This page contains affiliate and referral links. If you charter, book, or buy through them we earn a referral fee, paid by the broker or platform, at no cost to you. We have not adjusted our rankings for the referral rate. Full breakdown on our how-we-make-money page.
The French Riviera is the 60 nautical mile coastline from Saint-Tropez east to Menton, with the working harbor and anchor inventory of Port Vauban Antibes (165m berthing, the deepest single-superyacht slot in the Mediterranean), Port Hercule Monaco (180 slots, up to 110m), Port Canto Cannes (700 slots), Saint-Tropez Old Port (90 slots), and the anchor inventory at the Lerins islands, Cap Ferrat, Villefranche, and Pampelonne. A 50m motor yacht working the Riviera in mid-July or August runs €260,000 to €380,000 per week before APA. During the Cannes Film Festival (May 12 to May 23) and the Monaco Grand Prix (May 22 to May 24) the same yacht runs €380,000 to €600,000 per week with positioning fees added; both events sit in May, both are reserved 9 to 12 months ahead, and both pull the Riviera into the second-most expensive single week of the Mediterranean year after Ferragosto.
The point of the French Riviera on a charter week is the marina infrastructure (no other Mediterranean coast carries this density of superyacht-capable berths), the social anchor (the Cannes Croisette, the Monaco Port Hercule, the Saint-Tropez Old Port walk), and the swimming inventory at Pampelonne, Cap d'Antibes, the Lerins, and Cap Ferrat. The coast also serves as the standing changeover ground for the wider Western Mediterranean. Cannes, Antibes, Monaco, and Saint-Tropez are the four most-used board-and-disembark points for charters that run east to Corsica, Sardinia, Liguria, or further to the Amalfi Coast.
The French Riviera is also the Mediterranean ground where event timing changes the product the most. The May Film Festival and Grand Prix weeks are a different charter than the August leisure week. The June and September shoulder windows deliver the same coastline at 25 to 40 percent off peak rates without the event density.
When to charter the French Riviera
May. The event month. Cannes Film Festival May 12 to May 23, Monaco GP May 22 to May 24. Both push rates 2 to 3 times the early May baseline. Water 17 to 19 degrees Celsius, swimming viable only on warm afternoons. Restaurant calendar partial; the Riviera opens fully from May 5 onward.
June. Water 20 to 22 degrees by mid-month. Restaurant and beach club calendar fully open from June 5. Anchorages quiet through mid-June, rising toward the end of the month. Rates 25 to 35 percent below August. The strongest non-event Riviera window for value.
July. Peak begins around July 5. Water 23 to 24 degrees. The 14 Juillet weekend (Bastille Day, July 14) pulls marina pressure and the Saint-Tropez Old Port and Cannes anchor density rises to August levels for 4 days. Restaurant ashore bookings 1 to 2 weeks ahead.
August. The dense month. Pampelonne anchor at 100+ yachts on weekend nights. Cannes Croisette anchor at 60 to 80. Saint-Tropez Old Port 100 percent booked. The 15 août weekend (Assumption, August 15) is the densest weekend of the Riviera year and pulls 80 to 120 yachts into the Saint-Tropez gulf anchor alone. Headline rates.
September. The window. Water 23 to 24 degrees through September 20. The Monaco Yacht Show (last week of September) pulls marina rates briefly. The first three weeks of September are the cleanest non-event Riviera weeks of the year. Rates fall meaningfully from September 8 onward.
October. Cannes Yachting Festival (early September) and the Monaco Yacht Show (late September) close the event calendar. The first 10 days of October are workable swimming weeks. Restaurant calendar mostly closed by October 20.
The French Riviera cruising zones
Saint-Tropez and the Pampelonne anchor. The western anchor of the Riviera. Saint-Tropez Old Port holds 90 superyacht slots up to 50m and the August booking lead is 9 to 12 months. Pampelonne (the 4.5 kilometre beach 3 nautical miles southeast) is the daytime anchor of the Riviera, absorbing 80 to 120 yachts on August weekend nights. The Club 55, Nikki Beach, Loulou Ramatuelle, and Bagatelle beach clubs run the daytime ashore. The Cap Camarat lighthouse and the Pointe de l'Ay anchor the south side.
Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Twenty-three nautical miles east of Saint-Tropez. The Cap d'Antibes peninsula holds the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the Garoupe Bay anchor, and the Antibes Old Port. The Port Vauban Antibes marina (1,650 slots, 25 superyacht berths up to 165m, the IYCA quay holds the largest single berth in the Mediterranean at 175 metres) is the working superyacht base of the Western Mediterranean. The Juan-les-Pins anchor on the west side of the Cap absorbs daytime swim stops.
