Islands near France: ferries to Corsica, Sardinia and Mallorca

Think you have to fly to reach the Mediterranean's most beautiful islands? From the southern French coast, the ports of Toulon and Nice open up a surprising stretch of the sea, with overnight crossings that carry you (and your car) to Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearics. Most sailings run as comfortable conventional ferries with cabins, so you can sleep through the journey and wake up somewhere new.

Whether you're after dramatic mountains plunging into turquoise water, ancient stone villages and wild beaches, or a sun-soaked island built for slow days, there's a crossing that turns the journey into part of the trip. Here are the islands worth boarding a ferry for.

1. Corsica

Technically part of France yet a world unto itself, Corsica is known as the "Isle of Beauty" for good reason. Its interior is all granite peaks and pine forest, while the coast unfolds into some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. It rewards road-trippers and hikers as much as beach-seekers.

Corsica Ferries sails from Toulon and Nice to 4 ports in Corsica:

• Toulon - Bastia and Toulon - Ajaccio routes run year-round
• Toulon - Porto Vecchio and Toulon - L'Île-Rousse routes are seasonal
• Nice - Bastia route run year-round
• Nice - L'Île-Rousse route is seasonal

Crossings take from around 7 hr, so booking a cabin is a smart move. Cabins come in several types, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs: internal cabins, external with a sea view, and deluxe suites.

Bastia (northeast) is Corsica's main commercial port and a working town with real character. Wander the Vieux-Port (Old Port) ringed by tall ochre houses, the baroque Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, and the Terra Nova citadel quarter. It's the gateway to Cap Corse, the wild peninsula to the north, and the beaches of the eastern plain.

Ajaccio (west coast) is the island capital and Napoleon's birthplace. Visit the Maison Bonaparte, stroll the palm-lined Place Foch and the lively morning market, and head out to the Îles Sanguinaires for famous sunsets. Golden bays sit right on the city's doorstep.

L'Île-Rousse (northwest, Balagne region) is a laid-back seaside town with one of the warmest microclimates on the island, great for a family beach holiday. The town centers on the lively Place Paoli, and a little train (tramway de Balagne) trundles along the coast to Calvi. White-sand beaches sit steps from the port.

Porto Vecchio (southeast) is the glamorous south, built around a hilltop Citadel above salt marshes that once made the town's fortune. Its real draw is the beaches: Palombaggia and Santa Giulia, regularly rated among the most beautiful in the world, with pale sand and turquoise shallows.

Toulon - Corsica from €22

Nice - Corsica from €21

The beautiful Palombaggia Beach in Corsica

2. Sardinia

Wild, ancient, and gloriously unhurried, Sardinia feels like several islands in one. Its coastline ranges from the glamorous beaches of the Costa Smeralda to hidden coves backed by limestone cliffs, while the rugged interior is dotted with mysterious prehistoric stone towers.

Ferries from France arrive at Porto Torres in the island's northwest, a handy gateway to the medieval town of Alghero with its Catalan heritage and honey-colored ramparts. From there, the beaches of the Gulf of Asinara and the surreal rock formations of Capo Caccia are within easy reach. Across the island you'll find scattered nuraghi (Bronze Age stone towers unique to Sardinia), and on every menu there's pane carasau (a thin, crisp flatbread) and culurgiones (hand-pleated pasta parcels filled with potato and mint).

Corsica Ferries operates the Toulon to Porto Torres route year-round, with crossings most weeks and increased frequency in summer. The journey runs from around 9 to 16.5 hr depending on the sailing, with cabins available for overnight trips.

There's also a seasonal summer connection from Nice to Porto Torres, usually running June to September with up to 4 sailings a week and a crossing of around 10 to 13 hr.

Both are conventional overnight ferries, so a cabin would make your trip far more comfortable.

Toulon - Sardinia from €18

Nice - Sardinia from €20

Villasimius beach in Sardinia

3. Mallorca

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca blends postcard beaches with a mountainous, soulful interior that surprises first-time visitors. It's a place where you can spend the morning on a hidden cove and the afternoon exploring stone villages in the hills.

Ferries from France dock at Alcúdia on the island's northeast coast, near the long sandy sweep of the Bay of Alcúdia and the well-preserved medieval old town. To the west, the Serra de Tramuntana mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) shelter beautiful villages like Valldemossa and Sóller, reached by a vintage wooden train. Pull up at a café for an ensaïmada (a coil-shaped pastry dusted with sugar) and try sobrassada (a soft, spreadable cured sausage seasoned with paprika).

Corsica Ferries runs the Toulon to Alcúdia and the Sète - Mallorca routes. Ferries operate seasonally, with crossings taking place from April to November. The ferry trips usually take 10 to 16 hr, so as with the other routes, a cabin is well worth it for a relaxed, comfortable trip.

France - Mallorca from €14

Panoramic view of the coastline, Mallorca

Island-hopping around France: book your ferry tickets

Ready to swap the mainland for the open Mediterranean? On Ferryhopper, you can compare schedules and prices for ferries from France to Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearics in one place, with no hidden fees.

Bring the car, book a cabin, and turn the crossing into the first chapter of your trip. Check our Map of ferries to plan your route and set sail.

Worth keeping in mind: this isn't true island-hopping in a chain, these are three separate long-haul crossings out from the French coast. Think of them as three distinct getaways, then, but with this much on offer, you're spoiled for choice for your next vacation, aren't you?