Know the month you would like to travel? Then our charter experts can give you some incredible options on destinations and the right yachts to take you there.Edmiston creates a bespoke itinerary to meet your needs.
If you’re planning a yacht charter in France, the chances are that your itinerary will focus on the Mediterranean coast and, more specifically, the French Riviera or Côte d'Azur – that stretch of sun-kissed coastline that runs from glamorous St Tropez all the way to the Italian border, passing through no-end of chic resorts and postcard-pretty beaches on the way.
A French Riviera yacht charter is like a rite of passage for the superyacht set, who congregate in its fashionable beach clubs and bars each summer, after spending lazy days at anchor in pine-fringed coves where they can frolic in azure waters in peace.
Today the glitzy venues of the Côte d'Azur are still the playground of the super-rich and anyone arriving by superyacht will be welcomed off the passerelle and ushered into the most en-vogue hotspots.
Splash the cash in Monte Carlo or time it right and you can use your French charter yacht as a luxury base for one of the season’s big events, from the Monaco Grand Prix to Cannes Film Festival.
There’s no doubt about it, St Tropez is still the place to be seen. Try one of the chic quayside cafes or head to Club 55 or Nikki Beach along the famous Pampelonne beach for cocktails, dancing and celebrity spotting.
Cannes is one of the Côte d'Azur’s perfectly formed cities where a walk along the Boulevard de la Croisette is a must. For French gastronomy at its best – with some Asian influences for good measure – book a table on the lush terrace of L’Oasis, a Michelin-star restaurant in the Bay of Cannes.
Jimmy’z in Monaco regularly hosts some of the world’s top DJs and of course, no French Riviera charter is complete until you’re tried your luck at the roulette table at the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
The French Riviera is a place where you can dine, shop and spa in the utmost style. With miles of sandy beaches, protected bays and lots of secluded coves, it’s also the ideal spot to try out your yacht’s water toys.
However, away from the carefree, luxurious lifestyle, there is plenty more to keep your cultural interest.
For a nature escape, cross the Gulf of Hyères to Porquerolles, a protected island that is reassuringly quiet, with steep cliffs and secluded creeks to the south and gorgeous sandy beaches that drift into turquoise seas to the north.
First a Greek fortified town named Antipolis and later a Roman settlement, the port of Antibes has long been a hub for trading with other towns along the Mediterranean.
Today it’s an attractive and bustling place, popular with those from Paris and elsewhere in France, not to mention a fair number of expats.
Antibes is less about the glitz and glamour you’ll find elsewhere on the Riviera and more about simple charm and easy living. The beauty of Antibes lies in the flower-filled streets of the old town, the ramparts along the sea and the long, arched, protective wall along the port. There are plenty of little streets for exploring, restaurants of all types and lots of shops, from tiny local stores to tempting markets and upmarket boutiques.
If the Riviera were a film, Cannes would surely be its leading lady. During the famous film festival, Hollywood glamour and French chic combine in a dizzy cocktail of the fabulous and the fashionable, but Cannes merits a visit all year round.
This legendary seaside resort has all the Côte d’Azur glitz you might expect: private beaches, marinas filled with luxury yachts, stylish boulevards, elegant Belle Époque hotels and fashionable restaurants, and of course the famous La Croisette, the boulevard and beach that extends around the bay to the east of the port.
Eze is a fairy-tale medieval village perched on a narrow, rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean. The fortified village is still crowned with the ruins of the 12th century castle that used to protect it.
The village – one of the most beautiful in France – was built in a circular pattern around the base of the castle, and the ancient, honey-coloured buildings and narrow streets with their high stone walls are perfectly preserved.
The Iles de Lérins is a small archipelago just off the coast of Cannes. There are two main islands, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, and two smaller uninhabited islands, Tradelière and St-Ferréol. Ile Sainte Marguerite is the larger and nearer island. It’s covered in umbrella pine and eucalyptus forest, with wide paths criss-crossing the length and breadth of the island.
