Visit Bastia: what to do and where to sleep in Bastia?

After a few articles on Corsica, here is a new article dedicated to one of its main cities. You guessed it, today I'm taking you visit Bastia, discover its secrets, the beauty of its old streets and its history. Set out to conquer this charming, typically Corsican city. Whether you are a fan of visits, walks, lazing on the beach or shopping, you will see that Bastia will satisfy all these desires! Bastia is to be done in Corsica and can be an ideal departure or arrival city for an extended stay on the Island of Beauty.
Throughout this article, you will discover everything there is to see and visit in Bastia. I will also answer a few practical questions to help you organize and prepare for your stay in Bastia. Finally, we will also answer the question of Where to sleep in Bastia? The best neighborhoods to stay in Bastia as well as some accommodation suggestions.

Summary:

• Visit Bastia: what to do?
• Practical advice for visiting Bastia
• Where to sleep in Bastia?
• My opinion on a visit to Bastia

Visit Bastia: what to do?

To start this article, here are all the things to see and do in Bastia. From historical monuments to the city's shopping streets, you will discover a pleasant city to visit, but also pleasant to live in.

• Place Saint-Nicolas
• The shopping streets
• The marketplace
• Saint John the Baptist Church
• The Old Port
• The Romieu garden
• The Citadel
• Saint Mary's Pro-Cathedral
• The Chapel of Our Lady of Montserratu
• The fun

Saint Nicholas Square (Saint Nicholas Square)

If you arrive directly by boat from the mainland, the first thing to do in Bastia will undoubtedly be Place Saint-Nicolas, one of the largest in France (280 meters long by 80 meters wide!). Located just opposite the commercial port, you can take a break under its century-old palm trees, on the terrace of a café, to soak up the atmosphere of the city.

This square is the preferred meeting place for locals and hosts events throughout the year: flea market, concerts, fireworks, pétanque competition, ice rink in winter, etc. It is embellished with a superb war memorial, a statue of Napoleon and a bandstand. Several buildings surrounding the square, built by wealthy Corsicans, are remarkable and give an additional cachet to the whole.

The shopping streets

Between Place Saint-Nicolas and the Old Port, three parallel streets bring together the biggest brands, but also the most beautiful shops of artisans, designers and typical Corsican products:

• Napoleon Street,
• Paoli Boulevard,
• Cesar Campinchi Street.

When you visit Bastia, take advantage of the friendly and relaxing atmosphere of these shopping streets for a peaceful shopping spree!

The market square (U Mercà)

Among the most picturesque districts of Bastia, don't miss the market square, where local producers gather every weekend to sell their best specialties. In December, the Christmas market is set up in this same square.

The Church of Saint John the Baptist (Ghjesgia San Ghjuvà)

In the immediate vicinity of the market square, the Saint Jean-Baptiste church catches the eye. Its two bell towers culminating at 70 meters high and its ocher-coloured facades stand out clearly from the surrounding dwellings. Inside, superb trompe-l'oeil paintings and stucco decorations adorn the building.

Le Vieux Port (The Old Port)

Built before the citadel, the Old Port is a former popular district. Surrounded by houses with colorful facades reminiscent of Tuscan architecture, the quays of the port attract many tourists, who come to stroll among fishing boats and restaurant terraces.

The Romieu garden

This sloping landscaped area connects the Old Port to the citadel. Stroll among its remarkable species, without failing to enjoy superb views of the sea and the Old Port of Bastia!

The Citadel (Terra Nova)

Overlooking the Old Port, the citadel of Bastia was founded by the Genoese in the XNUMXth century. Surrounded by medieval ramparts, its cobbled streets are entirely pedestrianized and transport visitors through time. The view from the citadel walls is breathtaking. If you're looking for a prime location for a romantic restaurant, you've come to the right place!

