Monaco
Berth stern-to in Port Hercules, where two square kilometres of principality host the world's greatest concentration of superyachts.
Why Charter a Yacht IN monaco
The Principality of Monaco is not a stop on the Riviera, it is the Riviera's centre of gravity.
WHY MONACO IS ONE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN'S MOST REQUESTED CHARTER DESTINATIONS
A yacht charter Monaco itinerary places you at the exact point where the yachting world converges twice a year: the Monaco Grand Prix in early June and the Monaco Yacht Show in September. The season in Monaco runs April to October, but for either headline event you must book your yacht charter well in advance, berths in Port Hercules for race week are reserved up to a year ahead, at a substantial premium.
From your berth beneath the Rock of Monaco, the finest cruising ground in the west Mediterranean unfolds in both directions. Villefranche-sur-Mer’s deep, sheltered bay lies 6 nautical miles west; Saint-Tropez around 50; Cannes and the Îles de Lérins under three hours’ cruising. Eastwards, San Remo and the Italian Riviera begin within 15 nautical miles, making Monaco the natural pivot for a two-country charter along the French Riviera and the Ligurian coast.
As a MYBA and ECPY member with decades on this coastline, West Coast International is the preferred yacht charter broker for guests who want more than a boat: a race-week berth with a view of the Fairmont hairpin, a table at Louis XV, a private mooring off Cap-d’Ail when the port is full. Every crewed luxury yacht we propose is inspected personally. To begin, charter a yacht with a broker who knows Port Hercules berth by berth.
chartering in monaco
attractions & activities
Monte Carlo Casino
Oceanographic Museum
Port Hercules
Prince’s Palace
Larvotto Beach
Yacht Club de Monaco
Jardin Exotique
Salle Garnier Opera
Monaco Yacht Show
Best Time To Visit: May and the Monaco Yacht Show bookend the season’s two great moments, though from 2026 the Grand Prix itself moved from its traditional late-May slot to early June, run this year on 5–7 June. The Monaco Yacht Show in September (late in the month) fills Port Hercules with over 100 superyachts on display. For quieter chartering, aim for late April, early July or the golden first half of October, when the water still holds 21°C.
Key Cruising Areas:
Port Hercules, the principality’s deep-water harbour, holds around 700 berths and shelters well from the prevailing easterlies; Port de Fontvieille, beneath the Rock of Monaco, suits yachts under 30 metres. Day cruising centres on the bays immediately west: Cap-d’Ail, Beaulieu and the near-landlocked rade of Villefranche-sur-Mer, one of the Mediterranean’s finest natural anchorages. Eastwards, Menton and the Italian border lie within an hour, opening the route to Portofino.
Don’t Miss: Watch the Monaco Grand Prix from a yacht moored inside the circuit, the harbour chicane passes metres from the sterns in Port Hercules. Visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, founded by Prince Albert I in 1910, whose baroque façade drops 85 metres sheer to the sea. Take your tender to Larvotto Beach for a swim in the protected marine reserve. Climb Le Rocher at 11.55am for the changing of the guard at the Prince’s Palace, then descend to the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, where Princess Grace rests.
Best Spots for Wining and Dining: Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris holds three Michelin stars and arguably the Riviera’s greatest wine cellar, carved into the rock beneath the hotel. Blue Bay Marcel Ravin at the Monte-Carlo Bay carries two stars for its Caribbean-Mediterranean register. COYA Monte-Carlo brings Peruvian fire to the Larvotto seafront. The Maona Monte-Carlo reopens each summer as the society dinner-and-show address. After midnight, Jimmy’z remains the nightclub against which the Riviera’s others are measured.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
- Dine at Louis XV – Alain Ducasse, Hôtel de Paris, Place du Casino, Monte Carlo
- Book a race-week berth inside the circuit at Port Hercules, Monaco (via your broker, 9–12 months ahead)
- Visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Avenue Saint-Martin, Monaco-Ville
- Take an evening at the Salle Garnier opera house, Charles Garnier’s jewel-box twin of his Paris Palais, Monte Carlo
- Walk the Japanese Garden at dusk, Avenue Princesse Grace, Larvotto
- Reserve a table at Jimmy’z after the show, Sporting Monte-Carlo, Larvotto
Enquiry now:
- CALL US - +44(0)7885 912 512
- charter@westcoastint.com
- Sterling House, Fulbourne Road, E17 4EE London UK
or Request Your Personal Proposal
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Quick reply within 12 hours. No commitment, just your dream yacht experience.
MONACO YACHT CHARTER ITINERARIES
Where to go & what to see
From Port Hercules, charter itineraries reach two rivieras: French to the west, Italian to the east, without a single long passage.
