Boat Rental and Yacht Charter in Nice

The heart of the French Riviera, Nice resonates with Promenade des Anglais views, Niçoise culture, and Mediterranean elegance. Sail with a knowledgeable skipper, exploring Côte d'Azur wonders, French gastronomy, and Riviera charm.

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Frequently asked questions

What happens when I request a quote?

Once we receive your request, we will confirm the availability of the boat, as well as check for alternative ones. To ensure your experience is the best it can be, we may contact you to discuss your request in detail. Let us do the research for you - free of charge.

When can I get in touch with the captain/skipper?

The timing depends on your charter type. For crewed charters, we can provide the captain's contact details upon request. For bareboat charters with a hired skipper, you can request the contact information 1-3 weeks before departure.

What is the Charter Fee?

The Charter Fee is an additional, obligatory cost, which typically includes the end cleaning of the boat, home port fees, and linen & towels. The details of the charter fee differ depending on the boat, location and charter partner.

Are there any other costs I should be aware of?

There are marina fees and fuel costs which vary depending on the type, duration and location of your sailing holiday. Marina fees need to be paid at each marina you choose to dock overnight - the amount varies but you may be able to find this information in advance by contacting the marinas directly. Fuel costs depend on whether you’re sailing a motorboat or a sailboat. You can estimate fuel costs by double-checking your chosen boat’s engine, and the expected distance you aim to sail.

Sailing in Nice

Rent a boat in Nice to experience a dream vacation on the French Riviera. Known for its glitzy lifestyle, Italian style houses and pebble stone beaches, Nice is truly a destination that makes you feel inspired - and ready for a boat vacation. Ideal wind conditions, sunny weather and delicious food will make you feel truly relaxed.

Things to do and see when sailing in Nice

Nice has way more to offer than fancy restaurants and a walk along the Promenade des Anglais. There are plenty of museums showing the art of artists who flocked into the city to take advantage of the beautiful light and magnificent architecture.

Activities in Nice

  • Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais as the sun sets and watch the city turn into a city of gold for a few moments. It makes for a super lovely walk along the beach and turns very lively in the evenings

  • Hike up to Castle Hill, the place of a former military fortress which was destroyed in 1706, but still allows you to get the best view over Nice and the sea

  • Visit Nice Cathedral, one of the most interesting buildings in the city

  • Admire the beautiful paintings of Chagall in the Marc Chagall National Museum

  • Jardin Albert 1er is a pretty spot directly by the sea and will charm you with its fountains and little lush green gardens

  • Treat yourself to some nice flowers at the Marché Aux Fleurs Cours Saleya and make your boat rental in Nice feel more homely

  • Visit Musée du Palais Lascaris not just for the musical instruments, but also for the beautiful interior and elegant paintings on the ceilings

  • Parc du Mont Boron offers stunning views of the bay and allows you to explore the natural beauty of Nice

  • Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez showcases some ancient Roman ruins and beautiful flowers.

  • Musée Matisse is a great museum to admire the late masters wonderful art

  • With its playground and plenty of water fountains Promenade du Paillon is not just a fun place for children to visit. It also makes for a nice walk

  • Discover the streets of old Nice and admire the Italian architecture that has remained

  • You can’t walk around Nice and not stop by the Fontaine du Soleil where the statue of Apollo is located

Beaches in Nice

  • La Réserve is a little peaceful beach next to the port and perfect for a relaxing afternoon if you want to take a break from sailing

  • Villefranche-sur-Mer: While this place is not Nice anymore, it surely offers a stunning beach to relax on. You can either reach this beautiful place by boat or bus. It’s worth it!

  • Eze-sur-Mer: This beautiful beach is not too far away from Nice and can be reached either by boat or car and is totally worth visiting. It’s a public beach, easily accessible and offers some fantastic amenities nearby. It is also known as a good spot for scuba diving.

