There are few places in the world where luxury feels as deeply embedded in the landscape as it does along the French Riviera. Not constructed, not manufactured—but accumulated, layer by layer, over centuries of changing tastes, shifting fortunes, and evolving definitions of what it means to live well.
Long before the superyachts lined the harbour of Saint-Tropez or the penthouses rose above Monaco, this narrow ribbon of Mediterranean coastline was already quietly redefining luxury. It began not with spectacle, but with retreat. Not with visibility, but with escape.
To trace the history of Riviera luxury is to follow a slow transformation—from aristocratic refuge to artistic sanctuary, from cinematic stage to billionaire stronghold—each era leaving behind its own imprint on the coastline.
The First Arrivals: Health, Climate, and the Birth of Escape
Luxury, on the Riviera, began almost accidentally.
In the late 18th century, long before tourism as we understand it existed, the region attracted a particular kind of visitor: those in search of better air. Northern Europe’s winters were harsh, damp, and often detrimental to health—especially for those suffering from respiratory illnesses. Physicians began recommending the Mediterranean climate as a remedy, and gradually, the southern coast of France emerged as a destination for seasonal migration.
At the time, towns like Nice were modest, almost provincial. Fishing villages dotted the coastline. Roads were unreliable, and infrastructure minimal. And yet, for those who could afford the journey, the rewards were profound: sunlight in winter, clear air, and a slower pace of life.
What began as necessity quickly evolved into habit.
British aristocrats were among the first to establish a presence, building winter residences and forming small, insular communities. These early visitors did not come for entertainment. They came for quiet. For recovery. For space.
Luxury, in this earliest phase, was defined by absence—of cold, of illness, of obligation.
And in that absence, something new took shape: the idea of the Riviera as an escape.
Royal Endorsement: When Prestige Followed Climate
If the Riviera’s early appeal was rooted in health, its transformation into a symbol of prestige came through association.
The arrival of Queen Victoria in the late 19th century marked a turning point. Her extended stays in the region—particularly around Nice and Menton—did more than attract attention; they legitimised the destination. Royal presence has always had a gravitational effect, and in this case, it drew Europe’s upper classes southward in increasing numbers.
Where royalty goes, society follows.
Villas became more elaborate. Gardens more ambitious. Architecture began to reflect not just comfort, but status. Italian influences blended with French styles, creating a distinctive aesthetic that still defines the region today—pale facades, terraced landscapes, and panoramic sea views designed as much for contemplation as for display.
Entire social calendars began to form around the winter season. The Riviera was no longer simply a place to recover—it was a place to be.
And yet, even at this stage, luxury remained relatively restrained. There were no beach clubs, no nightlife circuits, no visible excess. Wealth expressed itself through discretion—through land, through architecture, through time spent away from the public eye.
The Belle Époque: Architecture, Access, and the Rise of Glamour
The late 19th and early 20th centuries ushered in the Belle Époque—a period that would fundamentally reshape the Riviera’s identity.
Railway expansion played a crucial role. What had once been a difficult journey became accessible, at least for Europe’s elite. With improved access came investment, and with investment came ambition.
Grand hotels began to rise along the coastline, each one more opulent than the last. These were not merely places to stay—they were statements. Palatial interiors, expansive terraces, and meticulously designed gardens transformed the Riviera into a stage for a new kind of luxury: one that could be seen.
Monaco, in particular, emerged as a focal point during this period. Its casino, already established, became a symbol of the era’s fascination with risk and reward. Gambling, once considered improper in many circles, was recontextualised as sophisticated entertainment.
Luxury was evolving. It was no longer only about retreat—it was about experience.
And yet, the Riviera maintained its balance. For every grand hotel, there remained private villas. For every public space, a hidden garden. The region offered both visibility and seclusion, allowing visitors to choose their level of engagement.
Artists, Writers, and the Reinvention of Prestige
The early 20th century brought a different kind of visitor—one less concerned with status, and more with meaning.
Artists and writers began arriving in increasing numbers, drawn by the Riviera’s light, its landscapes, and its sense of detachment from conventional European life. Figures such as Picasso and Matisse found inspiration here, while writers of the Lost Generation turned the coastline into a backdrop for new forms of storytelling.
This was not luxury in the traditional sense. Many of these creatives lived relatively simply. And yet, their presence altered the perception of the Riviera in lasting ways.
Prestige became cultural.
Private villas turned into gathering spaces for intellectual exchange. Dinner parties became less about formality and more about conversation. The Riviera evolved into a place where wealth and creativity coexisted, sometimes uneasily, but often productively.
This period added depth to the region’s identity. It was no longer just a destination for the wealthy—it was a place where ideas were formed, where art was created, where culture was shaped.
And in doing so, it introduced a new layer of luxury: the luxury of perspective.
Post-War Transformation: From Winter Retreat to Summer Playground
The Second World War disrupted the Riviera, as it did much of Europe. But in its aftermath came reinvention.
The traditional winter season began to fade. In its place, summer emerged as the dominant period of activity. This shift was more than seasonal—it was cultural.
Sunbathing, once frowned upon, became fashionable. Beaches transformed from quiet stretches of coastline into social spaces. The idea of leisure became more visible, more physical, more immediate.
Hollywood played a significant role in this transformation. Film stars brought with them a new kind of glamour—less restrained, more expressive. The Cannes Film Festival, established in 1946, became a focal point, blending cinema, fashion, and international attention in a way that redefined the Riviera’s global image.
Luxury adapted accordingly.
Beach clubs began to appear. Yachting culture expanded. The coastline became not just a place to stay, but a place to be seen.
And yet, even as visibility increased, the Riviera retained its dual nature. Away from the crowds, the villas remained. The quiet corners persisted. The balance between public and private endured.
The Jet Set Era: Mobility, Style, and Global Influence
By the 1960s and 70s, the Riviera had entered what might be considered its most iconic phase: the jet set era.
Private aviation transformed travel, making the coastline accessible not just to Europeans, but to a global elite. The Riviera became a key stop on an international circuit that included New York, London, and beyond.
This was an era defined by movement—fast, fluid, and glamorous.
Yachts grew larger. Parties became more elaborate. Fashion, architecture, and lifestyle began to merge into a cohesive aesthetic that was instantly recognisable: relaxed, sun-drenched, and quietly extravagant.
Importantly, this period also marked the rise of media visibility. Photographs of Riviera life circulated globally, shaping perceptions and aspirations. The region became not just a destination, but an idea—one that people could imagine, even if they could not access it.
Luxury, in this era, was both lived and observed.
The Modern Riviera: Billionaires, Discretion, and the Redefinition of Luxury
Today, the Riviera exists in a new phase—one shaped by a different kind of wealth.
Billionaires have replaced aristocrats as the dominant force, but their approach to luxury is notably different. Where previous generations sought visibility, many of today’s ultra-wealthy seek discretion.
Privacy has become the ultimate currency.
While Monaco, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez remain central to the Riviera’s identity, they often function more as stages than as residences. The real living happens elsewhere—in quieter enclaves, behind gates, beyond view.
Places like Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cap d’Antibes, and the hills above Èze offer what the modern elite values most: space, security, and control.
Superyachts have evolved into self-contained environments, allowing their owners to experience the Riviera without ever fully engaging with it. Villas are designed with advanced systems that prioritise privacy and autonomy. Travel is orchestrated with precision, often bypassing public infrastructure entirely.
Luxury, once again, has shifted.
It is no longer about access alone—it is about selective access. The ability to engage when desired, and to withdraw when not.
Continuity in Change: What Has Never Altered
For all its evolution, the Riviera has retained a remarkable consistency.
The motivations of its visitors have changed—health, status, creativity, visibility, privacy—but the underlying appeal remains the same.
Light. Climate. Landscape. Rhythm.
There is something about the Riviera that encourages a different pace of life. Days stretch longer. Time feels less structured. The boundary between work and leisure softens.
This continuity is what gives the region its enduring power. It is not simply adapting to new forms of wealth—it is absorbing them, integrating them into an existing framework that has been refined over centuries.
The Riviera Today: A Living Archive of Luxury
To visit the Riviera today is to experience multiple eras at once.
A Belle Époque hotel may sit beside a contemporary villa. A quiet garden may exist just minutes from a crowded beach club. A centuries-old village may overlook a harbour filled with modern yachts.
This layering is what makes the region unique.
It is not frozen in time, nor is it entirely modern. It is both—a living archive of luxury in all its forms.
Spend a little time on the French Riviera in summer and one thing quickly becomes clear: life here revolves around the sea.
Along the coastline from Monaco to Saint-Tropez, harbours fill with an extraordinary mix of vessels. There are sleek day cruisers heading out for lunch in a nearby bay, classic sailing yachts preparing for regattas, and enormous superyachts that look more like floating villas than boats.
Yachting has been part of Riviera culture for well over a century. In the early days, aristocrats and artists sailed these waters in elegant yachts long before the modern superyacht era began. Today the scale may be different, but the appeal remains the same — calm Mediterranean waters, beautiful anchorages, glamorous towns, and a lifestyle that feels perfectly suited to life on deck.
Some harbours put you right in the middle of the action, steps from casinos or beach clubs. Others sit beside old towns where the pace feels slower and the views are just as memorable.
There are many famous marinas in the Mediterranean, but few are as instantly recognisable as Port Hercules in Monaco.
The harbour sits directly beneath Monaco’s dramatic skyline. From the docks you can see the terraces of Monte Carlo rising above the water, packed with luxury hotels, apartment towers, and the occasional rooftop pool. It’s an impressive setting even before you notice the yachts.
What makes Port Hercules special is that it’s one of the few deep-water ports on this stretch of coast. That means the very largest yachts — the kind that stretch beyond 100 meters — can berth here comfortably.
In late September the harbour becomes the centre of the yachting world during the Monaco Yacht Show. For several days, some of the most remarkable yachts ever built line the quays while brokers, designers, and potential buyers move from deck to deck.
Another unforgettable moment arrives during the Monaco Grand Prix. During race weekend, the harbour fills with yachts whose guests watch the cars race through Monaco’s narrow streets just above the port. The atmosphere is unlike anything else in motorsport.
Even outside those headline events, Port Hercules is rarely quiet. Crews prepare yachts for the summer season, charter guests come and go, and the harbour itself feels like a constantly changing gallery of naval design.
Port Vauban, Antibes
A short cruise along the coast brings you to Port Vauban in Antibes, the largest marina in the Mediterranean.
If Monaco feels glamorous, Port Vauban feels serious about yachts. With more than 1,500 berths, it’s a huge harbour and an important operational base for vessels working throughout the Mediterranean season.
The most famous section is Billionaires’ Quay or IYCA, where some of the world’s largest private yachts spend the summer months. Walking along this stretch of dock can be slightly surreal — the yachts here are so large they resemble floating apartment blocks.
What makes Antibes particularly appealing, however, is the contrast between this modern yachting infrastructure and the town itself.
Just a few minutes from the marina, you find yourself wandering through narrow streets lined with cafés and small shops. Markets spill into the squares, locals play pétanque in the shade, and the pace of life suddenly feels very different from Monaco.
The old stone walls overlooking the harbour date back centuries, and the impressive Fort Carré still dominates the skyline. Art lovers often stop by the nearby Musée Picasso, where Picasso once lived and worked.
For many crews, Port Vauban becomes a kind of seasonal home base.
Port de Saint-Tropez
If Monaco represents Riviera glamour, Saint-Tropez represents Riviera legend.
The harbour here is instantly recognizable. Rows of pastel-colored buildings line the quay, their reflections dancing in the water while yachts sit moored just meters away. It’s a view that has appeared in countless photographs over the decades.
What surprises many visitors is how small the port actually is. Compared with places like Antibes, the marina feels intimate and lively rather than enormous.
That intimacy is part of the appeal. Step off the yacht and you’re immediately in the center of town. Restaurants spill onto the waterfront, cafés are filled with people watching the boats come and go, and small streets wind up through the old quarter.
Many visitors arrive by yacht simply to spend the afternoon at Pampelonne Beach, home to some of the Riviera’s most famous beach clubs. The legendary Club 55 has been welcoming yacht guests for decades, while Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez offers a livelier atmosphere.
Each autumn the harbour also hosts Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, when elegant classic yachts gather in the bay alongside modern racing vessels.
Few places capture the Riviera spirit quite like Saint-Tropez.
Vieux Port de Cannes
The Vieux Port de Cannes sits at the base of the old quarter of Le Suquet and remains one of the most recognisable harbours on the Riviera.
What makes this port particularly interesting is its location beside the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Because of that, the harbour ends up playing a role in many of the city’s biggest events.
Most people associate the port with the famous Cannes Film Festival. During those weeks in May, the harbour becomes part of the festival scene itself. Superyachts host private receptions, film industry parties move from deck to deck, and the port feels like an extension of the red carpet.
Later in the year the city hosts the Cannes Yachting Festival, which turns the harbour into one of Europe’s most important showcases for new yachts.
Another major gathering is TFWA World Exhibition & Conference, attracting luxury brands and travel retail leaders.
Because of this constant flow of events, the Vieux Port stays active for much of the year rather than just during the summer.
On quieter days it’s simply a pleasant place to wander. Restaurants overlook the harbour, fishermen still work parts of the quay, and just offshore the Lérins Islands offer calm water and beautiful anchorages only a short cruise away.
Why the Riviera Still Matters to the Yachting World
There are plenty of beautiful coastlines in the Mediterranean, but the French Riviera remains something special.
Part of it is geography. Within a relatively short distance you can cruise between Monaco, Antibes, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez — each with its own personality.
Part of it is tradition. Events like the Monaco Yacht Show and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez have helped keep the region at the center of the yachting world.
And part of it is simply atmosphere. Long summer evenings, restaurants overlooking the water, and the quiet pleasure of watching yachts arrive and depart as the light changes across the harbour.
However you arrive — by superyacht, charter yacht, or simply walking along the docks — the Riviera still offers one of the most memorable maritime landscapes in Europe.
There are many ways to experience the French Riviera. Most involve traffic, reservations made weeks in advance, and the faint sense of arriving slightly too late — after the ideal table has gone, after the harbour has filled, after the mythology has thinned into something more transactional than romantic.
Approached from the sea, however, the Riviera regains its original logic. This was always a coastline first encountered by sailors, aristocrats, and wanderers arriving under canvas rather than by car. Its geography — folded headlands, sudden bays, towns clinging to slopes above natural harbours — reveals itself sequentially, not all at once. A superyacht restores that narrative. It transforms a crowded region into a private procession of landscapes, each one unfolding at precisely the pace its guests prefer.
For ultra-high-net-worth travellers, a week on board is not a conventional holiday but a controlled environment: part residence, part retreat, part social platform. Staff anticipate preferences within hours. Children adapt quickly to the reassuring constancy of cabins and routines. Hosts can entertain without relinquishing privacy. And perhaps most importantly, the usual frictions of movement — packing, security, transfers, delays — simply vanish. The residence itself moves.
What follows is not an exhaustive catalogue of sights but a deliberately paced progression from urban intensity to pastoral calm, from ceremonial glamour to near silence. It reflects how experienced charterers actually use the Riviera: selectively, fluidly, and always with the option to withdraw.
Day 1 — Monaco
Most itineraries begin in Monaco not because it is the most beautiful point on the coast — it is not — but because nowhere else compresses wealth, infrastructure, and discretion so efficiently into such a small area. Helicopter Transfers shuttle continuously from Nice Airport to the principality, reducing what could be a tedious transfer into a seven-minute aerial introduction to the coastline.
