Motor Yacht Charter France
From the protected anchorages of Corsica to the grand port terraces of the Côte d'Azur, a motor yacht charter in France rewards those who want to cover serious water, eat well, and do it in comfort. The French Mediterranean offers concentrated variety within a single coast.
Motor Yachts Available in France
Browse our selection of motor yachts available for charter in France.
Crewed Motor Yacht Apreamare 10
Apreamare 10
From
€1k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Prestige 42s
Prestige 42S · 2013
From
€1k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Quicksilver 875
Quicksilver 875 · 2019
From
€1k/week
Luxury Motor Yacht Goldfish 38 Super Sport
Goldfish 38 Super Sport · 2016
From
€1k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht ARGO
Grand Banks 36 · 1975
From
€2k/week
Luxury Crewed Motor Yacht Gran Turismo 40
Gran Turismo 40 · 2016
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Princess V42
Princess V42 · 2010
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Azimut 43S
Azimut 43S · 2008
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht KYMO
Sole Kymo 38 · 2016
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht ARTHURO 3
Sunseeker Superhawk 48 · 2002
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Beneteau 49 Gran Turismo
Beneteau GT 49 · 2016
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht PAPAKEECHA
Sunseeker 48 · 2003
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Gran Turismo 38 White
Gran Turismo 38 · 2014
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Gran Turismo 38
Gran Turismo 38 · 2017
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Prestige 390S
Prestige 390S · 2015
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Jeanneau 37 NC
Jeanneau 37 NC · 2021
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht GAYA
Titian 10m · 2018
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Princess V55
Princess V55 · 2005
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht CHEYENNE
Couach Yachts 2200 Fly · 2002
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Riva Aquarama
Riva Aquarama · 1969
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Van Dutch 40
Van Dutch 40
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Mig 43
Mig 43 · 2013
From
€2k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht Fiart 44 Genius
Fiart 44 Genius · 2012
From
€3k/week
Crewed Motor Yacht DALILA
Sunseeker Predator 56 · 2001
From
€3k/week
Other Vessel Types in France
France presents charter guests with a rare combination: world-class provisioning, reliable summer weather, a coastline of genuine geographical diversity, and a maritime infrastructure that has been catering to serious private vessels for well over a century. The Côte d'Azur alone stretches roughly 300 kilometres from Menton on the Italian border to Hyères in the west, studded with ports that range from the working fishing quays of Cassis to the superyacht berths of Port Hercule in Monaco. Add Corsica 90 miles offshore, and the Îles d'Or archipelago immediately south of the Var coast, and a week aboard a motor yacht barely scratches the surface.
The fleet available through our France programme spans an exceptionally wide range, from nimble day-boat proportions to displacement superyachts capable of carrying up to 49 guests. Builders represented include Abeking & Rasmussen, Admiral, Baglietto, Alia Yachts, and Absolute, among others, with hulls suited to everything from a couple seeking quiet coves to a corporate group requiring conference space and a helipad. Weekly charter rates reflect that breadth, with meaningful choices available across a wide spectrum of budgets.
Why Charter in Motor Yacht charter in France
Range without sacrifice. A motor yacht gives you the ability to be anchored off a deserted calanque in the morning and dining in a Michelin-starred port restaurant by evening, without compromising on interior space or onboard amenities. The distances between key waypoints on the French Riviera are short enough that even a moderate cruising speed of 12 knots keeps travel time well below two hours on most day runs. Longer passages to Corsica or over to Sardinia are entirely realistic on a week-long programme if the vessel has sufficient range.
The French Mediterranean coastline divides broadly into three sailing theatres, each with a distinct character. The Côte d'Azur between Menton and Toulon is the most social, with Cap Ferrat, Antibes, Cannes, and Saint-Tropez forming the core circuit. The Var and Provence coast west of Toulon, including Bandol, Sanary, and the Calanques National Park approaching Marseille, is quieter and geologically spectacular. Corsica operates on a different rhythm entirely: wilder, less crowded in most anchorages, with the Réserve Naturelle de Scandola on the west coast accessible only by sea.
