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%).
Monaco to Saint-Tropez in short: by sea it is about 44 nautical miles west along the Riviera. A motor yacht cruising at 20 knots makes the run in about 2 h 12; at 12 knots allow about 3 h 40, and a sailing yacht averaging 7 knots needs around 6 hours. With a swim stop at Villefranche or the Îles de Lérins, it is a comfortable day out, or the first leg of a week on the coast. The best window is June to September; May and early October are quieter on the water and in port. Tell us your date and group size and we will check which yachts are free. Day and weekly rates are in the cost section below.
- 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
Tap any leg or stop to jump to its harbour notes below.
| 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.
Staying longer than lunch? Our destination guide covers what awaits in Saint-Tropez: berths, anchorages and season, from the village quay to Pampelonne.
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.