Pickup in Nice · From May 11, 2027
Private boat with skipper in Nice and Villefranche-sur-Mer
Navima Riviera sends its private boat, with a professional skipper, to Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat or Beaulieu-sur-Mer to welcome up to 8 guests aboard for a half day in the bay, a full day along the capes or a trip along the coast. It sails over from its home port in Cannes, about 40 minutes away, and the quote reflects that crossing.
- Guests
- Up to 8
- Pickup
- Port of Nice, Villefranche or Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, for example
- To Villefranche
- About 10 min from the port of Nice
- To Monaco
- About 20 min from the port of Nice
- Season
- May 11 to late October 2027
- Price
- On request — contact us
Where the boat picks you up in Nice and Villefranche
None of these harbors comes with a guaranteed berth: name the one you prefer when you ask for a quote, and the quote confirms the meeting point. A yacht at anchor works too, as do other pickup points along the French Riviera.
The port of Nice (Port Lympia)
Nice's harbor lies below Castle Hill, a lookout 92 meters (about 300 feet) above the city, and the colorful pointus, the traditional fishing boats, are moored inside. Heading out, you see the Promenade des Anglais, part of Nice's UNESCO World Heritage listing as a winter resort town of the Riviera.
Villefranche-sur-Mer: two harbors
Port de la Santé, just north of the Citadel, is where cruise ship tenders land, so its quay is busy on cruise days. The Darse, a 16th-century harbor protected as a historic monument, lies at the west end of the bay. On cruise days, your boat meets you at the Darse.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer
The village harbor of Saint-Jean, renovated from 2016 to 2019, is the starting point for a tour of Cap Ferrat. Beaulieu has a marina, and the small Port des Fourmis sits at the foot of Villa Kérylos.
How long by boat from Nice?
Times start at the port of Nice and depend on sea conditions.
| From the port of Nice to | Time by sea |
|---|---|
| The bay of Villefranche | About 10 min |
| Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, around the cape | About 15 min |
| Beaulieu-sur-Mer | About 15 min |
| Monaco | About 20 min |
| Cap d'Antibes, or Port Vauban in Antibes | About 25 min |
| The Lérins Islands | About 35 min |
| The Old Port of Cannes, the boat's home port | About 40 min |
| Saint-Tropez | About 1 h 30 |
Rounded times at the boat's 30-knot cruising speed. Arriving by plane? Your crossing starts at the Saint-Laurent-du-Var pontoon instead: see boat transfer from Nice airport.
Boat trips from Nice: Cap Ferrat, Monaco and beyond
Your skipper chooses where to stop on the day. In the bay of Villefranche, the maritime prefect limits speed to 5 knots north of the Pointe Madame–Pointe Pilone line and closes several areas to anchoring, to protect posidonia seagrass and underwater heritage.
The bay of Villefranche
A half day of about 4 hours suits the bay: the Citadel of Saint-Elme, the Saint-Pierre chapel decorated by Jean Cocteau and the old Darse seen from the water, then a swim at anchor where your skipper finds sand and shelter from the wind.
Around Cap Ferrat to Beaulieu
Around the peninsula, you see Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, built from 1905 to 1912 amid themed gardens, then Beaulieu and Villa Kérylos. Some coves of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat are closed to motorboats from June to September, so your skipper anchors elsewhere.
Monaco, or west to Cap d'Antibes
Monaco is about 20 minutes away, past Èze and Cap-d'Ail. For a full day of about 8 hours, head west instead to swim off Cap d'Antibes and the Lérins Islands, then return to Nice.
Pick-up and drop-off along the coast: Antibes · Saint-Raphaël & Esterel · Mandelieu & Théoule · French Riviera
Questions
Can you rent a boat in Nice, France?
Yes, with a skipper: the Navima Riviera boat always comes with a professional skipper at the helm, for up to 8 guests, so you need no boating license.
How much does it cost to rent a boat in Nice?
The price is on request and the quote is free: one price for the whole boat, including VAT, set by the date, the duration, the route and the boat's run from Cannes.
Is there a boat from Nice to St Tropez?
Yes, by private boat: about 1 h 30 from the port of Nice, depending on sea conditions, along Cap d'Antibes, the Lérins Islands and the Estérel. Formats and drop-off points are explained on Cannes to Saint-Tropez by boat.
How far is Villefranche from Nice by boat?
About 2 nautical miles (3 km or 2 miles), around 10 minutes from the port of Nice past Cap de Nice, depending on sea conditions.
Can you pick us up at the Villefranche cruise port?
Yes. The boat can collect your group at the Darse harbor in Villefranche, or at the port of Nice, for a day at sea. You are back at your ship at the time agreed in your quote, with the margin your skipper sets.
Plan your trip from Nice
Tell us your date, the number of guests and where you are staying, or the name of your cruise ship. The quote is free, with a same-day reply in season; the price is per boat, including VAT.
On request — contact us
