Yachtcharter French Riviera/Côte d'Azur

A yacht charter on the Côte d’Azur, in France's most moonlit sailing region, is a varied vacation experience. The French Riviera has much more to offer than champagne and mega yachts. In addition to cities worth seeing such as Saint-Tropez, Cannes and Nice, groups of islands such as the Îles d´Hyères and Îles de Lérins offer nature parks and forests for hiking and relaxing. On the coast along the Riviera there are many ports, anchorages and bays. For families and less experienced sailors, the east of the Côte d’Azur is suitable; experienced sailors looking for sporting challenges will find the right conditions in the west in the stormy Gulf of Lion.

Climate: Mediterranean with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees
. Winds: Mistral
Sailing season: May to September

Yacht charter Côte d'Azur

The Côte d'Azur evokes associations such as pleasure, relaxation, luxury and conjures up summery harbor scenes full of French-Mediterranean lifestyle. The beautiful light and its interplay with the turquoise water already inspired the Impressionists, who often captured it in their paintings. Not only the sophisticated cities bring the flair, also the landscape along the coast shows itself again and again varied in colors and forms - whether it is the Moorish massif with its black rock or the red Esterel massif in the east, along the coast again and again bays with sandy or pebble beaches and charming harbor towns. Sometimes larger and with a glamorous reputation like Saint-Tropez and Cannes, sometimes smaller with the relaxed atmosphere of a fishing village like Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer, Bormes-les-Mimosas or Golfe-Juan.
Wind and weather produce different sailing conditions along the coast of the Côte d'Azur. The Gulf of Lion is one of the stormiest regions and more suitable for experienced sailors. Further east, however, from Bormes-les-Mimosas, Saint-Tropez or Saint-Raphaël, the Côte d'Azur is also very suitable for families and less experienced sailors. Here, the mountains not only provide a beautiful scenery, but also dampen the mistral. In addition, there are short distances, a pleasant climate and a high density of harbors. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it is also the ideal area for a beach vacation.
Getting there is better either by car or by plane, depending on where you live in Germany. There are airports in Marseille, Hyères, Cannes and Nice.
Along the Côte d'Azur we offer numerous bases: Marseille, Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer near Toulon, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Saint-Tropez, Saint-Raphaël, Golfe-Juan and Antibes. The ports are usually not far from each other, have a good infrastructure and generally have a long history.

Yacht charter vacation in Côte d'Azur: From beautiful coastlines to glamorous cities

In the stormy Gulf of Lion lies Marseille, one of the most important port cities of France. From this base heading east, you will reach the Parc National des Calanque. This scenic stretch of coast is characterized by steep limestone walls with fjords winding through them. Here you can hike and visit rock paintings in the Henry Cosquer Cave, for example.
A bit further to the east, the Hyères Islands with their golden cliffs announce themselves, which is why they are also called Îles d'Or, golden islands. This group of islands is worth visiting mainly because of its landscape and nature. On the largest of the islands, Île de Porquerolles, you will find beautiful sandy beaches in the north, like at Plage de la Courtade. Here it is more touristy than on the smaller islands. In the village of the same name in the north, you can moor in the harbor and explore the island on bicycles. The neighboring island of Port-Cros is completely a national park and is accordingly more natural in appearance, less touristy and ideal for hiking. A naturist movement has developed on Île du Levant since the 1930s. There are also old fortifications on the islands. In the town of Hyères on the mainland, in addition to numerous parks, the Saint Paul Abbey from the 12th and 13th centuries and the Templar Tower are particularly worth seeing.

The Hyères islands can also be reached quickly from Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer or Bormes-les-Mimosas. Saint-Mandrier still has the charm of a small fishing village and offers a relaxed start for a cruise. Bormes-les-Mimosas is also quieter, surrounded by pine forests and offers nice opportunities for swimming, snorkeling and diving. Also the nearby town of Saint-Tropez should not be missed for a walk in the harbor past the luxury yachts and through the winding streets of the city. Right next to Saint-Tropez is Port Grimaud, a lagoon town modeled on Venice and crisscrossed with canals. An excursion with the dinghy offers itself here virtually. In the same bay not far away comes Saint-Maxime, where it is a bit less touristy. The town is architecturally influenced by Art Deco and there are many restaurants, boutiques and cafes. You can also take a trip to the Moorish massif rising behind the town for hiking or biking. If you like it closer, you can go to the Pointe de Sardinaux viewpoint and enjoy nature and the sunset there.

Saint-Raphaël is located a bit further east in the bay. The seaside resort is also less touristy, but offers a wide range of water sports and is a popular destination for divers. From Saint-Raphaël, the coast east to Agay is rocky and popular with kayak enthusiasts, divers and rock jumpers. Along the way, you'll pass small bays with sandy beaches. Behind the bay of Agay begins the Esterel massif with its red rocks, which is well suited for hiking. In the film city of Cannes, luxury yachts are moored in the old harbor and the beach promenade is a small walk of fame. Cannes is fronted by the Îles de Lérins. Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat are the two largest islands. On the latter is a monastery that can be visited. The monks also sell their home-made products here. On Île Sainte-Marguerite you can walk through forests of pine and eucalyptus trees. If you want to experience the lifestyle of the French Riviera and lie at anchor next to the luxury yachts of the rich and beautiful, you can do so in Antibes. The city lies in the middle of the nautical promenade between Cannes and Nice, where one marina follows another. Equally central, but a little cheaper, is the smaller town of Golfe-Juan. A bit inland, one should not miss the city of perfume, Grasse. In Nice , it's not only worth visiting the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate de Nice and the Promenade des Anglais. A day trip can also take you further afield to the Principality of Monaco.

Yacht charter French Riviera/Côte d'Azur - set sail with 1aYachtcharter!