Corsica has one of the most extensive island ferry networks in the Western Mediterranean. Passenger and vehicle ferries connect the French island with mainland France and Italy, while additional routes provide links with Sardinia.
Network overview: Bastia and Ajaccio are Corsica’s principal passenger ferry ports, supported by Île-Rousse, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano. Mainland connections operate from ports including Marseille, Toulon, Nice, Livorno and Savona, with services provided by several major Mediterranean ferry operators.
Last checked: 7 September 2026.
Current Corsica ferry network
Corsica’s passenger ferry network connects the island with both France and Italy. This gives travellers a wide choice of routes depending on their starting point and destination on the island.
French mainland services primarily operate from Marseille, Toulon and Nice. Connections from Italy include routes from Livorno and Savona, while some operating patterns also link Corsica with other Italian ports.
Corsica also has ferry connections with neighbouring Sardinia, creating an important island-to-island link within the Western Mediterranean ferry network.
Main ferry ports in Corsica
| Port | Location | Network role |
|---|---|---|
| Bastia | Northeast Corsica | Largest passenger ferry gateway with extensive French and Italian connections |
| Ajaccio | Western Corsica | Major ferry port serving the Corsican capital |
| Île-Rousse | Northwest Corsica | Gateway for the Balagne region |
| Porto-Vecchio | Southeast Corsica | Passenger ferry gateway for southern and southeastern Corsica |
| Propriano | Southwest Corsica | Smaller passenger ferry port serving southwestern Corsica |
The best arrival port depends strongly on where passengers are staying. Driving across Corsica can take considerably longer than distances on a map suggest because of the island’s mountainous terrain.
Bastia ferries
Bastia is Corsica’s busiest and most important passenger ferry port. Located on the northeastern coast, it is particularly well positioned for ferry connections with northern Italy.
Routes connect Bastia with mainland ports including Livorno, Savona, Toulon and Nice, depending on operator and season. Other connections can operate as part of the wider Mediterranean timetable.
Bastia is a useful arrival point for northern Corsica, Cap Corse and the eastern side of the island.
Ajaccio ferries
Ajaccio is Corsica’s capital and one of the island’s principal ferry gateways. The port is located directly beside the city and provides passenger and vehicle ferry connections with mainland France.
Marseille and Toulon are among the principal mainland gateways for Ajaccio services. Operating patterns and frequencies vary by operator and season.
Ajaccio is particularly convenient for passengers travelling to western and central Corsica.
Île-Rousse ferries
Île-Rousse is the principal ferry gateway for the Balagne region in northwestern Corsica. The port provides an alternative to arriving at Bastia and then travelling west across the island.
Passenger and vehicle services connect Île-Rousse with mainland France, including routes from Toulon and Nice in current or seasonal operating programmes.
The port is particularly useful for destinations around Île-Rousse and Calvi.
Porto-Vecchio ferries
Porto-Vecchio provides ferry access to southeastern Corsica. Its location makes it useful for passengers whose destination is in the south of the island.
Services can connect Porto-Vecchio with mainland France and other Mediterranean ports depending on the current timetable and season.
Because the ferry network here is smaller than at Bastia or Ajaccio, passengers should check operating dates carefully when planning a journey specifically through Porto-Vecchio.
Propriano ferries
Propriano is a smaller passenger ferry port on Corsica’s southwestern coast. It provides direct maritime access to the Valinco region and southwestern Corsica.
La Méridionale operates passenger services linking Propriano with Marseille as part of its Corsican network.
The port can be a useful alternative to Ajaccio or Porto-Vecchio for travellers whose final destination is in southern Corsica.
Ferries from France to Corsica
France provides a large part of Corsica’s passenger ferry traffic. Marseille, Toulon and Nice are the principal mainland gateways.
Marseille has a particularly important role in overnight ferry travel and freight transport between mainland France and Corsica. Toulon provides a broad range of passenger and vehicle connections, while Nice offers a geographically shorter link with northern Corsica.
See France ferries for the wider French passenger ferry network.
Marseille-Corsica ferries
Marseille is one of the traditional mainland gateways for Corsica. Overnight ferries connect the city with several Corsican ports, allowing passengers to travel with cars, motorcycles and other vehicles.
Corsica Linea and La Méridionale are important operators on routes between Marseille and Corsica.
The overnight format is particularly useful because passengers can leave mainland France in the evening and arrive on the island the following morning.
Toulon-Corsica ferries
Toulon is another major French gateway for ferries to Corsica. Corsica Ferries operates a substantial network from Toulon to the island.
Routes can serve Bastia, Ajaccio, Île-Rousse and Porto-Vecchio depending on the operating programme and season.
Toulon’s position on the Mediterranean coast makes it convenient for road travellers approaching from southern France and other parts of western Europe.
Nice-Corsica ferries
Nice lies relatively close to northern Corsica and has long played a role in passenger ferry travel to the island.
