Would you like to know how visit Ajaccio ? What to do in its surroundings? Where to sleep in Ajaccio ? See the Sanguinary Islands, find good addresses, where to go out? Know how to get to Bonifacio, Propriano ... In this article I will tell you everything you need to know to discover this magnificent region of Corsica :)
If you are in a hurry, do not hesitate to go directly to what interests you:
- History of Ajaccio
- Visit Ajaccio
- Visit the surroundings of Ajaccio
- Where to sleep in Ajaccio
- Electric bike tour in Ajaccio
Looking for a guided electric bike tour? Here are some beautiful electric bike rides that you will love:
- Electric bike ride from Sanguinaires and Capo di Feno islands from Ajaccio (.
- Self-guided tour in Napoleon's footsteps from Ajaccio by electric bike (.
- You also have other great activities, such as boat trips to see the coves of Piana, canyoning…!
Do you want to rent a car:
- If you want to rent a rental car through a private individual, I advise you to go through OuiCar, I wrote an article if you want more information: rent a private car in Corsica
- If you want to go through a car rental site (Hertz, Europcar ...) I advise you to go through Carigami. You can read my full article "Car Rental Tips").
1) the history of Ajaccio
A legend says that Ajaccio was founded by the legendary Greek hero Ajax, who gave it his name. Another, more realistic, is that its name would be related to the Tuscan agghiacciu (sheep pen), but we find Adjacium, mentioned in the XNUMXth century in the Ravenna cosmography ...
Anyway, the truth is that it was founded in 1492. It is also called "imperial city" and previously "city of corals".
It is known that it is the first French city liberated during the Second World War, on September 2, 9. It is in October 1943 when it will be completely liberated, after the liberation of Bastia.
Ajaccio has become the first cruise stop in Corsica and the second in France, just behind Marseille. Ajaccio is Napoleon's home island.
In autumn and spring, Ajaccio is often affected by thunderstorms; In addition, it is the French city that holds the record for the number of electrical storms between 1971-2000, with an average of 39 days of electrical storms per year. That being said, there is no reason not to go! :)
More information about Ajaccio in our friend Wikipedia.
2) Visit Ajaccio
Ajaccio is underrated for tourism. It is a true seaside resort with beautiful beaches in the city center, magnificent bars and terraces, open cabins for lunch with your feet in the water. You can also take many very pleasant walks: the path of the ridges, Capo di Feno, the area of La parata ...
A museum worth visiting is the one in Fesh. It has an incredible collection of Italian paintings, it is also the most complete in France after the Louvre.
One idea for a fun outing is to visit A Cupulatta Park, a turtle breeding and protection center in Corsica. In total, more than 3000 turtles reside in this park. It is open from April to October.
You can also see the Bonaparte house museum, the house where Napoleon was born. This museum traces the history of the Bonaparte family (paintings, decorations, furniture, etc.). You can also see the Imperial Chapel which houses the burials of his parents.
There are also many churches, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dates back to the Renaissance. Do not hesitate to stroll through the small streets of the old town, you will find many prestigious sites that date back to many different eras.
You can also see the Sanguinary Islands, I'll talk about that a little later in the article;)
It goes without saying that renting a private car in Corsica (or through professionals) for part of your stay can help you to visit its surroundings, I highly recommend it!
When should you visit Ajaccio?
Well I think the best season to go is between May / June and September / October. The climatic conditions are the most favorable, there are fewer tourists and prices are revised downwards. In fact, during school holidays, accommodation can be very expensive.
Where to go at night?
There are many bars and clubs in Ajaccio:
- 5th Avenue (via Sanguinaires)
- Pascal Retro (5 rue marche ornano)
- Discoteca La Place (Diamond Square).
- Bares de conciertos: Le Café de Paris (6 Place De Gaulle), Irish Pub (4 Rue Notre Dame) y Le Menestrel (5 Rue fesch).
- Para una velada más tranquila tiene: Le Titanic (7 Boulevard San Piero), Bar "Tout Va Bien" (3 Boulevard Roi Jérôme), Bistrot Pigalle (6 Avenue de Paris), Le Petit Bar (28 Cours Napoléon).
A good idea to visit the surroundings of Corsica is to use electric bikes:
In this video, we see a guided tour by electric bike through the Compte Peraldi vineyards of Ajaccio (to book).
But you also have these walks:
- Electric bike ride from Sanguinaires and Capo di Feno islands from Ajaccio (.
- Self-guided tour in Napoleon's footsteps from Ajaccio by electric bike (.
- You also have other great activities, such as boat trips to see the coves of Piana, canyoning…!
Do you want to visit the surroundings of Ajaccio?
It would be a shame not to be able to enjoy the surroundings of Ajaccio during your stay. There are so many beautiful things to visit in and around Ajaccio!
To do this, nothing better than renting a car!
- If you want to rent a rental car through a private individual, I advise you to go through OuiCar, I wrote an article if you want more information: rent a private car in Corsica
- If you want to go through a car rental site (Hertz, Europcar ...) I advise you to go through Carigami. You can read my full article "Car Rental Tips").