Guests typically arrive in waves, their aircraft schedules rarely aligned. The yacht absorbs this staggered arrival pattern effortlessly. Early arrivals settle into cabins, change into lighter clothing, and migrate toward the aft deck where chilled drinks appear without request. Crew members perform a subtle choreography: luggage unpacked invisibly, dietary preferences confirmed, jet lag mitigated with precisely timed refreshments.
Lunch is often taken while still in port, allowing the final guests to join without ceremony. Only when everyone is assembled does departure occur. Lines are slipped, the harbour walls recede, and Monaco’s improbable skyline — terraces stacked like theatre seating — begins to dissolve into distance.
It is at this moment that the psychological transition takes hold. The land-based world, with its urgency and noise, feels abruptly remote. The yacht’s motion is gentle, almost imperceptible, yet the sense of separation is profound. By late afternoon the vessel may already be anchored in calmer water, the principality reduced to a faint shimmer on the horizon.
Day 2 — Cap Ferrat and Villefranche
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat represents the Riviera’s original idea of luxury: discretion rather than display, cultivated gardens rather than spectacle. From the water, the peninsula appears almost entirely green, its celebrated villas concealed behind layers of pine and cypress. Unlike Monaco’s vertical ambition, this landscape communicates permanence and restraint.
The bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer provides one of the deepest natural anchorages on the coast, sheltered from most prevailing winds. Morning begins quietly. Light filters through cabin windows. The faint sounds are elemental — water against the hull, distant gulls, the soft activity of crew preparing breakfast.
Some guests tender ashore to Paloma Beach, whose longevity confers a kind of authority no new venue can replicate. Others remain on board, discovering that swimming directly from the yacht in crystalline water is often more satisfying than any curated beach experience. For those seeking cultural diversion, a short drive inland leads to the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a confection of themed gardens overlooking the sea on both sides of the peninsula.
Evening brings a subtle transformation. As lights appear along the waterfront, the yacht’s position offshore creates a sensation of hovering above the town rather than being part of it. Conversations lengthen. The pace slows further. Many guests begin to realise that the most memorable moments of the week may occur not ashore but in these interstitial hours at anchor.
Day 3 — Cap d’Antibes and Antibes
The westward passage to Cap d’Antibes introduces a different social climate. This is territory associated with long-established wealth, where reputations were formed decades ago and require no reinforcement. The coastline alternates between rugged outcrops and manicured estates, culminating in the storied presence of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
Anchoring nearby places guests within tender distance of lunches that unfold with deliberate languor. Yet the yacht remains the superior refuge, allowing retreat whenever the sociability of shore becomes excessive. This ability to engage selectively — to appear briefly, then disappear — is one of the superyacht’s greatest advantages over hotel living.
Antibes itself offers a welcome injection of authenticity. Its old town functions year-round, and the harbour at Port Vauban hosts a remarkable concentration of large private vessels. Walking the quays can feel like touring an informal museum of naval engineering and personal ambition. For UHNW travellers accustomed to rarity, the sheer scale and variety of yachts can be quietly exhilarating.
Night is typically spent at anchor off the cap, where urban light fades enough to reveal a sky dense with stars — a contrast to the perpetual illumination of Monaco.
Day 4 — Cannes and the Îles de Lérins
Cannes presents a study in contrasts. During major events it becomes a nexus of global attention; at other times it can feel oddly subdued, its grand hotels and boutiques awaiting the next influx. Arriving by yacht allows guests to sample the city on their own terms.
Some may disembark for shopping along the Croisette or private meetings in hotel suites. Others bypass the mainland entirely, preferring the nearby Îles de Lérins. These islands, visible from Cannes yet psychologically distant, provide pine forests, secluded coves, and water of extraordinary clarity.
Lunch on Île Sainte-Marguerite often proves a highlight: rustic surroundings paired with a clientele that betrays little of its wealth. The absence of overt display creates a relaxed atmosphere rare on the Riviera’s more famous beaches. Afternoon swimming in sheltered bays reinforces the sense that true luxury here lies not in exclusivity alone but in contrast — the ability to move instantly between glamour and simplicity.
Day 5 — Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez occupies a unique place in the Riviera imagination. Its fame is so entrenched that novelty is almost irrelevant; what matters is participation in a ritual repeated each summer for generations. Approaching by sea preserves the drama. The harbour’s pastel buildings and church tower appear gradually, framed by hills that still retain traces of the fishing village that preceded the legend.
Guests must choose between berthing in the port, which places them at the centre of nocturnal activity, or anchoring off Pampelonne Beach, where the atmosphere is more relaxed but still socially vibrant. Club 55 remains the reference point, valued less for extravagance than for its effortless competence. Reservations are handled discreetly by the yacht’s agents, allowing arrival by tender to feel spontaneous rather than orchestrated.
Days here are exuberant. Watersports occupy the morning; lunches extend deep into the afternoon; evenings oscillate between on-board entertaining and excursions ashore. Yet the ability to retreat offshore ensures that even the most sociable guests retain control over their exposure. Saint-Tropez may be theatre, but the yacht functions as a private box from which one can watch or withdraw at will.
Day 6 — Cap Taillat and Porquerolles
South of Saint-Tropez the coastline relaxes into something closer to wilderness. Cap Taillat’s sandbar and translucent water introduce a palette of colours seldom associated with the Mediterranean — pale aquamarine, jade, silver. Development becomes sparse; the atmosphere shifts from performative to contemplative.
Porquerolles, protected as part of a national park, reinforces this transition. The island’s interior is accessible by bicycle rather than chauffeured car, passing vineyards, olive groves, and beaches that feel unexpectedly unspoiled. For guests accustomed to urban environments, the simplicity can be deeply restorative.
Many experienced charterers identify this stage as the emotional core of the week. Freed from social obligations and visual noise, the yacht becomes less a symbol of status than a sanctuary. Dinner on deck under minimal artificial light reveals constellations rarely visible elsewhere along the coast, reminding guests that the Mediterranean remains a natural environment despite centuries of cultivation.
Day 7 — Return and Reintegration
The final day carries a subtle melancholy. Shoreside responsibilities begin to reassert themselves; phones reappear; conversations shift toward logistics. Yet departure is engineered to feel as frictionless as arrival. Whether returning to Monaco or Cannes, helicopters or chauffeured vehicles await with quiet efficiency.
From the air, the coastline forms a continuous ribbon of mountains and sea punctuated by harbours that now feel personally familiar rather than abstractly famous. The journey’s arc becomes visible: from urban density to pastoral calm and back again.
Why a Yacht Changes Everything
Five-star hotels can match or even exceed the material luxury of a superyacht, but they cannot replicate its continuity. The environment remains constant while the scenery evolves. Crew learn preferences rapidly and retain them throughout the week. There is no need to adapt to new rooms, new procedures, or new social atmospheres.
Time itself behaves differently. Distances that would require hours by car become gentle passages measured in sunlight and sea state. The Riviera ceases to feel like a collection of destinations and instead reveals itself as a single landscape with subtle variations.
For individuals whose professional lives are defined by speed and efficiency, this deceleration can feel almost radical. Decisions become simpler: where to anchor, when to swim, whether to go ashore at all.
The Freedom to Deviate
No itinerary is ever final. Weather patterns, spontaneous invitations, or the discovery of an especially beautiful bay frequently prompt revisions. Some groups detour to Corsica or Sardinia; others linger longer than planned in a single anchorage. The yacht’s autonomy makes such changes trivial.
Indeed, the highest form of luxury may be precisely this freedom to ignore plans altogether.
A Different Perspective on the Riviera
Seen from land, the French Riviera can appear saturated — its narratives rehearsed, its hotspots predictable. Seen from the water, it becomes expansive again. Headlands conceal hidden beaches. Towns reveal architectural coherence invisible from within. Light shifts continuously across the sea, altering familiar views hour by hour.
For ultra-high-net-worth travellers, the appeal lies not only in comfort or prestige but in perspective. The sea creates distance — physical, psychological, even temporal — from the mechanisms of daily life. It allows engagement without entanglement, presence without permanence.
By the time guests step ashore for the final time, they often remember not specific venues but sensations: mornings without urgency, conversations unbounded by schedules, landscapes revealed gradually rather than consumed.
The ultimate Riviera luxury, it turns out, is not any particular harbour or beach club. It is the ability to leave them all behind whenever one chooses — and to wake the next day somewhere entirely new, with the horizon waiting.
10 of the Best Yachts to Charter on the French Riviera in Summer 2026
A4 — Leopard 27m
A4 is a 27-metre Leopard, and she behaves like one in all the right ways. Fast when you want her to be. Open where it matters. Designed for Mediterranean cruising rather than long passages or formal entertaining.
The Leopard DNA is immediately apparent. Low profile. Clean lines. An emphasis on outdoor living over enclosed volume. On the Riviera, that formula works.
The retractable roof transforms the saloon within seconds, turning the interior into an extension of the deck. It means lunch flows naturally. It means guests don’t feel separated. It means that when the breeze picks up off Cap d’Antibes, you can adapt without interrupting the rhythm of the day.
A4 isn’t oversized, and she doesn’t try to be. She’s not competing with 40-metre superyachts for dockside presence in Monaco. Instead, she excels at what the Côte d’Azur does best — short coastal runs, dynamic afternoons at anchor and spontaneous movement between ports.
This is where a Leopard really earns its place. Leave Saint-Tropez after breakfast. Drop anchor in the Lerins Islands before midday. Slide into Monaco in time for dinner. With A4, those transitions feel effortless.
For charters centred around Saint-Tropez, Cap d’Antibes or Monaco day trips, she offers real freedom. You can leave late. Arrive quickly. Adjust plans without logistical friction. That flexibility is often undervalued — until you experience it.
For couples or smaller groups who value speed over formality and open decks over enclosed salons, A4 is a sharp, highly usable Riviera charter yacht. A true Mediterranean Leopard in spirit and execution.
Aurelia — 37m Heesen
AURELIA is a 37-metre Heesen yacht, and she carries that heritage with quiet confidence. Built by Heesen, one of the Netherlands’ most respected yards, AURELIA feels engineered rather than merely assembled. There is substance beneath the styling. Doors close cleanly. Machinery hums rather than rattles. Underway, the yacht feels composed and deliberate.
Her unique Gulf paint scheme sets AURELIA apart immediately. In a sea of white hulls along the Côte d’Azur, this yacht is recognisable without being ostentatious. The colour gives her character. Presence, without shouting for it.
At 37 metres, AURELIA occupies a particularly practical segment of the market. She offers genuine superyacht volume, yet she remains manageable in Riviera marinas where space is often limited. Monaco, Antibes, even tighter berths along the coast — this is a yacht that fits comfortably into the rhythm of the region.
Underway, the Heesen pedigree becomes more apparent. AURELIA runs quietly. She feels stable at anchor, even when afternoon swell rolls through open roadsteads. For a seven-day charter built around short Mediterranean passages — Cannes to Cap Ferrat, Monaco to Saint-Tropez — that consistency matters more than most guests initially realise.
The interior of this Heesen yacht is elegant but restrained. No unnecessary theatrics. Cabins are well proportioned, giving guests genuine comfort rather than novelty. Deck spaces are practical, designed for actual use rather than brochure photography.
From €110,000 per week, AURELIA represents serious value for a Dutch-built Heesen yacht of this calibre. She suits families who want composure. Experienced charterers who understand build quality. Clients who care more about how a yacht performs than how loudly she announces herself.
AURELIA isn’t about spectacle. She’s about reliability and refinement — qualities that, on the Riviera, often prove far more valuable.
Cherry — Pershing 8X
If you prefer energy to understatement, Cherry delivers it.
This is a Pershing 8X, built in 2023, and she feels every bit as sharp as you would expect from the model. The Pershing 8X is unapologetically performance-driven. Sleek profile. Aggressive stance. Carbon-rich construction. Everything about the yacht signals intent.
Her Monaco home berth only reinforces that identity. The Pershing 8X looks entirely at ease entering Port Hercule — low, fast and confident among the larger superyachts. She doesn’t compete on volume. She competes on presence.
And then there’s the speed.
With a top speed of 48 knots, this Pershing 8X sits in a different category from most yachts in her size range. Not theoretical speed. Real speed. The kind that turns Monaco into a morning coffee stop rather than a full-day commitment.
But performance alone doesn’t define this yacht.
The outdoor spaces are expansive and intelligently arranged. Sun pads forward and aft create multiple social zones. The cockpit encourages connection rather than separation. Even at anchor off the Lerins Islands or Cap d’Antibes, the Pershing 8X remains a social platform, not just a fast machine.
For guests who like to move — Monaco in the morning, Lerins Islands for lunch, Cap d’Antibes for sunset cocktails — Cherry makes that itinerary effortless. A late departure doesn’t compromise the day. A spontaneous change of plan becomes part of the experience rather than a logistical issue.
The Riviera has always had a place for bold, open yachts. The Pershing 8X embodies that tradition, and Cherry executes it with modern precision.
For charterers who measure a week not just in destinations but in momentum, this is a yacht that keeps up.
Eclat — Leopard 31m
The Leopard 31 has long been a Mediterranean favourite, and Eclat is a strong example of why the model continues to perform so well on the Riviera.
There’s an honesty to the Leopard 31. It’s built around warm-weather living. Open. Sociable. Purposeful. The transition between interior and exterior is seamless, which becomes immediately apparent the moment you drop anchor. The cockpit naturally becomes the centre of the yacht, drawing guests outward rather than inward.
But the Leopard 31 isn’t only about exterior living.
Inside, Eclat offers luxurious interior spaces designed by Rodriguez, blending contemporary comfort with a generous, practical layout. The saloon is thoughtfully arranged with two large sofas facing one another, creating a genuinely usable social area rather than a decorative one. Full entertainment systems are integrated cleanly, and ample natural light flows through the space — something that matters during longer lunches or cooler evenings.
Satellite TV is available in all cabins, complete with flat screens and iPad control, giving guests complete autonomy without complication. It’s subtle technology, but it enhances the onboard experience without dominating it.
Back outside, the Leopard 31 returns to its true Mediterranean character.
The exterior living spaces are impressive. Alfresco dining works beautifully on the aft deck, which is equipped with a removable shade for when the afternoon heat peaks. A large raised sunpad invites long, unhurried hours in the sun. Forward, the spacious foredeck features a built-in oversized sunpad — arguably one of the best seats onboard when cruising past Cap d’Antibes or approaching Monaco.
The full-beam extended swim platform transforms the stern into a genuine water-level terrace. Combined with a strong selection of watersports equipment and toys, it ensures that time at anchor never feels static. Guests can swim, launch toys, or simply sit with their feet in the water while the day unfolds.
Off Pampelonne in July, when the anchorage fills early and the atmosphere builds through the afternoon, a Leopard 31 makes sense. Guests move easily between zones. Crew circulate efficiently. The layout supports the energy rather than fighting it.
She’s fast enough to make coastal repositioning enjoyable and large enough to host properly without feeling oversized for tighter Riviera ports. For groups who prioritise sun, water access and relaxed sophistication over formal dining rooms and enclosed salons, the Leopard 31 remains one of the most practical and enjoyable platforms along the Côte d’Azur.
And aboard Eclat, that Mediterranean formula feels very well executed.
