Things to Do in Ajaccio

Main square with a statue of Napoleon and a grand fountain. Bordered by plane trees and cafés. The old town's busiest meeting point.

🕐 24 hours

💡 Best at sunrise when the light hits the Genoese houses. Free to wander, but the carousel costs €2 for a ride.

The main square with a statue of Napoleon, surrounded by palm trees and cafes, leading into the old town's narrow streets.

🕐 Always open

💡 Best at sunset when the light hits the Genoese facades. Grab a panini from a nearby boulangerie for a cheap lunch.

Main square in the old town, lined with plane trees and cafes. At one end is the Genoese citadel; at the other, the harbour. Good for people-watching and a quick history dose.

🕐 24 hours

💡 Go early morning to see the fish market set up on the north side. The stalls are authentic and you can buy fresh anchovies to snack on.

Main square with a bandstand, palm trees, and a weekly market (Tues and Sat mornings). Free concerts in summer on the bandstand.

🕐 Market Tues & Sat 07:00-13:00

💡 Market ends by 13:00—go at 11:30 for the best local cheese samples. The public toilets at the corner are clean and free.

The main square next to the port, lined with plane trees and cafés. On weekday mornings the market sets up with local cheese, charcuterie, and olive oil.

🕐 Market: daily 07:00–13:00 (best on Saturdays); square always open

💡 Buy a slice of brocciu cheesecake from the market, not the tourist-trap stalls. The best olive oil seller is the third stand from the harbour end.

Napoleon's uncle Cardinal Fesch's palace houses a major collection of Italian paintings. The courtyard and cloister are free to enter; the galleries require a ticket.

🕐 Courtyard daily 9:00–18:00 (closed 12:00–14:00 Wed & Sat)

💡 Skip the paid galleries if you're short on cash—the free cloister has a peaceful garden and a view of the cathedral dome. The museum shop also has free postcards.

A baroque chapel housing the 'Madonna Nera' (Black Madonna) statue, with intricate interior frescoes.

🕐 Usually open during mass (Sat 18:00, Sun 10:00) or by request

💡 Often locked outside mass times. Check with the tourist office for opening hours—they sometimes have a caretaker who'll open it on request. Free.

Main square in Ajaccio, lined with plane trees and cafés. On weekday mornings, a lively market sets up selling local produce, cheese, charcuterie, and souvenirs.

🕐 Market: Mon-Sat 07:00-13:00

💡 The market runs until about 1pm — arrive by 9:30am for the best selection. Try the brocciu cheese or a slice of fiadone tart.

Small sandy beach right in the town centre, between the port and the old town. Shallow, sheltered water and a free public changing area with showers.

🕐 24 hours

💡 Gets crowded by 10:30. Go at 8am for a quiet swim. The nearby Bistro du Port has takeaway socca (chickpea pancake) for €3.

Small shaded square with a fountain and benches, local kids play here. Good spot for a picnic away from the tourist crush along the waterfront.

🕐 Always open

💡 Buy a panini from Épi d'Or bakery on Rue Bonaparte—€5, and eat on the benches by the central fountain.

A small, free urban beach with fine sand, clear water, and views of the citadel, perfect for a quick dip.

🕐 Always open (lifeguard Jul–Aug 10:00-18:00)

💡 Busy in August. Go weekday mornings. Bring your own towel—no rentals here, but there's a free shower.

Public botanical garden on a hillside with cacti, succulents and a small pond. Views over the port and the bay from a shaded bench.

🕐 Daily 8:00–20:00 (winter until 18:00)

💡 Bring water—no café inside. The entrance is at the end of Rue du Casone, up a steep path but worth the climb for the peace.

Seafront walkway stretching from the port to the beach of Saint-François. Benches, palm trees, and open views of the bay and harbour.

🕐 Open 24/7

💡 Best at sunset when the light hits the citadel. It's a flat, easy walk — also connects to the old town via a staircase near the marché.

Small shingle beach just west of the old port, popular with locals for swimming and sunbathing. Clear water and views of the citadel.

🕐 Open 24/7

💡 Go early morning (before 9am) for a quiet swim. No lifeguard, and the pebbles can be sharp — bring water shoes.

A coastal footpath running from the marina to the old lazaret (quarantine station), with views over the gulf and the citadel. Wild maquis scrub and occasional turtles.

🕐 Open all day, best in the morning

💡 Start from the plage de la Citadelle at low tide to see the small rock pools. The path is uneven—wear trainers, not sandals.

Sprawling public park with a large pond, duck island, and eucalyptus trees. Has a playground, jogging paths, and a small petting zoo. Popular with local families.

🕐 08:00 - 20:00 (summer), 08:00 - 17:00 (winter)

💡 Walk through the park to reach the salt flats at the southern end—free and good for birdwatching. The zoo is free but closes at 18:00.

Baroque cathedral from the 16th century where Napoleon Bonaparte was baptised in 1769. Plain exterior but ornate interior with a notable painting of the Virgin by Eugène Delacroix.

🕐 09:00 - 12:00, 14:00 - 18:00 daily

💡 Look for the black marble baptismal font on the left aisle—actual font used for Napoleon. No flash photography. Mass at 10am Sunday is free to attend.

Small neo-Gothic chapel built in 1857 as a royal burial place, containing the tombs of Emperor Napoleon III's family. Restored and opened to the public free of charge.

🕐 Mon-Sat 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00; closed Sundays

💡 It's often overlooked, so you'll have the place to yourself. Takes 15 minutes max. Ask the guard to point out the original marble flooring.

Tiny 17th-century Greek Orthodox chapel on a residential hillside, with a simple whitewashed interior. Usually locked, but the exterior and surrounding alley views are the draw.

🕐 Exterior always visible; interior Sat 10:00-12:00 (seasonal)

💡 Key available from the tourist office with a €2 deposit—pick it up before 12:00. The hillside has free public steps down to the port.

Baroque cathedral from the 16th century where Napoleon was baptised in 1771. The interior has a striking painted dome and a baptismal font still in use.

🕐 Mon–Sat 9:00–12:00 & 14:00–18:00, Sun 14:00–18:00

💡 Go after 4pm to avoid tour groups. The side chapel to the left of the altar has the baptismal register on display behind glass.