What to do in Bonifacio, Corsica - our top 15 tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated August 2026 | What to see and do in Bonifacio, Corsica? This small coastal town has a dramatic and incredibly spectacular location on the high Corsican cliffs. Here we tell you about our experiences in the town and share our best tips for sights and activities.

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Bonifacio in Corsica

Bonifacio, or Bunifaziu as it is known in Corsican, is a unique little town in many ways. Not least, the dramatic location captures one's attention. We have been here twice and on the last visit, in July 2025, we stayed a little longer than intended because the ferry to Sardinia was cancelled and we had to wait a number of days to be rebooked ...

Bonifacio is located in the far south of the island of Corsica, which belongs to France.

What can you do in Bonifacio?

So, what can you see and do in Bonifacio as a tourist? This is a lovely, impressive and at the same time cosy little town. And there's a lot to experience in the surrounding area. Here we share our top tips!

1. be impressed by the mighty citadel

The first thing you see when you arrive in Bonifacio is the mighty citadel, perched high on the cliffs. The citadel and the town were built in the Middle Ages, under Genoese influence, and today the medieval character remains, with thick walls, steep cobbled alleys and large gates.

The Citadel can be admired from many directions and when you decide to walk up to the old town of the Citadel, comfortable shoes are recommended!

2. Strolling in the Old Town

The old town of Bonifacio, inside the walls of the citadel, is absolutely marvellous. Of course, you have to prepare for a lot of height differences, in other words several steep slopes, but it's worth it. This historic city is a wonderful place to stroll around.

3. Admire the view of the cliffs

One of the most fascinating things to do in Bonifacio is to admire the cliff-edge views. The town has a dramatic location, right on the edge of the high cliffs, and the area in and around the town really does offer incredible views. There are walking paths and trails that will take you up to various viewpoints right next to the town. Don't forget to take water with you before you start walking!

4. walk the dramatic Roy d'Aragon staircase

In Bonifacio there is a spectacular staircase, which runs from the town at the top all the way down to the sea, named Staircase of the King of Aragon. The staircase dates back to the Middle Ages, but why was it created?

According to legend, it was King Alfonso V, originally from Aragon, who made an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Corsica by having his soldiers create this staircase overnight. Other explanations are that it may have been a fire escape, or that it was used to reach fresh water further down the mountain.

Open all year round, this legendary staircase includes 189 hand-hewn, irregular steps and offers stunning views of the sea. It currently costs €5/adult (2025) to climb the stairs and you need to wear good shoes and use the helmets provided.

5. Visit the churches of Bonifacio

There are a number of historic churches in Bonifacio, which may be worth seeing. Most interesting is the church Sainte-Marie-Majeure, which was an important parish church in the Middle Ages and Church of St Dominic built in 1862, is the only example of Gothic architecture in Corsica.

6. Discover the marine cemetery

Bonifacio's maritime cemetery is a short walk from the historic city centre. The southernmost cemetery in France, this cemetery enjoys a marvellous location by the sea. The large tombs are also very beautiful. It's a peaceful place to stroll around, while watching the crosses stand out against the vast blue.

7. Enjoy on an outdoor terrace

If you want to sit down for a bite to eat, there are plenty of restaurants and outdoor cafés to choose from. You'll find restaurants both down by the harbour and in the higher parts of the city. Here you can eat everything from pizza and pasta to classic 3-course menus.

8. Shopping

There is a large selection of small cosy shops in Bonifacio. Here you can find fashion, accessories, interior design, art, crafts, gifts, local delicacies and much more. If you want to buy Corsican treats, you can buy canistrelli (Corsican biscuits), honey, jams, cheeses, charcuterie or wine.

9. go on a boat trip

In the harbour of Bonifacio there are many different excursion boats waiting to take you out on a boat trip. For example, you can go on tours that take you around the caves of Falaises Calanques or the nature reserve of the Lavezzi Islands. Some of the tours are done with glass bottom boats, so you can also get acquainted with life below the surface.

