Making the most of Bastia Corsica
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Your ship will berth directly in the town centre.
Print or save a map to carry ashore.
Bastia is a harbour city of more than 43,000 residents on Corsica’s northeastern coast. Its old quarter, Terra Vecchia, grew around the central harbour and forms a maze of lanes joined by shadowy vaulted passages. Notable landmarks include the classical Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Law Court, Theatre and City Hall.
The town is easy to discover on foot.
Bastia provides an entry point to Cap Corse, an elongated peninsula dotted with nature reserves and secluded beaches.
Getting around
High above the port, Bastia’s imposing walled citadel was constructed for the city’s Genoese rulers between the 15th and 17th centuries. Called Terra Nova, it appears considerably older than the lower town but remains largely residential and free from commercial development.
Place Saint-Nicolas ranks among Europe’s biggest squares. Palm trees, cafés, shops and historic monuments frame this lively space, which is popular with residents as well as visitors.
Le petit Train provides a 50 minute sightseeing circuit of Bastia.
Nearby places
Some of Corsica’s finest wine country surrounds Bastia. Patrimonio, one of the area’s best-known vineyards, welcomes visitors for tours.
Beaches begin close to the town entrance, with pebbled shores to the north and sand to the south. Outstanding Mariana beach borders the bird reserve at the Pond of Biguglia.
Food and shopping
Wandering the cobbled lanes reveals a city where tourism remains secondary to daily life. Local shoppers often outnumber visitors; follow their lead to find good shops for fig jam, olive oil and liqueur.
Money
The local currency is the Euro.
Staying connected
For local emergencies, call 112.
Opening Hours and
Across France, most larger shops, museums, banks, visitor services and other businesses remain open all day. Small shops may close for lunch between 12.30pm and 2pm. Typical large-store hours are 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm from Monday to Saturday; smaller shops commonly trade Tuesday to Saturday, though some open on Monday afternoon. Even on days when many businesses close, bakeries and food shops can usually be found open, normally until noon on Sunday.
Consult the list of national holiday dates.