Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to the south of France and then ferry across to the island of Corsica.
It is possible to travel from London to Corsica by train and ferry in about 24 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then change to a train south to Marseille (or Nice) and catch the ferry the following morning to Corsica.
Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France and the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean that's famous for its beaches and mountains, including the epic GR20 long distance hiking trail that heads high up across this spectacular island.
Train and Ferry from London to Corsica:
Routes: Train from London to either Marseille, Toulon or Nice, then ferry across to Corsica
Journey Time: About 24 hours
Sample timetable: Depart London 7.19am, arrive Marseille at 2.45pm then overnight ferry departs from Marseille at 7pm, arrives Ajaccio, Corsica at 06.15
Changes: Change in Paris or Lille for Marseille or Nice then transfer to ferry terminal for overnight ferry to Corsica
Frequency of Departures: 3-4 times per week
Carbon emissions (train leg): 15kg (flight would be 311.1kg)*
Car hire at Marseille St Charles station: Yes
Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available.
How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation
If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries.
What's the journey like?
Take the Eurostar train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Paris (Gare du Nord) or Lille then change for Marseille St Charles station – in Lille, the train for Marseille leaves from the same station that you arrived whereas in Paris you have to change from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon (see our How to Transfer Across Train Stations in Paris) . On board Eurostar, there’s a bar-buffet carriage that sells a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including champagne, as well as snacks and wholesome, hearty dishes. For those with standard premier tickets, light refreshments are served at your table, including a fresh, light, healthy meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a glass of wine or beer. It’s about 30 mins from London to the Channel Tunnel, then, after about 20 minutes, you emerge for the onward journey whizzing down through the beautiful countryside of France, passing picturesque French villages and along the Rhône Valley to Marseille. This service is a fast and efficient way to travel from London to Marseille.
For other routes within France and elsewhere in Europe, see our Flight-Free Journey Planner
On arrival at Marseille St Charles station
Bienvenue à Marseille! A city without too many airs, Marseille has a life and energy that more manicured destinations lack. The spectacular old port at its centre is surrounded by pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, and overlooked by an iconic hilltop church. Detour into the old quarter of Le Panier or the hippyish Cours Julien and you’ll find atmospheric architecture, bustling markets and some of the country’s most down-to-earth inhabitants. There are lots of hotels near to the station, see: Hotels near Marseille St Charles train station.
Various eco-districts are also in development across the city, with renewable energy, greywater recycling schemes, tree planting projects and bike paths part of the plans. The most high profile of these lies within the Euroméditerranée district; a 480-hectare urban renewal project between the commercial harbour, the Vieux Port (Old Port) and the TGV station.
The city is gradually moving towards a more sustainable future. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, many public buildings in the city are being equipped with solar panels; it's said there are more roofs here than in any other city in France.
Getting around Marseille
Marseille has an excellent public transport network. From Marseille Saint Charles train station there are trams, metro and buses that take you around the city centre and to the main harbour and port, see: Marseille public transport timetables and routes (French only). Marseille’s handy City Pass is an allin package including free entry to many of the city's museums, a boat trip to the Château d'If, a trip on the Petit Train, reductions on certain other excursions, and unlimited travel on the buses, metro and trams. It is valid for one (€22) or two (€29) days. See Marseille Tourism for more information. From outside the station, you can pick up a bike from the city’s bike hire scheme Le Vélo.
Ferry from Marseille to Corsica
Corsica Linea operate an overnight ferry service from Marseille to Ajaccio, departing at 7.15pm. You can book either a seat or a cabin with beds. The journey takes 11 hours and you'll arrive at Ajaccio at 6.15am.
Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in France to Corsica.
For more information about travelling as a foot passenger, see our guide to how to travel as a ferry foot passenger from the UK to Europe
Bon Voyage!
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