Accessible by two monumental gates, the citadel district, or Terra Nova, is a must when you visit Bastia. Behind the Louis XVI gate, you can discover the main square of the fortified city (the Place du Donjon), surrounded by historical monuments that are also worth a visit:

• Le palais des gouverneurs (Palace of the Governors):
  Residence of the Genoese governors from the construction of the citadel, it will then be used as military barracks before becoming a museum tracing the history of the city.
• The Palace of the Noble-Twelve:
  Built at the beginning of the XNUMXth century, it housed an institution of twelve advisers, exclusively from Corsica, whose mission was to support the governor in his tasks. Today, the building houses the offices of the city's heritage department.

Saint Mary's Pro-Cathedral

At the beginning of the 500th century, a new cathedral was erected in place of an old church, in the heart of the citadel. Baroque in style for the interiors and neoclassical for the facades, it contains remarkable decorations and works of art. A statue of the Assumption of the Virgin, in solid silver and weighing nearly 15 kilograms, is also visible inside the building. It is the subject of a procession every year, on August XNUMXth.

The building was the place where the transfers of power between the various governors of Corsica were held, thus conferring on it a privileged status.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Montserratu

Founded in the XNUMXth century by the Genoese, this small chapel is located on the heights of Bastia. If you have time to take a walk, you can admire a remarkable view of the city and the sea. Behind its neoclassical facade, a holy staircase called Scala Santa, donated by Pope Pius VII, is also to be discovered.

The fun

During your visit to the city, a walk by the sea is one of the essential things to do in Bastia. Take the spassimare, a gentle route from the port of Toga, to the north of the city, to Arinella beach, passing by Place Saint Nicolas, the Old Port, etc.

Under the citadel, the city inaugurated the Aldilonda in December 2020. A real footbridge suspended from the ramparts, 5 meters above the sea, this 450-meter-long promenade connects the north to the south of the city and offers a sublime panorama of the sea and the fortifications of Bastia.

U spassimare will take you to the large sandy beach of Arinella, ideal for a day of relaxation with family or as a couple.

Practical advice for visiting Bastia

Now that you know more about all the things to visit in Bastia, I suggest you review the practical advice that will help you plan your visit to Bastia.

• How to get to Bastia?
• Rent a car in Bastia
• Where to park in Bastia?
• The best season to visit Bastia
• How long to visit Bastia?
• Where to swim in Bastia?
• Where to have a drink in Bastia?
• Where to eat the best ice cream in Bastia?
• What to do around Bastia?

How to get to Bastia?

Here is a first question that seems essential to me. And yes, there are various ways to reach this pretty town of Bastia depending on where you come from.

Boat

Let's start with one of the most common means of transport to reach Bastia, and Corsica in general. The ferry is a simple and practical way to connect Corsica and the mainland. By taking the boat to come to Bastia, you will have the possibility of keeping your car, an interesting advantage for visiting Corsica afterwards. Ferries to Corsica are numerous and they serve different cities whether in Corsica or on the mainland. To find out more, you can find all our advice in our article dedicated to ferry to Corsica.

Book your boat for Bastia

By plane

Another quick and practical possibility is to take the plane. Besides, if you come from the mainland, you will have to choose between the plane and the ferry, the only two ways to reach Corsica. Regarding the plane, Bastia has an airport a little out of the way but easily accessible from the center of Bastia. You can reach Bastia by plane from various French or European cities. Among the best known are Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux, Paris and Toulouse. As far as European cities are concerned, we have for example Berlin, Brussels, London or even Stockholm.

See all flights to Bastia

By car

If you are already in Corsica, then you can easily reach Bastia by road, whether you come from the south, Cap Corse or the east coast of the island. To give you an idea of ​​distances and travel times, here are some examples of itineraries:

• Bastia – Saint-Florent: 40 minutes;
• Bastia - Corte: 1 hour 10;
• Bastia – Ile Rousse: 1 hour 30 minutes;
• Bastia – Calvi: 2 hours;
• Bastia - Ajaccio: 2 hours 40.