FANAMAX — Mangusta 110
Mangusta understands the Riviera better than most builders.
The Mangusta 110 was conceived for precisely this coastline — where speed, stability and outdoor living must coexist without compromise. And FANAMAX, one of the newest Mangusta 110 yachts available to charter, embodies that philosophy exceptionally well.
This is a stylish and sporty Mangusta 110 in the truest sense. Sleek lines. Low profile. Purpose-built for Mediterranean cruising. The moment FANAMAX leaves the dock, you feel the difference in how she handles the water.
She cruises quickly, as a Mangusta 110 should, but remains impressively comfortable thanks to her stabilisers. On shorter, sometimes choppier Mediterranean passages — Monaco to Cannes, Antibes to Saint-Tropez — that stability matters. It keeps lunch civilised. It keeps conversations uninterrupted.
Performance is central to the Mangusta 110 identity, yet FANAMAX never feels aggressive or uncomfortable. Instead, she strikes that balance the model is known for: fast when required, composed when stationary.
At anchor, the swim platform becomes the focal point of the yacht. Off Cap Ferrat or in the Lerins Islands, it transforms into a water-level terrace. The toy selection reinforces that energy — an impressive inventory including a jet ski and two Seabobs ensures that time at anchor remains active and engaging.
The deck spaces on this Mangusta 110 are sociable without feeling compressed. Guests can spread out across sunpads, cockpit seating and shaded areas without losing connection. That flow is essential on a Riviera charter where the day moves organically.
Inside, the interior design by Piet Boon adds a layer of refinement not always found on performance yachts. Clean lines. Balanced tones. Understated sophistication. The Mangusta 110 platform may be sporty, but aboard FANAMAX the atmosphere remains polished.
And then there’s the crew.
An amazing crew elevates any charter yacht, but on a fast-moving Mangusta 110 like FANAMAX, execution becomes even more important. Efficient tender handling. Quick anchoring. Seamless service between high-energy cruising legs. It all contributes to a week that feels effortless.
For guests who want to cover distance efficiently — perhaps Monaco in the morning, Saint-Tropez by late afternoon — without sacrificing comfort or style, the Mangusta 110 FANAMAX is highly practical.
Performance here does not come at the expense of comfort. That balance is precisely why the Mangusta 110 remains such a Riviera favourite — and why FANAMAX stands out among them.
Fiorente — 37m Ferronavale
Some charters call for theatre. Others call for calm.
At nearly 37 metres, this yacht offers genuine space while carrying herself with understated elegance. FIORENTE is not designed to dominate a dock in Monaco. She is designed to be lived on — comfortably, privately and without excess noise.
The yacht underwent an extensive five-million-euro refit between 2014 and 2018, bringing FIORENTE back to her former glory and ensuring she remains competitive in today’s charter market. The result is a yacht that feels cared for rather than simply maintained.
Inside, FIORENTE leans slightly more classic in tone, though never dated. The atmosphere is warm. Balanced. Considered. Movie night has never looked so good thanks to FIORENTE’s state-of-the-art entertainment system featuring Bang & Olufsen technology. The incredibly easy-to-use Sonos system throughout the yacht ensures the right music is always playing at exactly the right moment — whether that’s relaxed jazz at anchor off Cap Ferrat or something more upbeat before dinner in Antibes.
FIORENTE supports up to 10 charter guests in five spacious staterooms: an en-suite master, two double staterooms and two twin cabins. It’s a configuration that works particularly well for families or mixed groups of couples and children. Each cabin feels properly proportioned — this yacht was built for comfort, not just capacity.
On deck, FIORENTE proves equally versatile. Multiple seating and dining arrangements across two deck areas ensure the yacht remains a classic choice for al fresco entertainment. Dining on the aft deck feels natural and unforced. Upper deck lounging becomes the preferred setting for sunset drinks.
And when the yacht is at anchor, stabilisers ensure smiles and relaxation for all guests. On board FIORENTE, sea-sickness becomes largely irrelevant. The experience remains steady, even when the afternoon swell rolls through the anchorage.
For those who prefer action, FIORENTE’s impressive collection of adventure gear and water toys is enough to excite even the most seasoned adrenaline enthusiast. The yacht transitions easily from tranquil morning coffee to high-energy afternoon water sessions.
Evenings at anchor off Cap Ferrat or in the Golfe Juan take on a slower, more intentional pace aboard FIORENTE. This is the type of yacht where conversations stretch late into the night and privacy feels natural rather than engineered.
In a region that often chases spectacle, FIORENTE offers something more grounded. A yacht built for consistency. A yacht built for comfort. A yacht that understands that Riviera luxury is often about what doesn’t need to be said.
Heeus — 44m Bering Yachts
An explorer yacht on the Riviera shifts the narrative.
Heeus does exactly that.
At 44 metres, Heeus is built by Bering Yachts, a shipyard known for robust explorer platforms designed for serious cruising capability. That pedigree is immediately noticeable. Heeus feels substantial underfoot. Solid. Reassuring. She carries a different energy than a typical Riviera sport yacht.
Yet despite her explorer credentials, Heeus integrates seamlessly into the Côte d’Azur rhythm.
Cruising between Cannes and Monaco is effortless, but Heeus also opens the door to something broader — Corsica without hesitation, northern Sardinia with ease, even Portofino within a well-structured itinerary. For experienced charterers who have already “done” the Riviera circuit, this yacht offers geographical expansion without sacrificing luxury.
Part of that versatility lies in her hybrid propulsion system. Heeus can operate in ‘silent’ mode during certain periods at anchor, on dock departures, or for quiet short-range cruising. Early morning departures feel calmer. Late evening repositioning feels discreet. It’s a subtle but meaningful distinction.
On deck, Heeus is generous in scale. The 92 square-metre sun deck becomes a true social centrepiece — complete with Jacuzzi, bar, dining area and ample sun loungers. It is large enough to host properly without ever feeling crowded. An outside cinema setup on the sun deck transforms warm Mediterranean nights into something memorable.
Below, the 40 square-metre beach club elevates the experience further. This is not a token swim platform. It’s a genuine waterfront lounge, complete with sea platform access, Hammam and steam room. After a morning swim off Cap Ferrat or Bonifacio, that wellness space becomes invaluable.
Heeus also carries a huge tender and toy collection — more extensive than many yachts in this size range. The platform supports exploration. Guests can venture ashore, dive deeper into anchorages, or maintain high-energy afternoons on the water without limitation.
Accommodation is equally flexible. In addition to her primary guest cabins, Heeus features a sixth convertible cabin — ideal for additional guests, staff, security or extra crew. That flexibility often proves useful on longer itineraries.
And despite her explorer capability, Heeus never feels industrial. The yacht balances strength with refinement. At-anchor stabilisers maintain comfort. Upper-deck entertaining flows naturally. Interior spaces remain elegant rather than utilitarian.
For charterers seeking something beyond the predictable Monaco–Saint-Tropez loop, Heeus makes sense. She brings range, presence and thoughtful luxury into one coherent platform.
In a region often defined by speed and spectacle, Heeus introduces depth.
Imperial Princess Beatrice — 40m Princess Yachts
This yacht strikes a confident balance.
Imperial Princess Beatrice, built by Princess Yachts, represents British shipyard precision at superyacht scale. At 40 metres, she delivers proper superyacht proportions while maintaining an approachable, usable feel — something Princess Yachts has consistently achieved across its larger builds.
The pedigree matters. Princess Yachts is known for combining engineering reliability with refined design, and Imperial Princess Beatrice reflects that heritage throughout. Her “World Superyacht Awards” win in 2013 only reinforced what many brokers already understood: this is a yacht built to perform, not simply to impress.
The recent refit work is evident the moment you step onboard. Interiors feel refreshed and carefully considered. Materials are balanced. Layout is intuitive. She accommodates 10 guests in 5 ensuite cabins, offering a configuration that works equally well for families or mixed groups of couples.
Outdoor deck spaces are where this Princess Yachts build truly excels.
The sundeck Jacuzzi naturally draws guests upward in the late afternoon — particularly when anchored off Antibes or berthed stern-to in Monaco. It becomes the preferred vantage point for sunset cocktails and relaxed evenings. The deck layout allows guests to gather without crowding, with multiple lounging and dining areas that feel deliberately spaced.
Fold-out balconies on the main deck introduce a subtle architectural touch, expanding the interior footprint and connecting guests more directly with the sea. It’s a detail that elevates the onboard experience without feeling theatrical.
Operationally, Imperial Princess Beatrice benefits from a professional, long-standing crew of eight. On a 40-metre yacht, that consistency matters. Service feels established rather than rehearsed. Guest movement flows smoothly. Corporate hosting or private family charters are handled with equal confidence.
The inclusion of a chase boat — a SAXDOR 40 GTO with its own captain — adds genuine versatility. Guests can separate itineraries, run ashore independently, or extend water sports activities without interrupting the main yacht’s rhythm. It’s an increasingly valuable feature on the Riviera, where flexibility enhances privacy.
Despite her scale, this Princess Yachts build never feels overwhelming. She remains composed. Balanced. Purposeful.
For those seeking refinement without excess — and the reassurance that comes with a well-executed Princess 40m yacht — Imperial Princess Beatrice remains a dependable and highly capable choice for summer 2026.
Leopard — 34m Leopard
This 34-metre Leopard is a strong all-round Riviera performer — and, notably, she is the unique Leopard of her type fitted with stabilisers at anchor.
That detail alone sets this yacht apart within the Leopard range. Open performance yachts are not always known for at-anchor comfort, but here, stability has been properly addressed. Even when afternoon swell rolls through the anchorage off Cap d’Antibes, the experience remains relaxed.
She is fast and sporty in true Leopard fashion, reaching a top speed of 43 knots. That performance transforms the coastline. Monaco becomes a morning visit rather than a logistical exercise. Saint-Tropez can be a spontaneous decision rather than a commitment.
Based in Antibes, this Leopard is ideally positioned for classic Côte d’Azur itineraries. Departures are straightforward. Repositioning is quick. The geography works in her favour.
Her layout is practical rather than complicated. Open deck living dominates, encouraging guests to remain outside where the Riviera is best experienced. Sun pads are generous. Circulation is easy. Guests can spread out without losing cohesion.
Inside, the chic and modern interior design adds refinement without excess. Clean lines. Contemporary finishes. The atmosphere remains bright and welcoming rather than formal. It’s a yacht designed to be enjoyed, not tiptoed through.
The toy inventory reinforces her active character. A wide selection of water toys ensures the yacht never feels static at anchor. Whether launching Seabobs, paddleboards or tenders, the platform supports high-energy afternoons just as comfortably as relaxed lunches.
For charters focused on simplicity — good cruising, reliable crew service and a capable, fast yacht — this Leopard delivers exactly what’s required.
There’s real value in a yacht that doesn’t overpromise. On a coastline as active and sometimes unpredictable as the Côte d’Azur, ease often defines the experience.
And this Leopard makes it look easy.
Luisa — 47m Heesen
At nearly 48 metres, Luisa enters a different category.
Built by Heesen, Luisa carries the quiet authority that defines the Dutch yard. A Heesen yacht of this scale feels different the moment you step onboard — more composed underfoot, more deliberate in her movement, more assured in her presence. Luisa has weight in the right places. She doesn’t need to announce herself.
Based in Cannes, Luisa is ideally positioned for the South of France season. From Monaco quayside events to long afternoons anchored off Cap d’Antibes, this yacht adapts easily to the rhythm of the Riviera. Her crew is highly familiar with the South of France, Corsica and Sardinia cruising grounds, as well as the choreography required during high-profile dockside events. That regional knowledge elevates the experience.
Her last refit in 2025 left Luisa immaculate. New engines. New stabilisers. Updated systems throughout. She feels mechanically current and exceptionally well presented heading into summer 2026. This Heesen yacht has been maintained with intent.
Interior volume increases noticeably at this size. Luisa’s minimalist interior décor enhances that sense of space — clean lines, neutral tones, no visual noise. The atmosphere is calm and architectural rather than decorative. It’s a yacht designed to be lived in comfortably.
Her spacious decks reinforce that impression. Circulation is fluid. Seating areas feel properly scaled. The beach club becomes a genuine entertainment zone once anchored — not an afterthought, but a true extension of the yacht’s social life.
Luisa is also fitted with a gyro stabiliser that operates both at anchor and while cruising. That consistency matters. Whether running between Cannes and Monaco or settled for the afternoon off Cap Ferrat, the yacht remains steady and composed.
The ability to host larger gatherings while in port adds versatility, particularly during major Monaco or Cannes events. Yet Luisa transitions effortlessly into private cruising mode, offering space and discretion for experienced charterers who simply want more room to breathe.
Compared to mid-30-metre yachts, Luisa feels like a step up because she is. More volume. More deck depth. More comfort. And with Heesen engineering beneath her, that scale never feels unwieldy.
For charterers combining leisure with hospitality — or preferring a yacht that offers genuine space and composure — Luisa stands apart.
A Heesen yacht based in Cannes, refitted in 2025 and presented in immaculate condition for 2026, Luisa is one of the most complete yachts available on the Riviera this season.
For more than a century, the French Riviera’s mythology has been built on land: Belle Époque palaces perched above the sea, discreet Cap Ferrat compounds hidden behind Aleppo pines, the old-money gravity of addresses whispered rather than advertised. Ownership — of coastline, of views, of privacy — was the ultimate expression of permanence.
Yet among the world’s ultra-wealthy, permanence itself has begun to look suspiciously like a constraint.
Increasingly, the most coveted Riviera “properties” are not anchored to rock at all, but drift silently between Monaco and Saint-Tropez, appearing and disappearing with the weather, the calendar, or the owner’s whims. Modern superyachts — often exceeding 80 or 100 metres — have evolved into what insiders now describe as floating estates: fully staffed, hyper-secure, technologically advanced residences that deliver everything a waterfront villa promises, and eliminate everything it cannot.
This is not a rejection of real estate so much as its logical successor.
Mobility as the New Status Symbol
Traditional Riviera wealth was rooted — quite literally — in land ownership. But today’s global elite operate across continents, time zones, and markets. Their lives are fluid; their assets increasingly so.
A waterfront villa, however grand, locks its owner into a single vantage point. The view never changes. The neighbours remain constant. The experience is seasonal at best, dormant at worst.
A superyacht rewrites those limitations.
Breakfast in Monaco. Lunch off Cap d’Antibes. Aperitifs at anchor beneath the red cliffs of Cap Taillat. By morning, Corsica. By evening, Sardinia. No packing, no transfers, no security convoys — the residence simply moves.
In this context, mobility becomes a form of control. It allows owners to follow favourable weather, social currents, or privacy requirements without sacrificing comfort or continuity. The yacht is not transportation; it is destination.
Privacy Beyond Walls
Riviera villas promise seclusion, but the coastline is finite. Helicopters hover. Roads expose entry points. Satellite imagery erases anonymity. Even the most fortified compounds cannot prevent observation from the sea.
A yacht reverses the geometry of surveillance.
Anchored offshore, it sits beyond casual intrusion — outside paparazzi range, beyond roadside curiosity, often outside even local jurisdictional reach. Access is controlled entirely by the owner and captain. Visitors arrive by tender or helicopter, not through gates that can be photographed.
For individuals whose wealth is measured not merely in billions but in global visibility — tech founders, sovereign investors, political figures — this level of control is not indulgence. It is operational necessity.
