Planning a French Riviera Yacht Charter? These Are the 10 Experiences Worth Booking Around

When considering a summer yacht charter adventure, few coastlines rival the French Riviera. Epitomizing Mediterranean summers, the Riviera has long been among the region’s most popular cruising grounds, and for countless good reasons.

For the summer, superyachts flock here in their droves to exclusive marinas, world-famous elite and celebrities gather at iconic events, legendary beach clubs reopen, and tables at Michelin establishments get booked up. With 300 days of sunshine a year, a storied history, and luxury contemporary living, the French Riviera remains a favorite yachting hub.

Why Charter a Yacht in the French Riviera?

A yachting playground stretching from Menton to St Tropez, with stops like Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and Antibes, this chic coastline is best discovered from the water. A yacht charter gives you the ideal freedom to travel at your pace—hopping between ports, anchoring in a bay, arriving at a legendary beach club by tender, or cruising with no specific plan.

Ashore the Riviera exceeds expectations, whether you want to shop designer-clad avenues, relax on beaches, visit artistic hilltop villages, or indulge in a world-class dining scene, the region really sets the bar high. And for those who want to plan their charter with some of the best events of the summer calendar, there are many options.

Kicking off the season is the Monaco Grand Prix in May, then the Cannes Film Festival, and wrapping up summer is the Voiles de St Tropez, when some of the finest racing yachts gather, as well as the iconic Monaco Yacht Show, to perhaps peruse yacht ownership after a successful summer of chartering.

Whether you are planning your first charter or returning for another summer of yachting lifestyle, here are our top ten experiences no visitor to the French Riviera should miss this summer:

Spend a Day at a Pampelonne Beach Club

Starting strong, a French Riviera yacht charter itinerary isn’t complete without an afternoon spent at Pampelonne—the three-kilometre stretch of beach just south of St Tropez that has defined the Riviera since Brigitte Bardot first made it famous.

Today, the beach is lined with some of the most iconic clubs in the world. Arrive by tender, laze out on a sunbed, indulge in gourmet dining with a rose in hand, and soak up the chic atmosphere at one of the many. A particular hotspot and the longest-standing is Club 55, a St Tropez institution for the yachting elite. For livelier party scenes, head to Bagatelle; for a more laid-back, family vibe, head to La Serena—there is truly a club atmosphere for every charter group here.

Shop the World’s Most Famous Avenues

The Riviera has long been a playground for the world’s luxury shoppers, with a few especially standout spots. One is the length of Cannes La Croisette, where the grand hotels sit between flagship boutiques of major luxury brands and labels. Meanwhile, in Monaco, the Carre d’Or— aptly translating to the golden square—brings together Hermes, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and more into its streets. And in Nice, the Promenade des Anglais offers a range of shops to suit all luxury shopping lists.

For yacht charter guests looking for a VIP experience, many charter crews and brokers can arrange private, and out-of-hours, access to boutiques, along with personal shopping consultants and stylists who can guide you to the best of these Riviera shopping streets.

Dive the Underwater Museum off Cannes

Cannes offers not only top-tier shopping experiences but also intriguing underwater activities, perfect for those visiting the region by yacht. Take the tender, or anchor, within the Lerins islands, just a shop hop from the mainland. The island of Sainte-Marguerite is home to an excellent Mediterranean diving spot and an underwater eco-museum, which opened in 2021.

Here, there are six large-scale bronze works submerged in the clear waters off the island’s coast, accessed by snorkeling and scuba diving. The sculptures made by Jason deCaires Taylor honor local residents while serving as artificial reefs to improve biodiversity in the region.

Put It All on Red at the Casino De Monte-Carlo

Even if the gambling holds no appeal and you aren’t inclined to test your luck, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is still worthy of a visit on a French Riviera yacht charter. Designed by Charles Garnier (the architect behind the Opera Palais Garnier) this Belle Epoque masterpiece is one of the most ornate buildings in Europe; its gilded ceilings, mosaic floors, and gold-leaf detailing are 19th-century grandeur at its best.

If you arrive before the afternoon, you can take a guided tour before gaming begins. After wandering the iconic Place du Casino, head to the adjacent and historic Hotel de Paris for a coffee, or something stronger, before continuing your Monaco exploration.

Helicopter to a Provencal Vineyard

The wines flowing in the Riviera’s iconic beach clubs and fine dining establishments will typically and predominantly be from the nearby vineyards of Provence, and visiting these vineyards first-hand is well-recommended. Depending on what the yacht’s capabilities are, either hop into the helicopter on deck or charter one from a helipad nearby to explore the coastline from above and then land at a private vineyard for lunch.

It is one of the best ways to experience the region, while tasting the wine at its source. Returning to the yacht in the late afternoon, enjoy a quiet bay and open a bottle from the morning for sundowners as the day ends.

Follow Picasso’s Footsteps in Antibes

Antibes is one of the most charming towns along the coast, and it’s also where Picasso spent time working in a donated studio during 1946 in the Chateau Grimladi and producing work inspired by the light and mythology of the Mediterranean. The Musée Picasso, housed in that same château, holds the works he left behind.

Combine this with a broader guided tour including the rest of the old town and the market, learning about Antibe’s history and sampling local delicacies and Provencal goods.

Explore the Hilltop Villages Inland

The region’s appeal isn’t just found by the coastline; a short drive inland into the hills above the coast introduces another world full of medieval hilltop villages to explore. St Paul de Vence is perhaps the most celebrated; its ancient ramparts house a range of galleries, artisan boutiques, and fine-dining spots perfect for lunch.

Nearby Mougins also has a strong artistic heritage and a range of dining options. And further inland is the famous perfume-making capital of Grasse, with one of the oldest operating perfumeries in France, where you can create your own scent. Between Nice and Monaco, you will find the dramatically positioned and charming hilltop village of Eze, offering hiking, exotic gardens, and panoramic views.

Dine at a Three-Star Michelin Restaurant

With a remarkably high concentration of Michelin stars, there are countless options for fine dining throughout the French Riviera, with over 30 starred spots in the region. You will never be short of options for lunch or dinner.

One notable spot is in Monaco, housed in the Hotel de Paris at the three-starred Louis XV, where Alain Ducasse’s flagship restaurant is one of Europe’s best, with a legendary wine cellar to match. In St Tropez, under chef Arnaud Donckele, is La Vague d’Or, also a three-star restaurant. The elegant restaurant serves up the very best of Provence produce, focusing on local sea and land ingredients.

Find Peace in the Porquerolles

While much of this stretch of coastline is known for its chic and glamorous buzz, the French Riviera also hosts pockets of solitude, and nowhere is that better than within the island of Porquerolles. The largest of the three, the Iles d’Hyeres, lies a few miles off the coast between Toulon and St Tropez. 

There is a small permanent population, no cars, and a landscape full of pine forests, olive groves, and white sandy beaches under the protection of the Parc National de Port-Cros. Anchor off a beach, swim in the undisturbed waters, and explore ashore via bicycle or foot, and you will be rewarded with an untouched version of the Riviera to complement any yachting itinerary.

Browse the Flower Market in Nice

End or begin your French Riviera yacht charter in Nice, and there are plenty of things to tick off in this vibrant city. Spend a morning at Nice’s Cours Saleya, the open-air market that fills the square in the heart of the old town six days a week with flowers, fruit, vegetables, and local producers.

The flowers are piled high with scents to match, an experience that simply requires wandering, sampling, and taking the best of the Riviera markets in. After continuing to explore and visit the old town, discovering the maze of narrow streets, pastel-colored buildings, and historic sites.