The French Riviera is often described as a destination, but for those who travel by sea it is something far more compelling: a continuous maritime landscape where geography, culture and glamour unfold in a sequence of exquisite arrivals. From the Italian border to the wild peninsulas west of Saint-Tropez, the Côte d’Azur offers an unparalleled density of beautiful anchorages, world-class marinas and historic towns whose markets, galleries and boutiques sit mere steps from the quay. For yacht owners and charter guests alike, this is not simply a coastline but a cruising ground — one that rewards patience, local knowledge and a willingness to drift between spectacle and serenity.
Menton — Citrus Groves and Quiet Elegance
At the eastern edge of the Riviera, Menton provides a gentle introduction. Sheltered by the Maritime Alps, the town enjoys one of the mildest microclimates on the Mediterranean, producing lush gardens and the lemons that have become its emblem. Approaching from Italy, the coastline softens into pastel tiers rising above a calm, protected bay.

While Port Garavan accommodates visiting yachts, many captains prefer to anchor offshore in settled weather, offering uninterrupted views of the old town and quick tender access to shore. Menton’s pleasures are understated: morning visits to the covered market for candied citrus and olive oil, quiet walks through Baroque streets, and time spent at the Musée Jean Cocteau Collection Séverin Wunderman, where modern architecture frames the sea like a stage set.
For those seeking a Riviera experience without crowds or ostentation, Menton feels almost restorative — a place to begin or end a cruise in contemplative calm.
Monaco — Engineering Meets Extravagance
A short run west brings a dramatic shift in scale. Monaco rises from the sea like a vertical city, its skyline a study in precision engineering and concentrated wealth. Entry into Port Hercule is among the most theatrical manoeuvres in Mediterranean yachting, especially at night when terraces glitter above the waterline.

Berths here are coveted year-round and require meticulous advance planning. The marina’s appeal lies in proximity: within minutes of disembarking, guests can reach the Casino de Monte-Carlo, couture boutiques, private clubs and some of Europe’s most celebrated restaurants. Technical services, provisioning and security are equally world-class, making Monaco a logistical anchor for larger vessels.
Yet beyond commerce lies history. The narrow streets around the Prince’s Palace of Monaco recall a pre-modern principality, while the cliff-top Oceanographic Museum of Monaco offers both scientific gravitas and sweeping maritime views. Many captains combine a night in port with days at anchor nearby, balancing spectacle with privacy.
Beaulieu-sur-Mer — Belle Époque Refinement
Tucked between Monaco and Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer embodies Riviera elegance without fanfare. Its marina is efficient and well-protected, and the town itself retains the refined atmosphere of the Belle Époque, when European aristocracy wintered here.

The standout attraction is the Villa Kérylos, an extraordinary recreation of an ancient Greek noble house overlooking the sea. Nearby beaches and waterfront restaurants offer understated luxury, while boutique shopping leans toward artisanal jewellery, resort wear and antiques rather than global brands.
Beaulieu is particularly valued as a provisioning stop — excellent produce, bakeries and wine merchants within walking distance of the quay.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — Peninsula of Discretion
Encircled by water on three sides, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has long attracted royalty and financiers seeking privacy. Its anchorages — especially on the western side facing Villefranche — are among the most sheltered on the coast, with pine forests descending to rocky coves of extraordinary clarity.

The harbour itself is intimate, favouring elegance over scale. Ashore, the legendary Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild remains one of the Riviera’s cultural jewels, its themed gardens offering views that seem composed for painters rather than tourists.

Circumnavigating the peninsula by tender reveals hidden beaches, grand estates and walking paths tracing the coastline. Saint-Jean rewards those who prefer quiet mornings, private lunches aboard and evenings free from the performative glamour of larger ports.
Villefranche-sur-Mer — A Harbour of Rare Depth
Few natural anchorages rival the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer. Deep, sheltered and visually stunning, it accommodates some of the world’s largest yachts while maintaining a sense of tranquillity. From the deck, the town appears as a cascade of ochre and terracotta descending to the water’s edge.

Historically a strategic naval base, Villefranche retains an air of quiet authority. The 16th-century Citadel of Saint-Elme overlooks the harbour, while the old town’s vaulted passageways offer shade during long waterfront lunches.
Its proximity to Nice and Monaco makes Villefranche a favoured anchorage for guests seeking accessibility without surrendering privacy.
Nice — Cultural and Commercial Heart
As the Riviera’s largest city, Nice offers an urban counterpoint to smaller towns. Port Lympia accommodates visiting yachts, though many prefer anchoring offshore when conditions permit. The reward is immediate access to a city rich in culture, shopping and gastronomy.