Discretion, on the water, becomes architectural.
The Staff Equation
One of the hidden inefficiencies of luxury property is staffing. Large Riviera villas require year-round personnel — security teams, maintenance crews, gardeners, domestic staff — regardless of occupancy. Coordination falls to household managers, often across languages and legal systems.
A superyacht consolidates this complexity into a single, highly trained crew.
A 90-metre yacht may carry 25 to 35 staff members: chefs trained in Michelin kitchens, stewards versed in silver service, engineers capable of maintaining floating power plants, deck teams who double as watersports instructors, security professionals operating discreetly within the hierarchy.
Crucially, they travel with the owner. Service standards remain constant whether the yacht is in Monaco, Corsica, or the Caribbean. There is no need to rebuild teams or renegotiate expectations across properties.
In effect, the yacht becomes a turnkey household that never stops functioning.
The Hotelisation of the Private Residence
Modern superyacht design has blurred the distinction between private home and ultra-luxury resort.
Where earlier vessels emphasised formal salons and nautical aesthetics, contemporary builds prioritise livability: beach clubs at water level, infinity pools that merge visually with the sea, cinema rooms, wellness decks equipped with saunas, cryotherapy chambers, and medical-grade gyms.
These are not decorative indulgences. They reflect a broader shift toward experiential luxury — environments designed for extended living rather than ceremonial entertaining.
In many cases, the yacht offers amenities no villa can replicate without extraordinary planning permissions or environmental constraints.
Security Without Theatre
Highly visible security can undermine the very privacy it intends to protect. Armoured gates, patrol vehicles, and perimeter cameras signal vulnerability as much as strength.
On a superyacht, protection is embedded rather than displayed.
Maritime regulations quietly enforce exclusion zones. Radar and thermal imaging provide early warning of approaching vessels. Crew members are trained to manage sensitive situations without escalation. If risk increases, the yacht can simply relocate — something no land-based property can accomplish.
For politically exposed persons or individuals with complex threat profiles, this mobility transforms security from static defence to dynamic strategy.
The Social Geography of Wealth Has Shifted Offshore
Many of the Riviera’s most influential interactions now occur not in villas but on decks.
During the Monaco Grand Prix, Cannes Film Festival, or major industry gatherings, yachts become floating salons where business, politics, and culture intersect away from formal venues. Invitations are tightly controlled; attendance signals trust as much as status.
Unlike villas, which require guests to travel to them, yachts position themselves at the centre of activity — moored beside the circuit, anchored off the Palais des Festivals, or stationed outside Saint-Tropez’s most coveted beaches.
They function as both residence and social infrastructure.
Regulatory Reality: Owning Land Has Become Complicated
The Riviera’s desirability has intensified scrutiny from local authorities. Renovation permits, coastal protection laws, taxation regimes, and environmental restrictions increasingly limit what owners can build or modify.
Even minor alterations to historic properties can require years of negotiation.
Yachts operate under a different framework — international maritime law, flag-state regulations, and port agreements — which, while complex, are often more predictable and less influenced by local politics. The vessel’s jurisdiction moves with it.
For globally mobile individuals, this legal flexibility is a significant advantage.
Weather, Seasonality, and Climate
Mediterranean summers remain idyllic, but heatwaves, water shortages, and wildfire risks have begun to alter patterns of use. Villas can become uncomfortable or even inaccessible during extreme conditions.
A yacht, by contrast, follows temperate weather.
Owners can migrate west toward the Balearics, north along the Italian coast, or entirely out of the Mediterranean. Increasingly, vessels designed for year-round cruising transition seamlessly between summer and winter seasons, turning the concept of a “summer home” into an anachronism.
Asset Logic: Experience Over Appreciation
From a purely financial perspective, yachts depreciate while prime real estate often appreciates. Yet the ultra-wealthy rarely evaluate such assets through conventional investment logic.
For individuals whose core wealth lies in operating businesses or diversified portfolios, lifestyle assets are measured in utility and experience rather than resale value.
A villa generates occasional use and ongoing costs. A yacht, while expensive to operate, functions as residence, travel platform, entertainment venue, and private resort simultaneously.
In this sense, it replaces not one property but several — a coastal home, a holiday compound, a luxury hotel habit, even elements of private aviation.
The Architecture of Escape
Perhaps the deepest appeal of the floating estate is psychological.
A villa, however secluded, remains embedded in the world: connected to roads, utilities, neighbours, and obligations. A yacht introduces a controlled separation. The shoreline recedes; noise fades; the horizon becomes boundary and refuge.
Owners speak less of luxury than of autonomy — the ability to withdraw without disappearing entirely, to host or not host, to move without announcement.
In an era defined by constant visibility, that freedom may be the rarest commodity of all.
Not a Replacement — an Evolution
The Riviera villa is unlikely to vanish. Landed estates carry cultural weight, architectural heritage, and emotional permanence that no vessel can replicate. Many ultra-wealthy individuals still maintain both.
But the balance of aspiration has shifted.
Where once the ultimate symbol of Riviera success was a gated property overlooking the sea, it is now increasingly the vessel anchored just beyond the horizon — visible only to those invited close enough to see it.
The floating estate does not merely compete with real estate. It transcends geography altogether, offering a form of luxury defined not by location, but by the ability to choose one at any moment.
And in a world where everything else is fixed, that choice is power.
Each May, the tiny Principality of Monaco becomes the epicentre of global glamour as the world’s most prestigious street race, the Monaco Grand Prix, roars to life. Part of the elite Formula 1 calendar, this legendary race transforms the harbour of Port Hercule into a floating theatre of superyachts, champagne receptions and high-level hospitality.
For brands, investors and discerning private clients, chartering a yacht during the Monaco Grand Prix is not simply about watching the race — it is about securing the most exclusive vantage point in motorsport while creating an unforgettable corporate or social experience. And when it comes to delivering seamless, high-end yacht hospitality during this iconic weekend, Bespoke Yacht Charter stands out with over 20 years of expertise on the French Riviera and in Monaco.
Why a Yacht Charter is the Ultimate Monaco Grand Prix Experience
The Monaco Grand Prix is unlike any other race on the Formula 1 circuit. The track winds through the city streets, hugging tight corners, sweeping past the famous Casino Square, and plunging through the tunnel before emerging along the harbour straight — directly in front of the yachts moored in Port Hercule.
From a yacht, you are not simply attending the event; you are immersed in it.
Front-Row Trackside Views
Yachts moored along the harbour offer unparalleled sightlines of key sections of the circuit. Guests can watch cars accelerate along the waterfront straight, hear the engines reverberate between the buildings, and feel the intensity of the race from a truly privileged position.
Unlike grandstand seating, a yacht provides flexibility — guests can move between decks, relax in shaded lounges, and enjoy the race in comfort.
An Elevated Hospitality Environment
A Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter blends world-class racing with luxury hospitality:
Gourmet catering prepared by onboard chefs
Premium champagne and curated wine selections
Professional crew delivering discreet, attentive service
Live DJs or entertainment for post-race celebrations
Branded décor and personalised event styling
For corporate hosts, this creates a sophisticated platform for entertaining clients, strengthening relationships, and building brand prestige.
Bespoke Yacht Charter: 20 Years of Riviera Expertise
When chartering a yacht for such a high-profile event, experience is everything. Securing prime berths in Port Hercule is highly competitive, and the logistical demands of hosting during the Monaco Grand Prix are complex.
With more than two decades of industry knowledge, Bespoke Yacht Charter has built an exceptional reputation for managing yacht charters during the Monaco Grand Prix and other flagship Riviera events.
Established relationships with Monaco port authorities
In-depth knowledge of berth positioning and track visibility
Full hospitality planning and event coordination
Customised charter packages tailored to corporate or private needs
This depth of experience ensures clients benefit not only from access to premium yachts, but from strategic guidance that maximises both visibility and guest experience.
Corporate Hospitality at Sea
For companies attending the Monaco Grand Prix, a yacht becomes far more than a viewing platform — it transforms into a floating private members’ club.
A Private Networking Hub
Amid the buzz of the race weekend, privacy is a rare commodity. A yacht provides an exclusive space away from crowded terraces and hospitality suites, allowing meaningful conversations to unfold in comfort.
Breakfast briefings, mid-day networking lunches, and sunset cocktail receptions can all take place onboard, offering flexibility that fixed venues simply cannot match.
Branding Opportunities
Yachts can be customised to reflect corporate identity:
Branded flags and exterior signage
Custom menus and cocktail lists
Logo placements on deck or interior screens
Tailored gift packages for VIP guests
The result is a fully immersive brand environment positioned at the heart of one of the world’s most photographed sporting events.
The Social Dimension: Prestige and Atmosphere
Beyond business, the Monaco Grand Prix is synonymous with glamour. Celebrities, royalty, entrepreneurs and international tastemakers converge on Monaco for a weekend that blends sport, luxury and celebration.
A yacht charter offers:
Seamless access to Monaco’s social scene
Easy transfers to exclusive after-parties
A private retreat away from the crowds
The opportunity to host unforgettable soirées under the Riviera sky
From daytime race excitement to evening celebrations, the yacht becomes the centrepiece of the entire weekend.
Selecting the Right Yacht
Choosing the right vessel depends on your objectives, guest numbers and budget. Bespoke Yacht Charter works closely with clients to identify yachts that offer optimal track positioning, spacious decks and premium amenities.
Options range from sleek 30-metre motor yachts ideal for intimate gatherings, to 60-metre-plus superyachts capable of hosting large-scale VIP receptions.
Key considerations include:
Berth location within Port Hercule
Guest capacity and entertainment areas
Onboard facilities (Jacuzzis, lounges, AV systems)
Crew experience during major events
Catering and beverage packages
By tailoring every detail, Bespoke ensures the yacht aligns perfectly with the client’s event strategy.
Planning Ahead: Why Early Booking Matters
Demand for Monaco Grand Prix yacht charters is exceptionally high. Prime berths with direct track views are limited, and availability narrows significantly as the event approaches.
Early planning offers:
Greater choice of yachts
Access to premium berth positions
More time to customise hospitality elements
Strategic cost management
Bespoke Yacht Charter assists with berth applications and logistical coordination, streamlining what can otherwise be a complex process.
Beyond Race Day: Extending the Experience
Many clients choose to extend their Monaco Grand Prix charter into a broader Riviera itinerary. Before or after race weekend, yachts can cruise along the French Riviera, visiting destinations such as:
Cannes
Nice
Saint-Tropez
This transforms a high-intensity race weekend into a complete luxury escape, combining sport, leisure and Mediterranean cruising.
A Strategic Investment in Prestige
Chartering a yacht during the Monaco Grand Prix is more than a luxury indulgence — it is a strategic statement. It signals exclusivity, confidence and a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences.
For corporate hosts, it enhances client engagement and strengthens brand positioning. For private groups, it guarantees access to the most coveted setting of race weekend.
With over 20 years of experience orchestrating bespoke yacht charters for Monaco’s most prestigious events, Bespoke Yacht Charter offers the knowledge, network and meticulous attention to detail required to execute a flawless Grand Prix hospitality programme.
The Final Lap
Few sporting events in the world combine adrenaline, elegance and global visibility quite like the Monaco Grand Prix. Watching the race from the deck of a luxury yacht in Port Hercule is not merely attendance — it is participation at the highest level of Riviera society.
For those seeking front-row racing views, exceptional hospitality and seamless event management, a Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter curated by Bespoke Yacht Charter represents the ultimate experience — where performance meets prestige on the waters of the Mediterranean.
There are coffee table books, and then there are Assouline books — weighty, gilt-edged declarations of taste that signal a certain fluency in culture and travel. The French Riviera in the 1920s sits confidently in the latter category: part social history, part visual reverie, and entirely devoted to the myth-making decade that transformed the Côte d’Azur into a playground of modern glamour.
Written by Xavier Girard, the volume explores the moment when the Riviera ceased to be merely a winter refuge for aristocrats and became something more electric — a stage for artists, writers, exiles, and eccentrics who would define the aesthetic of the Jazz Age.
A Riviera Reimagined
The 1920s on the French Riviera were not simply about sunshine and sea. They were about reinvention. After the trauma of the First World War, Europe’s creative elite sought escape — and found it between Nice and Cap d’Antibes.
Girard traces the migration of luminaries such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald, whose summers in Antibeswould inspire Tender Is the Night. We meet Pablo Picasso working in the luminous southern light, and Coco Chanel, who helped redefine Riviera style with her relaxed, sun-kissed modernity.
The book excels in showing how these figures were not isolated celebrities but part of a cross-pollinating cultural ecosystem. Villas became salons; beach clubs became ateliers; casinos became laboratories for social change. The Riviera became less a location and more a mood.
The Visual Language of Glamour
As expected from Assouline, the imagery is sumptuous. Archival photography — sun-bleached beaches, striped parasols, linen suits, motorcars gleaming along the Promenade des Anglais — carries as much narrative weight as the text.
The Riviera appears both idyllic and avant-garde. We see the emergence of bronzed skin as a status symbol (thanks, in no small part, to Chanel), the architectural modernism creeping into seaside villas, and the birth of a leisure culture that feels startlingly contemporary. One could argue that the influencer aesthetic of today owes something to these early Riviera myth-makers.
What elevates the book is its pacing. Rather than overwhelm with dates and footnotes, Girard allows atmosphere to lead. This is history by immersion. The text feels curated, not academic — an editorial approach that suits Assouline’s audience perfectly.
Style as Social Revolution
Perhaps the book’s most compelling theme is how the Riviera in the 1920s became a crucible for social experimentation. Hemlines rose. Gender norms blurred. Americans mingled with Europeans in ways that unsettled old hierarchies. The region’s hotels and villas became stages for a new kind of freedom.
The Riviera was no longer just aristocratic — it was artistic, bohemian, entrepreneurial. The Jazz Age did not merely pass through; it embedded itself in the coastline’s identity.
Girard subtly underscores how this decade established the blueprint for modern luxury tourism. The private villa culture, the grand hotels, the ritual of the summer season — all took on their contemporary form here. In that sense, the book is not nostalgic but foundational. It explains why the Riviera still carries such mythic weight today.
Design & Presence
Physically, The French Riviera in the 1920s is everything one expects from Assouline: thick matte pages, impeccable colour reproduction, and a spine worthy of prominent display. It is a book designed not only to be read but to be seen.
Placed in a drawing room in Cap d’Antibes or a London townhouse, it functions as quiet signalling — a reminder of the lineage behind Riviera glamour. It pairs particularly well with other titles in Assouline’s travel series, but stands strongly on its own.
Final Verdict
This is not a dense academic chronicle of the interwar years. Nor does it attempt to dissect political or economic undercurrents in depth. Instead, it captures a feeling — the golden shimmer of a coastline discovering itself as the epicentre of modern leisure.
For readers drawn to Riviera culture, design history, or the mythology of the Jazz Age, The French Riviera in the 1920sdelivers precisely what it promises: a beautifully produced immersion into a decade that defined glamour.
In the end, the book reinforces a simple truth — the Riviera was never merely a place. In the 1920s, it became an idea. And thanks to Assouline, that idea remains exquisitely bound.
Monaco might be one of the smallest states in the world (second only to the Vatican), but location still reigns supreme.
The 2.02 km-squared city-state is divided into seven distinct districts, each with its own unique appeal. Choosing where to buy or rent Monaco property will be determined by a combination of factors, including your desired choice of district as well as your Monaco residence.
