7-Day Yacht Charter Itinerary from Monaco: A Riviera Route

A 7-day yacht charter itinerary from Monaco worth bookmarking

Planning a week-long private yacht charter from Monaco is one of the most efficient ways to experience the French Riviera. This sample 7-day itinerary covers roughly 90 nautical miles of coastline between the Italian border and the Îles de Lérins, with overnight stops chosen for shelter, scenery, and shore access. Every leg is short enough — typically 8 to 25 nautical miles — to leave generous time ashore, and the route works well aboard yachts from 24 to 55 metres. Use it as a framework, then adjust with your captain based on wind, swell, and personal taste.

Day 1 — Depart Port Hercules and cruise to Villefranche-sur-Mer

Board your yacht at Port Hercules in the morning. After a safety briefing and a first lunch on the aft deck, weigh anchor for the short 3-nautical-mile run west to Villefranche-sur-Mer. The bay here is deep, calm, and well protected from the prevailing westerlies that can build along the coast in summer. Your crew will set the tender down for a run to the old town quay, where a steep cobbled lane leads to the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. Dinner on board at anchor, with the lights of the Moyenne Corniche above. This gentle opening day lets everyone settle into the rhythm of life afloat before longer passages later in the week.

Day 2 — Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Cruise around Cap Ferrat's eastern shore, pausing at Paloma Beach for a mid-morning swim. The water here is remarkably clear over a sandy bottom at 4 to 6 metres depth — ideal for paddle-boarding. After lunch, the tender can shuttle guests to Beaulieu-sur-Mer's small harbour for a walk through the Villa Kérylos. Return to the yacht anchored off Passable Beach on the western side of the cape. The total distance covered is under 5 nautical miles, so the day is almost entirely about the water. Browse our [fleet in Monaco](#) to find a yacht with a full water-toy inventory suited to days like this.

Day 3 — Antibes and the old port

A 15-nautical-mile passage brings you to Antibes by early afternoon. Port Vauban is one of the Mediterranean's largest marinas — over 1,640 berths — and your captain can arrange a quay-side berth for the night. Walk the ramparts of the Vieille Ville, visit the Musée Picasso, and dine ashore at one of the restaurants along the Cours Masséna. Antibes is also a good provisioning stop if the chef needs to restock from the covered Marché Provençal.

Day 4 — Îles de Lérins: Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat

From Antibes the crossing to the Îles de Lérins is roughly 4 nautical miles. Anchor on the north side of Île Sainte-Marguerite, where a eucalyptus-lined trail leads to the Fort Royal. In the afternoon, reposition to the smaller Île Saint-Honorat, home to a working Cistercian monastery and a small vineyard. The anchorage can get busy in July and August, so an early arrival — before 10:00 — is advisable. These islands are the quietest overnight stop on the route, a welcome contrast to the port nights in Antibes and later in Saint-Tropez.

Day 5 — Cannes and La Croisette

A short 2-nautical-mile hop brings you to Cannes. Options for the day:

1. Morning swim at the Batéguier sandbank — shallow, turquoise water on Sainte-Marguerite's southwest tip, reachable by tender in 10 minutes from the Cannes anchorage. 2. La Croisette promenade — walk the full 2-kilometre boulevard, from the Palais des Festivals to the Palm Beach headland. 3. Lunch ashore in Le Suquet — the original fishing quarter above the Vieux Port, with terrace restaurants facing the bay. 4. Afternoon provisioning at Forville market — open daily except Monday, excellent for local cheese, olives, and cut flowers for the salon. 5. Evening on board at anchor — the Cannes bay is calm in settled summer weather, and the city lights provide the backdrop.

See our [Monaco day-charter itinerary](#) for a condensed version of the Cannes loop if a full week is not feasible.

Day 6 — Passage to Saint-Tropez

The longest leg of the week: roughly 30 nautical miles southwest from Cannes to the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. At a comfortable 10-knot cruising speed, expect about 3 hours underway. Anchor in the Baie des Canoubiers on the north side of the peninsula for a quieter alternative to the busy town quay. The tender ride into the old port takes 8 minutes. Explore the Citadelle for panoramic views, then wander the Place des Lices — the Tuesday and Saturday morning market is worth timing if your schedule allows. For more route ideas along this coast, browse our [Riviera cruising guide](#).

Day 7 — Return passage to Monaco

The direct return from Saint-Tropez to Monaco is approximately 55 nautical miles, usually completed in 5 to 6 hours at 10 knots. Many guests prefer a breakfast swim in the Baie des Canoubiers, then a steady morning cruise with a final lunch served as Cap Ferrat comes into view. You will be back alongside in Port Hercules by late afternoon, with time for a farewell drink on deck before disembarking.

Plan your yacht charter from Monaco

A week aboard a private yacht along this stretch of the Riviera is as much about the pace as the places. Short daily passages, protected anchorages off Cap Ferrat and the Lérins archipelago, and the contrast between lively port towns like Cannes and Saint-Tropez and quiet island stops — these are the details that shape a 2026 summer charter. Azure Riviera's curated fleet of around 29 yachts, coordinated directly from Port Hercules, is built for exactly this kind of route: precise, local, and genuinely tailored to the coastline.