The easiest Italy–Corsica ferries run from Livorno, Savona, Genoa, and Piombino to Bastia.
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For most travelers, booking a ferry to Corsica from Italy comes down to picking the right Italian port before picking the ship. Livorno to Bastia is the simplest mainland route for a first trip, with Piombino better for summer foot passengers, Savona better for northern Italy road trips, and Genoa useful when its seasonal Moby sailings match your date.
Corsica is French, but the easiest sea links from Italy land mostly at Bastia on the island’s northeast coast. If you are already in Sardinia, Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio is a separate short hop and often beats going back to the mainland.
Once you know your likely port pair, compare live ferry dates here; vehicle length, cabin choice, and July–August demand can change the fare more than the route itself.
Which Italy–Corsica Route Should You Pick?
Livorno to Bastia is the safest default because it is short, frequent in season, and easy to combine with a Tuscany or central Italy itinerary. Savona and Genoa make more sense from Milan, Turin, the Italian lakes, or the Ligurian coast.
Piombino is the fastest-feeling mainland option when it runs, but its schedule is seasonal and thinner. Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio is not a mainland Italy route; it is the smart move when your trip already includes Sardinia.
- Pick Livorno if you want the broadest mix of operators, daytime sailings, and simple onward access around Bastia.
- Pick Savona if you are driving from northwest Italy and want a day or overnight crossing.
- Pick Genoa if you value a major rail and road hub more than the shortest sea time.
- Pick Piombino if you can travel in July or August and want a compact Tuscan departure port.
- Pick Santa Teresa Gallura if you are already in northern Sardinia and want the short hop into southern Corsica.
Italy To Corsica Ferries Compared By Route
Italy to Corsica ferries vary more by season and vehicle choice than by distance alone. The table uses recent 2026 route data and rough USD equivalents, but live fares can jump when you add a car, cabin, pet, or flexible ticket.
| Route | Typical Sailing Time | Rough Cost Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Livorno to Bastia | About 4 to 4.5 hours | From about $25–$50 (€22–€43) as a foot passenger |
| Piombino to Bastia | About 3 to 4 hours 5 minutes | From about $27 (€23), with limited seasonal seats |
| Savona to Bastia | About 6.5 to 9.5 hours by day or night | Often $120+ as a foot passenger; vehicles can pass $400 |
| Genoa to Bastia | About 5 to 5.5 hours in season | From about $42–$53 (€36–€45) as a foot passenger |
| Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio | About 50 minutes | From about $21 (€18) as a foot passenger |
| Golfo Aranci to Porto-Vecchio | About 2.5 hours on limited summer sailings | From about $58 (€49.50) return as a foot passenger |
| Porto Torres to Porto-Vecchio | About 3.5 to 5 hours on limited sailings | From about $68 (€58) return as a foot passenger |
Moby Lines currently lists 2026 Livorno–Bastia departures from May 14 to September 30 at 4 hours 30 minutes, and Genoa–Bastia departures from May 23 to September 28 at 5 to 5 hours 30 minutes, on its official Corsica ferry route page.
What Changes The Price Most?
The ferry fare changes fastest when you add a vehicle, cabin, or peak weekend departure. A foot-passenger day crossing in shoulder season can be cheap, while the same route with a car in August can cost several times more.
Check the full party before judging a route: passenger count, car height, roof box, bike rack, pet, cabin, and return date can all shift the final fare. A longer crossing can still win on total cost if it avoids a long Italian drive or a pricey summer hotel night near the port.
| Fare Choice | What It Changes | Practical Move |
|---|---|---|
| Car or no car | Vehicle fares can add the largest jump | Compare one search with a car and one as foot passengers |
| Cabin or seat | Cabins raise night-crossing comfort and cost | Use a cabin only when the sailing replaces a hotel night |
| July or August | School-holiday demand tightens seats | Reserve earlier or sail midweek |
| Day or night | Night boats save daylight but may need a cabin | Choose day boats for shorter routes like Livorno or Piombino |
| Outbound port | Driving time in Italy can erase a cheap fare | Price fuel, tolls, and port parking with the ticket |
| Return port | Open-jaw trips may fit Corsica better | Consider Bastia in and Bonifacio or Porto-Vecchio out |
| Flexibility | Changeable tickets cost more | Pay for flexibility when flights or long drives feed the ferry |
Cars, Cabins, Pets, And Port Timing
Car travelers should treat boarding time as part of the crossing, not as dead time at the edge. Moby’s port notes advise arriving up to 2 hours before departure with a vehicle, while foot passengers usually need less time outside the busiest summer window.
Cabins matter most on Savona night crossings and longer seasonal routes. For Livorno, Piombino, and Santa Teresa Gallura, a reserved seat or open deck space may be enough unless you are traveling with small children or need sleep before a long drive across Corsica.
Pet rules are operator-specific. Expect to declare the pet at purchase, carry the right EU pet documents, and follow the ship’s kennel, carrier, or deck rules rather than assuming a dog can sit anywhere onboard.
Where To Stay After Landing In Bastia
Bastia is the most useful first-night base after a mainland Italy ferry because the port is central and the road south starts nearby. Stay near the old port or train station if you arrive without a car, and stay just outside town if you want easier parking.
For a late arrival, avoid planning a same-night drive to Bonifacio or Ajaccio unless you know Corsican mountain roads well. The island looks compact on a map, but cross-island drives can be slow after dark.
Once your ferry time is fixed, compare Bastia stays close to the port before deciding whether to move north, south, or inland the next morning.
The Right Ferry Choice By Traveler Type
Livorno to Bastia is the right answer for most first-timers, especially without a strong reason to start in southern Corsica. Piombino wins for a short summer crossing, Savona wins for northwest Italy drivers, and Santa Teresa Gallura wins if Sardinia is already part of the trip.
- Fastest practical mainland choice: Piombino to Bastia, when the seasonal schedule fits.
- Most reliable all-around choice: Livorno to Bastia, with frequent sailings and a manageable sea time.
- Better northern Italy road-trip choice: Savona to Bastia, especially if you want to board from Liguria.
- Better rail-hub choice: Genoa to Bastia, when Moby’s seasonal dates line up.
- Shortest Italy–Corsica crossing: Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio, but only from Sardinia.
- Better first night: Bastia, unless your ferry lands directly in Bonifacio, Porto-Vecchio, or Ajaccio.
Reserve the ferry first, then shape the Corsica route around the port you actually land in. Bastia suits Cap Corse, Saint-Florent, Corte, and the east coast; Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio suit the far south; Ajaccio suits the west coast and the Calanques de Piana area.
References & Sources
- Moby Lines.“Corsica Ferry Routes Prices & Offers.”Supports the current 2026 Moby route dates and sailing durations between Italy and Corsica.