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Major city · France

Bastia

Give Bastia one full day plus a night: old port, Terra Vecchia and the citadel on foot, then use it as the ferry and train gateway to the rest of Corsica.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, ferry pressure), Nov–Mar (many places shut)
Airport
BIA
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Bastia is Corsica's second city and its main ferry port, on the northeast coast below Cap Corse. The historic core is small, walkable and grouped around the Vieux Port and the Genoese citadel, so a day covers the sights. Most travellers pass through on the way to Cap Corse, Corte, Calvi or the beaches south, and the city works well as a first or last night on the island.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Bastia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeEspresso at a bar€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Metro or bus rideCity bus single€1.50–2 (≈ US$2–3) (check)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room, hotel or guesthouse, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedDouble room, hotel or guesthouse, a night, per room€220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €120 (≈ US$140) · High €220 (≈ US$300)

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 →

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.

Vieux Port and its restaurant quaysGenoese citadel and Terra VecchiaFerry links to mainland France and ItalyCap Corse day driveSC Bastia football
Airports
BIA Bastia – Poretta (20 km south of the city; shuttle bus to the centre roughly hourly, about 25–45 min, €10 cash to the driver (check the timetable); taxi can exceed €60 in traffic)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Bastia: 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

6°C

8 rd

Feb

13°C

6°C

7 rd

Mar

15°C

8°C

7 rd

Apr

17°C

10°C

7 rd

May

21°C

13°C

5 rd

Jun

25°C

17°C

3 rd

Jul

28°C

20°C

2 rd

Aug

29°C

20°C

3 rd

Sep

26°C

18°C

5 rd

Oct

22°C

14°C

8 rd

Nov

17°C

10°C

9 rd

Dec

14°C

7°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk. The centre is compact and largely pedestrianised, and driving in it is slow and congested. City buses cover the wider town; the narrow-gauge train runs south along the coast to Casamozza and on to Corte and Ajaccio. There is no ride-hailing in Bastia (check current status) and taxis are limited, so book ahead for early flights.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Cap Corse loop (Erbalunga, Macinaggio, Centuri, Nonza, Patrimonio)

go

Door to door: About 4 h of driving, a full day with stops

Drive the D80 anti-clockwise from the port; buses reach Macinaggio

Start with at least half a tank; the west-coast stretch is narrow and exposed.

Saint-Florent

go

Door to door: About 45 min–1 h

Bus or car via the D81 and the Patrimonio pass

Wine country on the way; easy half-day with a beach stop.

Corte

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Narrow-gauge train from Bastia station

Mountain town and citadel; the ride itself is the point.

Calvi and L'Île-Rousse

overnight

Door to door: 2.5–3.5 h

Daily bus, or train with a change

Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep on the west coast.

Aléria and the east-coast beaches

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Car south on the coast highway

Roman site plus long sand beaches; you need your own wheels.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Vieux Port and Terra Vecchia

Restaurants, bars and the marina on the doorstep; noisiest at night.

Citadel (Place du Donjon)

Quiet lanes inside the walls, old-port views; pedestrian only, nearest vehicle drop-off about 200 m.

Place Saint-Nicolas and the new port

Ferry terminal, bus station and car hire within a few minutes on foot; best for early sailings.

South of the centre (Avenue de la Libération)

1 km from the old town, cheaper rooms, more parking.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€60–95 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
Mid
€95–160 (≈ US$120–190) excl. bed
High
€160 (≈ US$190)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room, hotel or guesthouse1 × 1 night × €120€120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €120€240
Airport shuttle, both ways2 × €20 · check€40
City bus day ticket2 × €5 · check€10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€44
Trip total≈ €242 per person per day, bed included€484≈ US$600

2026 estimate in euros; ferry and flight fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Espresso at a bar€1.50–2.50 (≈ US$2–3)
Mussels and fries (moules-frites) at the old port€15–22 (≈ US$18–30)
Pizza or pasta main€12–18 (≈ US$14–25)
Glass of Patrimonio wine€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)
City bus single€1.50–2 (≈ US$2–3) (check)
Taxi, city centre to airport€60 (≈ US$70)+

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Bastia is a calm, walkable city and violent crime is rare; the practical risks are pickpockets around the port in summer, unlit lanes in the citadel at night, and the Cap Corse roads, which are the real hazard.
  • Shops and some services close for a long midday break: plan errands for morning or late afternoon.
  • Ferries sell out in summer, including foot-passenger space: book early.
  • The Cap Corse west-coast road is narrow, twisting and unguarded in places; do not rush it.
  • Car-hire offices by the port are closed on Sunday.
  • No ride-hailing: arrange taxis in advance, especially before dawn.

Emergency numbers

European emergency (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Ambulance (SAMU)
15
Police
17
Fire
18
Emergency by text (deaf callers)
114

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BastiaBastia

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 embassy in Bastia; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and Irish embassies are in Paris, with consulates in Marseille and Nice for some countries (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Airport shuttle BIA → centre: €10 (≈ US$12) cash to the driver, 25–45 min (check)
  • Taxi centre → airport: €60 (≈ US$70)+ depending on traffic
  • Train Bastia → Ajaccio: about €22 (≈ US$30) one-way, slow narrow-gauge ride (check)

Say or show

  • Bonjour — Hello (bon-ZHOOR)
  • Merci — Thank you (mer-SEE)
  • L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please (la-dee-SYON seel voo PLAY)
  • C'est loin ? — Is it far? (say LWAHN)
  • Je voudrais une table pour deux — I would like a table for two (zhuh voo-DREH oon TAH-bluh poor DUH)
  • Où est la gare maritime ? — Where is the ferry terminal? (oo ay la gar ma-ree-TEEM)

Cash is still useful: the airport shuttle takes coins or notes only.

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 Bastia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–early Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, crowds, ferry pressure), Nov–Mar (many places shut) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BIA: shuttle times, cash fare, taxi fallback for early flights.
  2. Ferry-terminal arrival fixture: foot-passenger turnstile, luggage walk to the old port, late-arrival beds.
  3. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Vieux Port, Terra Vecchia, citadel, Place Saint-Nicolas.
  4. Cap Corse driving fixture with fuel, timing and single-track warnings.

Meanwhile

Back to France

Sources