7-Day Yacht Itinerary From Cannes: A Complete 2026 Guide

Why a 7-day yacht charter from Cannes covers the best of the Riviera

A sample 7-day itinerary from Cannes is the most efficient way to experience the French Riviera by sea. Seven nights give you enough time to reach Monaco to the east and the red-rock coves of the Esterel massif to the west — roughly 60 nautical miles of coastline — without rushing between anchorages. This guide breaks the week into daily legs, each with specific harbours, swim stops, and shore-side details drawn from seasons of local charter operations. Use it as a framework, then adjust for weather windows, swell direction, and personal taste.

Day 1–2: Cannes Old Port and the Lérins Islands

Board your yacht at the Vieux Port de Cannes or Port Pierre Canto, typically between 16:00 and 18:00 on Day 1. Most crews will serve a welcome dinner at the dock while the captain briefs you on the week ahead. On the morning of Day 2, cruise the short 1.5-nautical-mile hop to Île Sainte-Marguerite. The island's north-facing bays offer flat water and a sandy seabed ideal for anchoring yachts up to 45 metres. After lunch on board, take the tender across to Île Saint-Honorat, home to a working Cistercian monastery and a small vineyard. The monks produce a limited-run red that you can only buy on-site. Return to the Cannes anchorage by evening or stay overnight on a mooring ball off Sainte-Marguerite — the sunset facing the Esterel hills is worth the extra night.

Day 3–4: Esterel coast and the Golfe de la Napoule

Head west from Cannes into the Golfe de la Napoule. The rust-coloured porphyry cliffs of the Esterel begin just past Théoule-sur-Mer, and from here the coastline becomes dramatically vertical. Anchor in the Calanque du Petit Caneiret or tuck into the bay at Agay, where the holding is good on sand at 6–8 metres depth. Day 4 can extend to Saint-Raphaël or Fréjus if conditions allow; the passage is roughly 12 nautical miles from Théoule. These western legs suit clients who want quieter water and fewer superyachts — July and August traffic thins noticeably once you round Pointe de l'Aiguille. Browse our [fleet in Cannes](#) to find yachts with stabilisers suited to open-water legs like this one.

Day 5–6: Antibes, Cap Ferrat, and the run toward Monaco

Reverse direction on Day 5 and cruise east past Cannes toward Antibes, about 7 nautical miles. Port Vauban — the largest marina in Europe by berth count — is a practical overnight stop for provisioning or a dinner ashore in the old town. On Day 6, continue east past Nice and round Cap Ferrat. The sheltered Rade de Villefranche offers deep, calm water and a classic Riviera backdrop. From Villefranche, Monaco is under 5 nautical miles; an afternoon tender drop-off at Port Hercule lets guests explore Monte-Carlo while the yacht repositions to a quieter anchorage off Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. See our [Cannes day-charter itinerary](#) for a condensed version of this eastern leg.

What to expect each day on a week-long Riviera yacht hire

- Morning cruises of 8–15 nautical miles. Most passages sit between one and two hours at 10 knots, leaving the bulk of the day free for swimming or shore visits. - Two to three anchorages per day. The captain will read wind and swell forecasts to choose the most sheltered bays, rotating between east- and west-facing options as the Mistral or Levant shifts. - Tender access to beaches and villages. Plage de la Garoupe near Antibes, the calanques below the Esterel, and the port of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are all reachable by RIB in under five minutes from common anchorages. - Flexible dining. Expect a mix of onboard meals prepared by the chef and occasional reservations ashore — La Guerite on Île Sainte-Marguerite and Le Plongeoir in Nice are crew favourites. - Customs-free cruising. The entire route stays within French territorial waters, so no border paperwork is needed unless you add an optional day-trip into Italian waters beyond Menton.

How to tailor this itinerary to your group

Families with younger children often prefer to stay closer to the Lérins Islands and Théoule, keeping daily passages under 6 nautical miles. Corporate groups hosting clients may want two nights in Monaco — one for a casino dinner, another for a Grand Prix–related event during May. Couples seeking privacy can skip the busier ports entirely and anchor in the small coves between Mandelieu-la-Napoule and Le Trayas, where mobile signal fades and the only sound is cicadas onshore. Browse our [Riviera charter guide](#) for more route variations suited to different group sizes and yacht types.

Plan your charter along the French Riviera

A week aboard a private yacht turns the stretch from the Esterel to Monaco into something deeply personal — morning swims chosen by the captain, anchorages adjusted to the afternoon breeze, and a pace that belongs entirely to you. The 2026 season between May and October offers the widest selection of crewed motor yachts and sailing yachts departing from Cannes, with the quietest conditions typically falling in June and September. A well-planned 7-day Riviera yacht charter is, quite simply, the most rewarding way to experience this coastline.