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
You will be docked in the center of town.
Printable map to take along.
Bastia is a port city with a population with of over 43,000 inhabitantson o the north-eastern coast of the island of Corsica. The old town (Terra Vecchia) is built in and around the central part of the harbor and is a network of alleys connected by dark, vaulted passages. Sights of interest include the classical Church of San Giovanni Battista, the Law Court, Theatre, and City Hall.
Explore the town on foot.
The city is the gateway to Cap Corse, a long peninsula of nature reserves and secret beaches.
Getting around
Looming above the harbour, Bastia’s stern-walled citadel was built between the 15th and 17th centuries for the city’s Genoese masters. Known as the Terra Nova, despite looking much older than the lower town, it’s largely residential and uncommercialised.
Place Saint-Nicolas: One of the largest squares in Europe, this bustling area is lined with palm trees, shops, cafes, and historical monuments. It’s a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
Le petit Train a 50 minute tour of Bastia.
Nearby places
Bastia is surrounded by some of Corsica’s best winelands. Patrimonio is one of the most famous vineyards in the area and is open for tours.
There are beaches not far from the entrance to the town. Pebble beaches to the north, sandy beaches to the south, with the superb Mariana beach that borders the ornithological reserve of the Pond of Biguglia.
Food and shopping
Walk around its cobbled streets and you’ll discover that tourism is more of a sideline here. Shopping locals are more common a sight as tourists in this city. Take your cues from them and you’ll easily find the best stores for the likes of fig jam, olive oil, and liqueur.
Money
Euro
Staying connected
Local emergency number: 112
Opening Hours and
Most shops, businesses, information services, museums and banks in France stay open all day. The exceptions are the smaller shops and enterprises, which may close for lunch sometime between 12.30pm and 2pm. Basic hours of business are from 8 or 9am to 6.30 or 7.30pm Monday to Saturday for the big shops and Tuesday to Saturday for smaller shops (some of the smaller shops may open on Monday afternoon). You can always find boulangeries and food shops that do stay open, however, on days when others close – on Sunday normally until noon.
National holiday dates: