Why charter a yacht in Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is the westbound anchor of the French Riviera charter market. It sits at the far end of the Golfe de Saint-Tropez — a wide, sheltered bay opening south onto Pampelonne beach and the vineyards of Ramatuelle. A yacht charter Saint-Tropez itinerary works best with the yacht anchored off Pampelonne for the day and moving into (or near) the Vieux Port for the evening. The whole charter can happen without a single guest transfer that isn't by tender.
The town itself has kept its scale. Le Vieux Port is the postcard — pastel façades, a working fishing quay, La Ponche old town rising above — and the surrounding lanes retain the boutiques and cafés that make Saint-Tropez a genuinely walkable summer destination. In peak weeks the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else on the coast: half of Europe's yachts, half of France's celebrities, and a beach-club scene at Pampelonne that has become an institution in its own right.
As a charter partner to Monaco, Saint-Tropez is a natural. Most weeks we book eastbound from Saint-Tropez end at Port Hercule, or vice versa, giving guests two very different bases across a single itinerary. The full route brief lives in our Monaco to Saint-Tropez guide.
Ports, marinas & berths in Saint-Tropez
Vieux Port Saint-Tropez
The Vieux Port is, in July and August, one of the most photographed harbours in Europe. Stern-to berths on the main quay put the yacht directly at the heart of the town, with the pastel façades of the fishing port immediately ashore. Berth allocation is exceptionally tight in season and is often confirmed only in the days before arrival; larger yachts (over 50 metres) rarely obtain a berth and anchor off Pampelonne instead.
The advantage of Vieux Port is atmosphere. There is nowhere else on the coast where the yacht itself is such a visible part of the town's evening theatre — passeggiata from Sénéquier, apéritif on the aft deck, and dinner five minutes on foot away.
Port Gallice — anchoring off Pampelonne
For the majority of Saint-Tropez charters, the yacht spends its days at anchor in Pampelonne bay. Anchorage depths are workable across most of the bay, though the northern (Tahiti Plage) end is typically preferred for holding and shelter. Tenders run guests directly onto beach club platforms — Club 55, Nikki Beach, Loulou, Verde by Ferdi, Byblos Beach — throughout the day.
The Pampelonne 'harbour' is really the fleet of yachts at anchor across the bay. In peak season it takes on the character of a floating village, with tenders and jet-skis running between yachts, beach clubs and the town's tender pier at Port de Pêche.
Port Grimaud & Cogolin
For yachts unable to secure Vieux Port and preferring to be alongside rather than at anchor, Port Grimaud and Cogolin at the head of the gulf are the practical alternatives. Port Grimaud is a canal-side marina in the 'Provençal Venice' style; Cogolin is more commercial. Both are a ten-minute drive from Saint-Tropez centre.
Sainte-Maxime & Port Cavalaire
Across the gulf, Sainte-Maxime accommodates yachts up to roughly 40 metres and offers a calmer, more residential base. Port Cavalaire further west toward the Îles d'Hyères is the natural jumping-off point for guests continuing the itinerary westward.
Signature anchorages & day cruises
Pampelonne bay
The anchorage. Five kilometres of open sand from Tahiti Plage in the north to the Cap Camarat lighthouse in the south, fronted by the beach clubs that made Saint-Tropez famous. Water clarity is excellent, holding is generally good on sand, and the tender programme from a yacht at anchor is the single most-organised part of the entire day. Every beach club table, tender drop-off and pick-up is coordinated in advance by the concierge.
Baie des Canoubiers
The 'Bay of the Chinese' immediately north of Saint-Tropez town — quieter than Pampelonne, sheltered from the prevailing summer breeze, and lined with the low villas of one of the most private stretches of the coast. A very suitable overnight anchorage for guests who want the town within reach but prefer not to sit inside the Vieux Port.
Cap Camarat & Cap Taillat
South of Pampelonne, the coast turns wilder and the anchorages become genuinely private. The chain of small coves around Cap Camarat and, further south, the beach at Cap Taillat between the two headlands, offer quiet mornings for guests who want to escape the Pampelonne fleet. Both are within twenty minutes' cruise of Saint-Tropez itself.
Îles d'Hyères — Porquerolles, Port-Cros
The Îles d'Hyères ninety minutes west of Saint-Tropez are the concierge's favourite one-day extension. Porquerolles is a national park island with vineyards, quiet coves and a walkable village; Port-Cros is strictly protected and offers some of the clearest water on the coast. Île du Levant is the wildest and typically less used on charter itineraries.
Cap Sicié & the Rade de Toulon
For longer westbound charters, the Rade de Toulon and Cap Sicié are worthwhile stops en route to the Marseille calanques. Most Saint-Tropez charters, however, treat the Îles d'Hyères as the western limit of the itinerary.
