Antibes by yacht, 16 nm from Monaco
Cap d'Antibes and the great yachting harbour of the Riviera.
A yacht from Monaco to Antibes covers about 16 nautical miles in a straight line: 1 h 20 min of cruising at 12 knots, 48 min at 20. Crewed days are published from €1,500 (day boat) to €10,000 and up (superyacht); a week on a 20–30 m motor yacht runs €25,000 – €65,000, plus APA of 25–35% and VAT at 20%.
Antibes is the coast's yachting heart — Port Vauban shelters some of the largest yachts in the Mediterranean beneath the ramparts of the old town. The Cap is lined with pine, villa and quiet cove.
Anchor off the Garoupe, walk the cape's coastal path, and dine in the old town; at about 16 miles it is an effortless stop from Monaco.
Why is Antibes the yachting capital of the Mediterranean?
Antibes is the working heart of Mediterranean yachting. Port Vauban and its Quai des Milliardaires shelter some of the largest yachts afloat beneath the ramparts of the old town, and the surrounding streets hold the chandlers, crew and trades that keep the fleet running. For owners and guests alike it is a fascinating stop — a place where the industry behind the glamour is on full display, a short sixteen-mile cruise from Monaco.
What does the Cap d'Antibes look like from the sea?
Beyond the harbour, the Cap d'Antibes is one of the loveliest stretches of the coast: pine-clad slopes, grand villas and quiet coves. Anchor off the Plage de la Garoupe for a swim, follow the cape's coastal path on foot, and come ashore to dine in the old town. It makes an effortless day from Monaco, alone or paired with neighbouring Cannes and the Lérins.
The bay of Juan-les-Pins, on the cape's western side, adds calm water and a string of beach clubs, while Antibes itself rewards a wander — the Picasso museum in the Château Grimaldi, the covered Provençal market, the ramparts above the sea. It is a stop that works equally for a lively day or a slow, cultured one.
Can a large yacht berth in Antibes, and where?
Yes — Port Vauban is built for it. Run by the Ville d'Antibes, the harbour covers 25 hectares with 1,500 berths and is described as Europe's largest marina by tonnage; its Quai des Milliardaires, opened in 1986, holds 18 superyacht berths for yachts up to 160 m, which is why so much of the Mediterranean's large fleet winters here. For a day from Monaco the harbour is more often a landmark than a destination: the yacht anchors off the Plage de la Garoupe on the eastern side of the cape, or in the bay of Juan-les-Pins on the west, and guests go ashore by tender. A berth is arranged when the plan includes an evening in the old town or a crew change.
What is there to do ashore in Antibes?
The old town sits directly behind the ramparts of the harbour, so ashore is a five-minute walk: the covered Provençal market on the Cours Masséna in the morning, the Picasso museum in the Château Grimaldi above the sea, the Commune Libre du Safranier with its painted lanes. On the cape itself the Sentier du Littoral — the Tirepoil path — runs round the tip of the Cap d'Antibes between villa walls and open sea, an hour's walk from the Garoupe. Juan-les-Pins, on the other side, is the beach-club and evening side of the peninsula; in July its jazz festival fills the pine grove by the sea.
How much does a yacht charter to Antibes cost?
At 16 nm, Antibes is a day charter: a crewed day is published from €1,500 (Pirelli 1100, excluding fuel) to €6,600 (Prestige 680) and €10,000 and up for a superyacht. As a stop on a longer charter the weekly brackets below apply.
| Yacht size | Weekly rate | APA (25–35%) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor yacht 20–30 m | €25,000 – €65,000 | €6,250 – €22,750 |
| Superyacht 30–40 m | €65,000 – €180,000 | €16,250 – €63,000 |
| Premium superyacht 40–45 m | €140,000 – €320,000 | €35,000 – €112,000 |
| Megayacht 45 m+ | €280,000 – €800,000+ | €70,000 – €280,000+ |
APA — 25–35% of the fee, median 35% across MYBA listings — covers fuel for the run to Antibes, harbour dues, food and drink, and the balance is returned. VAT at the standard 20% rate applies to charters starting in France or Monaco; crew gratuity is customary at 5–15% of the fee (MYBA guidance).
- International Yachts Charter & Brokerage — Monaco Yacht Show 2026 charter rates — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Monaco Boats (The S Collection) — Yacht charter prices in Monaco — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Vital Charters — What's included in a yacht charter fee: MYBA contract (2026), survey of MYBA listings — retrieved 2026-09-05
- service-public.gouv.fr — Taux de TVA (fiche F23567, "Vérifié le 18 juin 2025") — retrieved 2026-09-05
- Gouvernement Princier de Monaco — monentreprise.gouv.mc, TVA — retrieved 2026-09-05
Rates retrieved 2026-09-05.
Which harbour and anchorages does a yacht use in Antibes?
Port Vauban
- From Port Hercule
- 16 nm (straight line) · 1 h 20 min at 12 knots · 48 min at 20 knots
- Operator
- Ville d'Antibes
- Berths
- 1,500 berths over 25 ha, 18 superyacht berths on the Quai des Milliardaires (1986)
- Max length
- up to 160 m
- Anchorages
- Cap d'Antibes / Garoupe · Baie de Juan-les-Pins
Distances are computed between the OpenStreetMap positions of Port Hercule and Port Vauban; the actual coastal route is a little longer.
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Port Vauban — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
When is the best time to charter a yacht to Antibes?
Recommended season: May–September.
The season runs April to October, the warmest water from June to September. July and August fill the anchorages of Antibes; June and September give the same sea with more room. Monaco Grand Prix week (late May) and the Monaco Yacht Show (23–26 September 2026) pull departure rates toward high season, even for a day to Antibes.
- Monaco Yacht Show — official site (home + billetterie) — retrieved 2026-09-05
Frequently asked questions
Why is Antibes important for yachting?
Antibes is the Mediterranean's yachting capital. Port Vauban berths some of the largest yachts in the world and the town is home to the crew, chandlers and trades that support the fleet — making it both a practical base and a fascinating stop, sixteen miles from Monaco.
How far is Antibes from Monaco by yacht?
About 16 nautical miles in a straight line — about 50 minutes at 20 knots. It is an effortless day-charter from Monaco and pairs naturally with Cannes and the Îles de Lérins just beyond.
Do you arrange viewings of yachts for sale in Antibes?
Yes. Port Vauban is where a large part of the Riviera's brokerage fleet lies, so buy-side viewings are often arranged here — a short run from Monaco by sea or forty minutes by road — together with the surveyors and yards based around the harbour.
How much does a yacht charter from Monaco to Antibes cost?
From the published Monaco brackets: a day from €1,500 (day boat, excluding fuel) to €10,000 and up for a superyacht; a week from €25,000 – €65,000 for 20–30 m to €280,000 – €800,000+ above 45 m, exclusive of APA (25–35%) and VAT (20%).
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