Arrival, information and accommodation
France > Corsica > Bastia > Arrival

Bastia

Bastia's Poretta airport (tel 04.95.54.54.54, www.bastia.aeroport.fr) is 16km south of town, just off the Route Nationale (N193). Shuttle buses into the centre coincide with flights, dropping passengers at the north side of the main square, place St-Nicolas, and terminating at the train station for €8 (one way). Taxis from the airport cost €35. Ferries arrive at the Nouveau Port, just a five-minute walk from the centre of town. Bastia doesn't have a proper bus station, which can cause confusion, with services arriving and departing from different locations around the north side of the main square. Buses from Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio and the east coast stop outside the travel agents opposite the post office (PTT) on avenue Maréchal-Sébastiani, whereas those coming from Calvi pull in outside the train station. Local suburban services, and those from St-Florent and Cap Corse, work out of a small square, north of avenue Maréchal-Sébastiani – which, confusingly, is referred to as the gare routière, even though it's little more than a roadside stop. A summary of bus times and departure points is available at the tourist office, at the north end of place St-Nicolas (June to mid-Sept daily 8am–8pm; mid-Sept to May Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sun 9am–1pm; tel 04.95.54.20.40, www.bastia-tourisme.com).

Although you're usually guaranteed to find somewhere to stay in Bastia, the choice of hotels is not great, particularly at the budget end the scale, so if you're on a tight budget think twice about spending a night here. Most of the classier places line the road to Cap Corse north of the port; the more basic ones are found in the centre of town, within striking distance of place St-Nicolas. Wherever you plan to stay, it's advisable to reserve well in advance.

There's also a handful of campsites located outside the town. The most convenient if you're relying on public transport are at Miomo, 5km north (buses every 30min Mon–Sat, hourly Sun, until 7.30pm, from the top of place St-Nicholas opposite the tourist office).