The French Riviera packs into a short stretch of coast what other Mediterranean regions spread across entire archipelagos: a single charter week covers Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez without long open-water passages. The classic route runs east to west, ending in Saint-Tropez. French yacht charter starts at roughly EUR80,000 per week in high season, April 2026 reference pricing.
Table of Contents
- Why the Riviera fits in a single week
- Days 1 and 2: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat and Èze
- Day 3: Monaco and Monte Carlo
- Day 4: Cannes and the Lérins Islands
- Day 5: Antibes and Juan-les-Pins
- Days 6 and 7: the Gulf of Saint-Tropez
- Full itinerary table
- Seasonality, wind and charter pricing
- FAQ — Frequently asked questions
Why the Riviera Fits in a Single Week
Unlike archipelagos such as the Ionian Islands or Croatian Dalmatia, where covering the region's highlights means choosing between north and south, the French Riviera concentrates its main draws along a single continuous stretch of coast between the Italian border and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. That allows for a linear route, with short transitions between stops and real time ashore at each one — the opposite rhythm of a more spread-out Greek island or Croatian itinerary. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, one of France's busiest, serves as the entry and exit point for virtually any stage of the route.
Days 1 and 2: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat and Èze
Villefranche-sur-Mer, minutes from Nice, sits in one of the deepest natural bays on the entire Mediterranean coast — a depth that historically drew whole naval fleets to anchor there before the era of large artificial harbors. The old town, with its narrow streets and stairways facing the sea, holds the Chapelle Saint-Pierre, decorated inside by the artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau — a quick stop, but a genuinely singular one.
Across the bay, the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula holds some of the most valuable real estate in the south of France, historically home to royalty and magnates. The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a Belle Époque mansion with themed gardens open to the public, is the peninsula's most visited attraction ashore. Èze, a medieval village perched on a cliff a short sail away, closes out the two days with one of the Riviera's most photographed skylines from the water — at the top of the village, a garden of cacti and succulents offers a panoramic view of the whole bay.
Day 3: Monaco and Monte Carlo
Monaco deserves a full day of its own, and we cover the principality in depth in our dedicated guide, Monaco from the Sea. In short: Port Hercule, the principality's main marina, serves as a year-round showcase for superyachts, with the Prince's Palace atop the Rock of Monaco on one side and the Monte Carlo casino district on the other. It's the most urban, high-energy stop on the whole route, a direct contrast to the slower pace of Villefranche or Èze the day before.
Day 4: Cannes and the Lérins Islands
Cannes is known internationally for the Cannes Film Festival, hosted at the Palais des Festivals right on the waterfront, and for La Croisette, the seafront avenue lined with historic hotels and designer storefronts. The old quarter, Le Suquet, sits on the hill just behind the harbor and offers the best overall view of the bay.
A short boat ride away, the Lérins Islands offer two opposite moods: Sainte-Marguerite, larger and more visited, holds the Fort Royal, a prison local tradition links to the legendary "Man in the Iron Mask"; Saint-Honorat, smaller and quieter, still keeps an active Cistercian monastery, whose monks produce their own wine and liqueur on the island's land — a contemplative counterpoint to Cannes' buzz, just minutes away.
Day 5: Antibes and Juan-les-Pins
Antibes is home to Port Vauban, one of Europe's largest and most established superyacht marinas, with a section informally nicknamed "Billionaire's Quay" for its concentration of large vessels moored stern-to along the dock. The walled old town, its ramparts facing the sea, holds the Picasso Museum inside the Château Grimaldi, where the artist worked for a period in 1946 — one of the most significant collections of his work outside Spain.
On the other side of the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, Juan-les-Pins has its own identity: more casual beaches than Cannes' and decades of history as the Riviera's jazz hub, celebrated every summer by the Jazz à Juan festival, one of Europe's oldest dedicated to the genre.
Days 6 and 7: The Gulf of Saint-Tropez
The crossing to Saint-Tropez is the longest of the route, long enough to justify splitting the final stretch of the week into two full days. Saint-Tropez became international shorthand for the Riviera in the 1950s, when the film "And God Created Woman," starring Brigitte Bardot, was shot in the village — until then a quiet fishing port. Today's Vieux Port is lined with superyachts moored stern-to in a row facing the waterfront cafés, with the Citadel, a 16th-century fortress, on the hill behind town.
The Gulf of Saint-Tropez extends beyond the main village: Sainte-Maxime and Grimaud, across the bay, offer a quieter overnight alternative, and Pampelonne Beach, south of the village, is one of the Riviera's longest and best-known, with decades of history as a beach-club destination. It's the natural close to the itinerary before returning to base or disembarking.
