FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Ajaccio

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in southern Corsica each year. The main ones are listed below.

This festival honours Ajaccio's patron saint, the Madunnuccia. Infused with faith and tradition, the celebrations include a huge procession through the streets of the city, a concert at the city hall, and a mass officiated by the bishop of Corsica.

On the first of May, it is customary to offer a sprig of lily-of-the-valley to close ones. Many vendors occupy the pavement on that occasion!

Also celebrated internationally as World Music Day, for this festival many free concerts featuring all types of music are held in the streets and at various venues around Corsica.

This holiday celebrates both the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, the key event marking the beginning of the French Revolution, and the end of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy. Festivities in southern Corsica include concerts and dance parties. At nightfall, dazzling fireworks displays light up the skies over many Corsican towns and villages.

This celebration, still very popular in Corsica, is marked by the faithful with several religious ceremonies and processions through the streets.

Held in major cities, the aim of the European Heritage Days is to open up numerous sites and monuments, many of which are normally closed to the public: public and private buildings, castles, museums, etc.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Ajaccio

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	4/39	14/57	62/2.4	Not the best period to go
February	4/39	14/57	56/2.2	Not the best period to go
March	5/41	15/59	57/2.2	Not the best period to go
April	7/45	17/63	64/2.5	Not the best period to go
May	11/52	21/70	39/1.5	Good period to go
June	14/57	25/77	23/0.9	Good period to go
July	17/63	28/82	10/0.4	Good period to go
August	17/63	28/82	20/0.8	Good period to go
September	15/59	26/79	24/0.9	Good period to go
October	12/54	22/72	92/3.6	Not the best period to go
November	8/46	17/63	95/3.7	Not the best period to go
December	5/41	15/59	68/2.7	Not the best period to go

Southern Corsica Airports

Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport

• One terminal

• By car
  • Accessible via the N193
  • The airport offers a single parking area: EUR 3.50 for 1 hour, EUR 11.00 for 24 hours, and EUR 5.00 for each additional day.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at the airport.
• By bus
  • A shuttle bus service connects the airport with the Ajaccio bus station. Buses depart from the airport about every hour between 6:30 a.m. to 11:20 p.m. Monday to Sunday and from the Ajaccio bus station about every hour between 5:10 a.m. and 10:45 p.m. Travel time is about 20 minutes and the one-way fare is EUR 4.50.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks just outside the arrivals hall during the hours when flights arrive at the airport. The trip to the city centre usually costs between EUR 15 and 20.
• Services: bars, restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi), and interactive terminals providing tourist information are available in the airport
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 95 23 56 56
• Website: www.2a.cci.fr/Aeroport-Napoleon-Bonaparte-Ajaccio.html

Figari Sud Corse Airport

• One terminal for both international and regional flights

• By car
  • Travel time to the centre of Figari is about 10 minutes.
  • Travel time to the centre of Bonifacio is about 20 minutes.
  • Travel time to the centre of Porto-Vecchio is about 25 minutes.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at the airport.
• By shuttle bus
  • A shuttle bus service connects the airport with Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks just outside the arrivals hall.

• Services: bar, newsstand.
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 95 71 10 10
• Website: www.2a.cci.fr/Aeroport-Figari-Sud-Corse.html

GETTING AROUND Ajaccio

The best way to discover southern Corsica is to rent a vehicle.

By rail

Although trains can be used to get around Corsica and admire the island's magnificent and varied landscapes, they have two main drawbacks. The first is that they run rather slowly and the second is that the rail network does not serve southern Corsica from west to east. Trains connect Ajaccio with destinations in Northern Corsica, such as Bastia and Calvi, via Corte.

By car and motorcycle

In both northern and southern Corsica, renting a car or a motorcycle is the best way to get around the island. Both types of vehicles may be easily rented on the airport property or in most large towns and cities in southern Corsica.

By taxi

If you would rather not rent a vehicle, taxis are sometimes the only other way to get around Corsica, whether to return to where you are staying in the evening or to get to the airport.

By bicycle

Bicycling in Corsica is really only recommended for the most athletic visitors. If you head almost anywhere in from the coast, you can be guaranteed that your ride will involve some climbing. There are a number of bike rental shops in the island's main towns and cities.

On foot

Of course, walking is without doubt the ideal way to visit the historic centre of towns and villages in Corsica and to admire the island's landscapes.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in southern Corsica, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, public transport, sightseeing and tours) as well as brochures and maps.

• Adress: 3 boulevard du Roi Jérôme, 20181 Ajaccio
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., closed for lunch, open on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 95 51 53 03
• Website: www.ajaccio-tourisme.com

Offers sightseeing recommendations, tourist information and brochures.

• Adress: Rue Maréchal Leclerc, 20137 Porto-Vecchio
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., closed on Sunday
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 95 70 09 58
• Website: www.ot-portovecchio.com

Offers sightseeing recommendations, tourist information and brochures.

• Adress: 2 rue Fred Scamaroni, 20169 Bonifacio
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Telephone: +33 (0)4 95 73 11 88
• Website: www.bonifacio.fr

Medical information

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to France.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: (http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr)
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no specific food safety risks. French government authorities promote good hygiene practices and put in place strengthened control procedures for sites especially frequented by tourists during the summer months.

Tap water is safe to drink in Corsica.

Administrative formalities

As a general rule, a visa is required to enter France. Foreign nationals in the two categories listed below are not required to carry a visa for stays of 90 days or less:

• Citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or the Swiss Confederation
• Citizens or nationals of certain foreign countries.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required.

For stays of more than 90 days, a long-stay visa is required. Travellers from all other countries must be in possession of a visa, regardless of the length of their stay. Visa applications must be submitted to the nearest French Embassy or French Consulate in the country of permanent residence well in advance of departure. For further information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/getting-a-visa/

Useful addresses

Foreign embassies and consulates in France

The directory made available online by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in French only) includes addresses and contact details for all foreign embassies and consulates in France: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/annuaires-et-adresses-du-maedi/ambassades-et-consulats-etrangers-en-france

Travel information and recommendations

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Corsica, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 33

+ phone number without the 0 (calls to southern Corsica)

1 : 00
of time difference with
Dublin

Daylight Savings Time start date > last Sunday in March

Daylight Savings Time end date > last Sunday in October

BANKS
Usually open Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

220 V / 50 Hz

Tipping 
In southern Corsica like elsewhere in France, a service charge is always included in the bill. Still, if the service is appreciated (in restaurants, hotels, at the hairdresser...), you may leave an extra 5 to 15%.