Culinary infrastructure along this coast is genuinely exceptional for charter guests. Port markets in Antibes, Menton, and Ajaccio supply produce of the quality that French provisioning is known for globally. Bouillabaisse in Marseille, socca in Nice, charcuterie in Corsican hill villages above the anchorage at Girolata - the food alone justifies the itinerary choices a good captain will make here. Many higher-specification motor yachts carry a private chef with regional training, and finding artisan suppliers at source is straightforward in most ports.
Motor Yacht charter in France Highlights
Cap Ferrat peninsula: Anchoring in the protected bay between Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, within walking distance of some of the finest private gardens on the Riviera and the renowned La Réserve de Beaulieu waterfront.
Réserve Naturelle de Scandola, Corsica: A UNESCO-protected volcanic coastline on Corsica's west coast accessible exclusively by sea. Red porphyry cliffs, sea caves, and osprey nesting sites - one of the genuinely remote anchorages of the western Mediterranean.
Îles d'Hyères (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Le Levant): The three islands immediately south of the Giens peninsula offer calm water on their northern sides and transparent anchorages in the Passe du Langoustier. Motor in from the mainland in under 30 minutes from Hyères marina.
The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis: Narrow limestone fjords cutting up to 4km inland, with depths sufficient for most motor yacht draughts. The approach by sea from the east is dramatic; anchoring in En-Vau requires precise positioning but rewards with exceptional clarity.
Antibes and Port Vauban: The largest marina on the Mediterranean coast and the technical heart of the superyacht industry, but also a genuinely inhabitable walled old town with a covered market, the Picasso Museum, and excellent chandleries and provisioners within walking distance.
Girolata, northwest Corsica: A village with no road access, a small auberge, and a medieval watchtower. The anchorage in the bay is well sheltered from the south and within the Scandola reserve boundary - one of the most isolated overnights available on the French charter circuit.
Monaco and Port Hercule: At 0.2 square kilometres, Monaco packs an extraordinary density of restaurants, casino architecture, and waterfront spectacle into a short walk from the pontoons. Fuel and provisioning services are efficient, and the anchorage off Fontvieille is usable in calm conditions.
When to Sail
The French Mediterranean sailing season runs effectively from April through October, with July and August representing peak demand and highest prices. May, June, and September offer an often superior balance of conditions, availability, and atmosphere.
High Season (Jun-Sep)
July and August bring reliable heat, flat morning seas, and the full complement of port activity, beach clubs, and social events including the Monaco Grand Prix circuit events and festival season. The Mistral is the primary wind variable - a northwesterly that funnels through the Rhône valley and can reach 30-40 knots with little warning, generating steep short seas in the Gulf of Lion and along exposed stretches of the Var coast. Motor yachts handle it better than sailing vessels, but passage planning should always account for Mistral windows. Berths in Saint-Tropez's Port Grimaud, Monaco, and Cannes Vieux Port book out many months in advance during summer.
Shoulder Season (May, Oct)
May and early June are arguably the most satisfying months for experienced charterers. Temperatures are stable in the low-to-mid 20s Celsius, port towns are functioning at a local rather than tourist tempo, provisioning markets are at their spring peak, and berth availability is significantly better. The Mistral still occurs but statistically less frequently. October holds warmth well into the month - sea temperatures remain above 20°C - and Corsica in particular is exceptional in autumn, with reduced anchorage congestion and the island's interior landscape at its most vivid.
Choosing the Right Yacht
For the French Mediterranean, planing motor yachts in the 20-45 metre range represent the sweet spot for most charter groups. The ability to move between ports at speed - covering the Cannes to Saint-Tropez run in 45 minutes rather than four hours - genuinely changes the quality of a week's programme. Builders such as Azimut, Absolute, and Alia Yachts are well represented in this segment, with hulls designed for exactly these conditions: comfortable in the short Mediterranean chop, manageable in the relatively tight port approaches of the Riviera, and capable of meaningful range when heading to Corsica. Flybridge layouts in particular suit the French coast well, given the amount of time guests spend at anchor in clear water with the tender deployed.
Seven Nights on the Riviera and the Îles d'Or
A suggested week-long charter route
Board in Antibes at Port Vauban during the afternoon. Provisioning at the Marché Provençal is most efficient in the morning before embarkation, so coordinate with your captain to have the galley stocked before departure. Evening dinner aboard or at one of the quayside restaurants in the old town's Place Nationale.