By train

As for the car, you can also arrive by train in Bastia if you are already in Corsica. On the other hand, be careful, in Corsica there are no TGVs! Corsican trains are kinds of TER that cross breathtaking landscapes. So certainly the trains take their time, but it allows you to admire the surroundings. To find out about all the connections to reach Bastia, go to the Train Corse website.

Rent a car in Bastia

If you arrive in Bastia by train, plane or boat but without a car, then you can absolutely rent a car in Bastia. Especially if you plan to wander a bit around Bastia or if you want to do a roadtrip in Corsica.
The easiest way is to rent a car at Bastia Poretta airport. Bastia airport is out of the city but easily accessible by car, taxi or bus.
If you arrive in Bastia by plane, renting a car at Bastia airport will be quite easy. Indeed, the rental companies are located just opposite the terminal: you just have to cross the car park and you will find the car rental companies.
If you are already in Bastia, then you can take the shuttle that connects the city center and Bastia airport and then rent your vehicle once there. Otherwise, you will find a rental company located not far from the port of Toga. An interesting solution if you are already in the city center and if you are not demanding on the type of vehicle, because the choice will be more limited than at the airport.

Rent a car in Bastia

Where to park in Bastia?

If you come to visit Bastia during the day, I strongly recommend that you opt for a closed car park such as the one below Place Saint-Nicolas, so in other words, it is ideally located. You may find places in the city center, but this is quite rare and driving in town is not always easy, so you might as well bet on peace and head straight for a parking lot.
If you are staying several days in Bastia, then I recommend that you choose accommodation with parking or at least where it is easy to park. Bastia remains a small town, as soon as you move away from the hyper center, places are easier to find.

The best season to visit Bastia

Corsica is fortunate to have a relatively mild climate, but sometimes with very strong winds. Temperatures vary on average between 10 degrees in winter, to more than 25 degrees in summer. In reality, summers can be hot and temperatures often hover around 30 degrees. Being located by the sea, Bastia always has sea air, which is sometimes hot in summer.
Autumn is going to be a very rainy season in Bastia, but the rest of the time you should have more sunshine, especially between June and August.
So to answer the question of the best time to visit Bastia, I recommend a visit to Bastia between the months of March and September, with a small preference for the month of June which is hot, sunny and not very rainy. The month of July is also pleasant, but often too crowded.

How long to visit Bastia?

The city of Bastia is not that big, but it is very pleasant to live in. You can spend 3 days there without worries. Especially since there are things to do around, as we will see a little later in this article. But if you want to visit Bastia only, count a good day and you will have seen the essential.

Where to swim in Bastia?

Bastia is located by the sea, it goes without saying that a swimming break is mandatory during your stay! So to make the most of these coastal advantages, here are some beautiful beaches located around Bastia:

• Toga Beach : closest beach to Bastia town center and easily accessible on foot;
• Arinella beach : located south of Bastia, this sandy beach is easily accessible by car;
• Marana beach : located slightly south of Bastia, near the Biguglia pond, this beautiful fine sandy beach is ideal for families!
• Pietracorbara beach : located about 30 minutes drive north of Bastia, this beautiful beach takes you on a discovery of Cap Corse. Fine sandy beach also;
• The beaches of Cap Corse : Bastia is the gateway to Cap Corse. So if you want to enjoy the beaches, you will find some very beautiful ones, more or less large, with pebbles or fine sand. The choice is vast: Lavasina beach, Erbalunga beach, Sisco beach, Macinaggio beach, etc.

Where to have a drink in Bastia?

