Monaco to Saint-Tropez by yacht: the day plan
Saint-Tropez is the western anchor of a Riviera charter and the longest of the classic runs from Monaco. The straight-line distance is about 44 nautical miles — 3 h 40 min of cruising at 12 knots, 2 h 12 min at 20. On a motor yacht 20–30 m the published Monaco weekly bracket is €25,000 – €65,000, exclusive of APA (25–35%) and VAT (20%).
- Distance
- 44 nm
- straight line, Port Hercule → harbour
- Cruising at 12 kn
- 3 h 40 min
- Cruising at 20 kn
- 2 h 12 min
- Legs
- 4
| Leg | nm | 12 kn | 20 kn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Hercule → Port Lympia (Port de Nice) | 6 | 30 min | 18 min |
| Port Lympia (Port de Nice) → Port Vauban | 9 | 45 min | 27 min |
| Port Vauban → Vieux-Port de Cannes | 6 | 30 min | 18 min |
| Vieux-Port de Cannes → Port de Saint-Tropez | 23 | 1 h 55 min | 1 h 09 min |
What does the Monaco to Saint-Tropez day plan look like?
The day, west along the coast
- 08:30Board at Port Hercule. Coffee under way as the yacht clears the harbour and turns west under Cap-Ferrat.
- 09:15First swim in the deep, sheltered bay of Villefranche — one of the calmest anchorages on the coast, minutes past Nice.
- 11:00Round the Cap d'Antibes, Port Vauban and its Quai des Milliardaires to starboard, and cross the Golfe Juan toward Cannes.
- 12:30Lunch at anchor off Île Sainte-Marguerite in the Îles de Lérins: clear, shallow water, the fort above the eucalyptus.
- 14:30The open leg across the Baie de Cannes and along the Estérel, red rock against blue water, past Saint-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime into the gulf.
- 17:00Arrive Saint-Tropez. Anchor off Pampelonne for the beach clubs, or moor stern-to in the old port for the evening. Return next morning — or, with a fast yacht and an early start, the same evening.
Which harbours and anchorages are on the way?
Villefranche / Port Lympia, Nice
Swim stop in the bay of Villefranche; Port Lympia, with 503 berths and 8.50 m of draught, is the alternative pick-up for guests landing at Nice airport.
Port Vauban, Antibes
Passed to starboard: Europe's largest marina by tonnage, 1,500 berths and superyacht berths to 160 m.
Îles de Lérins, Cannes
Lunch anchorage off Sainte-Marguerite. The Vieux-Port takes yachts to 140 m if the day ends here instead.
Saint-Tropez / Pampelonne
Arrival. About 800 berths in the old port, yachts over 50 m on the môle d'Estienne d'Orves; the anchorage off Pampelonne for the beach clubs.
How much does a yacht from Monaco to Saint-Tropez cost?
| Yacht | Weekly rate (excl. APA & VAT) |
|---|---|
| Motor yacht 20–30 m | €25,000 – €65,000 |
| Superyacht 30–40 m | €65,000 – €180,000 |
| Crewed superyacht, per day | from €10,000 |
As a single day the run suits a fast crewed yacht: a Monaco operator publishes crewed superyacht days from the figure above, rising with size. As the first leg of a week the published weekly brackets apply, exclusive of APA and VAT; fuel for the long westbound leg is drawn from the APA.
APA 25–35% of the fee for fuel, berthing, food and drink; VAT 20% on charters starting in France or Monaco; crew gratuity customary at 5–15%.
Full 2026 price guide →When is the best time to sail from Monaco to Saint-Tropez?
May to September. The gulf of Saint-Tropez is at its most theatrical in July and August, when the old port fills stern-to and Pampelonne's clubs are at capacity; June and September give the same warm sea with quieter anchorages. The Voiles de Saint-Tropez at the end of September fill the harbour with classic yachts — spectacular, and to be booked far ahead.
Weather matters more than the calendar on this run: the leg along the Estérel is exposed, and an easterly swell can make the afternoon long on a smaller boat. The captain reads the forecast the evening before and shifts the departure — or the return — by a day when needed.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Saint-Tropez from Monaco by sea?
About 44 nautical miles in a straight line between Port Hercule and the port of Saint-Tropez, computed from the two positions on OpenStreetMap; the coastal route with swim stops is longer.
How long does the run take?
Around 3 h 40 of cruising at 12 knots and 2 h 12 at 20 knots, before swim and lunch stops. A relaxed day arrives by late afternoon.
Can we go to Saint-Tropez and back in one day?
With a fast yacht and an 08:00 departure, yes — but it is a long day. Most guests make it an overnight, at anchor off Pampelonne or in the old port.
Where does the yacht stay in Saint-Tropez?
Stern-to in the old port when a berth is available — they are scarce in summer and reserved ahead — or at anchor off Pampelonne or in the Baie des Canebiers.
Can guests join at Nice instead of Monaco?
Yes. Nice airport sits on the bay, and Port Lympia is a practical pick-up: guests board within minutes of landing and the yacht continues west.
Sources
- 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
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Société d'Exploitation des Ports de Monaco — Port Hercule — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Port Hercule — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Port Lympia — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Port Vauban — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Vieux-Port de Cannes — retrieved 2026-09-06
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — retrieved 2026-09-06
- Wikipédia — Port de Saint-Tropez — retrieved 2026-09-06
Rates retrieved 2026-09-05; distances computed from OpenStreetMap positions (great circle).
Plan your day — or week — to Saint-Tropez.
Dates and guests are enough to start; we reply with suitable yachts and an all-in figure.