Territory capital · France
AjaccioAiacciu
Base here 2 nights for the old town, Napoleon sites and the market; add a third only if you want the Filitosa or Bocognano day trip.
Ajaccio is Corsica's capital and its main arrival port, a compact harbour town where the Genoese old town, the Bonaparte family house and the morning market sit within a 15-minute walk of each other. Most travellers use it as a first or last stop on a Corsica road trip rather than a destination in itself. Two nights covers the city; a third buys you a day trip into the mountains or to the prehistoric stones at Filitosa.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, cruise-ship days), Nov–Mar (many places shut)
- Airport
- AJA
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- France and Monaco ↗France has run temporary identity checks at its internal Schengen land borders since 2015; carry a passport or EU/EEA national ID on trains and buses from Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
- France and Monaco ↗Nights in France and Monaco draw on the same Schengen 90-in-180-day allowance as the rest of the area; Monaco does not reset or pause it.
- France ↗France is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors' fingerprints and photo at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- France ↗TGV (including the low-cost Ouigo) and Intercités night trains need a seat reservation: a rail pass alone does not let you board.
- France ↗Paris, Lyon and other large cities run low-emission zones that require a Crit'Air sticker on cars; check before you drive a hire car or your own car into a city.
- France ↗Carry your passport or national ID card: police can ask for identification, and hotels register foreign guests.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Ajaccio112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Ajaccio, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).France-wide
- SIM or eSIMOrange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.France-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise.France-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.France-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.France-wide
- SafetyAjaccio is a safe small city; the real risks are summer heat, uneven stepped lanes, and pickpockets around the market and port on cruise-ship days.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsParis has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2).France-wide
- Emergency numbers112 European emergency (police, fire, ambulance) · 15 ambulance (samu) · 17 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany national museums close on Monday (Orsay, Versailles, Rodin) or Tuesday (Louvre, Pompidou's temporary sites).France-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAJA Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport (About 8 km (5 mi) east of the centre; bus 8 to the centre, or a taxi in roughly 20 min).AJA Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport (About 5 mi (8 km) east of the centre; bus 8 to the centre, or a taxi in roughly 20 min).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable but hilly, with cobbles and stepped lanes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a bar€1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4)
- Sit-down mealFour-course set menu at a traditional restaurantabout €33 (≈ US$40)
- Metro or bus rideCity bus ticket€1.10–4.50 (≈ US$2–6)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–30 (≈ US$18–35)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (Musée Fesch)about €10 (≈ US$12)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€35 (≈ US$45)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, hotel or guesthouse, a night, per room€160 (≈ US$190)
- High-end bedDouble room, hotel or guesthouse, a night, per room€320 (≈ US$400)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €80 (≈ US$95) · Mid €150 (≈ US$180) · High €280 (≈ US$350)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AJA Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport (About 8 km (5 mi) east of the centre; bus 8 to the centre, or a taxi in roughly 20 min)AJA Ajaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport (About 5 mi (8 km) east of the centre; bus 8 to the centre, or a taxi in roughly 20 min)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Feb
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Apr
not flagged
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best*
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C) low), wettest Nov (10 rain days), driest Jul (2). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Ajaccio: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
9 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
8 rd
Mar
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
8 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
Aug
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
3 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
9 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable but hilly, with cobbles and stepped lanes. City buses run along Cours Napoléon and Boulevard Albert 1er and connect the station, port and beaches; buy tickets on board. A car helps for the Sanguinaires beaches and day trips, but parking in the centre is tight in summer. Trains and intercity buses leave from the station and the quay next to the ferry terminal.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Filitosa
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Car or booked tour via the T40, about 20 km (12 mi) southCar or booked tour via the T40, about 12 mi (20 km) south
Prehistoric standing stones with a small museum; open Apr–Oct, roughly 09:00 to sunset, entry about €9.Prehistoric standing stones with a small museum; open Apr–Oct, roughly 9:00 AM to sunset, entry about €9.