Bastia is a city where it is good to walk and take your time. So what could be better than enjoying the beautiful terraces of the city. Here are some places where it is pleasant to have a drink in Bastia:

• Place Saint-Nicolas : main square of the city, you will find many terraces. You can even take the opportunity to eat a local speciality;
• The old Port : small historic port of Bastia, it is one of the essential places to visit. It is also a very popular place to have a drink, with a view of the boats;
• Quai des Martyrs de la Liberation : this is the quay that connects Place Saint-Nicolas and the Old Port, a pretty promenade along the sea. But it is also a place where there are several trendy bars, where it is very pleasant to have a drink facing the sea;
• The marketplace : of course, the historic center of Bastia is ideal for enjoying the city and the terraces. The Market Square is particularly pleasant for this;
• The port of Toga : located north of Bastia, starting on Cap Corse, this small tourist port is a very pleasant and peaceful place. You will find some beautiful terraces facing the boats and the calm of the sea.

Where to eat the best ice cream in Bastia?

Knowing Bastia well, it is impossible for me to tell you about this city without telling you where to eat the best ice cream in Bastia and probably even the best ice cream in Corsica! So for that, head to the center of Bastia to delight your taste buds. The ice cream sundaes are so impressive that they can be the subject of a meal on their own. The Nutella cup will delight the youngest but also the oldest, believe me!
You want to know ? This is the mythical Raugi glacier! You will find his delicious shop at 2 bis rue du Chanoine Colombani, between a Spar and a car garage. The entrance is small and discreet, but you won't be disappointed once inside. On site or to take away, you can also enjoy a pizza on site.

What to do around Bastia?

Mentioned several times, Bastia is at the gates of Cap Corse, but not only! Here is an overview of what you can do around Bastia during your stay:

• Cap Corse : of course, it is a must to do around Bastia. Cap Corse is wild and full of places to see. You will also find very beautiful beaches and charming little fishing ports! Go up to the beach of Barcaggio, stop at the Moulin Mattei or even spend a night at the port of Centuri. You can easily go around it over two days.
• Nonza Beach : less than an hour's drive from Bastia, this beach is famous for its black pebbles. From the small village of Nonza, you will have a beautiful view of this immense, entirely black beach.
• Equity shares : pretty little village about 30 minutes drive from Bastia. Located inland, it is renowned for its wines but also for its festival which is held every summer and which brings together the big names in international music: Guitar Nights. At the heart of an open-air green theatre, Patrimonio has seen bands and singers such as Deep Purple, Simple Minds, Jean-Louis Aubert, Shaka Ponk, Chico and the Gyspies, Texas, M and Thomas Dutronc. Quality programming that has been coming back every year since 1990.
• Saint-Florent : located about 4 minutes drive from Bastia, the pretty port of Saint-Florent is often called "Le Petit Saint-Tropez". Spend a day strolling around the center and enjoying its pretty port.
• murate : small village located inland, you are about 30 minutes drive from Bastia. The particularity of this village is its architectural heritage, in particular the religious heritage. Among other things, you can admire the Saint-Michel church built with white limestone stones and blue serpentine stones, giving it a unique and recognizable appearance.

Where to sleep in Bastia?

Now let's move on to the last part of this article. It will be devoted to the issue of housing and more specifically Where to sleep in Bastia? First of all, we will see in which district it is best to stay during your stay in Bastia. Then, I will offer you some ideas for accommodation, in the city but also outside.

• In which neighborhood to sleep in Bastia?
• Accommodations where to sleep in Bastia
• Sleep outside Bastia

In which neighborhood to sleep in Bastia?

The question of the neighborhood will arise when you want to choose your accommodation. Several options will be possible:

• Sleep in the historic center of Bastia : probably one of the best choices if you want to visit Bastia. Sleeping in the heart of Bastia will allow you to be close to things to see and visit, without having to take your car or public transport.
• Sleep near the Port of Toga : you are not so far from the city center of Bastia, but you will certainly be quieter in the evening. Rather popular and upscale district, you will be ideally located if you want to visit Cap Corse.
• Sleep outside Bastia : let's finish with this alternative of sleeping outside Bastia. Indeed, I recommend this option if you want to enjoy the Corsican nature. You will find charming guest rooms or beautiful holiday residences in the middle of the maquis.

