Boat Rental and Yacht Charter in French Riviera

A region located on the southeastern coast of France. The French Riviera is known for its stunning natural beauty, luxurious resorts, and vibrant nightlife. A glamorous destination for the discerning traveler!

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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 The French Riviera

The French riviera is definitely a place that makes you dream of glamour, sunshine and golden beaches. With a boat rental on the French riviera you can become part of this lifestyle for a week or more. Charter a yacht on the Cote d’Azur to discover the picturesque towns, stop by some of the best beaches this area has to offer and eat delicious dinners in the best restaurants.

Things to do and see when sailing on the French Riviera

Of course it is tempting to spend a whole week sunbathing on a yacht on the French riviera, but it’s not everything you can do when vacationing in this part of the Mediterranean. The French riviera has so many beautiful spots and fun activities to offer that the chances are incredibly high to create unforgettable memories.

Activities on the French Riviera

  • Visit the Iles d’Hyeres or Iles d’Or to escape the busy Riviera and to go for a hike in nature. There are even some ancient forts that you can explore here

  • Èze is a picturesque little town with an amazing view over the Mediterranean you have to visit on your adventures on the Cote d’Azur

  • If you want to see the wealth of former times on the French Riviera, you have to visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild which once belonged to Baroness Beatrice de Rothschild and is now open for the public to visit

  • Visit the glamorous town of Cannes. Whether you’re interested in walking down the luxury Boulevard de la Croisette or escaping to Île Sainte-Marguerite not far from Cannes to discover beautiful nature, Cannes is always worth a visit

  • Charter a yacht on the French Riviera for the best experience along the French coast. You can head from city to city and stop by any secluded or interesting beaches, islands or rocky coves

  • Snorkel in Port Cros and Porquerolles National Park to explore the marine wildlife on the coast of the island Port Cros

  • Stop by the old ruins of the Château d'Hyères to discover a historic site and to enjoy some stunning views of the Mediterranean

Beaches on the French Riviera

  • Plages du Prado in Marseille is one of the most beautiful beaches alongside the French coast.

  • Plage des Marinières is a stunning beach just outside of Nice. The city itself has some lovely pebblestone beaches, but this one is a fantastic sandy beach in the suburbs of the city that you can even reach by train - no annoying searches for parking! You can also always head there by boat

  • Plage des Catalans in Marseilles is a beautiful beach is located in close proximity to the Vieux Port and a lovely spot to visit when coming to the French Riviera

Restaurants on the French Riviera

Casual dining on the French Riviera:

  • Chez Pipo is a great spot in Nice near Port Lympia to have some delicious traditional Socca

  • La Crêperie in Cannes is offering, you might have already guessed it, delicious sweet and savoury crêpes

Beach restaurants on the French Riviera:

  • Les Palmiers is a wonderful beach club in Saint-Tropez where you can enjoy the fantastic views while sipping on a drink and enjoying Mediterranean cuisine at its best

  • Dine amongst palm trees and stunning blue water at Les Pins Penches in Toulon

Fine dining on the French Riviera:

  • JAN is a Michelin star restaurant in Nice where you get to enjoy wonderful beef, pigeon or duck accompanied by the finest wines

  • AM par Alexandre Mazzia, a three star Michelin restaurant in Marseille, is a place where the poetry of food becomes very visible. Be prepared to pay a hefty price for a meal of this caliber, but if you can afford it, it is absolutely worth it

Bars and Clubs on the French Riviera

  • Horizon Rooftop in Monaco is not only offering refreshing cocktails, but also stunning views

  • Eden-Roc Lounge is located in Antibes, but offering equally stunning views of the Mediterranean

  • Jimmy'z in Monte-Carlo is one of the best places to party along the French Riviera with many well-known international DJs regularly playing here

Explore the historical French Riviera

The French riviera has been traditionally influenced by both Italy and France. This is still very visible in the architecture of the cities along the Cote d’Azur. This region has been inhabited since prehistoric times and was also part of the Roman empire for a period of time. You can still find some ancient ruins of this era in the region, including the Theatre Romain in Fréjus.

Sailing conditions in the French Riviera

The French Riviera is one of the most popular sailing destinations for sailors worldwide - not just for those seeking glitz and glamour. Sailing season on the French Riviera is from April to October, making it the perfect destination to visit outside of the peak season in July and August. The beaches are less crowded, but it is still warm. In the summer temperatures can go beyond 35 degrees and sea temperatures are generally at around 24/25 degrees, making it perfect for a swim when taking a break from sailing.

