In short
Menton has two harbours — the Vieux Port by the old town and Port de Garavan to the east — both suited to yachts of moderate size. Monaco is fifteen to twenty minutes west by sea, Ventimiglia and the Italian border are minutes east, and Sanremo is around forty-five minutes.
Last reviewed 3 September 2026 · By the concierge desk, Luxury Yacht Charter Monaco · Monaco
Menton charter — key facts
| Harbours | Vieux Port de Menton and Port de Garavan |
|---|---|
| Cruise to Monaco | About 15-20 minutes |
| Cruise to Sanremo | About 45 minutes |
| Airport transfer | Nice Côte d'Azur, around 45-55 minutes by car |
| Known for | Citrus gardens, the old town, the Italian frontier |
| Best months | May to early October |
Why charter a yacht in Menton
Menton sits in a natural amphitheatre of hills that shelter it from the north and give it the warmest winter climate in France. That microclimate produced the gardens the town is known for — the Serre de la Madone, the Jardin Val Rahmeh, the Fontana Rosa — and the commercial citrus groves that still supply its February festival.
From the sea the town reads as a single composition: the old town rising in tiers of ochre and rose above the Vieux Port, the Basilique Saint-Michel-Archange at its centre, the cemetery on the ridge above with its view along the whole coast. Few Riviera towns look as coherent from a yacht as Menton does.
There are two harbours. The Vieux Port lies directly beneath the old town and is the more atmospheric; Port de Garavan, a few hundred metres east, is larger, more modern and closer to the Italian frontier. Both accommodate yachts of moderate size. Larger vessels generally keep a berth in Monaco and visit Menton for a day, which takes almost no time at all.
Menton's real strategic value in a charter is as a hinge between two coasts. West is the full French Riviera; east, within minutes, is Ventimiglia and then the Ligurian coast running towards Sanremo, Alassio and eventually Portofino. Charters that want both countries in one week normally pivot here.
Ports, marinas & berths in Menton
Vieux Port de Menton
The old harbour under the ramparts of the old town, small and characterful, taking yachts of moderate size. The Basilique, the covered market and the seafront promenade are all a short walk from the quay.
Port de Garavan
The larger of the two harbours, a few hundred metres east towards the frontier, with more capacity and a quieter, more residential setting. It is the usual choice for a charter spending more than a night in Menton.
Port Hercule, Monaco
Fifteen to twenty minutes west and the berth of choice for yachts too large for either Menton harbour. Many charters berth in Monaco and treat Menton as a day cruise with lunch at anchor and an afternoon ashore.
Ventimiglia, Sanremo and the Ligurian ports
Immediately east across the border, Cala del Forte at Ventimiglia and Porto Sole at Sanremo are the first Italian harbours. Both are used by charters continuing along the Ligurian coast, subject to the documentation and tax position agreed with the central agent.
Signature anchorages & day cruises
Baie de Garavan
The bay east of the port, sheltered from westerlies and overlooked by the gardens on the hillside. The standard lunch anchorage for a Menton day, with a short tender run ashore.
Off Cap Martin
Between Monaco and Menton, the water off Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is clear and quiet, with the coastal path and Le Corbusier's Cabanon on the shore above. A good swim stop on the way east.
The frontier coast towards Balzi Rossi
The last stretch of French water and the first of Italian, below the Balzi Rossi cliffs and their prehistoric caves. Settled-weather anchoring with an unusual view of two countries at once.
Towards Bordighera and Sanremo
Once across the border the Ligurian coast opens up, with anchorages off Bordighera's old town and along the shore towards Sanremo — the beginning of a genuinely different cruising ground.
When to charter from Menton
May to early October for cruising, with June and September the most comfortable months on this stretch of coast. Menton's shelter makes early and late season more workable here than further west.
August is busy by Menton's standards but quiet compared with Nice or Cannes — one of the reasons guests who know the coast come east.
The Fête du Citron in February is a genuine spectacle but a shore-based one; the sea in February on this coast is not charter weather.
Sample Menton yacht charter itineraries
Itinerary 1
Monaco to Menton and the Italian border — three nights
Two countries, short legs, and the quietest end of the Riviera.
- Day 1Embark Port Hercule, cruise east with a swim off Cap Martin, arriving Menton for the evening. Dinner ashore in the old town.