Full Itinerary Table
| Day | Stop | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Villefranche-sur-Mer | Boarding, deep natural bay, Cocteau's chapel |
| 2 | Cap Ferrat → Èze | Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the clifftop village |
| 3 | Monaco | Port Hercule, the Rock of Monaco, Monte Carlo |
| 4 | Cannes → Lérins Islands | La Croisette, Fort Royal, the Saint-Honorat monastery |
| 5 | Antibes → Juan-les-Pins | Port Vauban, the Picasso Museum |
| 6 | Gulf of Saint-Tropez | Longest crossing, arrival in Saint-Tropez |
| 7 | Saint-Tropez | Vieux Port, the Citadel, Pampelonne, disembark |
Seasonality, Wind and Charter Pricing
April, this itinerary's reference month, falls just ahead of the Riviera's charter season proper, which builds from May and runs through September, with July and August at the absolute peak of heat, crowds and price — also the period when marina space in Monaco and Cannes is most contested by competing events. The mistral, a cold, dry wind funneling down the Rhône valley toward the Gulf of Lion, hits the western stretch of the French coast hardest; the shoreline between Nice and Monaco, more sheltered by the Maritime Alps just behind the coast, feels a milder version of the same wind, but the more open Gulf of Saint-Tropez can still pick up residual swell when the mistral blows hard further west.
French yacht charter starts at roughly EUR80,000 per week plus 20% VAT in high season — a reference band from European market research, April 2026. May, June and September cost 20 to 35 percent less than the July-August peak, and events such as the Monaco Grand Prix typically add a surcharge on top of marina berthing rates during event week.
| Bracket | Reference price (week) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (France) | from EUR80,000 + 20% VAT | High season, smaller yachts |
| Mid-size, crewed | from EUR30,000 | Standard Mediterranean market band |
| Superyachts | above EUR300,000 | Common in Monaco and Saint-Tropez in summer |
| Shoulder (May/Jun/Sep) | 20-35% below peak | Fewer crowds, same itinerary highlights |
Industry reporting, such as Nicholson Yachts' coverage of Mediterranean seasonality, recommends booking six to twelve months ahead for the summer peak, and twelve to eighteen months for weeks that overlap with major regional events.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Is seven days enough to see the French Riviera by yacht? Yes. Unlike spread-out archipelagos, the Riviera concentrates its main stops — Villefranche, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Tropez — along a single continuous stretch of coast, which allows for a linear route with short transitions and real time ashore at every stop.
Is it better to board near Nice or near Saint-Tropez? Boarding near Nice, at Villefranche-sur-Mer, favors the classic east-to-west route that ends in Saint-Tropez — and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, one of France's busiest, makes arrival and departure logistics easy from any end of the route.
Is Monaco worth visiting by yacht, or is it better seen from land? By yacht, Port Hercule offers the best perspective on the principality: the Rock of Monaco with the Prince's Palace on one side and the Monte Carlo casino district on the other, all visible from the water. We cover the full Monaco itinerary in our dedicated guide to the principality.
What are the Lérins Islands, off Cannes? Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, a short boat ride from Cannes. The first holds the Fort Royal, linked by tradition to the legend of the "Man in the Iron Mask"; the second still keeps an active Cistercian monastery, with monks producing their own wine and liqueur — a quiet contrast to Cannes' energy nearby.
Why is Antibes so often cited among superyacht marinas? Because of Port Vauban, one of Europe's largest and most established large-yacht marinas, with an area informally known as "Billionaire's Quay" for its concentration of large vessels. The town also holds the Picasso Museum, in a castle where the artist worked in 1946.
Why is Saint-Tropez so closely tied to the French Riviera's image? Its international fame took off in the 1950s, when the film "And God Created Woman," starring Brigitte Bardot, was shot in the village, then a quiet fishing port. Since then, the Vieux Port has become a showcase for superyachts, and nearby Pampelonne Beach built decades of tradition as a beach-club destination.
What's the best time to sail the French Riviera? May through September is charter season, with July and August at peak heat, crowds and price. April, this itinerary's reference month, still falls ahead of high season — good for early planning, but with less charter infrastructure running than in summer.
How much does a yacht charter cost in France in 2026? From roughly EUR80,000 per week plus 20% VAT in high season — April 2026 reference pricing. Mid-size crewed yachts start around EUR30,000 weekly on a regional basis, and flagship superyachts exceed EUR300,000. May, June and September cost 20 to 35 percent less than the peak.
Book Your French Riviera Charter
A linear route like this calls for a boat and crew who know every marina on the week's schedule, from Villefranche to Saint-Tropez. To price the full seven days, Voguer's international charter catalogue lives at voguer.yachts, with more than 500 yachts across more than 50 destinations and 24-hour concierge support. Brazilian travelers considering the leap from a domestic boat rental to the Mediterranean can start at voguer.com.br.
Read also: The French Riviera by Yacht: Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Antibes · Monaco from the Sea: Port Hercule, Larvotto and the Coast · Turkey's Turquoise Coast: From Bodrum to Gocek · Amalfi Coast and Capri by Yacht