The wind conditions in this part of the Mediterranean are also ideal if you are looking at chartering a sailboat. You will be blessed with great wind most of the time, but it won’t be as strong as in other parts of the Mediterranean, making the French Riviera also a great destination for novice sailors.

How much does it cost to rent a boat in the French Riviera?

The price to rent a boat on the French riviera can vary based on a couple of different factors. It depends on the season, the type and size of your boat, the amount of passengers it is supposed to carry, what kind of amenities are included on board, etc. While renting a luxury yacht on the French riviera is definitely not in everyone’s budget, there are cheaper options that will guarantee you a fantastic boat holiday in this part of the Mediterranean.

Rent a speedboat in France for only 38 EUR. This is definitely affordable, however, speedboats are either made for day trips or trips that only last for a couple of days. On average, you can charter a sailboat in France for just 45 EUR per person per day. Rent a RIB in France for 49 EUR per person per day on average. When you charter a catamaran in France, you can expect to pay around 70 EUR per person per day in France. At an average price of 283 EUR per person per day renting a motorboat is the most expensive option to rent a boat in France, but the prices also vary depending on the season and the type of motorboat.

Keep in mind that the prices will be higher during the busy summer months June, July and August! However, these are only average prices and you can always find less expensive or pricier boats to rent in France. If you want to charter a yacht at a lower price, we would recommend you book your boat off season. Keep your eyes open for many exclusive deals all year round with Borrow A Boat!

What type of boat is best for sailing on the French riviera?

Which boat you should charter when vacationing on the French riviera highly depends on the type of boat holiday you would like to experience here. You would charter a different kind of yacht than the one you would rent if you are looking at experiencing a real adventure and stepping foot into the shoes of the sailors of the golden times of discoveries.

Rent a catamaran on the French riviera

Pros of renting a catamaran in the French riviera

One of the advantages of renting a catamaran on the French riviera is the fact that catamarans have a shallow draft and no keel. This means that you can sail super close to the shore and discover all the hidden bays, beaches and coves you wouldn’t want to miss along the Cote d’Azur.

Another advantage of chartering a catamaran on the French riviera is the fact that catamarans are equipped with both an engine and a sail. This gives you a big advantage over other types of boats, because you can sail with the wind when it blows, but revert to using the engine should the wind suddenly stop blowing. That means that you won’t suddenly get stuck in the middle of the sea. Rather than having to patiently wait for the wind to pick up again, you can reach your destination by using the engine.

Another great thing about catamarans is the fact that they are often bigger than other types of boats. You won’t feel claustrophobic when entering the cabin you’re going to sleep in, instead you will feel like sleeping in a comfortable hotel room on water. Also, the fact that catamarans stand on two hulls gives them more stability than other types of boats, meaning that the boat won’t feel too shaky - even if the wind suddenly picks up.

One of the most popular catamarans to charter on the French riviera is Catamaran Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42 which is available in Port de Bormes-les-Mimosas and offers space for up to 10 guests. Hire a captain in addition to your bareboat charter for extra comfort. You can lean back, relax and rely on someone else to take care of navigating and operating the boat.

Cons of renting a catamaran on the French riviera

One of the downsides of renting a catamaran on the French riviera is their size. While a bigger boat might mean more comfort at first, it can also come with a lot of struggles of finding a space for mooring at the marinas. It might be especially difficult during the busy summer months June, July and August when many tourists are flocking to the Cote d’Azur. If you are lucky enough to secure a spot for mooring, you have to navigate your boat to the spot and might have to pay extra for extra space.

Charter a catamaran on the French riviera

Rent a sailboat in the French Riviera

Pros of renting a sailboat on the French Riviera

Chartering a sailboat on the French riviera means that you can take full advantage of the fantastic wind conditions in this part of the Mediterranean. You can use the wind as your fuel and don’t need to fill up your tank with petrol every time you leave a marina.

One of the most popular sailboats to rent on the French Riviera is Sailboat Beneteau Oceanis 40.1 which offers space for up to 10 people and can be chartered with or without a captain.