Services from Nice can connect with ports including Bastia and Île-Rousse. Frequencies and operating periods are more seasonal than on some of the principal year-round Corsican corridors.
Passengers should therefore check the current timetable rather than assuming that every Nice-Corsica route operates throughout the year.
Ferries from Italy to Corsica
Corsica’s position close to the Italian mainland gives the island several useful connections with Italy. These routes are particularly important for Bastia and northern Corsica.
Livorno-Bastia is one of the best-known Italy-Corsica ferry corridors. Savona also provides passenger ferry connections with the island.
See Italy ferries for the wider Italian passenger ferry network.
Livorno-Bastia ferry
Livorno-Bastia is one of the principal ferry routes between Italy and Corsica. The relatively short distance across the northern Tyrrhenian Sea makes it an attractive option for passengers driving from Italy or central Europe.
Passenger and vehicle ferries operate on the corridor, with service levels varying through the year.
Arrival in Bastia provides direct access to northern and eastern Corsica.
Ferries between Corsica and Sardinia
Corsica and Sardinia are separated by the Strait of Bonifacio at their closest point. Passenger ferries connect Bonifacio in southern Corsica with Santa Teresa Gallura in northern Sardinia.
The crossing is much shorter than the mainland ferry routes and provides an important island-to-island connection for both residents and visitors.
Other Corsica-Sardinia services can operate as part of seasonal Mediterranean networks.
See Sardinia ferries for the wider Sardinian ferry network.
Bonifacio-Santa Teresa Gallura ferry
The Bonifacio-Santa Teresa Gallura ferry crosses the Strait of Bonifacio between southern Corsica and northern Sardinia.
The route carries passengers and vehicles and is the most direct ferry connection between the two islands. The crossing is relatively short compared with routes from Corsica to mainland France or Italy.
It also makes it possible to combine Corsica and Sardinia in a single road trip without returning to the European mainland.
Main ferry operators serving Corsica
Several operators provide passenger ferry services to Corsica:
- Corsica Ferries
- Corsica Linea
- La Méridionale
- Moby Lines
- Ichnusa Lines
The precise route network differs between operators. Some focus primarily on mainland France, others on Italy, while the short Bonifacio-Sardinia corridor has its own operating pattern.
See also Moby Lines and browse all FerryLines ferry operators.
Taking a car to Corsica
Most major ferries to Corsica carry cars, making ferry travel particularly attractive for visitors who want their own vehicle on the island.
Motorcycles, motorhomes, caravans and bicycles can also be carried on many services. Vehicle conditions and dimensions should be checked when booking.
A vehicle can be especially useful on Corsica because many beaches, mountain areas and smaller communities are difficult to reach using public transport alone.
Foot passengers
Foot passengers can travel on the principal passenger ferry services between Corsica and mainland France or Italy.
Passenger terminals in ports such as Bastia and Ajaccio are relatively close to their urban centres, making these routes practical for travellers without vehicles.
Access conditions can differ on individual routes and vessels, so passengers should confirm current foot-passenger availability when booking.
Day and overnight ferries
Corsica’s ferry network includes both daytime and overnight crossings. Shorter routes from Italy are often suitable for daytime travel, while longer connections from Marseille and other French ports frequently operate overnight.
Large conventional ferries offer cabins and reclining accommodation for longer journeys. Some routes also use faster vessels during periods of stronger passenger demand.
The best option depends on the mainland departure port, Corsican arrival port and time of year.
Seasonality
Corsica has passenger ferry connections throughout the year, but the network expands significantly during the main travel season.
Summer brings additional departures, routes and capacity as demand from tourists travelling with vehicles increases. Some routes that appear in summer timetables do not operate during winter.
Passengers should therefore check current operator schedules for their exact travel date.
How the Corsica ferry network fits together
Corsica sits between the French and Italian ferry systems. Marseille, Toulon and Nice connect the island westwards with France, while Livorno and Savona provide links eastwards towards Italy.
Bastia is the strongest hub for northern and Italian connections, while Ajaccio is a major gateway for western Corsica. Île-Rousse, Porto-Vecchio and Propriano provide additional regional access.
The short crossing between Bonifacio and Sardinia then extends the network southwards, making Corsica an important island hub within the Western Mediterranean.
Explore the Corsica ferry network
- France ferries
- Italy ferries
- Sardinia ferries
- Western Mediterranean ferries
- Moby Lines
- Explore all ferry regions
- Browse ferry routes
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- Browse ferry operators
Sources and verification
Current passenger routes, ports and operating patterns were checked against official information from ferry operators serving Corsica, including Corsica Ferries, Corsica Linea, La Méridionale, Moby Lines and operators serving the Strait of Bonifacio.
Routes, frequencies, operating periods and vessel deployment can change, particularly on seasonal services. FerryLines distinguishes active passenger services from seasonal, freight-only, proposed, suspended and discontinued routes.