12 Best Things to Do and See in Ajaccio
Exploring Ajaccio on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Ajaccio, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Ajaccio. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Maison Bonaparte – Casa Buonaparte
In the heart of Ajaccio, the Maison Bonaparte, also known as Casa Buonaparte, lets visitors discover the family home associated with the birth of Napoleon Bonaparte. This historic site features furnished rooms, period objects, and exhibition areas that evoke the daily life of a wealthy Corsican family. The visit offers an insight into the house’s traditional architecture, its interior layout, and its heritage significance, in an intimate atmosphere that pairs well with exploring the old town center.
2. Fesch Museum
Located in Ajaccio, the Fesch Museum is one of the city’s major cultural landmarks. Set within an outstanding heritage setting, it presents a rich collection of European paintings, with a strong focus on Italian schools and the great masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Visitors can also discover religious artworks, portraits, and decorative art pieces that help illustrate the evolution of styles and tastes. The visit offers a varied journey, both artistic and historical, in the heart of Corsica.
3. Napoleon I Memorial Monument – Munimentu Cummimurativu di Nabuliòne
In Ajaccio, the Napoléon I Memorial Monument, also known as Munimentu Cummimurativu di Nabuliòne, attracts visitors to the heart of a space dedicated to the memory of the emperor born in Corsica. This site is discovered as a symbolic landmark, appreciated for its commemorative character and its strong connection to Ajaccio’s identity. Visitors come here to admire the monument, enjoy its urban setting, and understand Napoleon’s importance in local history and the city’s image. It is an interesting stop to add to a walk through Ajaccio.
4. Ajaccio Market – Marché d’Ajaccio
Marcatu d’Aiacciu, or Ajaccio Market, is a lively place where you can experience the city’s warm everyday atmosphere. Here you’ll find stalls selling fresh produce, Corsican specialties, seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as cheeses, cured meats, breads, and other local flavors. It’s also a pleasant spot to watch daily life in Ajaccio, chat with the shopkeepers, and enjoy the aromas of the market. Located right in the heart of Ajaccio, it offers an authentic stop to taste the local produce and soak up the city’s Mediterranean atmosphere.
5. Tino Rossi Marina and Fishing Port – Portu di Turisimu è di Pesca Tino Rossi
Tino Rossi Marina and Fishing Port in Ajaccio is a lively harbor where pleasure boats and fishing vessels share the waterfront. Located by the city center and open to the bay, it offers a pleasant setting for a stroll along the quays, with sea views and a glimpse of local maritime life. Visitors can see pontoons, sailboats, leisure boats, and a typically Mediterranean atmosphere. It is also a practical starting point to enjoy Ajaccio’s coastline and observe daily port activity.
6. Maison of the Grand Site of France of the Sanguinaires Islands – Parata Point
The Maison of the Grand Site of France of the Sanguinaires Islands – Parata Point offers an introduction to one of Ajaccio’s most remarkable coastal landscapes. It explains the Parata site, the Sanguinaires Islands and the natural value of this seafront area. Visitors can better understand the headland, the relief and the connection between the cape, the islets and the gulf. It is a practical starting point for reading this iconic site beyond the viewpoint alone.
7. De Gaulle Square – Piazza De Gaulle
Place de Gaulle, also called Piazza De Gaulle, is one of the main squares in Ajaccio, right in the heart of the city. It offers a large open space where locals and visitors cross paths, in a lively and pleasant atmosphere. Lined with urban buildings and close to the shopping streets, it is a practical landmark for starting an exploration of Ajaccio’s city center. It is especially appreciated for the city’s lively atmosphere, the open views, and the typically Mediterranean setting that accompanies the stroll.
8. Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Ajaccio is an iconic religious landmark in the historic center, recognizable by its understated architecture and peaceful atmosphere. When visiting, you’ll find a Catholic church that invites both cultural exploration and quiet reflection, with harmonious proportions, side chapels, and an interior decoration generally marked by simplicity. It is an important landmark for better understanding Ajaccio’s spiritual and urban heritage, while also offering a pleasant stop in the heart of the city.
9. Place Foch – Piazza Foch
Place Foch, or Piazza Foch, is one of the most recognizable spots in central Ajaccio. It is a city square set in a historic setting, with nearby façades, traffic routes, and a Mediterranean downtown atmosphere. The site reflects how Ajaccio brings together heritage, pedestrian routes, and everyday life. Looking at the square reveals both its role as a landmark and its place in the city’s old urban fabric.
10. Trottel Beach
Trottel Beach is one of Ajaccio’s urban beaches in Corsica, known for its light sand, generally calm sea and its close proximity to the city center. Easy to reach, it offers a pleasant setting for swimming, seaside walks or simply relaxing with a view over the bay. It often has a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, with nearby facilities and services, as well as open views of the Ajaccio coastline. It is an ideal spot to enjoy the Mediterranean without leaving the city.
11. Place d’Austerlitz
Austerlitz Square, in Ajaccio, is an iconic spot where visitors come to stroll in an open, panoramic setting, close to the city center. It offers a pleasant view over the city and its surroundings, with an atmosphere that is both peaceful and lively depending on the time of day. Here, you can discover a public space appreciated by walkers, surrounded by urban features typical of Ajaccio, between hills, the sea, and local heritage. It is a simple but essential place to experience the atmosphere of the Corsican capital.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