If you’re considering renting or investing in Monaco real estate and looking for the best places to live in Monaco, read on.
Here, we explore Monaco’s most sought-after districts, as well as the most popular and luxurious Monaco residences to call home, as recommended by local real estate agents.
Best Places to live in Monaco: Districts and Residences
Monaco’s Districts
The Principality of Monaco has seven districts; Monte-Carlo, Larvotto, La Condamine, Saint Roman, Fontvieille, Jardin Exotique, Monaco Ville, and Moneghetti.
Each district has its own unique appeal, and your choice of district will depend on your desired experience. Monte-Carlo, for example, is the most exclusive and appeals to individuals who wish to be at the heart of all the action. Jardin Exotique, on the other hand, is more low-key, while Larvotto is often desired by families, thanks to its picturesque beach. Let’s not forget to include Mareterra, a brand-new eco-district currently under development.
Monaco Residences: The Most Luxurious in the Principality
Within each of these districts, you’ll find some of the Principality’s most desired Monaco residences. Let’s explore some of the most desirable residential buildings in each district.
L’Exotique – Jardin Exotique
This exciting new development is nestled in Jardin Exotique, Monaco’s westernmost district and the gateway to the Principality. L’Exotique is surrounded by lush tropical landscaping and has been designed by award-winning French architect and engineer Rudy Ricciotti. Residents will benefit from a swimming pool and gym, 24/7 security, a wellness centre, private parking, and spectacular sea views.
L’Exotique
One Monte-Carlo – Monte Carlo
The residences at One Monte-Carlo form part of a brand new fashion district in the Carre d’Or – the most exclusive area of Monte-Carlo. Residents benefit from immediate access to high-end boutiques, gourmet restaurants, lush green spaces, and the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo pool and fitness centre. Optional hotel services are also available, including room service, housekeeping, and laundry. Residents also enjoy sweeping views of the iconic Monte-Carlo Casino and the Golden Square.
One Monte-Carlo
Tour Odéon – La Rousse
Tour Odeon is Monaco’s iconic twin-tower skyscraper, boasting some of the principality’s most opulent Monaco residences, with many boasting breathtaking views. Designed by the Monaco-based architect Alexandre Giraldi, with interiors by the Alberto Pinto Agency, residents enjoy a refined selection of amenities to ensure a luxurious lifestyle, including 24/7 concierge services, housekeeping, valet and limousine services, a spa and hair and beauty salon, an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and a garden relaxation area.
Tour Odéon
Le Stella – La Condamine
La Condamine appeals to those seeking a traditional slice of Monegasque life, and the modernist La Stella is one of the district’s most luxurious and eye-catching Monaco residences, courtesy of its white, ribbon-like façade. La Stella was designed by Jean-Pierre Lott and Alexandre Giraldi. The building spans 12 floors and includes over 90 apartments, many of which are duplexes. Amenities include concierge services, fitness rooms, 24/7 security, and easy access to all of La Condamine’s varied offerings, including its famed Farmers Market and Port Hercules, home to the world’s finest superyachts.
Le Stella
Larvotto – Bay House
Bay House Monaco is one of the Principality’s most exciting new residential developments. Located close to Larvotto Beach and with many residences boasting superb sea views from floor-to-ceiling windows, Bay House Monaco offers luxury living in one of Monaco’s most exclusive districts. Residents of Bay House will benefit from a host of amenities, including a wellness centre with a steam room and sauna, a dedicated concierge, dry cleaning and valet services, and a luxurious pool. Each apartment is equipped with state-of-the-art home automation, offering the ultimate Monaco residence for those seeking limitless levels of luxury.
Bay House
Fontvieille – Les Terrasses du Port
Fontvieille is a dynamic residential and commercial district in Monaco that provides easy access to the French Riviera as well as the exclusive amenities of Monte-Carlo. Les Terrasses du Port is considered one of Fontvieille’s most sought-after residences, located right on the marina of Cap d’Ail and boasting panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Residents benefit from the private enjoyment of a large outdoor swimming pool, a sauna and steam room, a fitness studio, and 24-hour security services. For added convenience, this elegant Monaco residence is located right next to the Fontvieille heliport.
Les Terrasses du Port
Monaco-Ville – Ultra-rare villas and Belle Epoque buildings
Monaco-Ville is a highly exclusive area of Monaco, home to the Prince’s Palace. Monaco residences here are primarily made up of ultra-luxury villas, many of which date back several hundred years. This district has a feeling of a bygone era, with mostly pedestrianised cobbled streets, pretty pastel-hued buildings, and local eateries and boutiques at street level. Located on Monaco’s legendary Rocher, Monaco-Ville offers an enchanting destination to call home.
Monaco-Ville
Moneghetti– Le Palais du Printemps
Moneghetti, or Little Monaco, is the Principality’s northcentral district, located between the exotic garden and Monte-Carlo and the main point of contact between the foothills of the French Alps and the Mediterranean. It’s ideal for families, with a laid-back yet bustling atmosphere. Bordering Monte-Carlo, La Condamine, and Jardin Exotique, it is within striking distance of Monaco’s best amenities. Le Palais du Printemps is a sought-after Monaco residence in Moneghetti. It is a charming Belle Epoque building, favoured for its voluminous proportions and high ceilings that give a wonderful feeling of space. Many apartments in Le Palais du Printemps also benefit from breathtaking views of the Principality of Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea.
Le Palais du Printemps
Mareterra Residences – Mareterra
This transformational mixed-use development is set to create a brand-new Monaco eco-district, one that is future-proof courtesy of the latest green technologies and sustainable design features. Mareterra will boast a refined mixture of Monaco residences, including waterfront apartments, penthouses, townhouses, and ultra-rare waterfront villas. The residences have been designed to epitomise the elegance of life on the French Riviera, and residents will naturally benefit from a full suite of amenities. Sustainable features include solar panels, rainwater reuse, charging stations for electric vehicles, and carefully planned gardens to encourage biodiversity.
Mareterra
How to choose the best Monaco residence to invest or live in?
Your choice of Monaco residence will depend on your unique preferences. Key considerations when investing in Monaco include:
Price, which is determined by not only the size of the residence but also its location and desirability.
Position and proximity to key service providers, such as schools, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, spas, the beach, and the heliport.
On-site amenities, for example concierge services, swimming pools, fitness suites, security, and dedicated parking.
View, including whether you wish to have a sea view.
Working with an experienced Monaco real estate agent with knowledge of the local market will help you define your priorities and needs. The best agents will be able to provide trusted advice on the best districts and Monaco residences to help refine your search for a real estate investment.
The Mediterranean city of Cannes is a phenomenal place to charter a yacht. With a rich culture of gastronomy and art and a high-end scene fit for royalty, Cannes is one of the best places on earth to dine, shop, and party by the glittering sea. When it’s time to chill out, there are quiet islands, decadent day spas and flowery hill villages to explore, while adventure calls from the surrounding hills.
Here are 11 things to do on a Cannes yacht charter:
1. Live it up above the city at a Rooftop Bar
A rooftop terrace is the place to be at sunset in Cannes, the balmy air filled with music and the rising moon throwing its early silver on the far-below sea. Considered Cannes’ finest rooftop bar, 360 at the Radisson Blu is a gathering ground of the beautiful people, with a vast expanse of terrace space dotted with low lounges, and glass balustrades affording a magnificent view across the Bay of Cannes. Located at the port right next to the Palais des Festivals, Five Senses is a more intimate rooftop bar complete with restaurant and infinity pool, offering a gorgeous view over the old town. The infamous Baoili club also has a swanky rooftop bar, Cloud Nine, which overlooks the port.
2. Bliss out at a Cannes Day Spa
Cannes, unsurprisingly, has quite a few contenders in the ‘best spa’ category, and the very finest tend to be associated with the grand hotels along the Croisette.
Les Thermes Marins deCannes is a 2700sqm day spa set right on the seafront at the Radisson Blu 1835 Hotel and specialises in thalassotherapy, with a dizzying range of sea mineral treatments and multiple pools, including a spectacular outdoor seawater pool overlooking the Mediterranean.
The Hotel Martinez is legendary for its art deco glamour and long history of hosting celebrity royalty (And real royalty, for that matter.) It’s unsurprising to find out that the hotel’s L.Raphael Spa is ultra-high-end, with 42 plush, low lit rooms and a menu featuring treatments such as diamond dust and caviar facials.
3. Lunch surrounded by the masters in a Medieval Village
Dragging yourself away from your yacht for a few hours will be richly rewarded. The perched village of Saint Paul de Vence is considered one of the most beautiful in France, with its high walls sheltering stone laneways wreathed in ivy and bougainvillea. An artist’s colony since the 1920s drawing artists such as Picasso, this hill village has gone upscale in recent years, with gastronomic restaurants and art galleries aplenty. There are a number of excellent places to eat, but for atmosphere and art history, La Colombe d’Or is simply unmissable. Take a table in the dining room among a priceless collection of works by old customers such as Picasso, Matisse and Chagall, who paid their restaurant bills here in paintings.
4. Dance like everybody’s watching at an A-list Nightclub
The nightlife in Cannes is famously good, with billionaires and supermodels gracing the dancefloor under the decks of some of the world’s biggest DJ acts. Expect VIP tables and champagne spraying mayhem in peak season. If you’re into super-clubs, upscale Gotha is for you with its 2500 person capacity and multiple areas including a sea terrace by the beach. But if you’re after a more intimate celebrity scene, Baoli is more your game, with Balinese daybeds under the waving palms and an indoor club that drips Hollywood glamour. For an epic night of cabaret, Medusa is hard to beat.
5. Play blackjack under the chandeliers at Casino Le Croisette
With a long 20th century history as Europe’s casino capital, Cannes has three casinos to choose from: Casino Le Croisette, Casino Les Princes, and Cannes 3.14.
All are targeted at the high-end market, but if it’s grandeur you’re after, you’ll want a seat at the high-stakes table at the Casino Le Croisette, situated at the Festival de Palais—home of the Cannes Film Festival.
6. Float through the idyllic Cannes Islands
The perfect antidote to a night of Riviera indulgence is a restorative day during your yacht charter in the Cannes Islands. Just a short cruise from the Croisette lie the serene Îles de Lérins — a small, tranquil cluster of islands where time seems to slow to the rhythm of the sea. Rocky blue-green coves shimmer in the sunlight, pine forests perfume the warm air, and with no cars and only a tiny resident population, the atmosphere feels wonderfully untouched. For yacht charter guests, it is an effortless escape: anchor in crystalline water, step ashore by tender, and discover a Mediterranean landscape that feels almost lost to memory.
Spend the morning swimming straight from the yacht into translucent shallows, snorkelling along rocky inlets, or laying out a relaxed picnic beneath umbrella pines. On Île Sainte-Marguerite, wander shaded forest trails before visiting the historic Fort Royal, where the real Man in the Iron Mask was once imprisoned. The island’s natural beauty and quiet pathways make it ideal for unhurried exploration between swims.
For lunch, step into the laid-back glamour of La Guérite, an iconic island restaurant beloved by yacht charter guests. Set among the pines with sweeping views across the Bay of Cannes, La Guérite pairs refined Mediterranean cuisine with an effortlessly chic, celebratory atmosphere. Fresh seafood, vibrant Provençal flavours and chilled rosé define long, sun-drenched lunches that often stretch blissfully into the afternoon — a quintessential Riviera experience reached best by boat.
Across the narrow channel on Île Saint-Honorat, discover the peaceful Lérins Abbey, where monks have lived and worked for centuries. Stroll past vineyards still tended by the monastic community, explore ancient chapels along the shoreline, and pause for a quiet swim in a secluded cove before returning to your waiting yacht.
As your yacht charter glides back toward Cannes in the late afternoon light, the mainland’s glamour slowly comes back into view. You return sun-kissed, salt-tinged and utterly refreshed — having experienced a side of the French Riviera that remains authentic, natural and beautifully understated, just minutes from the red carpets and bright lights.
On a yacht charter in Cannes you’re spoilt for choice, whether you want to stick close to the coast or head into the rolling foothills. Laid out right by the sea at neighbouring Mandelieu-la-Napoule is the enchantingly pretty Old Course, designed in 1891 by a Russian Grand Duke, where the course even includes a ferry ride over a river. Up in the hills away from the coast you’ll find the excellent Golf Country Club de Cannes Mougins as well as the spectacular Royal Mougins: a par 71 masterpiece designed by Robert Van Hagge.
8. Shop for Haute Couture
With its magnificent flagship couture stores along the Croisette and famous ‘Carre d’Or’ (golden square), there’s a reason Cannes is so famous for shopping. Spend a happy afternoon trying on Gucci and Dior, shop for jewellery in the Carre d’or, and fill your bags with fine chocolates and cheeses from the exquisite chocolatiers and delicatessens along Rue d’Antibes. For a bustling glimpse of local life and the wonderful produce and flowers of Provence, visit the covered market at Marche Forville.
9. Get the heart racing with some outdoor adventure
For all its glamour and gastronomy, the French Riviera is also an adventurer’s playground, its hills riddled with mountain-biking trails and deep limestone canyons. Your choices are near endless for active pursuits in this part of the world, whether you’re rock-climbing climbing high above your yacht up the cliffs of the Calanques, cycling world-class road routes into the Alps Maritimes, or bungee jumping above snow-melt rapids in the Gorge du Verdon. Some of these activities will take you on a day trip away from Cannes, but there are also plenty of adventures around Cannes itself, whether that’s kitesurfing or mountain-biking the red rock hills of the Esterel.
10. Beach Clubs
Passing a day in a Cannes beach club is one of life’s more indulgent moments, listening to the gentle lap of the water and the rustle of ice in a silver champagne bucket as the waiter pulls out a bottle of blush-pink rose.While the lunch scene is pretty chilled out, the energy rises as the summer afternoons wear on into the dusky night.
There’s a lengthy list of Cannes beach clubs, but here a few standouts for the yachting set.
The newly refurbished Barrière Le Majestic Beach has always been a favourite with the well-heeled but it’s even better since 3 Michelin-star chef Mauro Colagreco opened up Bfire in 2019, offering up Italian-Argentinian wood-fired deliciousness to its beach club clientele.
Meanwhile, the ever-popular Barrière Le Gray d’Albion Beach has been overhauled to become the Mademoiselle Gray Plage Barriere, offering gourmet cuisine and a fun, bohemian vibe.
La Plage du Martinez is the quintessential blue and white Mediterranean dream, and continues to be the place to be seen year-on-year in Cannes. Charter guests with children will be warmly welcomed on weekends with the Family Beach Brunch.
La Mome Plage was a breakout newcomer to the Cannes beach club scene in 2015, proving they could go toe-to-toe with the established players.
11. Michelin Stars
Cannes rolls out the red carpet for gourmands, with an impressive list of fine dining restaurants. As with the city’s day spas, the very best are found in the grounds of Cannes’ most sumptuous hotels. The most sought-after table in town is at the 2 starred La Palme d’Or at Hotel Martinez, where creative gastronomy is served up in a spectacular art deco setting. Park 45 at the Grand Hotel is another gastronomic restaurant favoured by the Michelin Guide, with an elegant dining room and an enchanting garden terrace by the sea.