Bocognano
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train from Gare d'Ajaccio, under an hour through the mountains
Return fare about €11; tickets sold at the station on the day, no advance sales. Morning train out, midday or late-afternoon train back.
Corte
overnightDoor to door: 2–3 h
Train or bus inland via the mountains
The island's old capital and a hiking base; too far for a comfortable return day.
Door to door: 2.5–3 h
Car or bus south along the west coast
Better done as a stop on the way south than a return trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town / Citadel
Cobbled lanes, cathedral and Maison Bonaparte on foot; some streets are steps, so check luggage access before booking.
Cours Napoléon and Place de Gaulle
Main shopping street and bus lines; 5–10 min walk to the port and market.
Port and Quai L'Herminier
Ferry and bus station, market, restaurants; convenient for a one-night arrival or departure.
Route des Sanguinaires (west coast)
Beaches and sea views 15–20 min by bus or car; you need transport for everything else.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €70–110 (≈ US$85–130) excl. bed
- Mid
- €120–190 (≈ US$140–250) excl. bed
- High
- €200 (≈ US$250)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, hotel or guesthouse1 × 2 nights × €160 | €320 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €150 | €600 |
| Airport bus 8, one way2 × €5 | €9 |
| Taxi airport to centre1 × €28 | €28 |
| Car hire, one day, small car1 × €60 · check | €60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €20 | €40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €106 |
| Trip total≈ €291 per person per day, bed included | €1,163≈ US$1,400 |
2026 estimate in euro; flights and ferries excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at a bar | €1.50–3 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €15–22 (≈ US$18–30) |
| Four-course set menu at a traditional restaurant | about €33 (≈ US$40) |
| Glass of Ajaccio AOC wine | €5–8 (≈ US$6–10) |
| City bus ticket | €1.10–4.50 (≈ US$2–6) |
| Museum entry (Musée Fesch) | about €10 (≈ US$12) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €15–30 (≈ US$18–35) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- July and August bring heat, cruise-ship crowds and full car parks; book beds and ferries ahead.
- Some old-town lanes are stairs, not streets, and pavements are uneven: not reliably step-free.
- Filitosa and the mountain villages are awkward without a car or a booked tour.
- Many restaurants and hotels close outside the April–October season; check before booking a winter trip.
Emergency numbers
- European emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 15
- Police
- 17
- Fire
- 18
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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AjaccioAiacciu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
À cette adresse, s'il vous plaîtTo this address, please
Emergency
- European emergency112
- Ambulance (SAMU)15
- Police17
- Fire18
Embassy
No US or UK embassy here; consulates in Marseille and Paris. Greece, Portugal and Switzerland keep consulates in Ajaccio (check addresses and hours).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → centre, bus 8: about €4.50 (≈ US$6), roughly 20 min
- Airport → centre, taxi: €25–30 (≈ US$30–35)
- Train Ajaccio → Bastia: about €22 (≈ US$30), 3.5 h
Say or show
- Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
- Merci — Thank you (mair-SEE)
- C'est combien ? — How much is it? (say kom-BYEN)
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLEH)
- Je peux payer par carte ? — Can I pay by card? (zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART)
- Où sont les toilettes ? — Where is the toilet? (oo son lay twa-LET)
Tipping: service is included by law; round up or leave 5–10% for good service.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Ajaccio. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Jun, Sep–early Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, cruise-ship days), Nov–Mar (many places shut) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for AJA: bus 8 timetable, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: old town and citadel, Cours Napoléon, port and market, Sanguinaires beaches.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Maison Bonaparte, Musée Fesch, cathedral, citadel exterior) and eat pages with last orders.
- Ferry and cruise-day fixtures so port days can go green.
Sources
- officialAjaccio tourist office
- officialVille d'Ajaccio — monuments
- officialMusée Fesch
- officialMaison Bonaparte museum
- officialChemins de Fer de Corse (trains)
- officialAjaccio Napoléon Bonaparte Airport
- officialCorsica Ferries
- secondaryWikivoyage: Ajaccio, revision 5323802 (CC BY-SA 4.0)