Monaco Yacht Day Trip: A Five-Stop Itinerary
Depart Port Hercules and trace 30 nautical miles of Riviera coastline from Villefranche-sur-Mer in the east to Cap-d'Ail in the west, returning after dark to Monaco's harbour lights.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:00 · Cast off from Port Hercules
Clear the harbour wall and turn east toward Villefranche-sur-Mer, roughly ten minutes at cruising speed. The deep natural bay offers reliable shelter and good holding on sand at 6 to 8 metres. Drop anchor early before day-tripper boats arrive, and take a first swim in water that stays clear well into October.
- 02
11:00 · Swim stop at Paloma Beach, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Round the Cap Ferrat headland and anchor off Paloma Beach on the southern shore. The rocky seabed here suits snorkelling, and swell is minimal under prevailing summer winds. A tender drop-off onto the pebble beach lets guests walk to the Paloma restaurant — book a terrace table by radio at least an hour ahead during July and August.
- 03
13:30 · Waterfront lunch at Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Cruise five minutes west to Beaulieu's small harbour. Med-moor stern-to if a quay slot is free, or anchor just outside and tender in. The portside restaurants serve line-caught fish and Bellet rosé from the hills above Nice. Ask the chef onboard to plate a Niçoise salad as an alternative if your group prefers to eat on the aft deck.
- 04
16:30 · Èze village viewpoint and Cap-d'Ail cove
Reposition west past Èze-sur-Mer and tuck into a small cove below Cap-d'Ail where cliffs block the afternoon breeze. The water here is notably warmer in a shallow sandy pocket ideal for children. Guests who want a cultural detour can tender ashore and take the steep path up to Èze's medieval village — allow 40 minutes for the round trip.
- 05
19:30 · Sunset aperitivo and return to Monaco
Drift slowly back toward Monaco as the sun drops behind the Tête de Chien ridge. The crew can set up Champagne and charcuterie on the foredeck while the coastline turns amber. You will re-enter Port Hercules around 20:00, with the Casino terrace lit above the harbour — perfectly timed for a late dinner reservation ashore.
About Monaco
Port Hercules sits at the geographic centre of the Western Mediterranean's richest cruising corridor. Within ten nautical miles you reach Cap d'Ail, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and the sheltered bays of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — each a comfortable morning run by tender or yacht. Stretch the day south-west and Cannes is roughly 30 nautical miles; Saint-Tropez around 55. The charter season runs reliably from late April through October, with peak demand in July and August when the Principality hosts Grand Prix festivities and the summer regatta calendar.
A typical yacht charter from Monaco draws on vessels ranging from nimble 12-metre day boats to 40-metre-plus flybridge motor yachts. Med mooring is the standard berthing style along the Côte d'Azur, and most harbours expect stern-to docking with a passerelle. Sea state between Monaco and Èze-sur-Mer stays calm on prevailing summer winds, making the stretch ideal for families and first-time guests. Ashore, the Marché de la Condamine offers fresh Niçoise provisions that an onboard chef can work into a lunch menu while you anchor off Larvotto Beach.
Couples looking for a quiet afternoon at anchor off Paloma Beach will find the same fleet useful as a corporate host entertaining twelve guests on a Cannes Film Festival transfer. Families with young children benefit from stable, low-swell anchorages near Villefranche-sur-Mer, while larger groups can plan a multi-day private yacht hire linking Monaco to the Îles de Lérins. Our brokers build each itinerary from Port Hercules, matching vessel size, crew configuration and provisioning to your brief. Reach out with dates and guest count, and we will return a shortlist within hours.