Cycling in Corsica

The island of Corsica offers an incredible variety of terrain and scenery to cyclists and mountain bike enthusiasts alike.

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Source: Europe Active

Most of the cycling routes reveal impressive coastline, where the clear Mediterranean waters provide a place to refresh and enjoy panoramic sights, mixed with the constant fragrance of the maquis.

For those who prefer mountain biking, Corsica’s interior provides hidden paths through deep forests and remote places inaccessible by car, where bikers can enjoy natural springs, waterfalls, crystal clear rivers and authentic mountain villages.

Challenging Terrain

Because of its mountainous terrain and twisted roads, cycling in Corsica can be quite challenging. There are no marked cycling lanes and the roads are narrow through steep hills with many turns.

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Cycling the island roads, whether on the coast or the interior, is not for beginners. There are some fairly easy stretches though like the mostly flat highway along the route from Roccapina to Bonifacio, on the southern part of the island and the eastern coast along highway N198 from Solenzara to Folelli.

Guided Tours

Apart from the convenience, when you join a guided tour with an agency you’ll be accompanied by professionals who have an intimate knowledge of the island and can recommend routes for varying fitness levels.

Most of the organized tours last about 7 days and they carry your luggage from one stay to the next so all you have to do is ride your bike and enjoy the sights.

When to Go

The best period for cycling in Corsica are the months of May and June and September and October, but this doesn’t stop many die-hards from tackling Corsica’s wintry icy roads or braving the scorching Summer heat.

Getting There

Corsica is serviced by 4 airports conveniently located in Ajaccio, Calvi, Bastia and Figari near Bonifacio.

There is ferry service to Corsica from Marseille, Nice and Toulon. The crossings usually take between 7 to 12 hours on a regular ferry and from 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the fast ferry from Nice.

For more information on ferries see: Corsica by Sea