Ajaccio (Corsica)

France

Things to do in Ajaccio (Corsica):

Ajaccio (Corsica) Restaurants

Affordable (16)

Chez Cocco

Right in the centre of town you'll find this traditional restaurant, where good Corsican dishes are cooked to perfection and fly out of the kitchen at such speed that you won't miss out on too many... read more
Fine dining (15)

L'Aquarium

Cool off with some light and summery fish dishes, all created with the finest products from the nearby sea. If you think you can take the heat, order the bouillabaisse soup - you won't be... read more
Affordable (16)

Les Halles

Open since 1933, this place is the favourite lunch venue for market stallholders and local office workers. Try the cheap and cheerful �14 menu, offering wild boar or fresh fish of the day, plus a... read more

Ajaccio (Corsica) Nightlife

Chilled (12)

Le Son des Guitares

For a beer in the early evening, or a glass of wine before bed with some soft Corsican music playing in the background, pop your head in here. read more
Clubbing (13)

Le Pacha

Overlooking a port full of yachts, this all-glass nightclub serves up ice cream, snacks, drinks and dance music from 10.30pm-5am. read more
Chilled (12)

Casa Rossa

Enjoy good music, food and drinks while lounging on funky mismatched furniture on Casa Rossa's large terrace. read more

This Month in Ajaccio (Corsica) (August):

By Maggie Luna

Shopping: Forget the markets and street stalls for artisan gifts and try this studio collective, where the artists craft products with a difference. The pottery is colourful and unique and the jewellery made with the best Corsican stones (Art'Isula, 57 Rue Fesch, tel: 04 9550 5467).

Sightseeing: For a spectacular night, make sure you're in town on 15 August. There will be a fun fireworks display, where families will crowd on to the shores of the Saint Francois beach, followed by a G�rald de Palmas concert (ajaccio-tourisme.com).

Ajaccio (Corsica) News & Gossip

Aquatic Odyssey

BASEL

Take the plunge on a white-water rafting trip down the Rhine River from CHF 100 (�75) per person Taking to the water is the best way to see outstanding beauty spots and pretty Swiss villages bordering the Rhine Gorge - Switzerland's own Grand Canyon. Tel: +41(0)81 911 5250, www.swissraft.ch

Hotel For fabulous views of the Rhine, stay at Hotel Hecht from �97. Book at www.hotels.easyJet.com

Drink Head to trendy open-air lounge bar Chill am Rhy for cool drinks under the shade of the imposing M�nster Cathedral. Riverside, next to the cathedral

Culture When night falls, grab a beer and head to the Imfluss Festival to watch local bands play on a spectacular floating stage on the Rhine. From 27 July; 13 Rheingasse, www.imfluss.ch

AJACCIO (CORSICA)

Explore coves and brilliant azure-blue seas in a boat from �300 per day Look out for dolphins, then dive in for some snorkelling or moor up and sunbathe. Sun Boat, 46 Rue de Boniface, Porto Vecchio, www.sunboatlocation.com

Route We fly from Basel to Ajaccio on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hotel Stay at the central Napoleon, near the beautiful Gulf of Ajaccio, from �99. Book at www.hotels.easyJet.com

Beach Bask like a seal in the sun on fine white sand at Palombaggia. With beautiful pine trees and crystal-clear waters, it was voted by The Sunday Times as one of Europe's top-20 beaches. Porto Vecchio

Detox Relax and enjoy the views in a spring-fed Roman bath that boasts healing properties. Bains de Caldane, Sainte Lucie de Tallano, tel: +33 (0)4 9577 0034

OLBIA

Discover Sardinia's vibrant underwater world on a diving tour from �36 The island's marine reserves are home to shipwrecks, rare corals, and other wonders. Porto San Paolo Dive Center, 14A Via Pietro Nenni, www.portospaolodiving.it

Route Hire a car at www.easyJet.com and drive to Bonifacio, then take a high-speed Corsica Ferry to Santa Teresa in Sardinia. The journey takes an hour. www.corsica-ferries.fr

Hotel At Pozzo Sacro, every suite has breathtaking sea views, from �139.

Book at www.hotels.easyJet.com

Relax For a truly glam beach day, head to Fiat Playa for its Jacuzzi, bar, DJs and cocktails. Porto Rotondo, Punta Marana Dinner Enjoy specialities such as Catalan-style lobster on the beachfront terrace at Da Tonino, Tavolara Island. Ferries from Porto San Paolo; tel: +39 0789 58570

CAGLIARI

For a slice of paradise, relax with a sundowner at a wonderfully intimate Sardinian cove from �6 Paillote Beach Club has incredible views, plus a restaurant, bar and private beach. Viale Calamosca, Calafighera, www.lapaillote.it

Route Drive from Olbia to Cagliari. We fly from Cagliari to Basel on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Hotel Stay at Hotel Panorama overlooking the "Gulf of Angels", from �108. Book at www.hotels.easyJet.com

Dinner For traditional Sardinian pasta, seafood and meat dishes, including porcheddu (suckling pig) try Opera Prima. 9 Via Campidano, tel: +39 070 684 619

Party Sip cocktails with the hip crowd at rooftop bar Caff� degli Spiriti and enjoy spectacular views over Cagliari, then party in the nightclub. Bastione St Remy

Ajaccio (Corsica) Trivia

August: In 1801 Ajaccio was called the prettiest town in the Med, and had only 5,000 inhabitants. Now there are almost 60,000, but it's still arguably the prettiest corner of Europe.
July: Out of 2,092 species of plants in Corsica, 131 are endemic to the island.
June: Archaeologists have found evidence across the island of human life dating back 9,000 years. Some remains suggest a Neanderthal presence, although that is still open to debate. If correct, it would mean that humans have lived on the island for more than 35,000 years.