10. Take an excursion to the Lavezzi Islands

Another type of boat excursion will take you to the Lavezzi Islands, more precisely to the uninhabited island of Lavezzu, where you can spend the desired number of hours before returning again. On the island you can walk around unique rock formations and sunbathe and swim on small, cosy beaches.

READ MORE: Visiting the Lavezzi Islands in Corsica

11. Swim at the beaches of Sperone

Two of the most beautiful beaches near Bonifacio are undoubtedly Little Sperone and Grand Sperone. Both beaches offer soft, fine-grained sand and turquoise waters, surrounded by cliffs and greenery. Getting here requires a car journey and then a walk along the coast, or a canoe trip.

READ MORE: Sperone beaches - canoeing in southern Corsica

12. Hire a canoe and paddle to Piana Island

The Sperone beaches are home to several canoe hire companies, and this really is a perfect place for canoeing. You can either rent a canoe at the beginning of the coastline and paddle to the Sperone beaches, or you can use the canoe to paddle out to the island of Piana. A great activity to do in Bonifacio!

13. Hiking Strada Vecia members

As we were "stranded" in Bonifacio a little longer than planned, when our ferry trip was cancelled, we had time to check out the Strada Vecia trail. We first thought that this was a walking route that would take us to one or more beaches - which in a way is true - and therefore put on flipflops and swimwear.

In fact, it would have been wiser to equip ourselves with trainers or walking shoes and a sporty outfit. If you walk the entire rocky Strada Vecia trail, which we didn't, it's a 10 kilometre round trip.

The trail follows a medieval road and during the walk you can discover both small charming beaches and nice viewpoints.

14. Take a trip to Porto-Vecchio

Porto-Vecchio is a very nice little town, located half an hour away from Bonifacio by car. Around this town you will also find several fantastic paradise beaches, such as Plage de Palombaggia.

READ MORE: Things to do in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica - 16 tips

15. Take a ferry to Sardinia

Last but not least, we can recommend taking a ferry to Sardinia, for continued adventures. Several shipping companies operate from the port of Bonifacio and you can travel Bonifacio – Santa Teresa Gallura with Moby Lines, among others.

The trip takes no more than 50 minutes and the tours run several times a day. It is perfectly fine to bring a car or camper, as long as you book well in advance. You can compare routes and book a ferry via Ferryhopper..

More to see and do in Bonifacio for those who like culture and history

There is of course more to see and do in Bonifacio, beyond our tips. Here are a few more suggestions for those who like culture and history:

• Chapel of St Roch was built in 1528, and commemorates the victims of the plague.
• Church of St Cross considered to contain a fragment of Jesus' cross.
• St Erasmus Church is a church in neo-Byzantine style.
• St John the Baptist Church is a charming Catholic church.
• Genoa Gate (Genoa Gate) is a drawbridge from 1598.

More to see and do in Bonifacio for nature and adventure lovers

There is of course more to see and do in Bonifacio and the surrounding area for those who like nature and adventure. Here you will find even more tips:

• Tonnara Beach is a beautiful sandy beach north-west of Bonifacio.
• Catamaran trip is possible to book.
• Water sports you can try different ones, such as stand up paddle board, windsurfing and jet skiing.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course lots of different hotels and other accommodation in and around Bonifacio. We came here with our motorhome and we stayed at Camping L'Araguina which is extremely well located, within easy walking distance of the centre of Bonifacio.

The campsite, which is relatively small, is located on two sides of the road into town, and can accommodate a limited number of motorhomes, as well as smaller caravans and tents. There is also a pizzeria and bungalows. All the services you need are available and on one side of the road the service houses are brand new. We paid about 36 euros/day incl. electricity (July 2025), which can be considered a very good price in high season.

Another variant is to take in Camping des Iles, located on the Sperone beaches. In addition, there are more campsites outside Bonifacio.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

Near Bonifacio, we can especially recommend visiting the beautiful town of Porto-Vecchio. We can also recommend:

• The dramatic Calanche di Piana road
• The prehistoric remains of Filitosa

More tips on things to see and do in Bonifacio?

Have you been to Corsica? Maybe you have even more tips on what to see and do in Bonifacio? Please tell us!