Are you planning a trip to France’s largest island and want to travel to Corsica by ferry? The picturesque island of Corsica, nestled in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean, attracts over 1 million visitors annually who want to be captivated by the island’s beauty and diversity. Breathtaking coastal landscapes, historic cities, and numerous idyllic beaches await you.

While most vacationers travel by plane, many also choose to travel to Corsica by ferry, especially if they want to bring their own caravan, camper, or motorcycle. France’s largest island is easily accessible almost daily via numerous ferry connections from Italy and France.

In the following article, you’ll learn everything about ferry companies, routes, journey times, and prices for the various connections. Enjoy reading!

• The most popular routes to Corsica
• Which ports are there in Corsica?
• Which ferries go to Corsica?
• How much does the ferry crossing to Corsica cost?
• How to save money when buying tickets
• What is the fastest ferry connection to Corsica?
• Where can I book a ferry to Corsica?
• Can I bring my pets?
• How to get there
• Entering France

The most popular routes to Corsica

Corsica is served by ferries from France, the Italian mainland and Sardinia. For most travelers, the port of Genoa is the quickest to reach, but Livorno in Tuscany and Nice or Marseille in France can also be alternatives.

The most popular routes are:

• Genoa – Bastia
• Livorno – Bastia
• Nice – Bastia
• Toulon – Ajaccio
• Santa Teresa Gallura – Bonifacio

Which ports are there in Corsica?

For ferry connections, there are five important ports in Corsica. In the north are Bastia and L’lle-Rousse, and in the south are Porto Vecchio, Bonifacio, and Ajaccio.

• Bastia
• L’lle-Rousse
• Porto Vecchio
• Bonifacio
• Ajaccio

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Which ferries go to Corsica?

For the various routes to Corsica, there are various shipping companies that offer ferries to Corsica. The most popular providers are: Corsica Ferries*, Ichnusa Lines, Moby Lines, La Méridionale, and Corsica linea. Below is a list of the most popular routes and their respective providers. You can book all connections easily with Direct Ferries* or directly with the shipping company.

How much does the ferry crossing to Corsica cost?

We traveled with Corsica Ferries* from Livorno to Corsica on the outward journey and also with Corsica Ferries from Bastia to Savona on the return journey. I initially only booked the outward journey and paid around €155. Since I wasn’t sure how long I wanted to stay in Corsica, I didn’t book a return journey. In general, however, it makes sense to book both the outward and return journeys at once (it’s cheaper too). It was a bit more expensive for me, but I wanted to remain flexible. The price was as follows:

• 1 person & 1 Dog: €27.74
• 1 Camper: €61.89
• 1 Cabin: €33
• TOTAL: €122.63

I booked the return trip about a week in advance and paid €161 for the same price plus the cabin. My total cost for the ferry was €283. However, you’ll only get a price like that in the off-season. In high season, prices with a camper are between €400-500 for a round trip. Without a vehicle, prices are between €100-200 per person.

When booking, you must specify the length and height of your camper. And whether you want a cabin or just want to use the public areas. Dogs are not allowed in the camper. There are dog areas on deck, and dogs are also allowed indoors, just not where food is served.

I ultimately opted for a “dog cabin” because it only cost €33 more and it might have been a bit more relaxing for my dog, as it was his first long ferry ride. If you have a relaxed dog who doesn’t mind crowds, traveling without a cabin is certainly no problem.

During peak season, the ferries are completely booked, so it’s recommended to book your ferry tickets from home. Buying tickets on-site is also rarely cheaper than booking in advance.

How to save money when buying tickets

During my initial research, the prices varied daily. Occasionally, the crossing was over €200. It’s worth monitoring the prices for a while. I looked at them for about a week. I only booked about two weeks before departure when the price was at its lowest. Prices are usually more expensive on weekends than during the week.

What is the fastest ferry connection to Corsica?

Travel times naturally vary depending on the departure port. But if you’re already in Sardinia, you can be in Bonifacio on Corsica in just 50 minutes. From the mainland, the fastest connection is from Livorno to Bastia, which takes 4.5 hours. The longest journey is from Marseille to Porto Vecchio at 14 hours.

Where can I book a ferry to Corsica?

The Direct Ferries* website offers a straightforward way to book your ferry to Corsica. Here you’ll find a wide selection of around 214 shipping companies worldwide. With around 1.2 million crossings per year, Direct Ferries is one of the leading platforms for ferry connections. Using the price finder, you can easily find the cheapest options for your route to Corsica and compare prices and providers.

To make a booking, simply enter your desired route, travel date, and number of passengers. You can also enter details about your vehicle, such as type, year, size, and information about whether you’re traveling with a pet, a trailer, or a roof box. You can then choose from various offers and providers.

During the further booking process, you have the option to add extras such as seats, cabins, meals, and pet kits. If you don’t require any extras, you can simply click “Continue.” Finally, you will be asked for the contact details of all passengers and your vehicle’s license plate number. Payment is conveniently made at the end of the booking process via PayPal, credit card, or instant bank transfer.

Can I bring my pet?

Your furry friend is, of course, welcome on the ferry to Corsica. Dogs are now welcome on almost all ferries. Please ensure you bring your dog’s vaccination certificate, a leash, muzzle, and hygiene bag, as well as sufficient food and water, with you on board. Pets are permitted on the following ferry companies:

• Corsica Ferries (from €19 per crossing)
• Moby Lines (from €19 per crossing)
• La Méridionale (from €XY per crossing)

On-site procedure

On the outward journey, we traveled from Livorno to Bastia, as it had the shortest travel time at 4.5 hours. On the return journey, we drove from Bastia to Genoa in 6 hours. Getting to the port of Livorno was very easy. There are two checkpoints where tickets are checked, then you stand in line and wait for the ticket to be loaded.

On the ferry itself, you have to turn around and reverse into a parking space. It’s very tight, but someone tells you exactly how to steer. Then you go on deck. If you have a cabin, the number is already on your boarding pass. A lady at the reception desk tells you the way, and a cleaner opens the door for you. That’s it.

We had a cabin with two single beds including a toilet/shower. Very comfortable! The floor is linoleum. Bali had already taken a ferry in Sweden and seemed very relaxed to me. After checking the space once, he lay down on the bed and slept. Later, we also went to the dog deck, where dogs can relieve themselves. There’s a rectangle filled with stones there, but Bali didn’t use it. Other things were more interesting.

Muzzling is generally required on board, but no one really enforces it. I put one on Bali because he gets nervous in large crowds and is also constantly touched by strangers, which he doesn’t like. So it’s your decision; no one checks it. You have to leave the cabin about 45 minutes before arrival before you can go back to the car. The same procedure took place on the return trip.

Overall, we had two very relaxing crossings, and I can recommend Corsica Ferries* with a clear conscience. Whether with or without a dog.

Entering France

After getting off the ferry, you pass a checkpoint shortly before the exit. There, the officials decide whether to check you or not. We were allowed to pass.

When traveling with a dog, you generally need:

• valid pet passport
• valid rabies vaccination (must have been issued no more than 1 year ago)
• Dog needs a microchip

The same applies to the ferry, but no one checked it. Category 1 fighting dogs are not allowed to enter. There are various precautionary measures regarding sand flies in the Mediterranean, but it’s best to discuss this with your veterinarian.