A day at sea is the Riviera at its most effortless — no schedule, no crowds, just the coast unrolling from the deck. From Cannes, Saint-Tropez and the eastern bays, a handful of itineraries stand above the rest.
A day cruise is also the easiest way into life on the water — a fixed day rate, catering to suit, and no week-long commitment. Each of the routes below can be arranged as a private day cruise, tailored entirely to your pace and party.
From Cannes: the Lérins islands
Just offshore from Cannes lie the Lérins — Sainte-Marguerite, with its pine forests and the fort that held the Man in the Iron Mask, and the tiny monastic island of Saint-Honorat, where the monks have made wine for centuries and still welcome visitors to taste it. Clear water, sheltered anchorages and a crossing of barely twenty minutes make this the perfect half-day, easily extended westward along the coast.
From Cannes: the Estérel calanques
West towards Saint-Raphaël, the red porphyry cliffs of the Estérel massif drop sheer into turquoise coves reachable only from the water. The contrast of red rock, green pine and blue sea is the most dramatic scenery on the western Riviera, and a swim in one of its hidden calanques — followed by lunch at anchor — is invariably the day’s highlight.
From Saint-Tropez: the peninsula and Pampelonne
From Saint-Tropez, the cruise follows the peninsula past Pampelonne’s beach clubs to the quiet coves of Cap Camarat and the Plage de l’Escalet beyond — with the option of lunch ashore at a club, or at anchor on board. It is the classic Tropezienne day on the water, and the best way to see both the spectacle and the seclusion of the coast in a single afternoon. See our guide to the best beach clubs to pair it with lunch.
From the eastern bays: Cap-Ferrat & Monaco
On the eastern coast, a cruise from Villefranche or Beaulieu rounds Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat — past its grand villas and the deep, clear water of its coves — with the option of continuing to Monaco for lunch in the harbour. It is the most glamorous stretch of shoreline on the coast, best appreciated from the sea.
The day, composed
The pleasure of a private cruise is that it bends to you — swimming and water toys, a chef’s lunch on board, a stop at a beach club, a glass of rosé as the light softens on the way home. A concierge arranges every detail, from the catering to the timing. For longer voyages, see our guides to choosing a yacht and what a charter costs, or the charter collection.