What should you pack for a camping holiday in Corsica? The essentials take up very little room: something to protect you from the sun, shoes for the sea and for the maquis, light clothes for the daytime and a jumper for the evenings. The rest, as you’ll see, is mostly common sense, and we’ll talk you through it all as if you were driving through the gates of U Casone in a few days’ time.
Here in Ghisonaccia, on Corsica’s east coast, suitcases have a funny habit: they always arrive too full. We find three spare pairs of shoes, a stovetop espresso maker and a pirate costume for a child who will wear it precisely twice. So, after many seasons of watching families unload their car boots beneath the pines, we have drawn up a list of what really comes in handy, what can stay at home, and the little things you only think of once you’re here.
Our campsite, U Casone, meaning “the big house” in Corsican, is open from 1 May to mid-October. Between those two dates, Corsica changes its face several times: the maquis in bloom in May, the heavy heat of July, the golden light of September. So your suitcase won’t be quite the same depending on the month you come. Let us guide you.
The spirit of a Corsican suitcase: light, simple and made for the outdoors
Here, life is lived outdoors. Breakfast is taken on the terrace, with the resinous scent of the pines rising as soon as the sun gets going. The day drifts between the sea, the pool, the canal and the shade. In the evening, you dine outside and listen to the cicadas run out of breath before giving way to the warm silence of the night. A suitcase for Corsica is therefore, above all, a suitcase for outdoor living: few clothes, but the right ones.
💡 U Casone tip: pack your suitcase in two piles. In the first, the things you can’t do without. In the second, the things you “might possibly” use. Leave the second pile on the bed. You’ll hardly ever miss it.
The must-haves: sun, sea and heat
Protecting yourself from the Corsican sun
The sun on the east coast is no joke. It is generous and bright, and it quickly turns forgetful faces red. Bring a high-factor sun cream (and plenty of it, because you’ll use more than you think), a lip balm, a hat or cap that stays put in the wind, and a good pair of sunglasses. For children, a UV-protective T-shirt is a game-changer: no more reapplying sun cream to their shoulders every twenty minutes.
For the sea and the pool
The beach is 700 metres from our campsite, and we have two swimming pools on site. So think two swimsuits per person: one drying while the other is hard at work. Add a beach towel (the one you love, not the bulkiest), a pair of sliders or sandals, and a small reusable bottle to fill up before heading off to the beach.
If you have children, a mask and snorkel work wonders. The water on the east coast is clear and calm in the morning, and the little fish that come and brush against their legs are worth all the toys in the world. For the very youngest, armbands or a buoyancy vest, depending on their age, put everyone’s mind at rest.
Shoes for two worlds
Corsica is an island with two sides: the sea on one, the mountains on the other. Pack water shoes or sandals that stay on well, as pebbles and rocks are unforgiving on bare feet. And if you plan to head up towards Bavella or do a little walking in the hinterland, a pair of trainers or light walking shoes is invaluable. The maquis smells of myrtle, everlasting flower and rosemary, but it also scratches at your ankles.
Clothes: fewer than you think
For the daytime
Shorts, light dresses, cotton or linen T-shirts. Three or four outfits per person is plenty: in this heat, everything dries in an hour.
For the evening
Light trousers, a thin jumper or a cardigan. Even in high summer, nights under the pines turn cooler, especially in May, June and September.
For getting active
Something comfortable for kayaking, pétanque, volleyball or a bike ride. Nothing technical: ease of movement above all.
For the rain (rare)
A small packable waterproof. A summer storm can roll in, spectacular and brief, leaving behind an unforgettable smell of wet earth.
A word of advice from a camping neighbour: bring clothes you can wash and dry quickly. A swimsuit rinsed out on the terrace in the evening is dry before breakfast. You don’t need twenty T-shirts: you need five you like.
Season by season: the May, summer and September suitcase
May – June
Maquis in bloom, sea still fresh. Add a warm jumper for the evenings, a light jacket and a shorty wetsuit if you feel the cold.
July – August
Full summer heat. Very light clothes, a hat is a must, plenty of sun cream, and a fan for siestas.
September – early October
Warm sea, golden light. Bring back the evening jumper, slip in a windproof jacket, and keep your swimsuit handy: the swimming is still lovely.
Our favourite month? September, without a doubt. The sea has held on to the summer’s warmth, the campsite has grown calmer, and in the evening the light on the pines is a gold you won’t see anywhere else. With a jumper round your shoulders, you can dine outside until late.