Cons of renting a sailboat in French Riviera

One of the downsides of renting a sailboat is the fact that they only run on wind. If the wind suddenly stops blowing, you might get stuck in the middle of the sea and have to patiently wait for the wind to pick up again. This can be incredibly frustrating. Luckily, the ideal wind conditions in this part of the Mediterranean make it less likely that you actually get stranded.

Charter a sailboat on the French Riviera

Rent a motorboat on the French Riviera

Pros of renting a motorboat on the French Riviera

One of the advantages of renting a motorboat on the French Riviera is their speed. Motorboats are generally faster than other types of boats. This means that you get to see more places in a shorter amount of time, making the most of the time you have on the Cote d’Azur.

Another advantage of chartering a motorboat is the fact that they don’t have a keel, but a shallow draft. This makes them the perfect boats to explore the French coast and stop by some beautiful hidden beaches. You might miss them if you would sail on another type of boat, but with a motorboat you can sail very close to the shore.

One of the most popular motorboats to rent on the French Riviera is Motorboat Prestige 38 S which offers space for up to 9 people and is equipped with air conditioning. You can charter this boat with or without a captain, depending on the type of boat holiday you would like to experience.

Cons of renting a motorboat on the French Riviera

One of the downsides of renting a motorboat on the French Riviera is the fact that they solely run on fuel. If you use the engine often and hop from place to place, you might be surprised by a hefty additional bill. The ever-increasing fuel prices don’t make this a cheap undertaking.

Motorboat rental on the French Riviera

Charter a luxury yacht on the French riviera

If you have the necessary budget to charter a luxury yacht on the French Riviera, you should do so, stepping foot into the lives of the rich and famous for a week. One of the most beautiful luxury yachts to rent on the Cote d’Azur is Motorboat Princess V78 which is available in Cannes. The yacht offers space for up to 12 people and comes with a crew that is going to take care of you on your boat vacation.

Charter a luxury yacht on the French Riviera

What kind of boat license do you need when renting a boat in the French riviera?

It may come as a surprise to some, but if you rent a sailboat or catamaran you don’t need to have a boat licence in France. However, before you get too excited: You need to show that you already have experience sailing the type of boat you plan on renting by stating where, when and what kind of boat you were sailing on previous sailing endeavors. If you don’t have previous sailing experience or simply want to relax on your sailing vacation, you can always hire a skipper or captain in addition to your bareboat charter on the French Riviera.

You are, however, required to have a valid boat licence in France when chartering a motorboat with more than 6 hp.

Sailing routes along the French Riviera

Start your sailing adventures on the French Riviera in Port Pin Rolland and end your adventure in the same spot after visiting some of the most beautiful places the coast has to offer.

Day 1 - Sail from Port Pin Rolland to Embiez Island: As Port Pin Rolland is mainly a marina, there is not much to see here. Head straight to Embiez Island to swim in the turquoise waters and to discover an island that is filled with natural wonders. It has become a big project to preserve the natural beauty of this island, as well as its flora and fauna. So be mindful when coming here!

Day 2 - Sail from Embiez Island to Cassis: Cassis is a charming town by the water and probably best known for its colourful waterfront. Stroll around the streets of this ancient fishing port village to travel back in time. Hike up Cap Canaille for some stunning seaside views

Day 3 - Sail from Cassis to Calanque de Morgiou: Calanque de Morgiou is a small island not far from Cassis which is so worth exploring. Escape the masses and dive into some of the most stunning caves you have ever seen.

Day 4 - Sail from Calanque de Morgiou to Marseille: Marseille has an incredible old town you should visit when landing here. Stroll through the old, picturesque streets and visit one of the popular markets in the city. Hike up the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde to admire the fantastic architecture and enjoy the view

Day 5 - Sail from Marseille to La Ciotat: Once in La Ciotat you have to make your way to the local fish market La Rue des Poilus. Grab some fresh fish and prepare a wonderful meal on board your boat. Enjoy the freshest fish you can find and enjoy your sailing holiday on the French Riviera.

Day 6 - Sail from La Ciotat to Bandol: In Bandol you can sunbathe on the beach or hike one of the picturesque trails. Bandol gets plenty of sunshine in the summer, making it the perfect spot to just sit in one of the cafes and sip a coffee or wine and watch locals and tourists alike stroll around the streets

Day 7 - Sail from Bandol back to Port Pin Rolland: Before heading back to the marina, you should stop by Ile Du Gaou, a natural preserve where you can discover beautiful nature and enjoy the superb views of the Mediterranean

 

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