- Day 2Morning ashore for the market and the Serre de la Madone gardens; lunch at anchor in the Baie de Garavan; afternoon cruise across the frontier towards Bordighera.
- Day 3Continue to Sanremo for the morning, returning west in the afternoon with a swim off the Balzi Rossi; overnight in Garavan or Monaco.
- Day 4Slow return to Port Hercule, final swim off Cap Martin, disembark after lunch.
Itinerary 2
Menton day charter from Monaco
A short, unhurried day for guests based in the Principality.
- MorningDepart Port Hercule after breakfast, swim off Cap Martin, cruise the last French coast to Menton.
- MiddayLunch at anchor in the Baie de Garavan or ashore with a table reserved on the seafront.
- AfternoonTender in for the old town and the basilica, then a slow return west arriving Monaco before evening.
Best yachts for Menton
Motor yachts of 25-40 metres, which fit both Menton harbours and suit the short legs to Monaco and Italy.
Fast day boats for a Monaco-based charter making Menton and Cap Martin a single day.
Superyachts berthed in Monaco with Menton and the Ligurian coast as day or overnight cruises.
Sailing yachts and catamarans, well suited to the run east along the Ligurian shore.
On board & ashore
Berth arrangements at the Vieux Port or Garavan according to the yacht's dimensions and availability.
Restaurant reservations in Menton, Monaco and, for cross-border days, on the Ligurian coast.
Garden visits — Serre de la Madone, Val Rahmeh — requested on your behalf.
Chef's provisioning from the Menton covered market or the Ventimiglia Friday market across the border.
Documentation coordination with the captain and central agent for any leg entering Italian waters.
Charter costs, APA and VAT
Rates are set by each yacht's central agent and depend on size, age, crew and season; we quote indicative 'from' figures and confirm the actual rate in writing before you commit.
MYBA terms apply, with an Advance Provisioning Allowance typically 25-35% of the base rate covering fuel, food, drink, berthing and communications.
Charters that cross into Italian waters have their own VAT and documentation implications, which vary with the yacht's flag and the contract; the central agent sets out the position in writing.
Berthing in Menton is materially less expensive than in Monaco, which is one practical reason charters base east and visit the Principality by sea.
Menton yacht charter FAQs
Where do yachts berth in Menton?+
Menton has two harbours: the Vieux Port (Port de Menton) beside the old town and Port de Garavan to the east, closer to the Italian border. Both take yachts of moderate size; larger vessels usually berth in Monaco, fifteen minutes west, and visit Menton at anchor or by tender.
How far is Menton from Monaco?+
About fifteen to twenty minutes by sea and roughly twenty minutes by car. It is the closest French town of any size east of the Principality and a natural extension of a Monaco charter.
Is Menton a good starting point for an Italian Riviera cruise?+
It is the obvious one. Ventimiglia is minutes away, Sanremo around forty-five minutes, and Portofino a long day or an overnight leg. Charters that intend to cruise into Italy often clear from here or from Monaco.
What is Menton known for?+
Its microclimate and its gardens. The town grows citrus commercially, holds a Fête du Citron in February, and contains several notable gardens including the Serre de la Madone and the Jardin Val Rahmeh. The old town rises in tiers above the Vieux Port.
Is Menton quieter than the rest of the Riviera?+
Considerably. It has the smallest crowds of any of the eastern Riviera towns in high season, which suits guests who want the coast without the density of Nice, Cannes or Monaco.
Where do we anchor near Menton?+
The Baie de Garavan east of the port, and the water off Cap Martin to the west, are the usual day anchorages. Both are settled-weather stops rather than reliable overnight anchorages.
Can we cross into Italy during a charter?+
Yes, and it is straightforward, but there are documentation and tax consequences depending on the yacht's flag and the charter contract. The central agent and the captain confirm the position for your specific yacht before departure.
When should we charter here?+
May to early October for cruising. February is worth knowing about for the Fête du Citron, though sea conditions and water temperature make it a shore-based visit rather than a charter week.
Related destinations & guides
- Yacht charter MonacoFifteen minutes west, Port Hercule
- Yacht charter Beaulieu-sur-MerThe quiet marina beyond Monaco
- Yacht charter Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratPaloma Bay and the Villa Ephrussi
- French Riviera charter itineraryThe whole coast, day by day
By the concierge desk · Monaco