Day 1 in Bonifacio, Corsica – Beach, Citadel, Festi Lumi, Marina
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The Town and Port of Bonifacio
We spent three days in Bonifacio, Corsica, and below we’re sharing how we spent our very first day exploring this beautiful cliffside town. If you’re planning a trip, you can also read our full 3-day Bonifacio, Corsica itinerary for the complete guide to the citadel, coastal trails, and nearby islands. We arrived in Bonifacio, a stunning medieval town perched on limestone cliffs, and our first evening was full of unforgettable views, lively marina walks, and a festival that made our arrival extra special.
Arrival in Bonifacio
The island of Corsica, France, is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the central Mediterranean Sea. It lies between the Italian Peninsula to the east and the Italian island of Sardinia to the west.
We flew from Nice to Figari Sud-Corse, the airport closest to the town of Bonifacio on the island of Corsica. With limited vacation days, flying to Figari was the more practical choice
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The Citadel and the road side entry to our accomodation
for us. From there, we headed to Bonifacio, the medieval clifftop town, where we had planned our stay. Bonifacio is approximately 21.6 km from the airport, and the drive took us about 40 minutes.
Marina Facing Accommodation
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The view of Port of Bonifacio from where we stayed
We arrived in the morning before noon and checked into our accommodation, which faced the Marina (Port of Bonifacio) and was close to the limestone cliff promontory of the Citadel. One of the most fascinating aspects of our stay was the structure of the building itself. Our accommodation was built
into a cliff, four floors high on the marina side, yet at ground level on the opposite side where our taxi dropped us off.
From one end of the building, it was about a six-minute walk to the Citadel entrance if we took the road. Alternatively, there was an elevator that went all the way down to the Marina on the other side. Since it was late July, the peak tourist season, we couldn’t find affordable accommodation in the famous hanging houses at the upper town where the Citadel is.
Although we weren’t staying in the hanging houses above the Citadel, our accommodation offered a unique experience of its own. The limestone cliff on which the building stood appeared to be eroding unevenly, and some rooms had no visible construction beneath them, only supporting concrete and wooden structures. Windows in these rooms allowed guests to see the drop below, creating the illusion that the rooms were hanging in midair. Interestingly, it wasn’t the edge rooms but those in the middle that lacked support underneath, highlighting how unevenly the limestone cliff had worn away. It was both fascinating and slightly unsettling, a completely new experience for us.
Plage du Grand Sperone Beach
The first thing we wanted to do in Bonifacio was head to a beach. Plage du Grand Sperone is the closest beach to Bonifacio, so we decided to go there. We traveled by a pre-booked private taxi, which picked us up from our accommodation. The drive took a little over an hour and dropped us at the beach parking lot.
There is no direct car access to Grand Sperone, so from the parking area we took a short coastal walk. Along the way, we passed Piantarella Beach and the Piantarella Lagoon, continuing along a beautiful scenic path. After a few minutes, we reached the Bay of Petit Sperone, walked past it, and finally arrived at Grand Sperone.
Grand Sperone is larger and comparatively less crowded than the
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Grand Sperone beach
nearby beaches, however, since it was July, it was still quite busy. Despite the crowds, the stunning turquoise, crystal-clear waters were perfect for swimming, and the soft white sand was incredibly inviting. We visited during peak summer, and the heat was intense, so we spent most of our time in the water rather than on the beach itself.
It was hard to leave such a beautiful beach, but our pre-booked ride was arriving. After spending about two hours there, we headed back to Bonifacio. We rested in our accomodation for a while before our next exploration.
Citadel, Upper town and Festi Lumi
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The Citadel of Bonifacio lit in red
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Festi Lumi at the Citadel
By the time we stepped outside, it was getting dark. We walked uphill to the Citadel along a ramp-like path. At the entrance, we passed through a huge gate, the gate serves as the entrance to both the upper town and the Citadel itself. Just inside there was a ticket office where you can buy access to attractions like the Aragon Staircase and other activities uphill.
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Citadel entrance
The Citadel is a medieval fortress built in the 12th century by the Genoese, and the views from there are breathtaking. It took about 1.5 hours for us to explore the inside and walk around the Citadel.
