Where to stay in Bonifacio?

Travelling to Corsica, the far south and the cliffs of Bonifacio: here’s where to stay in Bonifacio!

Located at the southern tip of Corsica, opposite the Italian island of Sardinia, Bonifacio is a medieval citadel perched on a sheer limestone cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is the most southerly commune in mainland France, with almost 3,000 permanent inhabitants.

Situated opposite the Bouches de Bonifacio separating Corsica from Sardinia, Bonifacio is one of the island’s most visited towns, not least because of its topography, and rightly so: the « spot » and limestone cliffs are nothing short of impressive. Decimated by the plague and ravaged by wars, Bonifacio has had a turbulent and bloody history, also due to Pisan and Genoese covetousness, Corsica being a strategic military point in the Mediterranean.

Traveling to Corsica and looking for a place to stay in Bonifacio? Here’s our mini-guide to where to stay in Bonifacio!

City center

Citadelle de Bonfiacio

Photo credit: Wikipedia – GHIRARDI

The arrival from the south on the D260 is sublime: in the middle of a garrigue landscape, you can see the citadel, perched on its sheer cliffs.

Between the old town and the port, you’d think you were in a smallItalian town, with all its old-world charm, as if bearing witness to a bygone era. It’s not long before you arrive at the many staircases and steep cobbled streets – steep! – that dot the town and lead to the souvenir stores. The streets, dotted with pizzerias and other restaurants, offer typical charm and breathtaking views. While in town, be sure to pass under the Genoa Gate, then explore the Marine Cemetery, the Rudder, Napoleon’s Hat, the Monument aux morts, theEscalier du Roy d’Aragon, the Jardin des Vestiges and the Bastion de l’Étendard.

For a bite to eat, target the restaurants in the harbor and those on the cliff top: there are undoubtedly more than just « tourist traps ». Slip your head into one of the embrasures of the Cimetière Marin: you’ll see – and be able to photograph – the Madonetta lighthouse on the other side of the calanque. Between the port and the cliffs, you’ll also find – of course – a number of hotels where you can stay in Bonifacio.

Find a hotel in Bonifacio Citadel

Find a vacation home in Bonifacio

The Bonifacio area

Plage du Petit Spérone, Bonifacio

Photo credit: Flickr – SkandyQC

Would you like to stay close to Bonifacio in the quiet scrubland? Or would you rather find a place to sleep close to the sea?

If you love beaches and swimming, head for the beach at Petit Sperone, for a swim in turquoise waters that are, in a word, sublime.

For accommodation in Bonifacio, if the hotels are overcrowded, head for Cavallo Morto, Pertamina Village or Gurgazu, to the east: you’ll be close to the Citadelle while enjoying beautiful beaches. Continuing towards Porto-Vecchio – but still on Bonifacio territory – you’ll find the Plage de la Rondinara, with several campsites and residences where you can stay and swim as if in a tropical lagoon!

Find a hotel around Bonfiacio