Your accommodation: what to bring, what to leave behind
It’s a question we hear often: “What’s provided?” The answer depends on the accommodation you choose. We offer safari tents (a canvas tent on a wooden deck), chalets, wooden lodges, luxury lodges and mobile homes, as well as pitches of over 100 m² for tents, caravans and motorhomes. Each option has its own equipment, and the safest bet is to check the details of your accommodation when you book, or to ask us directly before you set off.
If you’re renting accommodation
You can travel lighter. Above all, bring your personal linen, your toiletries, your bath and beach towels, and a few food items you can’t live without (your favourite coffee, for example). For everything else, check the details of your accommodation: it will save you lugging along a saucepan that’s already waiting for you.
If you’re coming with your tent, caravan or motorhome
You’ll have room to spare: our pitches are over 100 m², leaving space for the tent, the car and a shady dining corner. Bring sturdy tent pegs (the ground can be hard), a mallet, a groundsheet, a head torch, an extension lead and an adaptor. A parasol or shade sail is much appreciated in the afternoon.
📍 Did you know? The pines on our campsite provide precious shade, but they also drop needles and resin. A groundsheet that’s easy to shake out and a few old towels for the chairs will save you plenty of bother.
For the family: children, babies and dogs
With children
Our playground, the pool, table football, table tennis, volleyball and pétanque fill a good part of the day. So pack a few simple games: a ball, a bucket and spade for the beach, a pack of cards for the evenings. No need to fill the car with screens and gadgets: at U Casone, children make friends within ten minutes, and the toy bag often stays shut.
With a baby
Remember the pushchair or baby carrier, a wide-brimmed hat, a beach parasol and a thermometer. Mornings and late afternoons are the best times to go out: at midday, the shade of the pines and a nap are your best allies.
With a dog
Dogs are welcome with us all season long, including in the accommodation. Don’t leave them off your list: their bowl, a blanket, their lead, poo bags, their up-to-date health record and, above all, a large water bottle for walks. Think about their comfort too: in high summer, hot ground burns paw pads, so walks are best taken early in the morning or in the evening.
For activities on site and nearby
- Kayaking on the canal: we offer it at €15 solo or €20 for two for a half-day. Bring a swimsuit, a cap, sun cream, a water bottle and shoes that can get wet.
- Exploring the east coast beaches: a light bag, a towel, water, a mask and snorkel.
- Excursion to Bavella or the hinterland: closed shoes, a jumper, a windproof jacket, sunglasses and plenty of water.
- Evenings at the campsite: a light jumper, a torch, and a willingness to linger on the bar or restaurant terrace.
When it comes to meals, you won’t need to bring everything: our mini-market has your day-to-day needs covered, and we have a restaurant, a bar, a snack bar and a pizzeria (with an electric oven) for the evenings when you don’t fancy cooking. So you can travel light on the kitchen front.
What you can leave at home
Here is our slightly cheeky list of things that take up space without adding much:
- Clothes “in case it turns cold” in the middle of July: one jumper is enough.
- Smart shoes: at U Casone, we dine in sandals, and nobody bats an eyelid.
- The hairdryer and bulky appliances: the sun and the dry air will take care of that.
- Your crockery from home: bring a few personal items, but not the whole cupboard.
- Too many books: three are enough, and you may only read one, lulled by the cicadas.
The little things you think of too late
A head torch
For finding your way to the shower block, or your bag, in the dark without waking everyone up.
A small dry bag
For your phone, keys and money, on the beach or in the kayak.
Insect repellent
In the evening, near the canal or under the trees, it can come in very handy.
A basic first-aid kit
Plasters, antiseptic, your usual medicines. Nothing complicated, but better to have it.
And don’t forget your documents, your bank card and, if you’re coming by sea, your ferry tickets. A small pouch for these papers, kept close at hand, saves any panic on arrival.
Our final word
When all is said and done, a good suitcase for Corsica is one that leaves room for what you’ll bring home: salt on your skin, sand in your shoes, the scent of pine in your clothes, a few shells at the bottom of a bag and memories of evenings that stretch on and on. Here, we have everything you need, so you don’t have to plan for everything. Pack the essentials, bring your good mood, and leave the rest to us.
We’ll be delighted to welcome you to Ghisonaccia, between the pines and the sea, and to show you what this “big house” we look after every season is all about.
Suitcase almost packed? All that’s left is to choose your accommodation beneath the pines of U Casone, 700 metres from the sea.