Restaurants in Nice

Casual dining in Nice:

  • La carpe koï: Sushi at an affordable price is a must in this little restaurant in Nice

  • SMART DELIGHT ROOM: In the mood for some delicious, greasy comfort food? Grab a juicy burger and some crispy fries at this lovely restaurant

Restaurants with a view in Nice:

  • Brasserie LE 65 Rooftop: This lovely restaurant in close proximity to the Matisse museum is giving you everything - beautiful views, delicious food and fantastic service

  • Castel Plage Restaurant: Located right next to the beach, this restaurant is a great spot for an exquisite meal. Sushi as well as other seafood dishes are highly recommended!

Fine dining in Nice:

  • Le Chantecler: The interior of this beautiful Michelin star restaurant is going to make you feel like you’re going to dine with Louis XIV. The vintage-style chairs, the elegant chandeliers and the exquisite walls will offer you a unique dining experience.

  • JAN: This Michelin star restaurant is going to charm you immediately with its beautiful interior and impressive dishes

Bars and Clubs in Nice

  • Master Home is a super trendy bar with lots of refreshing cocktails and nice outdoor seating. You can even sit outside in winter as they provide heating

  • Le Bateleur: The staff is going to make you feel super welcome from the moment you enter. Enjoy an aperol spritz with a few small bits to eat

Explore historical Nice

The city of Nice has an interesting history dating back many centuries and has been part of many different powers trying to control this quaint city on the French Riviera. The architecture of the city is highly influenced by Italy and for good reason as it was a playball between Italian and French rulers. Between 1388 until 1792 Nice belonged to Savoy, before it became part of France between 1792 and 1815 only to become part of Piedmont-Sardinia until 1860. Ever since then Nice has been part of France. Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas de Nice is a Russian Orthodox church enabled by the last Russian czar Nicholas II and is standing tall in the center of the city. It is certainly a beautiful sight to see in the city. Musée du Palais Lascaris is more than just a museum showcasing musical instruments. It is a super luxurious 17th century house in the center of the city and will lure you in with its magnificent wall decorations and artistic ceilings. The historic center of Nice is going to charm you with its beautiful squares and its yellow-orange Italian style houses with green shutters. This is definitely a situation where the current architecture of a city tells you so much about the past.

Explore mystical Nice

While Nice might not be surrounded by traditional ancient Greek or Roman legends and myths that you probably know from other places in the Mediterranean, there are modern myths about the city that are either true or not. One of these myths is about the affordability of staying in Nice. Sure, there are the luxurious and expensive hotels scattering the Promenade des Anglais, but this is not everything Nice has to offer. Renting a boat in Nice can be a much more affordable option and allows you to visit the other magical towns along the famous Cote d’Azur.

Sailing conditions in Nice

As Nice is located in the South of France and by the Mediterranean sea it is blessed with a typical Mediterranean climate. Sunny and dry summers with temperatures generally going above 25 degrees. The winters are milder with temperatures barely going below 10 degrees. Thanks to the mountains Nice is mostly sheltered from the stronger northern winds.

Many beaches in Nice have been awarded the Blue Flag, a special reward for extra efforts keeping the beaches clean and tidy and to protect the environment.

The turquoise waters and pebbled beaches make Nice a wonderful place to go for a quick swim and to rent a boat.

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Nice?

Renting a boat in Nice is not going to be the most affordable vacation you can book, but it is definitely worth it. Explore the French Riviera and discover more expensive locations like Cannes or St. Tropez without having to worry about booking an expensive accommodation on land as you can simply return to your boat at night.

If you are mainly looking for daily charters, you should look at renting a speedboat in Nice. They are perfect for cruising along the French Riviera and stopping by the stunning beaches. Another great plus is that they are very affordable. On average it costs only 38 EUR per person per day to charter a speedboat in France. If you are the adventurous type, you should look at chartering a sailboat in Nice. On average it costs just 45 EUR per person per day to rent a sailboat in France. Rent a RIB in France for an average price of just 49 EUR per person per day. Like speedboats, RIBs are perfect for a day charter. Want to charter a catamaran in France? Expect to pay an average price of 70 EUR per person per day. If you have a bigger budget and want to rent a boat in Nice that includes more amenities on board, you might want to look at renting a motorboat. At an average price of 283 EUR per person per day renting a motorboat in Nice is the most expensive option.