7 Days Yacht Charter Itinerary in Monaco
Embark in Port Hercules and cruise west through Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat to Antibes and the Îles de Lérins off Cannes. Push on to Saint-Tropez for two nights of beach clubs at Pampelonne, then return east at an easier rhythm, anchoring off Théoule and Beaulieu, with a final evening at the casino before disembarking beneath the Rock of Monaco.
10 Days Yacht Charter Itinerary in MONACO
Ten days pairs both rivieras. Open westwards to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Cannes and Saint-Tropez, then double back past Monaco into Italy: San Remo, the painted harbour of Portofino and the Cinque Terre villages clinging to the Ligurian cliffs. Guests wanting open water can substitute the Italian leg with a crossing to Calvi on Corsica’s north coast, roughly 100 nautical miles south.
YOUR NEXT VACATION IS IN MONACO
MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME
What stays with charter guests is not the skyline but the contrast: breakfast at anchor in the silence of Villefranche’s bay, then, twenty minutes later, champagne on the aft deck as Formula One engines echo off the apartment towers above Port Hercules. Monaco compresses the entire promise of luxury yachting into two square kilometres, and a yacht is the only address that lets you take it or leave it at will.
the perfect yachts for the perfect escape
choose your yacht for your monaco holiday
For a luxury yacht charter Monaco can be proud of, we propose crewed luxury motor yachts, elegant sailing yacht charter options and day charter solutions from Port Hercules.
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DISCOVER OTHER DESTINATIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
YACHT CHARTERING IN THE MEDITERRENEAN
Yacht Charter French Riviera
Monaco’s natural extension: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Antibes, Cannes and Saint-Tropez string westwards along the same coast, so nearly every Monaco charter becomes a French Riviera yacht charter by day two.
Yacht Charter Portofino & Cinque Terre
Cross the border east and the Italian Riviera answers Monaco’s glamour with painted harbours, Ligurian seafood and the cliff-hung villages of the Cinque Terre, an easy overnight pairing.
Yacht Charter Corsica
One hundred nautical miles due south, Corsica trades ballrooms for granite wilderness: the Scandola reserve, Calvi’s citadel and empty anchorages — the classic second week after Monaco’s intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yacht Charter in MONACO
May through September is peak season in Monaco, with the Grand Prix (5–7 June in 2026, after decades in late May) and the Monaco Yacht Show in September as the two defining events. For value and calm harbours, late April and early October offer mild weather, open restaurants and far easier berthing in Port Hercules.
The Charter Fee includes the exclusive use of the yacht, the services of the professional crew, crew wages and meals, yacht insurance, ship’s linen laundry, and all standard onboard equipment in working order. Operating expenses such as fuel, guest food and beverages, marina fees, local taxes, communications, and other charter-related expenses are not included and are covered through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), together with any applicable VAT and delivery/redelivery fees.
Everything between Saint-Tropez and Portofino is within comfortable range. Westwards: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, Nice, Antibes and Cannes. Eastwards: Menton, San Remo and the Italian Riviera, see our 4-day Italian Riviera itinerary. Longer charters cross to Corsica, roughly 100 nautical miles south.
Luxury motor yachts dominate the fleet based around Port Hercules, from 20-metre day boats to 90-metre-plus superyachts, alongside a smaller selection of luxury sailing yacht options. All West Coast charters are fully crewed; choosing the ideal yacht depends on party size, event dates and whether you intend to cruise or remain berthed.
One week is standard in July and August. Outside peak weeks, four- to five-day charters are often possible, and a day charter along the coast to Cannes or Villefranche-sur-Mer is available year-round on selected yachts. Grand Prix bookings typically require a fixed multi-day minimum set by each owner, commonly five to seven nights.
Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE) is the gateway, 13 nautical miles west of Monaco. The helicopter transfer to Monaco’s Fontvieille heliport takes 7 minutes; by car, allow 35–45 minutes. Most charters embark directly in Port Hercules; during the Grand Prix and Yacht Show, some yachts position guests from Villefranche-sur-Mer or Cap-d’Ail instead.
Yes, a Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter is the definitive way to see the race. Yachts berthed along the T-jetties and quays of Port Hercules sit inside the circuit, overlooking the chicane and Tabac corner. Demand outstrips supply every year: contact your preferred yacht charter broker nine to twelve months ahead to secure a berth.
Beyond the Monte Carlo Casino and its Belle Époque square, highlights include the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, the Prince’s Palace on Le Rocher, the Jardin Exotique de Monaco with its cliff-face cactus gardens, the Japanese garden at Larvotto and boutique shopping along the Carré d’Or. Evenings belong to the Salle Garnier opera, fine dining and Jimmy’z.
Generally yes. Most crewed yachts welcome children, and many carry water toys, stabilisers at anchor and crew experienced with families; a handful of owners set minimum ages. Pets, a dog most commonly, are accepted on a smaller number of yachts and must be declared before booking, as owner approval and additional cleaning fees apply.
