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It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in the French Riviera with Yachtious. Book Now!
It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in the French Riviera with Yachtious. Book Now!
SAILING THE FRENCH RIVIERA
DISCOVER THE GLITZY AND GLAMOROUS COTE D’AZUR
From the Spanish border on the west side to the Italian border, the French Mediterranean coastline features warm water, dazzling weather, and beautiful opportunities for sailing and sightseeing. It’s a must-see for anyone that loves yachting!
There is a difference between the east and west here with the east of Marseilles being the sophisticated and expensive section befit with rugged scenery and marinas along the water’s edge. It is here that the wealthy play aboard yacht charters and on the marina. In the west, north of Collioure, a pretty port that sits just 10 miles (16 km) from the Spanish border, the Languedoc-Roussillon coastline lies low and has nothing spectacular to mention on the exterior but the hidden gems it has can be found once you step off your yacht charter.
Most cruising yachts will ignore this area and sail right to the Cote d’Azur by way of mainland Spain, perhaps stopping at the Balearic Islands. But on a smaller yacht, take the quick short cut through the Bay of Biscay using the Canal du Midi to access the Mediterranean, and you’ll find a beautiful, lesser-traveled path as you come out of Sete or Agde on the Languedoc-Roussillon coast, which are small islands with plenty of Gallic charm. Sete is the largest French Mediterranean fishing port. It has excellent seafood restaurants to enjoy while Agde presents narrow streets crafted by the Ancient Greeks that used it as a trading port. Both of these stops are worth getting off your yacht to see, though you might just be entranced by the nudist resorts located at Cap d’Agde.
Golfe du Lion is the other exit point you may find further east on Europe’s canals with Port Saint-Louis, located on the Grand Rhone. It’s in between bland salt flats and a massive oil terminal at Fos. It’s merely a place to prepare your ship for the next leg of your sail though if you go to the marina and head inland, Nimes, Arles, or Avignon are wondrous Roman settlements to explore. There’s also the Pont du Gard aqueduct to see, though the Arenes de Nimes, the Roman amphitheater, still hosts bullfights to this day.
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BEST TIME TO VISIT FRENCH RIVIERA
The French Riviera is always lovely for a yacht charter. However, some months are better than others. Protected by hills in the west and the Mecantour Alps to the northwest, the Côte d’Azur has a mild Mediterranean climate year-round. It has roughly 300 days of sunshine though rain hits in the shoulder months – March and April, and October and November. May and September are the best times to sail to the area. The height of the season is in July and August where everything is crowded, but if you like parties, this is the place to be. With May and the Cannes Film Festival, you’ll see many stars, and later in the month, the elite arrives for the Grand Prix in Monaco.
For a romantic and quiet getaway, come in winter, though be aware that many hotels are closed from November to March. Be sure when booking that you know what you’re in for. In Nice in February, you can enjoy the fun experience of Carnival.
QUICK FACTS
BEST FOR CRUISING: MAY & SEPTEMBER
TIME ZONE: GMT + 1
LANGUAGE: FRENCH.
CURRENCY: EURO (EUR)
REASONS TO VISIT
THE GLAMOUR
THE SHOPPING
MONTE CARLO CASINO
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
ARCHITECTURE
NIGHTLIFE
MONACO
LUXURY HOTELS
ST TROPEZ
AMAZING CUISINE
GETTING TO FRENCH RIVIERA
Nice Côte d’Azur is the busiest international airport in France, excluding Paris of course. In the summer it can take you to and from 100 direct destinations located in 32 different countries through 55 airlines. There are many ways to arrange transport with domestic carriers, scheduled airlines, and lower cost companies. In the heart of the Alpes Maritimes, it’s also at the gates of Nice that you’re in the middle of Cannes and Monaco, making for easy passage between the two. In winter, the winter sports resorts in the Southern Alps are also easy to access. Air France has 454 flights each week to the Nice Airport from 18 cities direct in France, Europe, and other parts of the world with one designated link to New York.
If you take a car, the motorway system in France links up the Riviera to the rest of Europe, though the drive is quite long from Paris to Nice at 8 hours. The high-speed and express trains, TGV and Train Corail respectively, come from the Riviera and join the coast to all the regions of France plus all the major European cities. The TGV Méditerranée can take you from Nice to Paris in just 5 hours 25 minutes, and you don’t have to drive!
At the ports for Cannes, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, and Monaco, these are the Mediterranean stopovers for all major cruise lines. With convenient passenger stations located in the heart of the city, they provide direct access from which to shop and sight-see. There are also 2 ferry companies that have regular trips to Corsica with great rates depending on when you’re traveling.
With 33 harbors on the Riviera coastline for every type of yacht, private yachting, of course, is one of the best ways to get there.
WHERE TO STAY IN FRENCH RIVIERA
Luxurious seaside resorts abound in Cote d'Azur. Among them, you’ll find 5-star hotels and residences that are regarded as the best in the world. In Cannes, you’ll find unparalleled luxury, though it is possible to find simple rooms. French B&Bs are also a delight. Chambre d'Hote is a popular one, though you can also choose to have an authentic experience and stay with a French family. Cottages, apartments, villas, and other properties can always be found at reasonable rates, though they are often further from the coastal resorts. If you want impeccable service and to feel like royalty, choose the resorts, though always book well in advance, especially if you are planning your yacht charter for the time during the Cannes Film Festival.
WINING AND DINING IN FRENCH RIVIERA
French cuisine is revered the world over as some of the best. That being said, when you take your yacht charter to the French Riviera, you’ll find plenty of fantastic restaurants to dine at. There are beachfront cafes, restaurants atop the bluffs, and all around the area. In Old Town, the charming rustic cafes are a fantastic way to enjoy the St. Tropez charm.
You can also choose to do your cooking with the fresh local produce on your yacht. French markets are lovely places to shop and sightsee with locally-grown produce and home-made goods. In Cannes, go to Marché Forville to find all the local farmers and partake in their amazing recipes. The flower market in Nice on Cours Saleya is a beautiful place to grab lunch on any day except for Mondays when it is closed. Aix en Provence has a market that is open 365 days of the year, and in Marseille, the fish market is a must-visit.
The entire region is, of course, world-renowned for wine. There are distinct appellations for every region for what is allowed to be grown, harvested, and sold. Rosé wines found in the outskirts of Aix en Provence’s are different than the white wines in Cassis or the treasured Pampelonne rosé hailing from St. Tropez.
Perfect seafood experiences await you in the French Riviera too. The bars in St. Tropez and Provence are among the most divine. The French Riviera is also the place to step off your yacht charter and indulge your sweet tooth. There are pastries and desserts at the tea shops in Nice plus in Cannes, the macarons are an art form. These make for fantastic gifts that you can bring back home…if you can refrain from eating them all at once!
For food specialties of the region that you should try, keep reading!
Bouillabaisse
This is a fish soup that can take as much as 2 days to make. Many places require you to order in advance. It started as a way for local fisherman to use the bounty of the sea when they couldn’t sell all of it in the markets and is now an esteemed culinary offering you’ll find in Chez FonFon in Marseille or Le Château in the Calanque Sormiou.
Tarte Tropézienne
This dessert pastry is known as ‘La Tarte de Saint-Tropez’ and is filled with brioche. Made by Alexandre Micka in 1955, it was named by Brigitte Bardot while she was filming a movie.
Socca
This chickpea pancake is a local treat for Nice and the nearby Italian towns. It’s like a crepe in that the batter is cooked on very high heat. It’s served in paper wrappers.
With incredible food at every turn, you’ll be spoiled for choice on your yacht charter in the French Riviera!