What type of boat is best for sailing in Nice?

Want to explore the stunning beaches in Nice and the French Riviera? Charter a boat with a shallow draft. Want to explore the Mediterranean and feel the wind on your skin? Rent a boat that has a sail and goes fast as it drives to the horizon. No matter what your dream boat vacation looks like, you should rent the right kind of boat for the activities you have planned in Nice.

Rent a catamaran in Nice

Pros of renting a catamaran in Nice

Rent a catamaran in Nice or one of the neighboring ports if you plan on thoroughly exploring the beautiful beaches of the French Riviera. You can best reach them by catamaran as they have a shallow draft and no keel. This allows them to drive closer to the shore and you to step out closer to the beach than with another type of boat.

A catamaran charter in Nice allows you to sail flexibly. When the wind blows you can set your sail and take advantage of this. But don’t worry, you won’t get stuck in the middle of the sea should the wind suddenly stop blowing. You have an engine that is going to come in handy should this scenario occur. The fact that you can switch between these two different methods of moving your boat comes in super handy as you are prepared for all eventualities.

A catamaran rental in Nice is also perfect for anyone who tends to get seasick easily. Standing on two hulls gives catamarans a lot more stability and even when the wind picks up you won’t feel it as much. However, this doesn’t just have an effect on the stability of the boat, it also has an impact on the level of comfort you can achieve here. The way the boat is built allows for bigger rooms and more space on deck. Stretch your legs and enjoy the view.

Cons of renting a catamaran in Nice

A downside of renting a catamaran in Nice is the fact that they are quite big. This makes it more complicated and more expensive to moor your boat at the marinas. In the summer months you might not even find a spot for mooring as the marinas on the French Riviera are packed with luxury yachts and other types of boats.

Charter a catamaran in Nice

Rent a sailboat in Nice

Pros of renting a sailboat in Nice

A sailboat rental in Nice is allowing you to embark on a fun adventure. The wind conditions are ideal and you can take full advantage of this. Feel the wind on your skin, taste the salty sea water on your lips and embrace the sun as you sail towards the horizon.

Charter a sailboat in Nice if you plan on experiencing a more environmentally friendly kind of sailing holiday. As sailboats solely run on wind and no fuel is necessary, you get to use what mother nature is offering you right then and there.

A sailboat charter in Nice is also perfect for anyone who travels on a bit of a budget. Sailboats are generally one of the cheaper options when it comes to renting a boat for a holiday on the water anyway, but the fact that they solely run on wind and not on fuel makes them even more affordable.

Cons of renting a sailboat in Nice

One thing you need to consider when chartering a sailboat in Nice is definitely the fact that they are more difficult to operate than other types of boats. You really need to know what you are doing when setting the sail and experiencing different kinds of wind and weather conditions.

As sailboats have a keel and no shallow draft, you might miss out on exploring some of the most stunning secluded beaches you can find on the French Riviera. This is something to consider when choosing the type of boat you want to sail with on your boat vacation in Nice.

Sailboat rental in Nice

Rent a motorboat in Nice

Pros of renting a motorboat in Nice

A motorboat charter in Nice will make you feel like you’re fitting right in. During the summer months the marinas are packed with impressive motorboats of different kinds. This is not surprising as they are the perfect water vehicles to explore the coast of the South of France.

A motorboat rental in Nice is a great option for you if you want to explore the many bays and beaches the French Riviera has to offer. As motorboats have a shallow draft, you can sail closer to the shore without worrying about putting yourself and other passengers on board in danger.