3) Where to sleep in Ajaccio
If you are looking for where to sleep in AjaccioNote that prices are still quite expensive if you choose a hotel in the city center. So finding a room at € 80 / night during the summer is not easy. So feel free to share your tips, I'll add them here.
Do not hesitate to also search AirBnb, it is still better to have your little house ...
Anyway, here are some good directions:
- You can look at the reviews of the Kalisté hotel, it doesn't look bad at all!
- The Best Western often offers good deals, so check out!
- And one last, since I'm a nice guy, the San Carlu hotel (right in the center).
- And of course, you also have Hotels.com or Tripadvisor to get some ideas!
If you have a good address to know where to stay in Ajaccio Feel free to share it in the comments!
4) Visit the Sanguinarias Islands
Located 15km (25 min) from Ajaccio, the Sanguinaires Islands are made up of 4 small dark red islands (the rock that constitutes them is called paleovolcanic rock). The name "Sanguinaires" comes precisely from the violet light of this rock, it is even more striking at sunset.
It is on these islands where Napoleon wanted to be buried, sadly he will end his days on the island of Helena.
Perched more than 79 meters above sea level, the Sanguinaires Islands lighthouse was built in 1870. Previously, it was a Genoese tower (built in the XNUMXth century) that took place. A little further south, there is an old traffic light (a lookout post), you can also see it in this photo:
A great idea is to use electric bikes and explore the surroundings. You also have guided tours that are organized if you wish.
In this video, we see a guided tour by electric bike through the Compte Peraldi vineyards of Ajaccio (to book).
Are you looking for a guided electric bike tour? Here are 3 great ideas for a walk that you will love:
- Electric bike ride from Sanguinaires and Capo di Feno islands from Ajaccio (.
- Self-guided tour in Napoleon's footsteps from Ajaccio by electric bike (.
- You also have other great activities, such as boat trips to see the coves of Piana, canyoning…!
Do you want to rent a car:
- If you want to rent a rental car through a private individual, I advise you to go through OuiCar, I wrote an article if you want more information: rent a private car in Corsica
- If you want to go through a car rental site (Hertz, Europcar ...) I advise you to go through Carigami. You can read my full article "Car Rental Tips").
5) How to get to Ajaccio
We well know that in Corsica there are 4 airports, and only one is of interest to us, that of Ajaccio. Indeed, if you choose the one in Figari (allow 2 hours of walking, 120km).
- Airport: Figari, Ajaccio, Bastia / Poretta, Calvi
The port of Ajaccio is linked to the French mainland almost daily (Toulon, Nice, Marseille). For connections to Sardinia (Porto Torres) they are seasonal, the same for Calvi and Propriano. For information on the companies connecting these destinations, it is best to visit the Corsica Ferrie or SNCM website.
- Port: Propriano, Ajaccio, Calvi, Ile Rousse, Bastia
If you do not want to take a car, here is a site that is very useful and will give you valuable information about the different shuttles that can be used from the Airports (.
6) Visit the surroundings of Ajaccio
Figari (el aeropuerto) if encuentra at 120km (2h00), Propriano 65km (1h20), Sartène (1h20), Calvi 170km (2h40), Bonnifacio 130km (2h20), Porto-Vecchio 130km (2h30).
- Discover Propriano (1h20 from Ajaccio)
Here is a small map that can give you ideas if you want to visit Propriano and its surroundings.
- Discover Sartène (1h30 from Ajaccio)
Located in an eagle's nest on the rock of Pitraghiu, Sartène is a city with strong traditions. It has managed to maintain its authenticity and visiting it is a true return to Corsica in the Middle Ages.
In its history, it is known for its lords descendants of the great feudal families that fought for the island.
- Discover the streams of Piana y Girolata
Located 1h30 from Ajaccio, you have enough to spend a magnificent day on the boat. The streams of Piana and Scandola are magical !!!
7) Rent a car or boat in Ajaccio
Do you want to rent a car:
- If you want to rent a rental car through a private individual, I advise you to go through OuiCar, I wrote an article if you want more information: rent a private car in Corsica
- If you want to go through a car rental site (Hertz, Europcar ...) I advise you to go through Carigami. You can read my full article "Car Rental Tips").
If you are looking to rent a boat in Ajaccio, I can only advise you to take a look at this site.
Well, here it is, this is where the article ends. As in my habits, I will update the article as soon as good information appears. So don't hesitate to leave me a comment during your visit to the south of Corsica.
See you soon!
Maxence
Other items not to be missed!
- Excursion to the coves of Piana
- Best activities in Corsica
- Electric bike tour in Ajaccio
- Rent a car between private Corsica
- Visit from Bonifacio
- What to visit in Corsica
- Que voir Porto Vecchio
- Visit Calvi in Upper Corsica, a seaside resort
- Where to sleep in Propriano
- Where to go canyoning in Corsica
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- Visit Ajaccio
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