This list represents only a small fraction of the fantastic things to do on a yacht charter in Cannes. The best luxury yacht charters are created with local knowledge, and Bespoke Yacht Charter has a wealth of experience in the Cannes charter scene.
The first signs of spring are just around the corner, which means a plethora of world-class events will soon be arriving on the French Riviera. This idyllic area has long been the go-to destination for the world’s wealthiest, luring in the jet-set crowd with its sublime restaurants, high-end boutiques and refined beach clubs. Indeed, this exclusive area is home to the finest luxury villas to rent on the Cote d’Azur. Conveniently located on one of the most desirable coastlines, these luxury villas are perfect for a spring escape.
However, one of the French Riviera’s major draws is its calendar of year-round luxury events. April through to June are the best months to visit the French Riviera as they are the pinnacle of the 2022 spring social calendar. So, if you are planning a get-away to the Cote d’Azur in 2022, read on to discover our definitive guide to the French Riviera’s 2022 events.
The best French Riviera 2022 events
Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
Arguably the most anticipated Formula 1 event of the year, the legendary Monaco Grand Prix is a must-see French Riviera 2022 event. From May 26 to 29, 2022, the streets of Monaco are transformed into one of the most exciting race tracks globally. The world’s most talented racing drivers make more than 78 laps of the 3.3-kilometre circuit through the hairpin streets of the principality.
This race is a delight for Formula 1 fans and those who wish to immerse themselves in the party atmosphere. Watch the race from one of the luxury yachts moored in Port Hercules or one of the dedicated grandstands for the best views. One of the oldest and most prestigious car races globally, the Monaco Grand Prix is not to be missed.
The most glamorous French Riviera’s 2022 event will be bringing another cascade of A-listers to the South of France for the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. For 12 days, starting May 17 to 28, 2022, the chic city of Cannes is transformed from a quiet seaside resort into the densest concentration of film industry activity in the world. The best way to embrace the hustle and bustle and see which celebrities you can spot around the town is to head to Cannes’ famed La Croisette.
Alternatively, head to the Palais, home to all the major screenings during the Cannes Film Festival. While the Palais screenings are only accessible to badge holders, it is not unheard of for particularly well-dressed visitors to be given one of these coveted tickets if the spaces have not been filled. So, put on your best gown or tux and get ready to walk the famous red steps.
For prime access to this iconic event, make the most of exclusive Cap Villas accommodation in Villefranche-sur-Mer or Beaulieu-sur-Mer for an idyllic spring retreat.
From May 19 to 21, 2022, the Longines Global Champions Tour will return to the chic French Riviera town of Ramatuelle, Saint-Tropez, for the 8th edition of the Longines Athina Onassis Horse Show. This fantastic three-day show jumping event is set to take place right on the Mediterranean shores of Pampelonne Beach and is expected to draw in hundreds of passionate spectators. With a total of €600,000 in prize money, the French Riviera’s 2022 event is guaranteed to create an electric atmosphere.
Combining old-world glamour with top-level sport, the events world-class facilities are fit for the occasion, including the main arena for the competitions, a warm-up arena, a village, a VIP area, restaurants, bars, shops, and more. Ticket holders are also treated to front-row seats along with finely crafted Italian dishes, delicious beverage options, and top-quality service at the Global Champions Lounge at the Longines Athina Onassis Horse Show.
To make the most of this glamorous event and the French Riviera’s illustrious charms, rent a luxury villa in Ramatuelle, complete with beautiful interiors and world-class amenities.
After the missed edition in 2020, the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters will reopen its doors from April 9 to 17, 2022. This superb French Riviera 2022 event is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments globally, bringing together the top 56 players on clay in a knockout tournament with six rounds.
The Monte-Carlo Country Club is located on the shore of the Mediterranean and features superb panoramic views of the glistening blue sea. Several levels of terraces descend to the intimate Center Court, one of the most beautiful settings in tennis. Visitors can also enjoy the Super Category Courtside seats or upgrade to VIP Loge Box seats with access to VIP hospitality areas and VIP restaurants onsite for an elevated tennis experience.
There’s nothing quite like staying in one of the French Riviera’s luxury villas for a genuinely luxurious Côte d’Azur experience. From here, you will be within easy reach of these exceptional French Riviera 2022 events, as well as a plethora of other world-class offerings.
So, which luxury French Riviera 2022 event are you most excited about experiencing?
September is the best month to visit the South of France, and the ideal time to charter a luxury yacht on the stunning French Riviera. Summer has yet to come to an end and Fall has yet to start, which lets you enjoy the warm temperatures, sunshine and scenery with fewer crowds around. The stunning white beaches and turquoise waters that make up the stunning coastline of the Cote d’Azur are easily admired from the comforts of a luxury charter yacht. Evenings are pleasant balmy, offering gorgeous sunsets which can either be enjoyed from the privacy of your deck or a world-class restaurant.
As one of the most popular cruising hotspots in the world, visiting the French Riviera in September means fewer tourists and people, and more time to enjoy the number of festivals, events and parties taking place. Take your time exploring the hidden charms of Cannes, the magical city of Monaco or historical sites in Nice in peace. Be sure to take advantage of the European Heritage Days, which lets you visit unique locations usually closed off to the public. But don’t worry, there will still be plenty of locals around creating a warm, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere wherever you may go – from world-class dining to luxury shopping districts and historical sites.
If you are cruising down the French Riviera in September, then be sure to stop by the Cannes Yachting Festival, taking place from September 8 to 13 at Port Canto. See some of the most amazing motor yachts, sailboats and superyachts up close and in person. If you are looking to see some of these yachts in action, then be sure to stop by St Tropez towards the end of the month to watch the sailing regatta Le Voiles de Saint-Tropez.
Monaco life offers its residents luxury at every turn. Indeed, the French principality is a compact city-state that offers the very best in luxury living and is renowned the world over for the lavish life its residents and visitors enjoy. Whether you are seeking world-class cuisine, ritzy nightlife, world-famous events, or luxurious shopping, check out why living in Monaco offers the very best of the good life.
Here we round up some of the best things to enjoy about Monaco life.
Luxurious Shopping at Every Turn
With one of the highest density of millionaires in the world, there’s no shortage of luxury shopping hot spots when it comes to living in Monaco.
One popular spot is the Metropole Shopping Centre in Monte Carlo, featuring a smorgasbord of some of the world’s most luxurious brands such as Gucci and Versace. Alternatively head to the Carré d’Or district, where exclusive brands jostle for the attention of those with ultra-deep pockets.
Join the High-Rollers
Monte Carlo’s famed casino – or the Casino de Monte-Carlo as it is officially named – is where high-rollers, celebrities, and VIPs go to gamble. Here you’ll find all the traditional gambling games, including English and European roulette and Texas hold-em poker, alongside a dazzling array of slot machines. Remember to dress to impress.
Gourmet Cuisine
Gourmands will not be disappointed when living in Monaco. Indeed, Monaco life offers a delicious choice of some of the finest restaurants in the world to choose from. Top restaurants include Restaurant Joel Robuchon Monte-Carlo, which boasts an open Teppanyaki-style kitchen, and Le Vistamar, which serves up mouth-watering European cuisine coupled with some of the best views in Monte Carlo.
Party The Night Away
Exclusive parties at some of the world’s best clubs is all part of the fun of Monaco life. Jimmy’z is a local celebrity hot spot and one of the most renowned destinations to party the night away. Dubbed the temple of clubbing, here revellers can enjoy some of the best beats by a roster of celebrity DJs, a stunning terrace coupled with a spectacular sea view, lush gardens, hookah, and some of the world’s best Champagne.
Other notable hot spots include Le Bar Americain, a swanky jazz club renowned for its live music programme, lust worthy cocktails and fabulous sea views.
Exclusive Events
Living in Monaco includes the opportunity to join in the fun of some of the world’s most exclusive events. The Monaco Yacht Show and the Monaco Grand Prix are two of the most eagerly awaited events on the annual Monaco social calendar and are both an intrinsic part of Monaco life.
The Monaco Yacht show is held annually at the end of September and is the world’s leading superyacht event boasting more than 100 yachts and mega yachts. Some 30,000 visitors join in the revellery of the event, which spans four fabulous days.
Held every May, the Monaco Grand Prix is the slowest and most difficult of all circuits in the Formula 1 World Championship and offers four-days of spectacular racing and wraparound events. Thousands of spectators gather to watch the world’s best racers speed through the streets of Monaco, offering a not-to-miss spectacle.
So, if you’re looking to enjoy a luxurious life, investing in Monte Carlo real estate will enable you to enjoy Monaco life at its very best.
Many well-known car manufacturers have branched out and teamed up with boat builders in recent years to co-create some of the best machines to tackle the seas. Dream Yacht has compiled a list of their favourite collaborations between car and boat manufacturers, and the outcomes are breathtaking:
Mercedes-Benz and Cigarette Racing (50’ Marauder AMG)
Mercedes Benz’s AMG range is jaw dropping at the best of times, but when the German car manufacturer teamed up with Cigarette Racing, the outcome was phenomenal. The two brands have set benchmarks in this sector, and to celebrate 10 years of collaboration, they released the 50’ Marauder AMG.
With both manufacturers renowned for creating machines that are focused on speed and performance, it comes as no surprise that the 50’ Marauder AMG is powered by two Mercury Racing engines, which together produce up to 3,100hp.
The boat was inspired by the breathtaking Mercedes-AMG GT R and incorporates design elements such as a sporty cabin layout, seats which were crafted by the AMG Performance Studio and not forgetting the distinctive AMG Green Hell Magno paint.
Aston Martin and Quintessence Yachts (AM37)
As a brand that has strong ties to the iconic James Bond movies, it only makes sense that Aston Martin would team up with a boat manufacturer to create a sought-after machine. Together, Aston Martin and Quintessence Yachts have created a speedboat fit for 007.
The 37-foot AM37 marked the prestige car manufacturer’s entry into the nautical world back in 2016 when it was debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show. The powerboat comprises design, technology, style and comfort in a unique way, making it nothing less than desirable.
Aston Martin’s bespoke personalisation service ‘Q by Aston Martin’ allowed for the interior to be completely customised. The cabin of the AM37 flaunts Baltic blue and cream truffle upholstery, which is perfectly complemented by sparks of chrome and the Mako blue hull finish. Ostentatiously displayed on iconic models such as the famous DB11 and DBS Volante, it makes sense for the powerboat to be finished in this stunning paintwork.
As part of an exclusive collaboration, Lexus and Marquis-Larson Boat Group created a 65-foot premium performance yacht. Branded as LY 650, the boat is an extension of Lexus luxury, with a maritime interpretation. It boasts advanced technology, three luxurious staterooms and several entertainment areas along with an array of amenities.
Despite its grand design and large dimensions, power is not compromised with the LY 650. The luxury yacht is expected to go into production in the second half of 2019.
The only existing superyacht with Porsche DNA, the GTT 115 is a unique and stunning creation, with only 7 ever being created. Utilising three variable-speed generators in conjunction with two 1,650hp V12 diesel engines and a pair of electric motors, power is not compromised despite the hybrid capabilities.
The triple deck superyacht is made up of subtle Porsche design elements, particularly the paintwork colours it is available in. Carrara White, Rhodium Silver, Chalk and Monte-Carlo blue exterior colours take pride of place on popular models such as 911 Turbo S and the 911 Carrera GTS. Meanwhile, the exterior is made up of classy design elements, including a seamless blend of exotic natural woods and Italian marble which is complemented by stylish furnishings and accessories.
Henrik Fisker and Benetti (Benetti Fisker 50)
Henrik Fisker, an automotive designer who has worked with the likes of prestige brands such as BMW and Aston Martin, branched out into the nautical world in 2016, following the announcement of a partnership with Benetti. Fisker and the Italian boat building company together created a 50-meter-long three-deck superyacht that was built on a concept of sustainability, incorporating reclaimed wood, solar panels and an optional hybrid engine into the design.
The boat has six cabins and can accommodate up to 12 guests who can spend their time utilising amenities such as the retractable ocean-view terrace, minibar, a staircase leading to a private home theater, library, curved television, walk-in closets,and a ceiling that recreates the night sky.
So, there you have it. Some of the most impressive boats built to grace the sea with unique and distinctive automotive design features from some of the most prestigious manufacturers.
The glittering coastal town of Cannes welcomes thousands of visitors every year for high profile French Riviera events. They include the Cannes Film Festival in May, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in June, the Cannes International Yachting Festival in September and the International Luxury Travel Market in December.
In May, all eyes turn towards the French Riviera and its fascinating neighbour Monaco as they deliver a double dose of glamour. The month’s festivities – attended by the global glitterati – begin with the Cannes Film Festival, which will be held from 14 to 25 May in 2019. The dazzling event will coincide with the practice races of the Monaco Grand Prix, with the main race taking place on 26 May.
Cannes Film Festival: premieres and parties
The Cannes Film Festival is considered to be the world’s most prestigious film festival and has premiered most of the greatest films ever released. In the words of Alejandro González Iñárritu, the Mexican director who will preside the jury of the 72th Cannes Film Festival: “Cinema runs through the veins of the planet and this festival has been its heart.”
The world’s film industry heads to Cannes for the star-studded red carpet premieres, screenings, meetings, networking and parties that make up the event.
Many of the films selected to be premiered at the festival are in competition for the Palme d’Or (golden palm) and other awards. Films that don’t meet the competition criteria premiere out of the competition.
Although taking home a prize from what is one of the most famous French Riviera events is no guarantee of commercial or critical success, hugely important deals are sealed for funding and distribution. The festival’s nightlife is renowned: wealthy investors and producers host lavish parties in luxurious hotel suites and aboard yachts.
Although the Cannes Film Festival is an industry-only event, the public heads to the beach to enjoy the films screened there every evening. Some people queue for tickets for the Critics’ Week part of the festival to see films by emerging directors.
The Croisette, the road where the festival venue is located, attracts a public eager to see the stars stepping onto the red carpet as they arrive for the black-tie screenings.
Monaco Grand Prix: prestige and logistical acrobatics
The Monaco Formula One Grand Prix has a history that dates back to 1929 and is part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world and contributes to the image of Monaco as a glamorous destination.
The Monaco circuit challenges drivers with tight corners and elevation changes between the iconic yacht-filled Port Hercules and Monte Carlo and back. As the event approaches, the second-smallest country in the world is taken over by it and the tension begins to mount. In just six weeks – to keep disruptions to everyday life to a minimum – grandstands are erected, roads are resurfaced and kilometres of barriers are built. Some yachts are moved from the harbour to make space for floating VIP hospitality areas.
Some 200,000 spectators attend the Grand Prix in Monaco, a country that counts less than 39,000 residents. The event runs over four days, with practice runs preceding the main race and the atmosphere is electric. Balconies with views over the track are crowded with spectators, the rich and famous take to VIP terraces with gourmet catering and DJs, and invite-only yacht parties continue into the early hours of the morning.
A world of opportunity on the French Riviera
The frenzy of the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix is followed by the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which will take place from 17 to 21 June in 2019. Monaco and the French Riviera are renowned yachting hotspots and, with a large fleet of luxury yachts available in the Mediterranean all year round, an increasingly popular choice of accommodation for attendees is a Cannes Lions yacht charter.
Attendees who are considering a luxury yacht charter for French Riviera events will find quality vessels from top yacht charter companies ranging from 24 to more than 60 metres available in Cannes and Monaco. A luxurious day charter provides the perfect setting for a critical business meeting or party, while week-long charters offer the ultimate superyacht experience.
