Plan your return to the French Riveria* this summer, onboard one of these exceptional yachts

Whether it’s the contemporary luxury of the LADY S, or the sheer scale and beauty of the SAVANNAH superyacht – we have the perfect charter yacht for your ultimate French escape.

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. It will give you VIP access to the timeless glamour of the Med, where you can mingle with the beautiful people, just as the stars of yesteryear who made this the place to be seen in the 1920s and 1930s did.

Author Somerset Maugham described it as “a sunny place for shady people” and yet he couldn’t resist its allure, spending four decades of his life here. F Scott Fitzgerald, meanwhile, finished the Great Gatsby on the Riviera, followed by Tender is the Night, inspired by his time here.

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.

Whether you’re observing it all from the luxury of your own private cabana, or diving headfirst into the party scene, little has changed on the French Riviera since the heady days of Maugham and Fitzgerald, making it the Med’s ultimate cruising ground.

Monaco

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.

Eze

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.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

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.

Villefranche-sur-Mer

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.

Saint-Paul de Vence

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.

Cannes

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.

St Tropez

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.

Please see below a selection of yachts available to charter along the French Riviera this summer. For more details on yacht charter please contact us.

*Travel restrictions and quarantine measures vary from country to country. Please contact your Edmiston broker for more information on where you can travel.