Best time for a Saint-Tropez yacht charter
The Saint-Tropez charter calendar is unusually concentrated. The town is at full volume from late June to late August, and the beach clubs, restaurants and shops all synchronise to that rhythm. Book inside those weeks and expect a busy, high-energy charter. Book outside — early June or September — and expect a genuinely different, quieter Saint-Tropez.
September is the concierge's favourite month. Water temperatures remain high, the summer crowd has thinned, and the light on Pampelonne bay in the late afternoon is at its most flattering. The Voiles de Saint-Tropez classic-yacht regatta at the end of September fills Vieux Port with some of the most beautiful sailing yachts in the world and is a rewarding week to be there.
The Mistral is the meaningful weather variable. It funnels down the Rhône and typically compresses the Saint-Tropez schedule for one or two days at a time — the captain will hold east or reposition to Sainte-Maxime for shelter. Long-range charters between Monaco and Saint-Tropez usually plan the westbound leg overnight to avoid a Mistral day in transit.
For guests planning a Grand Prix visit paired with a longer western charter, we typically embark in Monaco for the Grand Prix, then reposition west toward Saint-Tropez for the following week. See our Grand Prix yacht charter brief and the route guide for the westbound leg.
Sample Saint-Tropez yacht charter itineraries
Itinerary 1
3-night Saint-Tropez weekend
The classical summer weekend. Embark in Saint-Tropez, spend the days at anchor off Pampelonne and the evenings in Vieux Port and Ramatuelle.
- FriEmbark Vieux Port or anchor off Pampelonne 16:00. Sundown drinks at anchor, dinner ashore at Loulou or in Vieux Port.
- SatFull day at anchor Pampelonne. Lunch at Club 55 or Nikki Beach. Evening tender into Vieux Port for dinner at La Vague d'Or or Le Girelier.
- SunCap Taillat morning for a quieter anchorage. Return north for lunch at Verde by Ferdi. Evening on board in Baie des Canoubiers.
- MonBreakfast at anchor and disembarkation into Saint-Tropez by 09:00.
Itinerary 2
7-night Saint-Tropez & Îles d'Hyères week
A full week using Saint-Tropez as the base with a two-day westbound sortie to Porquerolles and back.
- SatEmbark Vieux Port Saint-Tropez. Overnight in Baie des Canoubiers.
- SunFull day Pampelonne (Club 55). Evening ashore Vieux Port.
- MonVineyard morning inland to Château Minuty. Afternoon at anchor Cap Taillat. Overnight in Baie des Canoubiers.
- TueOvernight westbound cruise to Porquerolles. Full day at anchor in the national park.
- WedPorquerolles village morning, Port-Cros marine reserve afternoon. Overnight at anchor Porquerolles.
- ThuReturn eastbound. Lunch at Cap Taillat, evening back in Vieux Port Saint-Tropez.
- FriFinal day at Pampelonne. Dinner at La Vague d'Or or Byblos.
- SatDisembarkation Vieux Port by 09:00.
Itinerary 3
10-night one-way Monaco → Saint-Tropez
A full French Riviera charter starting in Monaco (often for the Grand Prix or a Monaco stay) and finishing in Saint-Tropez ten days later. One-way commercial terms apply.
- Days 1–3Monaco embark, Cap Ferrat and Cap d'Antibes days, overnights in Villefranche and Vauban.
- Days 4–5Cannes and the Îles de Lérins.
- Day 6Overnight westbound cruise to Pampelonne.
- Days 7–10Saint-Tropez week — Pampelonne, Ramatuelle, Îles d'Hyères day. Disembark day 11 in Vieux Port.
Best yachts for Saint-Tropez
The signature Saint-Tropez charter yacht is a 30–45 metre motor yacht with a well-specified beach club and a fast tender. The tender programme genuinely matters in Saint-Tropez — every beach club drop-off and evening transfer into Vieux Port depends on it — and a yacht with a dedicated tender crew and two tenders (a fast primary and a smaller day tender) makes a visible difference.
For a specifically day-focused charter around the Golfe de Saint-Tropez, a smaller 24–30 metre Riva or Wajer is often the more elegant choice — beautiful in the anchorage, easy alongside in Vieux Port, and perfectly sized for a family or small group. This is the classical Saint-Tropez day yacht.
For guests wanting the yacht to serve as a genuine private base for the week — with beach club, tender garage, dedicated crew of eight to twelve, and multiple entertaining decks — a 40-metre-plus Feadship, Benetti or Oceanco is the right shortlist. These are the yachts most commonly booked for the classic-yacht Voiles de Saint-Tropez week in late September. See representative examples in our Monaco charter fleet.
On board & ashore
Ashore in Saint-Tropez is a big part of what makes the charter what it is. La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc for the destination Michelin dining; Le Girelier and Le Café for the classical Vieux Port evenings; Sénéquier for the aperitif; the beach clubs — Club 55, Nikki Beach, Loulou, Verde by Ferdi, Byblos Beach — for the daytime programme. Every table is held before you arrive.
