Cheap camping holidays in Corsica: the best times to go and pay less

How do you treat yourself to a cheap camping holiday in Corsica? The secret lies mostly in the calendar: by travelling in May, in June or between September and mid-October, rather than at the height of summer, you enjoy gentler rates, often more affordable crossings and a quieter island, with a sea that is already, or still, lovely for swimming. Here are the best times to go, what really changes outside the peak weeks and our tips, as owners, for keeping the bill down without giving up any of the pleasure.

Here at U Casone, in Ghisonaccia, on the east coast of Haute-Corse, we often hear the same words at reception: “We wish we’d come sooner, we had no idea it was this beautiful in June.” That may well be the best answer to the budget question. Corsica loses none of its magic outside July and August: the pines smell just as sweet, the cicadas start singing with the first warm days, and the sea takes on its turquoise hues long before the summer holidays.

Our campsite, “the big house” in the Corsican language, is open from 1 May to mid-October. Over those five and a half months, there are only a few weeks of really heavy demand. For the rest of the season, a different Corsica opens up to you: calmer, gentler and noticeably lighter on the wallet.

Why prices vary so much in Corsica

On an island, everything comes down to a few weeks. Between mid-July and the end of August, school holidays across Europe overlap: French, Italian, German and Belgian families all want to travel at the same time, the ferries fill up, so do the flights to Bastia, and demand for accommodation reaches its peak. As everywhere, prices follow that curve.

By contrast, at the start and end of the season, there is just as much to choose from but far fewer holidaymakers. Campsites then apply their low- and mid-season rates, and ferry companies often offer more affordable crossings, especially midweek. This is not a cut-price Corsica: it is the same island, with fewer people and kinder prices.

A cheap holiday in Corsica: the best times to go camping

Here, month by month, is how we would guide you if you were looking for the best balance between price, weather and the art of slow living.

May: Corsica in bloom, at a gentle price

In May, the island wakes up. Rockrose and immortelle scent the paths, gardens burst into colour, and what you mostly hear is the wind in the pines and birdsong. It is the ideal month for those who love walking, exploring the villages of the interior or simply reading in the sun without being disturbed.

For swimming, the water is still cool, between 18 and 20 °C, but the afternoons are often warm enough to slip in. If you are not tied to school holidays, this is probably the most economical time of the season. Just bear in mind the French bank holiday weekends in May, which bring a few more visitors.

June: the best compromise between price and pleasure

June is our favourite month to recommend to budget-conscious travellers. The sea warms up week by week, the days seem endless and the heat stays gentle. Families with little ones not yet at school, as well as couples, enjoy a campsite that is lively but never packed.

From mid-June, the restaurant-pizzeria opens every evening: so you can combine the gentler rates of early summer with the pleasure of a takeaway pizza on your terrace, beneath the pines. For many of our regulars, the second half of June is the perfect moment.

September and early autumn: a warm sea, with peace and quiet thrown in

As soon as the new school year begins, Corsica changes its face. The families have gone home, the beach has wide open spaces again, and the sea, which has stored up all of summer’s warmth, stays at around 24 to 25 °C. This is often when you enjoy the finest swims of the year, in crystal-clear water, under a golden light.

Rates come down too, and this mellow spell lasts until we close in mid-October. Couples, retirees, solo travellers and families with young children all find a gentle rhythm, ideal for a real break.

What you really gain by travelling outside the peak

Price is not the only advantage. By avoiding the height of summer, you also gain in comfort, and that is sometimes what makes the difference between a good holiday and an unforgettable one.

What changes outside July and August: let’s be honest

Travelling in low season also means accepting a slightly different pace. We prefer to tell you plainly, so that you can choose with full knowledge.

