It’s the best.
Water: Make sure you have enough water planned for your chosen hike. If you’re on the go for the whole day, opt for a Camelback or a water bottle that can hold at least one liter. You won’t be sorry.
A Camera (Duh): This is a given. Beautiful nature + Em = photo opportunities. I took my Sony Alpha 6100 and smartphone to capture the memories.
Sanguinaires Islands / Tour Génoise de la Parata
This tour was a one-hour hike that offered both a great view of the Sanguinaires islands and the Parata Tower, a 16th-century Genoese tower. Maybe it was the gloomy weather, but I found this place beautiful.
Drive along the coast from Ajaccio (approx 23 minutes by car) and eventually make your way to the western point of Parata. You will find a free parking lot on your right. From there, you can wander around the different cliffs and, if you like, even take a boat tour of the Sanguinaires Gulf.
Aiguilles de Bavella / Trou de la Bombe
Just based on a quick Google search, you’ll find that this hiking area is incredible. Unfortunately, the day we visited Bavella was rainy and foggy, leaving little to no visibility for the views. 😭 But as I would come back here in a heartbeat, it makes the list!
How to Get There: Drive up the Col de Bavella Mountain Pass and climb until you reach Bavella village, just near the Col de Bavella Auberge. You can park your car in the lot there and start hiking. We hiked the Trou de la Bombe, but there are several trails depending on your vibe.
Corsica Regional Nature Park
We started our hike out at Bergerie de Melu for a quick espresso before setting out to take on what ended up being a strenuous hike. Nestled in the Restonica Forest, Lac du Melu had us hiking and climbing up rocks, ropes, and ladders (not for the faint of heart) until we finally reached the Alpine Lake. But it was beautiful and therefore worth it. One pro tip is to start hiking this trail early to avoid traffic. The road to the trailhead is very narrow, with few spots to pull over and let cars pass. Also, the small parking lot at the Bergerie fills up fast. Be prepared to pay a small fee of around 6€ to park your vehicle.
Lac du Nino was a spontaneous hike we discovered along the way to Porto. It runs about a nine km roundtrip and takes you through the forest and eventually up a rocky passage to get to the lake at the top. Even though the elevation is 1743m, you don’t feel it too much with the ascent. Sunscreen and a sun hat are crucial for this hike, as you will be in the direct sun on the rocks.
Ota / Gorges de la Spelunca
A gorgeous (see what I did there?!) area just outside of Ota, this trail gave me serious main character energy as I felt like I was in a fairytale. We parked here, took the Sentier Tra Mare e Monti trail to the historic Zaglia bridge, and sat on the rocks with our Brotzeit food. It was lovely.
After the hike, we hopped on a boat to see Scandola Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We explored the Gulf of Porto, weaving in and out of the impressive cliffs formed by lumps of molten lava that turned solid. While this site was pretty amazing, skip this one if you’re strapped for time or cash.
Calanques de Piana / Sentir Muletier & Le Roches Bleues
If you go anywhere on this list, go here. This area takes the cake for the best hiking spots in all of Corsica. Located in Piana, the Calanques are close to the most western point of the island, Capo Rosso – which is also supposed to be pretty epic. Honestly, just driving on these roads was a core memory. I cannot recommend this place enough.
The hikes in the Calanques start here, just next to the parking lot. We followed the yellow trail marked ‘Sentir Muletier’ until we reached the road. From there, we walked (very) carefully down the road about 200 m until we found the blue trail marked ‘Le Roches Bleues’ and then hiked back to the car. It was about a 1.5-2 hour hike and perfect for the morning! A big shoutout to Charlotte from Charlotte Plans A Trip for the hot tips about these trails and the area! So helpful!
Cap Corse / Tour de Sénèque
Another spontaneous hike, we found the Tour de Sénèque on the way to our accommodation for the last night in Corsica, Hotel Saint-Jean, and loved the ancient stone tower with a view! It was a quick two-kilometer there and back trail with an elevation gain of about 540 m. There was a good bit of climbing, so be sure you have sturdy shoes!
Cap Corse / Moulin Mattei
Just after the Tour de Sénèque, we stumbled upon the Moulin Mattei, a cute old windmill on the top of Cap Corse (Northern Corsica). The 18th-century tower was struck by lightning in 1836 and eventually purchased by the Mattei family so they could make their famous Mattei aperitif. It was renovated in 2004 and is a cute place to pull over and walk around. You also get some killer views of the Mediterranean Sea - casual, I know!
I hope this list helps you decide which hikes are worth doing when you travel to Corsica. Let me know in the comments section below which hike looks the coolest to you!