Rent a motorboat in Nice if you are looking for a boat that is easy to operate. Unlike sailboats, you don’t need a lot of experience to drive a motorboat. The charters can give you quick instructions, but you will get the hang of it in no time.

Cons of renting a motorboat in Nice

Renting a motorboat in Nice means that you need to pay extra for fuel - and fuel is expensive. This makes motorboats one of the most expensive options when it comes to chartering a boat for a sailing vacation.

Motorboat rental in Nice

Charter a luxury yacht in Nice

The French Riviera, including Nice, is obviously known for its glitzy, glamorous and chic lifestyle. Luxurious yachts are part of this lifestyle. Rent a luxury yacht in Nice to fit right in and enjoy some additional amenities and services that you might not get when renting other types of boats. Many luxurious yachts also have snorkeling equipment or SUPs available for you to use and discover the French coast from a different perspective.

What kind of boat license do you need when renting a boat in Nice?

Anyone who wants to rent a boat in France that can go at more than 6hp needs to be in possession of a valid boat license. EU boat licenses are automatically valid in France. As a non-EU-resident you should make sure that your boat license fulfills the requirements of a French boat license. However, carrying the International Certificate of Competency or short ICC is always a good option. This is not all! You are also required to outline previous sailing experiences and present them like you would your job experiences in a CV.

Neither have a boat license nor want to obtain one? No problem! Simply hire a skipper or captain for the duration of your sailing adventure and let them take care of the rest.

Sailing routes in Nice

Day 1 - Sail from Nice to Antibes: Before you head out to explore Antibes, make sure that you get a nice glimpse into life in Nice. Discover the vibrant markets, eat in one of the many delicious restaurants and admire the art in one of the many museums. In Antibes you should visit Musée Picasso, a museum with an extensive collection of paintings by the late artist. Marché provençal is a great place to stop by for some fresh fruits and vegetables, Fuerte Cuadrado is an impressive 16th century fort that will draw you in immediately. Antibes harbor is also a nice spot to moor for the night.

Day 2 - Sail from Antibes to Cannes: As you leave Antibes and make your way to Cannes, you should stop by Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d'Antibes, a very beautiful sight with interesting cliffs and rock formations. Cannes is obviously known for the Cannes film festival and as a playground for the rich and famous. The old port of Cannes is a beautiful site to visit when coming here and a walk along the Boulevard de la Croisette is a must. Luxury boutiques, palm trees and golden sand will make you dream.

Day 3 - Sail from Cannes to Mandelieu-La Napoule: In Mandelieu-La Napoule you should swim at La plage du Château, a beach that is literally located right next to a castle. You can even visit Château de la Napoule. The gardens of the castle are said to be amongst the most beautiful in the country. Need a break from sailing? Hike up San Peyre to enjoy the views and the nature.

Day 4 - Sail from Mandelieu-La Napoule to Saint-Raphaël: If you’re familiar with French cinema and TV, you might want to check out Musée Louis De Funès, which houses all things Louis de Funès. He is one of the best known actors in France. Take a stroll around Bonaparte Garden and discover what the Saint-Raphael Archaeological museum has to offer.

Day 5 - Sail from Saint-Raphaël to St Tropez: The Citadel of Saint-Tropez is one of the most interesting historical landmarks you can visit in St Tropez. Take a look at the modern art collection of the Annonciade Museum which is located in an old chapel. If you are looking to find a more vibrant place, you should visit Place des Lices which is a vibrant square with a lovely market.

Day 6 - Sail from St Tropez to Île Sainte-Marguerite: Sail to Île Sainte-Marguerite, where you get to enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet away from the buzzing life of the French riviera. Explore the Royal Fort, visit Monasterio de Lerins or simply walk around Étang du Batéguier.

Day 7 - Sail from Île Sainte-Marguerite to Nice: Time to sail back to Nice and take your boat rental back to the charter. Before you arrive back at the port, you should stop by the beach in Les Bréguières and go for a quick swim.

 

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