The Ultimate 7-Day French Riviera Yacht Charter Itinerary
A seven-day crewed superyacht charter on the French Riviera starts in Antibes, reaches Saint-Tropez for the beach, and finishes with a swim off Cap d’Antibes. The hops are short, the season runs from June through September, and a yacht of about 30 to 45 metres is the size that makes the week feel easy.
This week is for a family flying into Nice: ports, a beach and time in the water, without a long passage. The coast itself is covered on our French Riviera charter page. What follows is how we would actually spend the seven nights.
The week, day by day
Day 1 — Antibes
You board in Antibes, which keeps the airport transfer short and puts the old town within a walk of the quay. The first afternoon is for settling cabins and a slow lap of the ramparts, then dinner on board or a table in the old town.
Tip: ask the captain to confirm the berth the week before. Antibes fills when a regatta or a show overlaps your arrival.
Day 2 — Îles de Lérins
Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat sit a short run from the coast, which is why this is the first real day at anchor. The water is clear, the monastery island stays quiet, and the tender does the work of a beach club. Lunch is on deck. Nobody needs a reservation.
Tip: go ashore on Saint-Honorat in the morning, before day boats from Cannes arrive, and swim from the yacht in the afternoon.
Day 3 — Saint-Tropez
The run west is the longest of the week and still comfortable before lunch if you leave after breakfast. You arrive into the bay rather than the port crush, with the first sight of the town from the water.
Tip: if a berth in the Vieux Port matters to you, it has to be requested early in the season. Many of our weeks are happier at anchor outside, with the tender for town.
Day 4 — Pampelonne
Pampelonne is the beach day. The yacht holds off the sand, the tender runs guests to a club or simply to a quiet stretch, and the crew sets up on deck for anyone who would rather not go ashore. This is the day the itinerary earns its reputation. Keep the programme light.
Tip: pick one club, not three. The afternoon belongs to the swim back to the yacht, not to a second reservation.
Day 5 — Cannes
You turn back east and make Cannes in time for a late lunch. The Croisette is a stroll, not a mission, and the islands you already know are still in sight if someone wants another swim. Evening in port suits guests who want a walk after dinner.
Tip: Cannes is straightforward for provisioning. If the chef needs a market run, this is the morning to do it.
Day 6 — Cap d’Antibes
Cap d’Antibes is the snorkelling day. The rocks drop into clear water, the anchorage is close to tomorrow’s disembarkation, and the pace slows on purpose. Masks, a short tender ride to the rocks, and a long lunch. The coastline in the photograph at the top of this guide is this afternoon.
Tip: the best water is early, before the afternoon breeze and the day-boat wake. Tell the captain the night before.
Day 7 — Return to Antibes
A short hop back into Antibes, a late breakfast, and the airport. The crew has already packed the cabins. You are not crossing a gulf on the morning you fly. That is the whole point of starting and finishing in the same harbour.
Tip: keep the disembarkation at 10:00, not 08:00, unless the flight is genuinely early. The last morning is part of the charter.
Speak to Archie.
He will tell you which of these nights should be a berth, and which yacht on our list can actually hold them.
Speak to ArchieWhen to go, and which yacht
June through September is the season. June and early July give you the beach without the August density in Saint-Tropez. August still works if the yacht and the berth are held in advance. September is often the week we would book for ourselves: warm water, shorter queues for the tender. For what that timing does to availability, read when to book a 2027 Mediterranean charter.
A crewed motor yacht of about 30 to 45 metres fits this route: a proper tender for Pampelonne and enough cabins that nobody is negotiating the layout. Larger yachts are harder to berth in Saint-Tropez. See what is free on the charter fleet, and read how the weekly cost is built before you fix a size. When the week is clear, ask us for the shortlist.
FAQ
How long are the hops on a French Riviera yacht charter?
Most legs on this week are under two hours. Antibes to the Lérins Islands is a short morning run, and Cannes to Cap d’Antibes is a swim rather than a passage.
When is the best month for a French Riviera superyacht week?
June through September. June and early July are the easiest weeks to enjoy; August is busiest in Saint-Tropez; September keeps warm water with fewer tenders on the beach.
What size yacht works for this itinerary?
A crewed motor yacht of about 30 to 45 metres gives a proper tender, a beach setup and enough cabins for a family, without struggling for a berth in Saint-Tropez.
Do I need a marina every night?
No. Several nights on this route are happier at anchor, especially off the Lérins and Cap d’Antibes. Saint-Tropez is the night most guests prefer a berth, and it should be requested early.
Where do guests usually fly in?
Nice Côte d’Azur is the usual airport. Antibes is a short transfer, which is why the week starts there rather than in Saint-Tropez.