Corsica (Corse in French) is France's largest island and the fourth largest in the Mediterranean — a dramatic collision of granite peaks, ancient maquis scrubland, crystalline bays, and a fiercely proud culture that has absorbed Genoese, Moorish, and French influences while remaining unmistakably its own. This is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, home to the GR20 — widely regarded as Europe's toughest long-distance trail — and the source of some of the finest charcuterie and cheese in France.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Corsican charcuterie (lonzu, coppa, figatellu, prisuttu) — vacuum-packed for travel; buy at markets or speciality shops
Corsican honey (miel de Corse, AOP) — five distinct varieties from different flowering zones of the maquis
Balagne AOP olive oil — available at L'Île Rousse market and Bastia speciality shops
Patrimonio or Ajaccio AOC wine — Corsican wines are undervalued internationally; excellent value to bring home
Cédrat (Corsican citron) products — liqueur, jam, and candied peel; the island's citron is the finest in France
Chestnut flour (farine de châtaigne) and chestnut paste — for making polenta and fiadone at home
Handmade Corsican ceramic pottery — available at artisan studios near Sartène and L'Île Rousse
Cap Corse Mattei aperitif — the island's historic quinquina liqueur, produced in Bastia since 1872
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Ajaccio Covered Market (Marché du Cours Napoléon)
Corsican charcuterie, Brocciu cheese (in season), honey, olives, fruit, vegetables, and local wine
Where: Ajaccio, Corse-du-Sud
Hours: Mon–Sat 07:00–13:00; Sun 07:00–11:30
L'Île Rousse Covered Market
Best selection of Balagne AOP olive oil, village cheeses, fresh herbs, and handmade Corsican ceramics
Where: L'Île Rousse, Haute-Corse
Hours: Daily 08:00–13:00 (Jun–Sep); Tue, Thu, Sat (Oct–May)
Bastia Market (Place du Marché)
Excellent fish market, local produce, Corsican charcuterie, and seasonal fruit
Where: Bastia, Haute-Corse
Hours: Daily 07:00–12:00
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
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Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Items:
- Rule
- EU travellers
- Notes
- No restrictions on bringing Corsican food and wine within the EU — all island products are EU-regulated.
- Rule
- Non-EU travellers (USA, UK, Australia)
- Notes
- Meat and dairy products (including vacuum-packed charcuterie and Brocciu) are subject to customs restrictions when entering the USA and Australia — check your country's import rules at USDA.gov or Australian Border Force before purchasing. Wine is generally permitted up to duty-free allowances.
- Rule
- Knife export
- Notes
- Traditional Corsican knives (couteaux corses, including the niolo) are sold widely. Most UK, US, and Australian customs regulations permit blade lengths under 7.5 cm in checked luggage — verify limits before purchase.