Cannes, the Croisette, and the Lerins islands. Two nautical miles east of Cap d'Antibes. Cannes Old Port and Port Pierre Canto hold roughly 700 superyacht-capable berths between them; the Croisette anchor 1 nautical mile offshore is the Film Festival anchor, holding 80+ yachts during the second and third weeks of May. The Lerins islands (Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat) 2 nautical miles south of Cannes carry the daytime swim anchor and the Tetou and the Lerins Abbey lunch ashore.
Cap Ferrat, Villefranche, and Beaulieu. Twelve nautical miles east of Cannes. Cap Ferrat is the peninsula holding the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, the Paloma Beach, and the Villa Ephrussi. Villefranche-sur-Mer (the deep bay between Cap Ferrat and Nice) is the natural deep-water anchor of the Riviera, holding 60+ yachts on August weekend nights with the Mère Germaine restaurant at the harbor as the standing meal ashore. Beaulieu and the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat harbor absorb 30m to 50m berthing.
Monaco. Port Hercule holds 180 superyacht-capable slots up to 110m. The Yacht Club de Monaco quay carries the social and racing anchor of the Riviera. The Port Hercule fills 18 to 24 months ahead for the Monaco GP (late May) and the Monaco Yacht Show (late September). Yachts above 110m anchor outside the breakwater. The Fontvieille harbor on the west side absorbs secondary berthing.
Menton and the Italian border. Eight nautical miles east of Monaco. The Garavan Marina holds 600 slots, smaller than the Riviera majors, and serves as the eastern transition point to the Ligurian Coast. The Menton harbor anchors the Italian border crossing for charter weeks transiting east.
A standard 7-day French Riviera rotation
| Day | Anchorage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sat | Cannes or Antibes board | Boarding, short hop, overnight Pampelonne anchor or Cannes harbor |
| Sun | Saint-Tropez (Pampelonne) | Pampelonne day, Club 55 lunch, evening at Saint-Tropez Old Port |
| Mon | Saint-Tropez to Cannes | East run, Lerins islands swim, evening at La Palme d'Or or Tetou |
| Tue | Cap d'Antibes and Juan-les-Pins | Garoupe Bay anchor, lunch at Eden-Roc, evening at Antibes Old Port |
| Wed | Villefranche and Cap Ferrat | East run, Paloma Beach lunch, overnight Villefranche anchor |
| Thu | Monaco | Port Hercule berth if available, Yacht Club lunch, casino evening |
| Fri | Cap Ferrat return | West run, Cap Ferrat circumnavigation, Beaulieu overnight |
| Sat | Cannes or Antibes disembark | Disembarkation morning |
This is the canonical Riviera rotation. It works on 30m to 70m yachts cleanly with Port Hercule Monaco the only segment that tightens above 60m. The 30 nautical mile spine from Saint-Tropez to Monaco absorbs short daily passages and the rotation can be run east-to-west or west-to-east interchangeably.
French Riviera yacht size guidance
30m to 50m. The clean fit. All marinas absorb. Pampelonne anchor, Lerins anchor, Cap Ferrat anchor direct. The week runs without compromise.
50m to 70m. Workable. Port Vauban absorbs at the IYCA quay direct. Port Hercule outer slots only. Saint-Tropez harbor tightens to outer berths. Pampelonne anchor direct.
70m to 100m. Port Vauban remains the working base. Port Hercule absorbs 3 to 5 outer slots, 18 to 24 months ahead. Saint-Tropez harbor pushes to anchor offshore. Cannes outer harbor slots.
100m and above. Port Vauban IYCA quay (the 175m berth) is the only standing slot. Port Hercule absorbs 1 to 2 outer slots by request. Most weeks at this size anchor at Villefranche or off Cap Ferrat and tender to the marinas.
French Riviera charter cost math
| Line item | Range (50m motor yacht, August peak) |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | €260K to €380K |
| APA (32% to 38%) | €83K to €144K |
| VAT (20% French, charter days in French waters) | €52K to €76K |
| Port Vauban Antibes berthing (per night, August, 50m) | €2.5K to €5K |
| Port Hercule Monaco berthing (per night, August, 50m) | €4K to €8K |
| Saint-Tropez harbor (per night, August, 50m) | €3K to €6K |
| Club 55, Eden-Roc lunches (per visit) | €1.5K to €5K |
| Gratuity (10% to 15%) | €26K to €57K |
| Full check | €440K to €670K |
The 20 percent French charter VAT applies to days spent in French waters. Charter weeks running primarily in French waters carry the full 20 percent; weeks crossing into Italian (22 percent) or Monégasque (no VAT) territory carry pro-rata calculations. APA on a French Riviera week runs 32 to 38 percent; the higher end reflects the social spend (Eden-Roc, Club 55, Monaco evening, marina ancillaries).
