Weekend 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.

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

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

Tip: 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.

Tip: 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.

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.

Tip: 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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Tip: 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.

Tip: 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.

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

Tip: 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.