On all luxury yacht charters for the top French Riviera events, experienced professional crew are on board to ensure a seamless experience – including a private chef trained to create only the most extraordinary culinary delights. Throughout the day the experienced chef may serve up delicious canapes and refreshments during important meetings and conferences, while at night, a feast of fine dining awaits, ready to be enjoyed under the stars with friends and colleagues.
For companies looking to make an impression, the option of a yacht charter offers unrivalled brand visibility. Many exclusive yacht charters are available in the port directly next to the Palais des Festivals, the iconic building that hosts both the Cannes Film Festival and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
With luxury yacht charters in Cannes an increasingly popular accommodation option for attendees of French Riviera events, booking well ahead is essential. For those looking for a superior experience for both business and pleasure, nothing beats a taste of the French Riviera via superyacht.
The natural location of Monaco provides the perfect setting; a miniature city set into the hillside, overlooking the glistening Mediterranean Sea, where historic buildings sit side by side with modern Monaco real estate and an impressive collection of mega yachts are moored in the bay between Casino Square and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
Best known for being a tax haven and playground of the uber rich, Monaco is the smallest country in the world (excluding Vatican City) yet it packs a whole lot into its 2km². Famous landmarks, luxury resorts, exclusive nightlife and a calendar of major events, such as the Rolex Monte Carlo Master’s Tennis tournament, Formula 1® Grand Prix and the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival draw visitors from all over the world to experience the unique location and its glamourous atmosphere.
Yet Monaco has much more to offer than simply a luxury lifestyle. Step off the beaten track to explore Monaco and you will find a place that the locals love, with plenty of unique sights and experiences to take you from morning until night, without venturing onto the tourist circuit.
Local History
Enjoy a gentle stroll through the colourful, pedestrian streets of Monaco-Ville, Monaco’s old town located high on a headland and home to the Prince’s Palace. Pause for coffee in one of the many welcoming cafes, or take in the impressive and beautifully preserved architecture in Le Rocher, where on Rue Notre-Dame-de-Lorette the homes date back to the 16th Century.
Regional Delicacies
In La Condamine, the daily market is open from 6am until 2pm and offers a range of stalls selling regional produce, while at the indoor food court it is possible to sample the renowned barbajuan, a kind of giant ravioli stuffed with Swiss chard, cheese and meat, most often served as an appetizer. You will also find truffle pasta and socca, a traditional flatbread made with chickpea flour, originating from the neighbouring city of Nice.
Terrace with a View
If you’re keen to hang out with the locals, head for Club Bouliste du Rocher, situated above the port at the Fort Antoine gardens. There you can experience a game of pétanque and a cold beer on the terrace at the small restaurant which offers a panoramic view of the city. Looking back across the port, the vista features part of the Grand Prix circuit, from the tunnel under the Fairmont Monte-Carlo and the Nouvelle Chicane towards the piscine, making it a fantastic spot from which to observe the race action, even if you’re not fortunate enough to have a ticket. Just don’t forget your binoculars!
Escape the Crowds
Below the popular Oceanographic Museum is the secluded Fisherman Cove. This hidden gem is reached via narrow steps leading down to a shallow, shingle beach and the cool, clear waters of the Mediterranean. Rarely occupied by more than a handful of Monegasque locals, it offers a peaceful suntrap and respite from the vibrant city.
Japanese Gardens
If the beach doesn’t appeal, there are several gardens in Monaco that can provide a sense of escape and the chance to absorb natural beauty amidst the backdrop of the bustling city; the Princess Grace Rose Garden is probably the most traditional, while the Jardin Exotique de Monaco the most famous, but just a short walk from the centre is the lesser known, but no less beautiful Japanese Gardens. This Japanese-inspired garden strictly adheres to Zen principles, seamlessly harmonising stone, water and vegetation in the most serene and tranquil setting.
Evening Entertainment
Not all evening entertainment in Monaco is about the glitz and glamour. For something a little more low-key, during July and August, those in-the-know head for the Monaco Open Air cinema behind the Oceanographic Museum. Here it is possible to spend a balmy summer evening watching the latest movie blockbuster with a glass of chilled rosé from the comfort of a cushioned lounge chair, as seagulls fly overhead and the sound of the sea rises from the rocks below.
From morning until night Monaco has something to offer for those keen to follow the path less travelled. If you are keen to explore the real Monaco, you’ll quickly come to appreciate the uniqueness of this compact principality as observed through the eyes of the locals.
Does a yacht charter on the French Riviera live up to its legendary reputation? The simple answer is yes — especially when experienced from the deck of a luxury yacht. Exploring the Côte d’Azur by sea reveals the full spectrum of Riviera glamour, from iconic harbours lined with superyachts to hidden coves where turquoise water laps gently against secluded shores.
On a yacht charter on the French Riviera, your days unfold effortlessly. Sip cocktails on the flybridge as you cruise between Monaco, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, drop anchor in crystal-clear bays for swimming and water sports, then step ashore to discover cosmopolitan beach clubs, Michelin-starred restaurants and designer boutiques. Beyond the coastline, charming hilltop villages, fragrant lavender fields and Provençal markets offer a glimpse of authentic southern French life.
A yacht charter on the French Riviera blends sophistication with natural beauty, high-energy nightlife with tranquil anchorages. With sunshine, calm seas and world-class experiences at every turn, it’s easy to see why the Riviera remains one of the most coveted luxury yacht charter destinations in the world — and why, once you arrive, you may never want to leave.
Yacht Charter on the French Riviera
A French Riviera yacht charter is the perfect way to broaden your horizons and experience the freedom of exploring the Mediterranean in complete comfort and style. Chartering a yacht makes sailing more accessible than ever, allowing you to choose the ideal yacht type, itinerary and pace — without being tied to a single vessel or home port. And there is no better place to begin your yachting journey than the iconic French Riviera.
Also known as the Côte d’Azur, the French Riviera yacht charter region spans the glittering Mediterranean coastline of southeast France and includes the Principality of Monaco. While there is no officially defined boundary, the French Riviera is generally considered to stretch from Cassis, Toulon or Saint-Tropez in the west, all the way to the French-Italian border in the east, where the Italian Riviera begins.
A French Riviera yacht charter offers extraordinary diversity within a relatively compact cruising area. From the glamorous ports of Monaco and Cannes to the pastel charm of Villefranche-sur-Mer and the beach clubs of Saint-Tropez, each stop delivers a distinct atmosphere. Along the way, you’ll discover secluded anchorages, pine-fringed coves, historic hilltop villages and world-renowned dining — all set against a backdrop of sparkling blue sea and dramatic coastal scenery.
With calm waters, short cruising distances and an exceptional concentration of culture, cuisine and coastline, a French Riviera yacht charter remains one of the most sought-after luxury yachting experiences in the world.
You have heard of Nice and Cannes right? Well that’s just a couple more of the towns that make up this beautiful stretch of paradise on earth. When is comes to yacht charter you’re truly spoilt for choice of where to start your adventure. A popular route is to begin in Monaco, before heading to Nice and then onto St Tropez.
Selecting your own charter yacht
Selecting your own yacht on the French Riviera is easy with the help of a highly experienced team, who will be happy to understand and ensure your every need is catered for. As you will have a crew on board you can discuss meals plans with the chefand also the perfect route with the skipper before you set sail for the time of your life.
Monaco
Prepare to be amazed by the sheer beauty of the gleaming superyachts lined up in Monaco harbour. If you’re lucky enough to be there during an event such as the Monaco Grand Prix, you will not only enjoy the electric atmosphere but you can also gawp at more amazing yachts that will appear throughout. There were in fact over €2 billion worth of yachts attending the Grand Prix in 2016.
Any trip to the French Riviera should begin with a stop in Nice. The Port of Nice is the perfect place to moor your yacht overnight and enjoy a traditional light dinner such as salade niçoise made by your personal on board chef. If you would like to hit the town you will not be dissapointed. Especially during the summer season, nightlife is in abundance and offers many options for after dark enthusiasts.
In the morning you will appreciate the sparkles reflecting off the warm Mediterranean waters whilst you’re having your breakfast. Whether you’re there for one day or five, be sure to venture up to Castle Hill. The phrase ‘it was worth the climb’ is truly fitting in this instance. The panoramic views of the Baie des Anges are simply to die for. You may also want to visit Nice’s famous lavender fields, the verdant park which is the perfect spot to take a picnic, or simply just relax and watch the world go by before boarding your yacht again and moving onto the next divine destination.
Cannes
Home to the rich and famous, Cannes should definitely be on your bucket list. With its sandy beaches, upmarket boutiques and 5* restaurants there is plenty to see and do.
To add to Cannes’ glamour, this destination is very well known for the international film festival that occurs here once per year in May. If there is any event with the potential to dethrone the Oscars than this is it. If you’re lucky enough to be around during the festival you will be guaranteed to spot some famous faces strutting their stuff down the red carpet.
Lérins Islands
A short sail away from Cannes you will embark upon the Lérins Islands. The Lérins Islands are a group of four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, in Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are the Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat. Here you will get away from the hustle and bustle of busy life and have the opportunity to relax in the ambience of tranquility. The islands are full of undisturbed beauty with small wild beaches and secret coves you could spend hours exploring. The panoramic views and sparkling turquoise blue waters are guaranteed to take your breath away.
If your yachting trip happens to fall on July 14th, try and spend the evening here to enjoy the famous firework night.
St Tropez
On your way to St Tropez be sure to soak up not only the sun but the best views of the French Riviera. It sounds only right to have a margarita in your hand whilst you enjoy these truly blissful few hours of cruising through the crystal waters. If you are coming directly from Nice it will take approximately 2 hours but if you want to take any detours you can discuss this with your captain. It might be a nice idea to stop and take a swim. If you have a diving instructor on board you should take advantage of the experience. The Mediterranean is home to some of the most colourful and interesting underwater life.
Upon arrival in St Tropez you will notice how big and vibrant this port is. With a capacity of 734 moorings there is definitely plenty of space for any size yacht. St Tropez is well known for its innovation and quality services, making it one of the most famous marinas in the world.
The height of St Tropez’ popularity comes from the 9 day regatta occuring once a year, known as “Voiles de Saint Tropez”. It begins here at the foot of the Portalet tower and bypasses the Nioulargue buoy before returning to the port. Over the duration of 9 day regatta, 300 of the finest yachts from around the world are brought together and it is a sight not to be missed!
If coffee is your thing you absolutely MUST not miss out on the famous espresso made in the even more famous bar that is Senequier. Whilst enjoying ‘the best French coffee known to man’ you can enjoy watching artists painting people or landscapes around the ports.
A French Riviera yacht charter is more than a holiday — it is an immersion into one of the world’s most iconic coastal playgrounds. From glamorous marinas and Michelin-starred dining to tranquil anchorages and hidden Provençal villages, the Côte d’Azur offers an unrivalled blend of culture, scenery and sophistication within easy cruising distance.
Whether you are seeking vibrant nightlife in Monaco, relaxed beach days in Saint-Tropez or peaceful moments at anchor along the Esterel coastline, a French Riviera yacht charter allows you to experience it all at your own pace. With exceptional yachts, experienced crews and endless possibilities on the horizon, there is no finer way to discover the timeless allure of the Mediterranean than by chartering a yacht on the French Riviera.
Our planet is no doubt blessed with a myriad of breathtakingly stunning scenery, but very few places compare to the luxurious blend of vintage luxury and enchanting landscapes that is the French Riviera and its legendary sun-drenched beaches. This delightfully sculpted scenery which stretches from St. Tropez up until the French-Italian border is an avalanche of hospitality; complete with sandy beaches, blue seas (and skies), trendy shopping stores and exclusive boutiques. Dazzling with historic vineyards, extravagant chateaus, and calm waters transcended by traversing yachts, the French Riviera immerses its visitors in an ethereal world of splendor and magnificence. Add a touch of style and classical French hospitality, and you see why this place leads the chart of top celebrity tourist destinations.
Cannes on the French Riviera is an action attraction sure to tickle the fancy of every tourist. The town hosts the famous Cannes Film Festival on an annual basis – providing a glistering perspective of what luxury and holiday resorting should be like. With an aura of regality and modest affluence, the sun perched Mediterranean coastline, and nearby medieval styled villages provide a lucid imagery of the rich French cultural history. It’s however not just about the scenery, as embossed in the rose gold streets of the nearby, Eze, Antibes, Saint Tropez and Menton as a firsthand historical perspective of French Sovereignty. Antibes in particular, with its picturesque streets and prestigious museums, reunites you with history; and if you have a taste for the exclusive, its impressive line up of celebrity villas will leave you craving for more of the same.
What’s the best way to explore the French Riviera; by land where you get up close and personal with its stunning architecture or via the air where you’re treated to an almost godlike perspective of its stunning scenery? How about a taste of the two; up close and personal plus a godlike view and then a serving of luxurious adventure – cue the waters of the French Riviera and its luxury yachts. Of the many highlights the French Riviera is known for, its exotic yachting and beach culture stands out as one of the most prominent in the world. Since the 18th century when its white pebble beaches were routinely toured by the likes of King Edward VII, Queen Victoria, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the French Riviera has conveyed a sense of wealth and privileged luxury; the kind that has drawn hordes of affluent visitors to its endearing yet reassuringly calm waters. So, whether you arrive on your private yacht or join the enthusiastic company of other tourists to hitch a ride aboard a cruise, ferry or boat, rest assured that you will a get a taste of the regally grand adventures of the French Riviera’s breathtaking waters.
Away from the Sea and onto the Roads of the French Riviera
Granted the sea and its frivolities pack a unique touch of adventure, but no trip to the French Riviera is complete without a day, or two spent touring its scenic landscapes and interacting with its soulful scenery. Far from the tardy definitions of a conventional tour, you too can experience the French Riviera from an elite perspective, with a custom planned tour in the supercar of your dreams. If you thought the bustling waters of the Riviera were endearing, then get set for a treat. A driving tour of the French Riviera aboard a supercar replaces the gentle sways of the adventurous sea with the high-octane pumped twists and turns of France’s greatest driving roads – it really is, the ultimate way to infuse a vibrant and spirited experience into your French Riviera adventure.
The Cote d’Azur and Provence feature a stunning landscape made for the 21st century explorer. The seemingly endless stretches of roads wiggle around the sun draped hills and snow-tipped mountains leaving in their wake Provence’s signature lavender fields and vignette olive groves. But that’s just a snippet of what lies in store; the Alpes-Maritimes, a streak of cliff-top roads snaking up the French Riviera’s daunting mountain range is length for length one of the most enthralling routes for driving in all of Europe. Its range is dotted with iconic hilltop villages, each painted with a byzantine palette of class and vintage luxury. From Gourdon, through Vence and up into Moustiers Sainte Marie, expect a visually scintillating experience that will most certainly leave an indelible imprint on your travel memories.
Planning your Car Tour on the French Riviera
Ready to delve into the French Riviera? Start off your tour from Cannes where an experienced tour guide will meet you at about 6:30 pm in the comfort of your hotel lobby. You will be provided with a detailed rundown of what to expect before the keys to your select dream car is handed over; this could be a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, a Porsche or even a Bugatti if you’re hell-bent on keeping the whole experience, French.
