Best time to visit Corsica
The best time to visit Corsica for a beach holiday is from late-June through August.
For general activities, including hiking in the mountains, anytime from late-May through September is still good.
Corsica weather
Corsica enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, sunny summers and cool, wet winters.
Inland areas become colder as the altitude increases: at high altitudes, snowfalls may occur in winter and early spring.
Winter, from December to February, is mild and wet on the coast. In the mountain ski resorts, winter is cold and windy, with frequent snowfalls.
Spring is initially cool in March and April, becoming gradually more sunny and pleasant by May.
Summer, from June to August, is warm to hot, and sunny along the coasts, while inland it becomes progressively cooler as altitudes increase. There is also a higher chance of afternoon thunderstorms, that occasionally reach the coast.
Autumn is initially mild or pleasantly warm, gradually becoming cool and wet. The months of October and November are usually cloudy and wet.
All the major coastal cities in Corsica, including Ajaccio, Calvi, Bastia, Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio have similiar temperatures.
Here are the average temperatures in Ajaccio, located on the west coast.
What is the best month to visit Corsica?
July and August are the best months to visit Corsica if you want a beach holiday – the climate is perfect with hot, sunny weather, little or no rainfall and the sea water is warm enough for swimming.
The months of May, June and September are also good for a range of outdoor activities, including hiking in the mountains.
July through August is the peak tourist season in Corsica with greater crowds and higher prices.
Which is the hottest month in Corsica?
The hottest month in Corsica is usually August, with an average daily high temperature of 29°C (84°F), with high heat, and a low of 18°C (64°F).
However, on the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34°C (94°F).
The warm summer season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature above 26°C (78°F).
Which is the coldest month in Corsica?
The coldest month in Corsica is January, with an average high-temperature of 14°C (57°F) and an average low-temperature of 4°C (39°F).
The cool winter season lasts from late-November through March, with an average daily high temperature below 16°C (60°F).
When is the sea warmest in Corsica?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Corsica in August when the water temperature reaches 25°C (77°F), which is warm enough for swimming.
The temperature of the sea in Corsica is warm enough for swimming from July through September.
Which is the sunniest month in Corsica?
The sunniest month of the year in Corsica is usually July with an average of 12 hours of sunshine per day; that's around 77% of daylight hours.
Which month has the most rain in Corsica?
November is usually the wettest month in Corsica with 95mm (4in) of rainfall on average. There are normally eight days in November with some rain.
The wet season lasts from mid-September to mid-May, with a greater than 18% chance of a given day being a wet day.
Rainfall is frequent throughout the year. The heaviest rainfall in Corsica falls in October through December.
The drier season lasts from mid-May to mid-September. The month with the fewest wet days in Corsica is July.
Which is the windiest month in Corsica?
The windiest month of the year in Corsica is December, with an average hourly wind speed of 17 kilometres per hour (9 knots; 11 mph).
The windy part of the year lasts from early-October through April, with average wind speeds of more than 14 kilometres per hour (7 knots; 9 mph).
The less-windy time of year lasts from May through to early-October. The calmest month of the year in Corsica is August, with an average hourly wind speed of 11 kilometres per hour (6 knots; 8 mph).
The predominant average hourly wind direction in Corsica is from the west throughout the year.
Corsica is fairly windy due to the effects of the Maestrale (or Mistral) that blows from the west, and the Libeccio – a more frequent wind from the south-west. In winter, the Tramontana may also blow from the north.
The windiest regions of Corsica are Cap Corse in the north, the west coast, the Strait of Bonifacio in the south, and in the mountains.
Corsica Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 26 | 23 | 18 | 15 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 6 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfort level | |||||||||||
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| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 78 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 68 | 67 | 72 | 74 | 78 | 76 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 60 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 40 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 55 | 90 | 95 | 70 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 15 |
| Ajaccio, Corsica, France | |||||||||||
Holiday seasons
High season: July and August are the peak season months. Typically, peak season in France revolves around school holidays – Christmas and New Year, mid-February to mid-March, Easter, July and August.
Expect high hotel prices, packed beaches and traffic-clogged roads.
Low season: Spring and Autumn offer the best deals and reasonable weather despite the occasional rain showers.
Source: Meteorological data for Corsica is based on weather statistics gathered for the 30-year period 1991 to 2020 by Météo-France – the French national meteorological service – from the nearest weather station: Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport (AJA), located 5km (3mi) east of Ajaccio's harbour.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Corsica: 12 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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