The port area on Sainte-Marguerite has buzzy cafés and restaurants, and it’s a short walk to the Fort Royal, where you can see the cell where the mysterious man in the iron mask was held captive for over 30 years in the 17th century.
Monaco has long been a magnet for the world’s wealthy. Home to a plethora of couture boutiques and gourmet restaurants, world-class hotels and casinos, as well as a legendary royal family, Monaco certainly merits its reputation as a millionaires’ playground.
Linger over a cocktail by the harbour where luxury yachts jostle for space, sample the menu at any number of exquisite restaurants or enjoy a massage at one of the sumptuous spas: whatever your pleasure, this is a place to indulge your every whim.
Inhabited for 400,000 years, today’s Nice has its roots in the settlement of Nikaia, established by the Greeks. In their time here the Romans built extensive baths at Cimiez, and they may have been responsible for kicking off the tourist trade here.
Today, Nice is a thoroughly modern place, but it retains its medieval heritage in the Vieille Ville (old town), with its narrow winding streets and densely packed red-tiled roofs.
This crescent-shaped isle Porquerolles, just a 10-minute hop off the Riviera coast is sometimes known as the ‘floating forest’ and thanks to the fact no cars are allowed, it’s a haven for birds and butterflies.
Small coves separated by rugged cliffs offer excellent swimming and fine sand beaches, especially on the northern side. Porquerolles is a favourite of filmmakers, who use it as a South Sea island stand in, and for sophisticated travellers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.
The very name Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat evokes all the timeless chic and glamour of the French Riviera, and indeed, this beautiful seaside village is one of the loveliest places on the Mediterranean coast.
Nestled on a peninsula that juts into the warm waters of the eastern Mediterranean between Nice and Monaco, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is known for its luxurious houses as well as its natural beauty, with miles of eucalyptus-scented trails offering superb coastal views.
Saint-Paul de Vence is a beautiful medieval fortified village perched on a narrow spur between two deep valleys.
Although the village itself is one of the most well-preserved medieval villages in this part of France, with much of the ramparts still intact, the main attractions here are the scores of art galleries and restaurants – in fact, virtually the whole village is an open-air gallery.
It’s the town that needs no introduction. The ultimate Côte d’Azur destination, ‘St. Trop’ was made famous by Brigitte Bardot and the 1950s jet set, and it’s never lost its appeal with the world’s elite, from film stars to financiers.
The world-famous Caves du Roy is a perennial hot spot, although you might prefer the legendary VIP room. For a daytime party head for Nikki Beach or Club 55. Spoon Byblos is another hot address, owned by Alain Ducasse.
Like many of the most sought-after spots on the Côte d’Azur, beautiful Villefranche-sur-Mer was once a small fishing village. These days it’s one of the most charming and elegant resorts on the French Riviera so an essential stop off on your French Riviera yacht charter. The old town is exquisite, with pastel-coloured buildings that tumble down to the sea.
There’s no better place to admire the Bay of Villefranche, hugged by the Cap de Nice and Cap Ferrat, than from the lovely sandy beach (aside from your sun deck, of course), which shelves gently into the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean.
The French Riviera enjoys a Mediterranean climate, which means its summers are warm/hot and dry, making May to September the main charter season in the South of France.
Temperatures range from 17-27°C (63-81°F) in the summer months, though can often be a lot higher, while winter is mild. If you’d like the avoid the hottest part of the season, then you may find a French yacht charter in April or October more comfortable.
The currency of France is the Euro, which replaced the French franc in 2002.
French is the official language spoken in France and is the first language of 88% of the population. Though many hoteliers and other tourism providers will speak English, if you speak even a smattering of French you’ll be much better received.
France is on Central European Time and also adheres to Daylight Saving Time, so in summer it is GMT+2, while in autumn until spring it is GMT+1.
Know the month you would like to travel? Then our charter experts can give you some incredible options on destinations and the right yachts to take you there.Edmiston creates a bespoke itinerary to meet your needs.