What we passed on
We pass on the Cannes Film Festival as a leisure charter week. The marina pressure pushes 50m berthing to €8K to €15K per night at Port Canto and Port Pierre Canto, the Croisette anchor holds 80+ yachts at the breakwater anchor only, and the on-shore restaurant calendar runs at industry capacity. The Film Festival is a working week for industry clients; for everyone else book May 1 to May 10 or May 25 to May 31 to get the same coastline at half the rate.
We pass on Monaco Port Hercule as a daily overnight base. The €4K to €8K per night berth rate is paired with a Monaco that runs as a regulated city, not as a charter ground. Use Monaco for the Yacht Club evening and the casino night and anchor at Villefranche or Cap Ferrat for the working overnight nights.
We pass on the Pampelonne second week of August anchor on weekend nights. The anchor density runs 100+ yachts and the captain handles the holding logistics with 200 metre swing radius on standoff. The cleaner overnight is at Bay des Canoubiers (2 nautical miles west of Pampelonne) on weekend nights and the morning return to Pampelonne for the daytime.
We pass on Saint-Tropez harbor changeover Saturdays in August. The Old Port handover from one charter to the next ties up 4 to 6 hours of dock time and the August Saturday handovers run with 20 minute slip allocations. Use the Pampelonne anchor for the changeover Saturday or push the changeover to Cannes or Antibes.
We pass on the September Monaco Yacht Show window for a leisure charter. The last week of September pulls Port Hercule into industry use and the charter market in Monaco effectively closes for the 5-day show window. Charter the first 3 weeks of September instead.
Multi-region pairings
The French Riviera-Corsica 10-day one-way (Cannes board, Riviera spine, cross south to Corsica or Sardinia, disembark Olbia or Ajaccio) is the strongest long-form Western Mediterranean charter and runs particularly well in late June and early September. The Cannes to Calvi passage is 100 nautical miles and runs cleanly in 8 to 10 hours.
The French Riviera-Ligurian Coast 7-day rotation (Cannes east to Portofino, Cinque Terre, return) is the standard pairing east of the Riviera. We cover the Italian side on the Ligurian Coast page.
The French Riviera-Balearics 10-day one-way (Saint-Tropez to Mallorca or Ibiza, 180 nautical miles) is technically possible but pulls the structure into a transit week. The Riviera-Corsica pairing is the cleaner long-form option.
The cross-pillar question (villa or charter)
The Cap Ferrat, Cap d'Antibes, Cannes hills, and Saint-Tropez ramatuelle countryside hold the deepest villa inventory of any Mediterranean coast at €30K to €250K per week. For clients who want the Riviera evenings without the marina logistics, a villa stay plus day charters from Cannes or Saint-Tropez to the Lerins, Cap Ferrat, and Pampelonne works at €6K to €20K per day. The yacht charter answers when the trip wants the corridor (Saint-Tropez to Monaco) at full daily mobility, when the group prefers a movable base across 4 to 5 different shore points, or when the trip extends to Corsica or Liguria for the second half of the week.
The rest of the trip
VillasForKings covers the Cap Ferrat, Cap d'Antibes, and Saint-Tropez ramatuelle villa inventory. HotelsForKings covers the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, the Hotel de Paris Monaco, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, La Réserve Ramatuelle, and the Hotel Martinez Cannes. RestaurantsForKings covers Eden-Roc, La Palme d'Or, Le Louis XV Monaco, Mère Germaine Villefranche, La Vague d'Or Saint-Tropez, and the Tetou at Golfe-Juan. BarsForKings covers the Bar Americain Hotel de Paris, the L'Amiral at the Carlton Cannes, the VIP Room Saint-Tropez, and the Sass Cafe Monaco.
FAQ
What size yacht works best on the French Riviera? 40m to 65m motor yacht. All marinas absorb at this size, the Pampelonne and Lerins anchorages are direct, and the Port Vauban Antibes IYCA quay handles up to 70m without compromise. Above 80m the trip shifts to Port Vauban as the standing base.
When is the French Riviera at its best? The last two weeks of June and the first three weeks of September. Both windows deliver warm water, full restaurant and beach club calendar, and 25 to 35 percent below August peak rates without the event density.
Are Cannes Film Festival and Monaco GP good charter weeks? For working industry clients yes. For leisure clients no. Both weeks push rates 2 to 3 times the baseline and the on-shore calendar runs at industry use. The leisure charter answer is the week before or the week after either event.
Where should I berth for the Monaco GP? Port Hercule outside the breakwater anchor is the practical position. The inside-harbor slots are reserved 18 to 24 months ahead. Anchored yachts inside the breakwater watch the race from the deck with direct visual lines to the chicane and the swimming pool corner.
Can I do the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera in one week? Yes. The Saint-Tropez to Portofino spine runs 175 nautical miles, which absorbs cleanly into a 7-day rotation with 3 days at the French side and 3 days at the Italian side. The cross is best run east on Sunday and west on Friday with a single overnight passage if the weather window holds.