Region · yacht charter
French Riviera.
The classic stretch of the Côte d’Azur from Cannes to Monaco, with private anchorages between Cap d’Antibes and the Pampelonne bay.
- Cannes
- Monaco
- Saint-Tropez
Overview
What to expect.
The French Riviera is one of the most concentrated yacht charter coasts in the Mediterranean. From Saint-Tropez in the west to Monaco in the east, a single day's cruising links the working harbours, the headland anchorages and the events that define the European summer. It is the stretch most first charters start with, and the one many experienced charterers return to.
Three ports anchor the coast. Cannes, the western base, sits between the Vieux Port in the old town and the superyacht quay at Port Pierre Canto, with the Lerins islands a short cruise offshore. Saint-Tropez holds the far west with the Pampelonne bay and the Cap Camarat anchorages to its south. Monaco closes the eastern end as the most operationally dense port in the Mediterranean, where Port Hercule and Port de Fontvieille take the international fleet for the marquee weeks. Antibes and Cap d'Antibes lie between them, with their own sheltered anchorages.
The season runs late May through early October. The Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in May draw the largest fleet of the year, and the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Voiles de Saint-Tropez close it in September. Anchorages between Cap d'Antibes and Pampelonne fill quickly through July and August; June and September are consistently the most rewarding months, with calmer water and the routing open.
A French Riviera charter is run end to end by one advisor: the shortlist of yachts and crews, the berthing in ports where space is allocated months ahead, and the day-to-day routing once aboard. For the events that book years in advance, the Grand Prix above all, early commitment is the only reliable approach.
Destinations
Where we cruise in the French Riviera.
3 destinations curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- May–October
- Prevailing winds
- Mistral · light
- Base ports
- Cannes · Monaco · Saint-Tropez
Late May through early October. The Cannes Festival in May and the Monaco Grand Prix draw the largest fleet of the season.
Anchorages between Cap d’Antibes and Pampelonne fill quickly through July; September is consistently the most rewarding month for cruising.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for a French Riviera yacht charter?
- Late May through early October. June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer anchorages and lighter winds; July and August carry the largest fleet and the busiest bays. The marquee weeks are the busiest of all: the Cannes Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in May, the Cannes Yachting Festival and the Voiles de Saint-Tropez in September.
- Which ports does a Riviera charter use?
- Most charters are based around Cannes, Monaco or Saint-Tropez, with Antibes and Cap d'Antibes between them. Cannes uses the Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto; Monaco uses Port Hercule and Port de Fontvieille; Saint-Tropez uses the Vieux Port with day anchorages at Pampelonne.
- How far ahead should a French Riviera charter be arranged?
- Three to six months for a standard summer week. For the marquee events, and the Monaco Grand Prix in particular, berthing and yacht availability are committed twelve months or more ahead.
- Can one charter cover the whole coast?
- Yes. The distances are short: Saint-Tropez to Monaco is comfortably within a week's cruising, with stops at Cannes, the Lerins islands and the Cap d'Antibes anchorages along the way. The routing is set to the weather and the events of the week.
- How do you reach a French Riviera charter?
- Nice Cote d'Azur airport is the regional gateway, a short transfer from Cannes, Antibes and Monaco, with Saint-Tropez a little further west. The advisor arranges transfers to the yacht, by car or helicopter where preferred.
- What does a French Riviera yacht charter cost?
- As a guide, a crewed yacht in the 30 to 50 metre range runs from around EUR 100,000 to EUR 400,000 per week, higher for superyachts and for the marquee weeks, with the advance provisioning allowance and gratuity additional. The advisor sets out the full figure before anything is signed.
- What size of yacht suits the French Riviera?
- The full range, from smaller motor yachts for day and short cruising to superyachts above forty metres for a full week. Berthing for the largest yachts is the main constraint in peak weeks, particularly in Monaco, so the size is matched to the ports on the route.
Plan your charter
Guides and charter services.
Elsewhere
Other cruising grounds.
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the French Riviera.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.