As it got darker, the Citadel was beautifully lit in red as part of the Festi Lumi celebrations. The event showcases the cliff-top town through stunning light displays and performances, with fishermen playing a central role. Several performances were underway, and the town’s historic buildings were illuminated beautifully. From the Citadel, the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the Mediterranean, was absolutely breathtaking
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View from the Citadel
Marina Walk and La Caverne d’Ali Bonbon
Later, we walked down to the Marina, which was lively and buzzing with people. Between the harbor and the cliffside houses were rows of restaurants serving fresh seafood along with other options. We chose one of the restaurants for dinner, and the food was beautifully plated. After dinner, we continued to walk around the Marina, taking in the atmosphere.
The Port of Bonifacio was docked with several huge, privately owned yachts and boats. As we walked around the Marina, we saw many yachts lit up with colorful lights and noticed people living onboard, enjoying their vacations with family. We spent some time admiring them and trying to pick our favorite yacht, one for each of us.
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Inside La Caverne d’Ali Bonbon, packed with candy barrels
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Came for a few candies… left with a full bag
After nearly an hour of strolling along the waterfront, we decided it was time for ice cream. Bubble waffle cone ice cream seemed to be particularly popular in the Marina, with a few shops selling them. We placed our order, found a spot to sit, and enjoyed our ice cream while looking out at the boats gently swaying in the harbor. It was a simple, relaxing moment and the perfect way to end our evening by the water.
As we continued walking, one place that truly caught our attention was La Caverne d’Ali Bonbon, a pirate-themed candy store near the Marina. The store was incredibly inviting, with candies and sweets displayed in pirate-style barrels. Curious and delighted, we stepped inside and were amazed by the wide variety on offer.
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Giant yachts at the Port of Bonifacio
Each of us decided to buy our favorite candies, agreeing to limit ourselves to no more than ten pieces each. However, when we checked our bags, we realized we had all ended up with around fifty pieces each.
Well, we were in Bonifacio, Corsica, in the middle of a hot July, so we justified the extra sugar while feeling just a little guilty. We promised not to
buy any more candy… did we keep it? Find out in our 3-day Corsica itinerary.
As we continued our walk along the Marina, we noticed a few more themed candy stores, each with its own colorful displays and creative setups. We ended the day exploring the Marina’s sweet side, but the next morning we were up early to climb the Aragon Staircase, a must-do in Bonifacio.
Tour we Recommend
Take a boat trip to the breathtaking Lavezzi Islands, where you can swim in crystal-clear turquoise waters and relax on pristine granite-lined beaches.
Find the best Lavezzi Island tours here.
Explore Bonifacio from a boat: Visit Bonifacio by Sea
Where to Stay
Stay near the Port of Bonifacio or uphill in the old town.
Here are some suggestions for up hill hotels with sea view
Colomba Hôtel Centre-Ville Historique
Here are some good hotels facing the harbor downhill
Best Western Hotel du Roy d’Aragon
Appartement vue sur le port – Chez Carlu
Tips for Bonifacio & Visiting the Citadel
Getting to Bonifacio
The closest airport is Figari Sud-Corse, about 21.6 km from Bonifacio. The drive from the airport takes around 40 minutes. While there are cruise options from Nice, they run only once a week and take about eight hours, so flying to Figari was the more practical choice for us.
3 Ways to Get to the Citadel
To reach to the top of the citadel there are three options:
The First option is to take the mini/tourist train. The train runs from the Marina (cross past all the boats and go to the end of the Marina).
It takes about 30 to 40 min to reach up as there are stops in between and also they wait until the train is full.
Second option You can either drive up narrow bends to the citadel and park in the P3/P5 parking lots
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Glimse of our Journey
for which you have to pay.
The Thrid option to climb up the Citadel is to walk which takes about 20 min or less depending on your fitness
level and how much you are good with sunny weather hikes.
Wheelchair Accessible Path
The walk up to the Citadel is along a gentle, ramp-like road instead of stairs, making it wheelchair and stroller friendly. The path is also used by the cliff train, so it’s wide and easy to walk.
Gate Entry & Tickets
There is a huge gate at the Citadel entrance that you can pass through without a ticket. However, once inside, there is a ticket office where you can purchase entry for attractions like the Aragon Staircase and other points of interest within the upper town.
Citadel Gate is the Entrance to the Upper Town
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The upper town feels like a tiny maze, with bridges linking the buildings.
The huge gate at the Citadel is also the main entrance to Bonifacio’s upper town. So when you walk through, you’re not just entering the Citadel, you’re stepping into the historic upper part of the town as well.
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