Bastia is a walking city. The historic centre — the Vieux Port, Terra Vecchia, Place Saint-Nicolas, and the Citadelle — forms a compact area that can be covered entirely on foot in a few hours. The main visual landmarks are all close together, and the steepest climb is the short ascent to the Citadelle from the Vieux Port.
City buses serve the wider suburbs and residential areas, but visitors rarely need them. Taxis are available at stands near the ferry terminal and outside the main hotels.
To explore Corsica beyond Bastia, a rental car is essential. The island's bus network is limited, infrequent, and centred on Ajaccio. Car hire is available from the airport and in the city. Bastia is the ideal starting point for driving Cap Corse — the scenic route along the peninsula's coast road is best done in a full day.
Cyclists can rent bikes in Bastia, though the hills of the Terra Vecchia and Citadelle make cycling within the historic centre impractical. The coastal road northward toward Cap Corse is more manageable.