The best way to see Bonifacio is from the sea: the upper town sits on a white limestone cliff 60 to 80 metres high, undercut by the waves. SPMB circuit no. 1 (1 h 05, €26 per adult in 2026) runs along the cliffs, the King of Aragon's staircase, the Grain de Sable, the caves and Cape Pertusato. This tour is easy to combine with a Lavezzi trip on the same day.
Key facts
- SPMB circuit no. 1: 1 h 05, €26 adult, €16 child, no booking (2026).
- Cliffs 60 to 80 m high, a staircase of 189 steps carved into the rock.
- The Grain de Sable: an isolated block at the foot of the cliffs.
- On GetYourGuide, « Visit Bonifacio by sea »: from €35, 4.9 out of 5 (361 reviews).
What you see from the boat
| Sight | What it is |
|---|---|
| The upper town | citadel on a limestone headland 1,600 m long and 100 m wide |
| The cliffs | limestone plateau 60 to 80 m high, undercut by the sea |
| The King of Aragon’s staircase | 189 steps carved into the cliff at about 45° |
| The Grain de Sable | a large block standing alone at the foot of the cliffs |
| The caves | including the one known as Napoleon’s hat, mentioned by SPMB |
| Cape Pertusato | Corsica’s southern tip and its lighthouse, lit in 1844 |
The King of Aragon’s staircase
Legend says the troops of Alfonso V of Aragon dug it in a single night during the siege of Bonifacio in 1420. In reality it was carved over a longer period by Franciscan monks to reach a freshwater spring at the foot of the cliff. Seen from the sea, it looks like a dark diagonal line running the full height of the cliff.
You can also walk down it from the upper town: see things to do in Bonifacio.
The tours
| Trip | Duration | Price “from” | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPMB circuit no. 1, Bonifacio essentials | 1 h 05 | €26 adult, €16 child | no |
| Visit Bonifacio by sea (GetYourGuide) | 1 h 30 | €35 | online |
| SPMB circuit no. 3, cliffs, Lavezzi and Cavallo | 2 h | €40 adult, €29 child | advised |
Checked on 9 November 2026. Circuit no. 1 reopens in April 2027; in winter, SPMB runs a non-stop circuit covering the cliffs and islands (11 am and 2 pm, €40).
Cliffs in the morning, Lavezzi in the afternoon
The cliff tour takes an hour: you can do it in the morning and take the Lavezzi shuttle in the afternoon, or pick a trip that combines both (see the boat trip comparison).
Book a trip
See the cliffs from the sea
Visit Bonifacio by sea1.5 hours★ 4.9 (361 reviews)from €35Check availability
From Bonifacio: Lavezzi Islands Half-Day Boat Tour3 hours★ 4.8 (229 reviews)from €60Check availability
Porto-Vecchio: Trip to the cliffs of Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands9 hours★ 4.4 (101 reviews)from €70Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
Affiliate links: IlesLavezzi.com earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. "Show live prices" loads the GetYourGuide module, which sets its own cookies (learn more (in French)).
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Bonifacio boat tour?
About an hour: 1 h 05 for SPMB circuit no. 1, 1 h 30 for the « Visit Bonifacio by sea » trip on GetYourGuide.
Can I combine the cliffs and Lavezzi?
Yes. SPMB circuit no. 3 (2 h, €40) takes in the cliffs, Lavezzi and Cavallo without stopping, and several half-day trips from Porto-Vecchio also pass the cliffs.
Do I need to book the cliff tour?
SPMB says its circuit no. 1 needs no booking, with departures roughly every hour from 10 am in season.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Timetables, prices and rules change: confirm before you go.
- SPMB, circuits no. 1 and no. 3 (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia (French), Bonifacio: geology, cliffs, Grain de Sable, accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia (French), King of Aragon's staircase, accessed 9 November 2026
- GetYourGuide widget, « Bonifacio boat » offers, accessed 9 November 2026