On board, the Pampelonne bay lends itself to a full watersports programme: seabobs, jet-skis, paddleboards, wakeboards and, on larger yachts, an inflatable water park. Instructors join on request. The bay is protected enough for genuine time on the water and shallow enough for children to swim safely from the platform.
Ashore excursions inland are the underrated part of a Saint-Tropez charter. Vineyard visits (Domaine Ott, Château Minuty, Château Léoube, Domaine de la Croix), Ramatuelle village lunches, Gassin's medieval hilltop, and a morning in the Musée de l'Annonciade in Saint-Tropez itself all round out the on-water programme. For guests wanting a change of pace, a helicopter transfer to Nice for a day in Monaco is a very common day.
Charter costs, APA and VAT
Saint-Tropez charter rates track the wider French Riviera market. Typical weekly base rates for a 30–40 metre motor yacht run from €150,000 to €290,000, with 40–60 metre builds from €300,000 to €680,000 and 60m+ superyachts from €750,000 upward. Weekend charters and 3–4 night formats are available on many yachts at a pro-rata rate, though July and August availability tightens sharply.
The Voiles de Saint-Tropez week in late September carries a modest event premium on classic and sailing yachts based in the Vieux Port; motor yachts remain priced at standard rates. Berths in Vieux Port during peak summer weeks are priced at the top of the coast — most yachts under 50 metres anchor off Pampelonne to avoid the berth cost and the operational tightness of the harbour.
The APA is typically 30–35% of the base rate for a Saint-Tropez week, sometimes higher if guests prefer fine dining every night on board with prestigious wine service, or if the itinerary involves heavy repositioning (one-way Monaco to Saint-Tropez, or a sortie to Porquerolles). French VAT applies on the portion of the charter in French waters. Full pricing framework in the Monaco yacht charter prices guide.
Saint-Tropez yacht charter FAQs
How long is the cruise from Monaco to Saint-Tropez?+
Six to eight hours on a typical 30–40 metre motor yacht at 12–14 knots. Fast planing hulls can compress this to four hours, and displacement superyachts extend it to nine or ten. Most guests treat the leg as an overnight rather than a day sprint.
Can I berth in Vieux Port Saint-Tropez?+
Yes, subject to availability. Vieux Port berths in July and August are among the tightest on the Mediterranean and often confirmed close to arrival. Yachts over 50 metres almost always anchor off Pampelonne and use the tender for evenings ashore.
Where do most yachts anchor for the day?+
Pampelonne bay — the five kilometres of open sand fronted by the beach clubs that made Saint-Tropez famous. Baie des Canoubiers (the Bay of Canebiers) north of the town is a quieter alternative, and the anchorages off Cap Camarat and Cap Taillat are the more private options.
Which beach club should we book?+
Club 55 is the classical Saint-Tropez lunch. Nikki Beach, Loulou (formerly Le Club 55 sister venue), Verde by Ferdi, Byblos Beach and Bagatelle each have a distinct crowd. Your concierge holds tables at the right hour and coordinates tender drop-off with the crew each morning.
Is a Saint-Tropez yacht charter suitable for a quiet holiday?+
In July and August, Saint-Tropez is at full volume. For a quieter charter, book in early June or late September — the water is still warm, the beach clubs are open, and the atmosphere is noticeably calmer. The Îles d'Hyères further west are always the peaceful alternative.
Can we visit the Provençal vineyards?+
Yes. Domaine Ott, Château Minuty, Château Léoube, Domaine de la Croix and several others are within a thirty-minute drive from Saint-Tropez. The concierge arranges private tastings and, for larger groups, vineyard lunches.
How far are the Îles d'Hyères?+
Roughly ninety minutes' cruise west from Saint-Tropez — Porquerolles is the largest and most visited; Port-Cros is a strictly protected marine reserve; Île du Levant is the wildest. A day cruise from Saint-Tropez to Porquerolles is a classical add-on.
What is the best cabin arrangement for Saint-Tropez?+
Most weeks book with four to six guest cabins. A 30–40 metre yacht with a master, two VIPs and one or two twins is the typical family shortlist; larger builds add extra doubles and — often — a dedicated crew tender for beach club drop-offs.
Related destinations & guides
- Monaco to Saint-Tropez by yachtFull route brief and timings.
- Yacht charter MonacoFlagship Monaco charter hub.
- Yacht charter CannesCannes and Lérins alternative.
- Yacht charter French RivieraThe wider Côte d'Azur.
- Week-long yacht charterSeven-day charter framework.
- Family yacht charterFamily-suited yachts and itineraries.
- Monaco yacht charter pricesRates, APA and VAT.
- Charter fleetFull Monaco charter fleet.
By the concierge desk · Monaco