• The restaurant-pizzeria is open from mid-June to mid-September, every evening. Outside this period, the bar stays open all season and serves breakfast every morning.
• The campsite’s mini-market opens in the mornings in July and August (bread, pastries, fruit and vegetables, Corsican produce). For the rest of the season, there is a small supermarket 500 metres from the campsite.
• The entertainment evenings take place in high season. In spring and autumn, the evenings are quieter, set to the song of the crickets and conversations between neighbours.
• Our two pools are unheated: in May, the water can be bracing. In June and September, it is pure bliss.

For many of our guests, these differences are exactly what they come for: a simpler, more authentic stay, as close as possible to Corsican nature.

Our tips for keeping the cost of your Corsican holiday down

Beyond the dates, a few smart choices help you keep to a reasonable budget, even in summer.

Choose the accommodation that really suits your group

There is no point paying for square metres you will not need. Our pitches of around 100 m², for tents, vans, caravans or motorhomes, remain the most economical way to enjoy Corsica. For a couple or a small family, a safari tent (2 to 4 people) offers the charm of canvas and the comfort of a wooden deck. Families of four often choose our mobile homes or our Wooden lodges, new for 2026.

If you are travelling with several families or a group of friends, our 55 m² Luxury lodges, for 5 or 7 people, let you share the costs while staying together. On the Residence side, the apartments for 4 or 6 people are also a great option for large families.

Cook with local produce

Nothing beats a dinner prepared on the terrace, with fruit and vegetables from the market, a good Corsican cheese and a chunk of fresh bread. In July and August, the mini-market makes life easy from first thing in the morning; for the rest of the season, the small supermarket 500 metres away does the job perfectly. And for an evening without washing-up, between mid-June and mid-September, takeaway pizzas from the restaurant are a little treat that costs very little.

Think about linen before you leave

In our accommodation, blankets and pillows are provided. Sheets are available to hire (€12 for a single bed, €15 for a double bed), as is the towel kit at €12. If you are coming by car, slipping your own sheets and towels into the boot is an easy saving. If you are arriving by plane, hiring them means you avoid overloading your luggage.

Make the most of everything already on site

Many of the pleasures of a stay at U Casone cost nothing extra. The beach is 700 metres away, along a shady path beside the canal. Our two pools, the children’s playground, table football and the table tennis, volleyball and pétanque tournaments fill the days without stretching the budget. Wi-Fi is free at reception, in the bar, in the restaurant and around the pool.

For a little adventure, the kayaks on the canal can be hired by the half-day (€15 solo, €23 tandem): you glide between the reeds all the way to the sea, a memorable outing at a very reasonable price.

Book your crossing at the right time

The ferry or the flight is often a large part of the budget. As soon as your dates are set, look at the available crossings, choosing a midweek departure rather than a Saturday if you can. From the port or airport of Bastia, allow around 1 hr 30 by road to the campsite; from the port of Porto-Vecchio, around 1 hr. Our How to get here page helps you choose your point of arrival.

Use your holiday vouchers

We accept ANCV holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances) and ANCV Connect, up to 30% of the total cost of the stay, in addition to cash, bank cards, cheques and bank transfers. A good way to use the ones that sometimes lie forgotten at the back of a drawer. You will find prices by period on our Rates page, and answers to practical questions in our FAQ.

And if you are travelling with your dog?

Good news: your four-legged companion is welcome in all our accommodation and on the pitches, all season long, for a nightly supplement. Outside the peak, they will enjoy the cool mornings, the quiet walks and the calm of the campsite just as much as you. Simply let us know when you book.

Our final word

Paying less for your holiday in Corsica does not mean giving anything up. It means choosing the moment when the island is at its most generous: the fragrant spring of May, the endless light of June, the warm, golden sea of September. It also means making a few simple choices on site, so you can live your stay at your own pace.

Whatever period suits you best, we will be delighted to welcome you to Ghisonaccia, amid the scent of the pines, the song of the cicadas and the blue of a sea sparkling 700 metres away. The big house is waiting for you.

You might also enjoy: Corsica in June: the perfect month before the July crowds · Corsica in September: why it’s our favourite month · How much does a family week in Corsica cost?.