The Cours Saleya market is a sensory spectacle of flowers, produce and Provençal specialities — ideal for provisioning. Museums such as the Marc Chagall National Museum and Musée Matisse reflect the area’s deep artistic heritage, inspired by the Riviera’s singular light.
Nice is less about seclusion than stimulation: grand hotels, serious retail and nightlife that continues long after smaller towns have gone dark.
Antibes — Medieval Charm Meets Superyacht Scale
Between Nice and Cannes lies Antibes, home to Port Vauban, Europe’s largest marina for superyachts. Approaching the harbour reveals an extraordinary juxtaposition: gleaming vessels moored beside ancient stone ramparts.

Inside those walls, the old town feels timeless. Narrow streets host artisan shops, wine merchants and the bustling Marché Provençal, where chefs procure seasonal produce. The Musée Picasso (Antibes), housed in the Château Grimaldi, underscores the area’s artistic legacy.

Nearby Cap d’Antibes offers excellent anchorages on both sides of the peninsula, allowing flexibility according to wind conditions. Coastal paths pass secluded coves and legendary villas, reinforcing the area’s reputation for discreet wealth.
Cannes — Glamour as Infrastructure
Approaching Cannes, the coastline opens into a broad, sunlit bay anchored by the palm-lined Croisette. During major festivals, the harbour becomes a floating metropolis of superyachts, each functioning as residence, venue or social club.

Yet Cannes also offers remarkable cruising variety. The nearby Îles de Lérins provide pristine anchorages among pine forests and monastic ruins, offering calm waters even when the mainland bustles. Many itineraries revolve around this duality: mornings at anchor in silence, afternoons ashore shopping or attending events, evenings entertaining aboard.
Markets such as Marché Forville supply exceptional seafood and produce, while the old quarter of Le Suquet offers panoramic dining above the port.
Théoule-sur-Mer — The Estérel’s Fiery Coast
West of Cannes, the Riviera’s polished façade gives way to dramatic geology. Théoule-sur-Mer sits within the Estérel Massif, where volcanic rock forms jagged cliffs of deep red plunging into turquoise water.

Navigation here is visually spectacular, particularly at sunset when the cliffs appear illuminated from within. Anchorages are smaller but numerous, rewarding careful exploration. The town itself is understated, with discreet restaurants and beaches favoured by locals rather than paparazzi.
For many yacht owners, Théoule represents the Riviera’s wild side — a reminder that nature still dominates beyond the marquee ports.
Saint-Tropez — Myth and Reality
Few places carry the cultural weight of Saint-Tropez. Once a quiet fishing village, it evolved into an artists’ enclave and later a global symbol of summer excess. The port today is a theatre of maritime design, from classic sailing yachts to futuristic superstructures.

Yet beyond the spectacle lies authenticity. The Place des Lices market remains one of Provence’s finest, while museums such as the Musée de l’Annonciade preserve the town’s artistic heritage. Many yachts anchor in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez for greater privacy, using tenders to access beach clubs and restaurants along Pampelonne.
Evenings ashore blend glamour with village intimacy — pétanque in shaded squares followed by dinners that stretch late into the night.
Ramatuelle and Pampelonne — Beaches as Destinations
Just south of Saint-Tropez, Ramatuelle overlooks the legendary Pampelonne coastline. Here, the Riviera’s beach culture reaches its zenith: long arcs of sand lined with refined beach clubs, each with dedicated mooring zones offshore.

Anchoring in the gulf allows easy tender access to lunch reservations that often extend into sunset. Despite the social energy, the surrounding countryside remains pastoral, with vineyards and hilltop villages offering respite from the shoreline’s intensity.
Cruising the Côte d’Azur — A Continuous Narrative
What distinguishes the French Riviera is not any single port but the seamless progression between them. Distances are short, yet each destination feels distinct — Italianate tranquillity giving way to princely precision, medieval charm to cinematic glamour, rugged wilderness to orchestrated luxury.
Weather patterns, seasonal crowds and personal preference shape itineraries. Some guests prioritise social calendars; others seek secluded anchorages accessible only by sea. The true luxury lies in flexibility — the ability to depart a crowded harbour at dusk and wake in an empty bay framed by pine and rock.
For the affluent traveller, the Riviera endures because it offers more than beauty. It provides continuity: a cultural corridor where art, commerce and leisure have intertwined for centuries, now experienced from the privileged vantage of the water. Markets supply provisions, galleries offer intellectual ballast, and each harbour becomes a stage for arrival and departure.
To cruise here is to engage with a living tradition of maritime elegance. As evening falls and the coastline glows in the last light, the towns appear less like destinations and more like constellations — points of brilliance along a shore that has defined European luxury for generations.



















































































































