After your first night, spent shrugging off any accompanying bits of sea sluggishness, you should be well in tune with the magic of the French Riviera – the land version. Your first route to conquer is the long stretch of road leading from Cannes up into Provence. Do this by coasting along the famous Croisette promenade and its breathtaking view of the adjacent bay of Cannes. Make your way to the charming and eccentric village of Gourdon. This town hosts an assortment of cute small boutiques, antique and art, sumptuous cuisine, perfumes, olive oils, all reminiscent of medieval France. But all this pales in comparison to the magnificent view this hilltop village provides; Gourdon perched at an altitude of almost 760m treats you to an exclusive perspective of the Mediterranean coastline and the Alps.
From here, its onwards to the iconic Artuby bridge in all its artistic curves and silhouetted brilliance. The Verdon National park lies just ahead and nestled within its confines is the Gorges du Verdon, France’s own Grand Canyon; make sure to take some photos, the views are spectacular. After lunch, head off into Provence where your luxury hotel awaits you.
Day two and you’re back on track, only this time for a taste of the spectacular with one of Europe’s finest collection of mountain passes and twisting roads; if you are familiar with the Swiss Alps; you know what to expect with the Mediterranean Alps roads. Breeze through the legendary Route Napoleon and its nearby twin the Route de Thorenc. Both feature hanging cliffs and fast-paced straights; and while others pause to take a breather from the corners, you effortlessly conquer the road with the confidence that comes from being in your very own supercar.
Your road tour of the French Riviera comes to an end with the shimmering tarmac of Col de Vence, and its striking view of the sea. From here it’s smooth sailing via the highway back to Monte-Carlo.
EPIKdrives has indeed created an epic French Riviera Driving Tour that deserves to be tested on your next trip to France.
The Monaco Yacht Show returns from 27 to 30 September 2017 at the iconic Port Hercules, welcoming approximately 34,000 attendees from across the global yachting and luxury sectors. Widely regarded as the most prestigious superyacht event in the Mediterranean, the Monaco Yacht Show sets the benchmark for excellence, innovation and scale.
Now in its 27th edition and held under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Monaco Yacht Show is the ultimate stage for unveiling the world’s largest and most spectacular yachts. It is here that major shipyards debut flagship launches, brokerage houses present elite superyachts for sale and charter, and industry leaders reveal the latest advancements in marine design and engineering.
Why the Monaco Yacht Show Matters
Unlike other boat shows, the Monaco Yacht Show focuses squarely on the superyacht sector. Visitors can expect to see an extraordinary concentration of vessels over 25 metres, including some of the largest yachts afloat. The show also highlights cutting-edge developments in marine technology, luxury yacht services, tenders, water toys and onboard lifestyle innovations.
The event attracts serious yacht buyers, influential brokers, naval architects, designers, equipment manufacturers and high-end luxury brands. It has become a cornerstone of the global yachting calendar — not simply a showcase, but a networking hub where significant deals are initiated and industry trends are shaped.
2017 Highlights
For 2017, Quai Antoine 1er takes centre stage with the relocation of the Car Deck, the introduction of the new Starboard lounge and a dedicated Tenders and Toys exhibition zone. These enhancements reflect the Monaco Yacht Show’s ongoing evolution and commitment to refining the visitor experience while embracing the expanding luxury ecosystem surrounding superyachts.
A Setting Like No Other
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Monaco’s harbour and skyline, the Monaco Yacht Show offers an atmosphere unmatched by any other marine event. Superyachts line the quays beneath the Mediterranean sun, while private lounges, invitation-only receptions and luxury showcases reinforce the Principality’s reputation as the epicentre of global yachting.
For industry professionals, buyers and enthusiasts alike, the Monaco Yacht Show remains the definitive showcase of innovation, craftsmanship and ultra-luxury at sea.
The Cannes Yachting Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary from 12th to 17th September, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious in-water boat shows. Held annually in the iconic Vieux Port and Port Canto, the festival transforms Cannes into a global hub of maritime excellence.
Dubbed “The Ultimate Rendezvous,” the Cannes Yachting Festival has become an essential date on the international yachting calendar. Over six inspiring days, leading shipyards, designers, brokers and marine innovators gather to unveil their latest creations and connect with buyers, industry professionals and yachting enthusiasts from around the world.
The scale of the event is remarkable. In previous editions, the show presented a record 630 yachts, including 191 new models making their world debut. From sleek day cruisers to cutting-edge superyachts, the Cannes Yachting Festival showcases the full spectrum of modern yacht design, engineering and luxury.
As the 40th anniversary edition approaches, expectations are higher than ever. Visitors can anticipate an even more spectacular display of innovation, sustainability advancements and bold new launches from some of the industry’s most respected brands.
Beyond the yachts themselves, the festival atmosphere is electric. The Croisette buzzes with international visitors, waterfront terraces host networking events, and the Riviera sunshine provides the perfect backdrop for exploring the very best in contemporary yachting.
For anyone passionate about the sea, design and luxury lifestyle, the Cannes Yachting Festival remains an unmissable celebration of nautical excellence and Mediterranean glamour.
You know the South of France summer is in full swing when celebrities and their bodyguards are popping in and out of boutiques, and charter guests speed back to their yachts, their tenders laden down with shopping bags full of designer gowns and swimwear from the world’s great fashion houses.
It’s far from unknown for superyacht guests to drop a cool €100,000 on a morning’s shopping trip in the glamorous boutiques of Saint Tropez, Cannes, or Monaco. But that’s not to say you need to have a spare hundred grand to enjoy the shopping experience during your South of France yacht charter.
Our Riviera shopping guide takes you from the haute couture fashion houses and elite ready-to-wear designers, through to local boutique gems and colourful local markets. And as no-one fancies giving money to the tax-man unnecessarily, we’ve also included some information on how to shop duty-free on the French Riviera.
Shopping in Monaco
If you begin your yacht charter in Monaco, there’s no better way to start than taking an afternoon stroll through the Principality to find a stunning designer outfit for your first evening on the yacht.
The Cercle d’Or & Summer Pavilions
The haute couture designers and luxury jewellers hang their shingles around the famous Cercle d’Or, where it’s just one prestigious fashion brand after another, including Prada, Gucci, Valentino, Cartier, Bvlgari, Hermès, Salvatore Ferragamo, Dior, and Chanel.
During summer 2017, 40 ultra-luxe brands will be displaying in the ‘Promenade Monte Carlo Shopping’: an exclusive installation of summer pavilions near the Place du Casino. The ideal route for a Cercle d’Or shopping tour begins at the Pavilions before carrying along the famous Avenue de Monte Carlo and onto Allée Francois Blanc.
If you’re a bargain-hunter roaming this part of town, slip behind the casino and away from the Cercle d’Or to Avenue Saint Michel, where Stock Griffe boutique offers big name brands for up to 70% off.
Town Centre
In the town centre, Boulevard des Moulins, Boulevard d’Italie, and Avenue Princesse Grace showcase many high end boutiques, including local offerings such as Monegasque luxury brand, 209 Mare.
La Condamine
The Condamine area down by the marina has more than 200 boutiques of dazzling variety and budget – from fashion and homewares to gourmet stores. For those shoppers who love to explore, La Condamine holds many treasures, including Le Dressing: a vintage designer shop featuring second-hand beauties from designers like Chanel.
Shopping Malls
Monaco even does shopping malls with exceptional style. Galerie du Metropole is one of the most luxurious malls on the planet, with acres of marble, porters to help with your bags, and 80 luxury stores including Armani and Brunello Cucinelli.
If you’re after a more low key or practical shopping experience, head to Fontvieille shopping mall, where you’ll find electronics, fashion stores, and a large Carrefour supermarket.
Markets
Finally, despite its high-end shopping reputation, Monaco also does a wonderful daily market in La Condamine featuring Mediterranean produce and local crafts, and a funky little flea market at Fontvieille on Saturdays.
Things worth knowing
There’s a 20% VAT surcharge on goods you buy in Monaco: it may be known as a tax haven, but unfortunately that doesn’t apply to the shopping experience! However, if you’re a visitor from a country outside the EU, you will be eligible for a VAT refund on purchases over €175 made in a single store.
Shopping in Cannes
Cannes is one of the world’s ultimate shopping destinations, and you’ll feel the excitement in the air as you skip from Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent to Dior, passing celebrities carrying little dogs in their Hermès handbags.
The Croisette
Cannes Croisette is a byword for luxury shopping, with flagship haute couture boutiques lining the boulevard beneath the palm trees and ornate Belle Epoque hotels. As well as the big global names such as Dior and Chanel, there are also some very fine French boutiques worth knowing about, such as Paule Kar, Chacok, and Leonard Fashion.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a glamorous evening gown for your night out in Cannes but have a bit of an eye on your budget, try MyAnnika, a boutique specialising in evening dresses at affordable prices.
During the Cannes Film Festival, there’s even a red carpet laid out along the shopping strip, and the Croisette is largely pedestrianised on summer evenings as of 2017, making this prestigious shopping destination even more drop-dead gorgeous than ever. And if you’re in the mood to get a head-start on the summer crowds with a spring yacht charter, the Croisette hosts a shopping festival each April, with fashion shows and season previews. Be still, my beating heart.
Rue d’Antibes
If you must drag yourself away from the Croisette, Rue d’Antibes is the place to do it. This famous street just behind the Croisette is the other fashionable place to shop in Cannes, with a succession of luxury brands like Vilebrequin and famous high street brands like Zara, as well as sunglass stores and decadent chocolate shops for gifts to take home.
And as if it couldn’t get any better, the block between the Croisette and the Rue d’Antibes completes the famous Carré d’Or, where fine jewels are laid out in the window displays between chic bars and swimwear stores.
Rue des Etats-Unis
This recently-updated shopping street features high-end interior design shops to find that perfect French piece to ship home.
Rue Meynadier
On the other hand, if you’re looking to shop like a Cannois local, then Rue Meynadier is for you, with its eclectic mix of affordable fashion and artisan food stores.
Shopping Malls
If you’re still hungry for more, the Galerie Gray d’Albion shopping mall is located just by the Croisette, featuring a range of high-end stores including La Perla. If you’re looking for more practical shopping, head to the neighbouring town of Cannes La Bocca.
Markets
To get the true Cannes experience on your yacht charter, a visit to the local markets is a must, and Marche Forville delights with its bustling atmosphere, and colourful stalls of fruit and flowers, cheese and fish.
Things worth knowing
Like Monaco, you can claim a VAT refund on purchases over €175 in a single store if you hail from a country outside the EU. If you’re planning a South of France shopping spree, apply for a Global Blue ‘shop tax free card’ so you can automatically be refunded at participating stores, or just ask in the store for a detaxe’ form to claim at the airport upon departure.
Shopping in Saint Tropez
Welcome to little boutique heaven, where the towering names of the fashion world sit on cobbled laneways next to unique Saint Tropez boutiques. The village of Saint Tropez isn’t big and all its boutiques are a leisurely stroll from each other, so just grab your credit card and explore to your heart’s content, with a focus on the luxury triangle between Place des Lices, Rue Gambetta, and Rue Allard.
Global Fashion houses
You’ll find the instantly-recognisable names of Hermès, Armani, Dior, and Louis Vuitton emblazoned above the doorways of Saint Tropez’ pastel facades, as well as Zadig et Voltaire, Lanvin, Swarovksi and Eres, just to name a few. However, it’s worth noting that the luxury shopping scene is just as much about the local as the international in enchanting St Tropez.
Local Boutiques
Arguably the most famous item in a Saint Tropez wardrobe is the iconic Tropezienne sandal, which was established by the Rondini family in 1927, with stiff competition from the K.Jacques family who set up shop 5 years later.
As you might expect, swimwear is also a hot item in sunny Saint Tropez, where the local Vilebrequin and Kiwi St Tropez boutiques began their meteoric rise on the superyacht fashion scene.
For jewellery, Gas Bijoux delights with its chunky, colourful designs, while Au Soleil de Saint Tropez is the last word in boho chic (as worn by the stars.)
There’s something for everyone in fashionable St Tropez. If you’re feeling nautical, Blanc Blue is a local boutique full of sailor-style stripes and scarves, while those up for a spot of polo at the St Tropez polo club will find all the right attire at La Martina. Bla Blas is an absolute treasure trove of quirky labels, while Be Shorts— well, you can guess what they sell.
Markets and Cellars
One St Tropez shopping experience which is not to be missed is a Saturday morning at the Place des Lices market, where Provencal produce, gifts, and clothing are spread out in stalls underneath the shade of century-old plane trees.
And finally, if you’re wanting to take home some excellent Provencal wine for a gift or to cellar, head to La Cave de Saint Tropez or Terre de Mer.
Things to know
The same tax free opportunities exist in St Tropez as in Cannes, with a Global Blue card definitely the way to go if you’re planning on splashing some cash.
A yacht charter is the perfect way to make the most of a luxury shopping adventure along the French Riviera. Where land-locked tourists have to battle with summer traffic in the South of France, you just float along between the great shopping destinations of the Riviera, falling ever deeper in love as you go.
The French Riviera may be famous for red carpets, superyachts and glamorous beach clubs, but it is also a surprisingly brilliant destination for a yacht charter with children. While the Côte d’Azur is often associated with sophistication and style, families will quickly discover that it offers an abundance of activities perfectly suited to younger guests.
In fact, planning a family yacht charter along this iconic stretch of coastline can be one of the most rewarding ways to explore the Mediterranean. With calm bays, short cruising distances and diverse shore excursions, the Riviera is ideal for keeping children entertained from morning to evening.
Why the French Riviera Works for a Yacht Charter with Children
The region’s geography makes it particularly family-friendly. Sheltered anchorages provide safe swimming spots, while sandy beaches near Antibes and Saint-Tropez are perfect for treasure hunts, paddleboarding and water sports. Many yachts are equipped with water toys, inflatables and snorkelling gear — turning quiet coves into private playgrounds.
For adventurous families, there’s far more beyond the beach. Children can explore underwater “villages” while snorkelling in clear Mediterranean waters, visit interactive marine museums, or head inland for zip-lining and treetop adventure parks. Summer evenings often bring open-air concerts and spectacular firework displays along the coast, creating magical memories for younger charter guests.
Theme parks and water parks near Antibes add high-energy fun, while boat trips to the Îles de Lérins offer gentle nature walks and castle explorations that feel like stepping into a storybook.
Education Meets Exploration
A yacht charter with children on the French Riviera can also be enriching. Visits to historic forts, island monasteries and maritime museums combine fun with cultural discovery. Exploring bustling Provençal markets introduces young travellers to local food, colours and traditions in a way that feels immersive rather than instructional.
Flexible, Relaxed Family Time
One of the greatest advantages of a yacht charter for families is flexibility. Days can be adapted around children’s energy levels — whether that means early-morning swims, relaxed lunches on deck or spontaneous stops at quiet beaches. Parents can enjoy the luxury and service of a fully crewed yacht, while children benefit from constant variety and outdoor adventure.
The French Riviera may be synonymous with glamour, but it is also a place of sunshine, sea and shared experiences. For families seeking a balance of relaxation, excitement and unforgettable scenery, a yacht charter with children on the Côte d’Azur proves that luxury and family fun can go hand in hand.
It’s far from unknown for superyacht guests to drop a cool €100,000 on a morning’s shopping trip in the glamorous boutiques of Saint Tropez, Cannes, or Monaco. But that’s not to say you need to have a spare hundred grand to enjoy the shopping experience during your 
