Bastia, Corsica, France

Cruise to The Gateway to Corsica

Located on the edge of the Cap Corse peninsula, Bastia features a wild and rugged terrain studded with ancient Genovese towers and sweeping coastal vistas. It’s a port with plenty to offer both your heart and soles, so be sure to bring your walking shoes—especially since some of the best hiking in Corsica can be found on the outskirts of the city.

If you’re more of an urban explorer type, stay in the city and climb to the top of the 16th century citadel for stunning views of the Terra Vecchia (old port) below.

And if you’d rather just spend a leisurely afternoon in a café (indulging in the region’s many delicacies), head to Place St. Nicolas. Try a glass of pietra, an amber chestnut beer, with a heaping bowl of mussels served with frites. And if wine is more your tipple of choice, local varietals Nielluccio and Vermentino produce spectacular rosés and whites, which pair perfectly with charcuterie produced from the island’s wild boars. C’est bon, n’est pas?