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Sample itinerary · France · 7 nights
One Week by Yacht on the French Riviera
A sample seven-night crewed yacht itinerary along the Côte d’Azur, from Nice and Villefranche past Cap Ferrat and Monaco to Antibes, Cannes, the Lérins Islands and Saint-Tropez.
The French Riviera is where Mediterranean yachting grew up. Belle Époque villas line the headlands, Monaco’s harbour fills with superyachts, and hilltop villages look down on bays where you can swim before lunch and be in Saint-Tropez by sunset. By yacht, the coast’s famous traffic simply disappears.
This sample week is a starting point for a crewed charter in summer 2027. Your captain will shape it around the weather, the yacht’s speed and the pace your group enjoys. For an overview of the region, see our yacht charter on the French Riviera page.
Why the Riviera works so well by yacht
The distances are short. Nice to Saint-Tropez is roughly a day’s gentle cruising, so a week leaves plenty of time at anchor. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is the main gateway, minutes from the marinas of Nice, Villefranche and Antibes, and Monaco is close by. Many guests board in one port and leave from another, which keeps the week relaxed.
The coast is also remarkably varied. Within a few hours you pass the deep bay of Villefranche, the wooded peninsula of Cap Ferrat, the glamour of Monaco and Cannes, the red rocks of the Esterel and the vineyards above Pampelonne.
The week, day by day
Day 1 · Nice or Villefranche – board and settle in
Meet the yacht in Nice or in the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, unpack and talk through the week with the captain and chef. Villefranche’s sheltered, deep roadstead is one of the prettiest anchorages on the coast, with the pastel old town rising behind it. Dinner on deck as the lights come on is a fine way to start.
Day 2 · Cap Ferrat and Èze
Cruise around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the wooded peninsula of grand villas and hidden coves, and stop for a swim off its east side. In the afternoon, a short drive takes you up to Èze, the medieval village perched high above the sea, for its narrow lanes, exotic garden and huge views back down to the yacht.
Day 3 · Monaco
Continue east to Monaco. Approaching Port Hercule by sea, with the palace on the Rock and the apartment towers of Monte Carlo behind, is a sight in itself. Spend the day ashore at the Oceanographic Museum, the old town and the Casino square, or simply watch the harbour from the aft deck. Note that berths here are in heavy demand on event weekends, such as the Grand Prix in late spring and the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
Day 4 · Antibes and Cap d’Antibes
Head west to Antibes, home to Port Vauban, one of the largest yachting harbours in the Mediterranean. Walk the ramparts and old town, visit the Picasso Museum in the Château Grimaldi, then anchor off Cap d’Antibes for an afternoon swim beneath the pines.
Day 5 · Cannes and the Lérins Islands
Just off Cannes lie the Lérins Islands, the best day anchorage on this stretch of coast. Île Sainte-Marguerite has pine forest, clear water and the Fort Royal, where the “Man in the Iron Mask” was once imprisoned. Next door, Île Saint-Honorat is home to a working abbey whose monks make wine. In the evening, the tender can take you into Cannes for dinner along the Croisette.
Day 6 · The Esterel coast
West of Cannes, the Massif de l’Esterel drops into the sea in red volcanic rock. It is one of the most dramatic stretches of the Riviera and has some lovely, quieter coves for swimming, paddleboarding and lunch at anchor.
Day 7 · Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne
Round the headland into the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Spend the morning off Pampelonne beach, with its famous beach clubs, then take the tender into the old port for the market, the citadel and an evening on the quayside.
Day 8 · Disembark
After breakfast, disembark in Saint-Tropez, or cruise back east towards Cannes or Nice for your flight home. Your broker can arrange transfers either way.
Anchoring rules and the environment
The French Mediterranean protects its posidonia seagrass meadows. Under the maritime prefecture’s rules, yachts of 24 metres and over may not anchor in mapped seagrass zones along much of the coast, and some popular bays have designated mooring areas instead. A good crew plans around this as a matter of course, choosing sandy spots or official moorings, and it is one more reason to book a yacht with an experienced local captain.
Tell us your dates and group size. Jake will send a free shortlist of crewed yachts for the French Riviera, with availability and rates.
When to go and how to book
The main season runs from May to October. June and September are often the sweet spots, warm and a little quieter than July and August. Major events, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix in May and the Monaco Yacht Show in September, bring busy harbours and higher demand, so if your dates overlap with one, plan well ahead. Our guide to booking a Mediterranean charter for 2027 early explains why the best yachts go first.
Crewed charters are usually quoted as a weekly charter fee, plus an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) for fuel, food, drinks and berthing, and VAT where it applies. Our plain-English guide to yacht charter costs explains each element before you commit.
Keep planning
More Mediterranean guides
Yacht charter on the French Riviera
Where to cruise on the Côte d’Azur, from Monaco to Saint-Tropez.
Read the guide →
The Amalfi Coast & Capri
A sample week from Naples to Capri, Positano and Amalfi.
Read the guide →
Charter costs explained
The charter fee, APA, VAT and tips, in plain English.
Read the guide →
Plan your French Riviera charter
Tell us your dates, group size and the kind of yacht you have in mind, whether that’s a sleek motor yacht, a spacious catamaran or a classic sailing yacht. We’ll come back with a shortlist of crewed yachts, with photos, crew details, availability and rates. Contact us or message Jake on WhatsApp to start planning your summer 2027 week on the Riviera.
Plan your charter
Your free yacht shortlist in 30 seconds
Tap your answers and send them to Jake on WhatsApp. You’ll get yachts, crews, availability and rates, usually within one working day. Free, with no obligation.