Depart Antibes on a westerly heading. Stop for a late morning swim at anchor off Île Sainte-Marguerite, the largest of the Lérins islands five minutes from Cannes. Walk up to the fort before continuing west. Overnight at Cannes Vieux Port or the Cannes Marina Palm Beach.
Continue west along the Esterel coastline, a volcanic massif dropping red porphyry cliffs directly into the sea. Anchor in one of the coves between Agay and Saint-Raphaël for lunch. Continue to Saint-Tropez in the afternoon - the approach to Port Grimaud or the new Capitainerie is straightforward in settled conditions.
A full day based around Saint-Tropez. The Tuesday and Saturday morning market in Place des Lices is worth the early start. Take the tender to Pampelonne beach in the afternoon - Club 55 and Tahiti Plage have guest moorings for tenders. Return to the yacht for sundowners at anchor in the Baie de Canebiers.
Head south to the Îles d'Hyères. Arrive at Porquerolles in the late morning and anchor in the Passe du Langoustier on the western end of the island. The island is largely a national park; hire bicycles ashore and ride to the lighthouse on the southern cliff. The snorkelling on the northern beaches is exceptional on calm days.
Move across to Port-Cros, the most strictly protected of the three islands, where anchoring zones are designated and motor use near the marine reserve boundary is regulated. Kayak or snorkel the marked underwater trail in the bay. Continue east in the late afternoon toward Bandol or Sanary-sur-Mer for the evening.
A more relaxed day exploring the Calanques coast east of Marseille, entering the calanque of Morgiou or En-Vau by tender if draught prevents the main vessel from going fully in. Lunch at anchor in the limestone basin. Position back toward Antibes in the afternoon, arriving by early evening for a final dinner ashore.
Disembarkation in Antibes. Allow the morning for any final provisioning, ship's services, or a last coffee in the old town before departure.
Local Tips
- •Advance berth reservations are non-negotiable for July and August, particularly in Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Cannes. Some marinas operate waiting lists years in advance for peak weeks during events such as the Cannes Film Festival or Monaco Grand Prix. Your broker should confirm berth bookings as part of the charter documentation well before departure.
- •French customs formalities for non-EU flagged vessels are handled at designated ports of entry. Menton, Nice, Antibes, Marseille, and Ajaccio (Corsica) are the main clearance points. EU-flagged vessels with EU-based charterers face minimal administrative friction, but non-EU parties should confirm requirements at the time of booking as regulations can shift.
- •Provisioning in Antibes is the best logistical base on the Riviera. The covered market runs every morning except Monday, the fish market is directly adjacent, and several specialist chandleries and provision suppliers operate near Port Vauban with delivery to the pontoon. For Corsican anchorages, provision fully before leaving the mainland - supermarkets exist in Ajaccio and Bastia but supply can be limited in smaller ports.
- •The Mistral wind pattern deserves serious attention on passage planning. The Mistral typically builds over 24-48 hours and is well-forecast; your captain will track MÉTÉO-France marine bulletins, which are among the most reliable in the Mediterranean. When a Mistral is incoming, adjust the programme to use protected anchorages on the eastern sides of headlands or duck into a port rather than pushing a passage. It passes relatively quickly, usually within 3-5 days.
- •Tipping culture on French charter yachts broadly follows Mediterranean norms: a crew gratuity of 10-15% of the base charter fee is customary for good service, distributed at the end of the charter. This is separate from APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance), which typically covers fuel, port dues, food, and beverages and is agreed in advance with your broker.
- •For Corsica passages, monitor the forecast for the Libeccio (SW wind) and Tramontane in addition to the Mistral. The crossing from the Var coast to Calvi or Ajaccio takes approximately 8-10 hours at a comfortable motor cruising speed, and scheduling the overnight crossing as a night passage with an early morning arrival is a practical approach that many captains favour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence or qualification to charter a motor yacht in France+
What is the best base port for a motor yacht charter in France+
How far in advance should I book a motor yacht charter in France+
What does APA cover and what should I budget beyond the base charter fee+
Is French VAT applicable to my charter+
Can motor yachts access the Calanques near Marseille+
Speak with a SelectYachts specialist to match the right motor yacht to your French itinerary and confirm availability for your preferred dates.
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