Accommodations where to sleep in Bastia

Now let's move on to suggestions for hotels located in Bastia. An ideal solution to visit the city in peace, whether you stay one night or several days.

• 

  Governors Hotel

  Let's start with one of the most famous hotels in Bastia: the Hôtel des Gouverneurs. Located within the Citadel of Bastia, you will benefit from a prime location for visiting Bastia. Regarding the rooms, they are spacious, you will have a beautiful sea view, as well as comfortable bedding and a very appreciable calm. The staff are extremely welcoming. Without forgetting the swimming pool, very pleasant after a day of sightseeing. Located in a pedestrian zone, be aware that it will take a short walk to reach the hotel from the car park. Location, Sea view, Swimming pool
• 

  Port Toga Hotel

  This is my favorite hotel. A magnificent establishment located not far from Port Toga, an ideal location for visiting Bastia, taking the ferry or even visiting Cap Corse. This hotel offers beautiful rooms with sea view. They are well equipped, clean and spacious. The great advantage of this accommodation is on the roof: a magnificent rooftop with swimming pool. For the more athletic, a small gym is also available. Location, Sea view, Rooftop
• 

  Les Voyageurs

  Last suggestion of a hotel where to sleep in Bastia, the hotel Les Voyageurs. The latter is located in the city center, a stone's throw from Place Saint-Nicolas. It offers beautiful rooms with original decoration and at reasonable prices. Count a hundred euros to spend a night here. The staff are quite welcoming. Parking is available if needed. A nice address with an interesting quality/price ratio. Location, Price, Hospitality See prices

Sleep outside Bastia

For various reasons, you may prefer to sleep outside of Bastia. If you opt for accommodation outside the city, you can find beautiful holiday homes if you are traveling with others; friendly guest rooms to meet locals; or hotels perfect for small budgets. The choice is vast with common points: nature, the sea, the maquis and the generosity of the Corsican people.

• 

  Hotel Casa Mea

  Let's start with this beautiful hotel located north of Bastia, at the entrance to Cap Corse. Well served by public transport and easily accessible by car, you can easily visit Bastia from the Casa Mea hotel. The charming assets of this hotel will be its magnificent swimming pool, the staff, the spacious rooms or the cleanliness of the latter. You can also enjoy the on-site restaurant, a real treat. Swimming pool, Reception, Comfort See the prices
• 

  Chez Jeannette

  Let's continue with this adorable bed and breakfast located in Patrimonio. You will be warmly welcomed by Jeannette. You will feel at home. You can take advantage of good advice on visits, activities or restaurants from Jeannette. Its location will allow you to visit Bastia as well as Cap Corse or Saint-Florent. The little extra: a beautiful swimming pool at your disposal. Bed and breakfast, Patrimonio Check rates
• 

  La Ferme In San Martin

  Let's finish with this absolutely charming guest house, a very unique place to sleep around Bastia. This old farm located in Sisco has an exceptional setting, a very pleasant swimming pool and very comfortable and practical rooms. I also recommend that you try the table d'hôte, which is sensational! A fresh, local and generous cuisine. The perfect moment to get to know a little more about Corsican gastronomy and character. Guest house, Sisco Show prices

Of course, these few accommodations mentioned here are not the only ones in Bastia, nor around. You can find many other accommodation addresses in Bastia on the Booking.com website: see all accommodation in Bastia.

My opinion on a visit to Bastia

Bastia is a city that I particularly appreciate and I had the chance to visit it several times, in different contexts. It is both dynamic, very pleasant to live in, while offering many things to do and visit. Throughout the year, events are organized, making Bastia a city to discover in all seasons. In addition to all this, it is a beautiful city, with typical and colorful architecture.
For me, Bastia is the perfect city to start a road trip in Corsica or to end it beautifully. One thing is for sure, you can't come to Corsica without visiting Bastia!