Charcuterie first — coppa, prisuttu, lonzu and figatellu, made from a native pig breed and carrying AOC status since 2012. Brocciu cheese and chestnut-based dishes like pulenda and fiadone follow close behind.
Discover Authentic Corsica: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Corsica, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Restonica gorges, the Roman site of Aléria and the Leoncini pastry shop in Bastia.
Top 5 Things to Do in Corsica
Ajaccio
Napoleon's birthplace, and still the island's capital. Wander the old town's ochre streets down to the marina, then join locals at the Sunday market on Boulevard du Roi Jérôme for cheese, charcuterie and citrus straight off the mountain.
Bonifacio
A citadel balanced on a limestone cliff above the sea, its streets narrow enough that two people barely pass. Boats leave the marina for the Lavezzi Islands, where the water turns a colour that photos never quite get right.
Calvi
A fortress town over a curved bay, with the olive groves and hill villages of the Balagne spreading out behind it. It's also one end of the GR20, Europe's toughest long-distance trail, which runs south toward Porto-Vecchio.
Corte
Corsica's mountain heart, ringed by peaks and chestnut groves, and home to the island's only university. The pace here is slower than the coast, and chestnut flour turns up in everything from bread to cake.
Porto-Vecchio
An old town on a hilltop above the Golfe de Porto-Vecchio, with the white sand of Palombaggia and Santa Giulia a short drive south.
Explore Corsica's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Corsica
We've mapped local spots around Bastia and Cap Corse, and across the island.
Nature & history
Restonica gorges
Eighty-five kilometres south of Bastia, the Restonica runs from Lake Melo at 1,711 metres down to Corte. A protected Grand Site, loved for its natural pools and trails – go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
Near Corte · Gorges and river · Perfect for hiking and swimming
Aléria museum and archaeological site
Aléria was Corsica's Roman capital. Explore the 11-hectare ancient city and the archaeological museum in the Genoese fort of Matra. One hour from our Mercure Hôtel & Spa Bastia Biguglia.
Aléria · Archaeological site · Ideal for history
Ex-voto Museum, Notre-Dame de Lavasina
In a former Franciscan convent at Brando, the Lavasina sanctuary displays centuries of ex-votos left by the faithful. Tours on Thursday afternoons; book ahead. 25 minutes from our Mercure Bastia Biguglia.
Brando · Museum · Great for heritage
Aldilonda
A 200-metre walkway suspended above the sea at the foot of Bastia's citadel. Walk it at sunset.
Bastia · Seafront walk · Perfect for a stroll
Biguglia pond
Corsica's largest wetland, an internationally important site for birds, right at the gates of Bastia. Bring binoculars.
Biguglia · Nature reserve · Made for birdwatching
Saleccia beach
More than a kilometre of white sand and turquoise water – one of the island's loveliest beaches.
Désert des Agriates · Beach · Ideal for a day at the beach
Le Popeye
A boat shuttle from Saint-Florent to beaches that are hard to reach on foot. Hop on.
Saint-Florent · Boat taxi · Great for beach days
Saint-Florent
An authentic port with a 15th-century citadel, gateway to the Désert des Agriates. Stay for an evening on the quay.
Saint-Florent · Village · Perfect for an evening out
Îles Sanguinaires
Four small islands off Ajaccio whose rocks glow crimson at sunset. Be there for it.
Ajaccio · Islands · Made for sunset
Crafts & flavours
Gaël Mayeur, bladesmith
Among oak and chestnut trees in Cagnano, Cap Corse, Gaël Mayeur forges unique fixed and folding knives with carefully chosen wooden handles. Call before you visit.
Cagnano, Cap Corse · Artisan forge · Perfect for a unique souvenir
Pâtisserie Leoncini
Open since 1893 near Bastia's port, family-run Leoncini is the place for ice cream, chocolates and Corsican specialities such as fiadone cheesecake and canistrelli biscuits.
Bastia · Pastry shop · Great for sweet treats
Distillerie L'Astratella
For some thirty years, L'Astratella has distilled wild plants into essential oils and floral waters, and now makes organic massage oils. Open daily except Sundays; distilling starts in late September.
Corsica · Distillery · Ideal for natural cosmetics
Bastia flea market
Every Sunday morning on Place Saint-Nicolas: regional knick-knacks and furniture. Treasure hunt, anyone?
Bastia · Flea market · Perfect for a Sunday
Domaine de Casta
A wine estate in Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda with tastings and lunches of local produce.
Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda · Winery · Made for wine lovers
Balagne artisan route
A scenic route linking craft workshops and shops across the Balagne. Take your time.
Balagne · Craft route · Great for souvenirs
Cap Corse citron orchard
An orchard reviving the citron, ancestor of the lemon, which made Cap Corse's fortune in the 19th century.
Cap Corse · Orchard · Perfect for food lovers
Gaec di Vallecalle
A family farm in the Nebbiu making cheese and charcuterie the Corsican way since 1980.
Vallecalle · Farm · Made for cheese lovers
Potager de la Rocade
A wild-plant hunter's shop and workshop in Ajaccio, turning foraged plants and seaweed into things to eat.
Ajaccio · Shop · Ideal for unusual souvenirs
Ajaccio producers' market
Fresh produce and regional flavours, straight from local growers.
Ajaccio · Market · Perfect for local produce
Fabbrica Culturale Casell'Arte
A cultural space in Venaco with workshops, exhibitions and locally made work.
Venaco · Cultural venue · Great for crafts
FAQ
Yes, if you want to see beyond the coast. Mountain villages, chestnut groves and inland trailheads are reached mostly by road, and Corsica's interior roads are narrow and slow, so plan for more driving time than the distance implies.
It depends what you're after. Ajaccio and Bastia sit close to transport links, Calvi and Porto-Vecchio are nearer the beaches, and Corte puts the mountains right outside the door. Our Mercure hotels across Corsica cover both coasts, so it's really a question of north versus south.
In the Restonica gorges near Corte, known for their natural pools. Go early in the morning to avoid crowds.
At Pâtisserie Leoncini, open since 1893 near the port, known for fiadone and canistrelli.
Aléria, the ancient Roman capital, with its archaeological museum in the Genoese fort of Matra.
Where to Sleep in Corsica
See our Mercure hotels across Corsica, ideally placed to explore these picks.