4 amazing Boat Trips in Nice: Discover the French Riviera from the Sea
Taking a boat trip is hands-down one of the best ways to experience the French Riviera’s stunning beauty. You’ll get to see the iconic resort towns and coastline from a unique perspective out on the sparkling Mediterranean. With options ranging from private yacht charters to shared cruises, and trips lasting anywhere from a couple hours to a full day, there’s a perfect boat tour from Nice for every traveler. So climb aboard and get ready for an unforgettable day at sea on the glamorous Côte d’Azur!
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4 Best Boat Trips in Nice: Discover the French Riviera from the Sea
No time to read it all? Here’s a quick highlight:
- Cruise along the stunning French Riviera coastline on a private luxury yacht
- Visit glamorous destinations like Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco and more
- Swim and snorkel in secluded coves only accessible by boat
- Enjoy personalized service from your private skipper
- Choose from a variety of cruise durations and options
Without further ado, let’s dive into the top 4 boat trips from Nice to experience the glittering Côte d’Azur from the Mediterranean Sea:

Private Boat Tours Nice: Luxury Yacht
- Duration: 2-8 hours
- Price: $$$$
- Highlights:
- Cruise in style on a sleek private motor yacht
- Visit Monaco’s famous harbor and admire the mega-yachts
- See the Prince’s Palace, Monte Carlo Casino, and more
- Helpful Tip: A bottle of champagne is included on sunset cruises

Boat Trips in Nice French Riviera: Speedboat Tour to Cannes
- Duration: 4 hours
- Price: $$$
- Highlights:
- Zip along the coast in a thrilling speedboat
- Explore glamorous Cannes and the iconic La Croisette
- Option to stop for swimming and snorkeling
- Address: Départ Quai Lunel, Port de Nice
Nice Boat tours from Nice: St-Tropez Day Tour on a yacht
- Duration: Full day
- Price: $$$$
- Highlights:
- Spend a day in the legendary resort town of St-Tropez
- Enjoy free time to explore the pretty streets and port
- Relax on famous Pampelonne Beach
- Helpful Tip: Go on a weekday to avoid the biggest crowds
Private luxury boat trips in Nice: Cruise to Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Duration: 3-4 hours
- Price: $$$
- Highlights:
- Discover the colorful seaside village of Villefranche and The main stops of Côte d’Azur
- Anchor in the bay for swimming off the boat
- Admire the views of Cap Ferrat peninsula
- Address: Départ Port de Nice

Nice France Boat Trips
Tour | Duration | Highlights | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Private Monaco Speedboat Yacht | 2-8 hours | Monte Carlo, mega-yachts, champagne | $$$$ |
Cannes Speedboat Tour | 4 hours | La Croisette, swimming, snorkeling | $$$ |
St-Tropez Day Trip | Full day | Port, beaches, scenic cruising | $$$$ |
Villefranche and highlights private yacht | 3-4 hours | Cap Ferrat, swimming, villages | $$$ |
let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular destinations for boat trips from Nice and what makes each town special:
Monaco
Monaco is a tiny principality famous for its glamorous casino, luxury yachts, and prestigious events like the Monaco Grand Prix. On a boat trip to Monaco, you’ll cruise into the iconic Port Hercules, where you can marvel at some of the world’s most expensive yachts.
Top attractions in Monaco include:
- Monte Carlo Casino – The opulent belle époque casino featured in many James Bond films
- Prince’s Palace – Official residence of the Prince of Monaco perched high on “The Rock”
- Oceanographic Museum – Impressive marine museum founded by Jacques Cousteau
- Cannes Cannes is synonymous with its annual star-studded film festival, but this chic resort town has plenty to offer year-round. Admire the palatial hotels and designer boutiques lining La Croisette boulevard, or disembark to explore the charming old town of Le Suquet.
Don’t miss:
- Palais des Festivals – The famous venue where the Cannes Film Festival is held
- Île Sainte-Marguerite – A tranquil island with beaches and the fortress where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned
- La Malmaison Art Center – Modern art museum showcasing works by Picasso, Matisse and more
Saint-Tropez
Once a sleepy fishing village, Saint-Tropez skyrocketed to fame in the 1950s when it was adopted as a glamorous getaway by French New Wave cinema stars like Brigitte Bardot. Today it remains one of the most coveted summer destinations for the international jet set.
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Highlights include:
- Old Port – The heart of the action, where yachts jostle for space and visitors promenade
- Place des Lices – Plane tree-shaded square that hosts a lively market and pétanque games
- Pampelonne Beach – The area’s most famous beach, lined with exclusive beach clubs
- Villefranche-sur-Mer With its deep natural harbor and picturesque old town spilling down the hillside, Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the French Riviera’s most captivating spots. Colorful fishing boats bob in the bay, overlooked by lively waterfront restaurants and cafes.
Key sights:
- Citadel – 16th-century fortress with museums and an open-air theater
- Rue Obscure – Atmospheric covered medieval street now filled with shops and galleries
- St Michel Church – Baroque church with a lavish interior including a Cocteau mosaic
Menton
Known as “The Pearl of France”, the sunny town of Menton sits right on the border with Italy. It has a distinct Italian flavor and is famous for its beautiful gardens and citrus fruits, celebrated each year at the Lemon Festival.
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Attractions include:
- Old Town – Pastel-hued houses and Baroque churches in the historic center
- Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden – Lush garden featuring tropical and subtropical plants
- Jean Cocteau Museum – Showcases the eclectic works of artist Jean Cocteau
In addition to these iconic resort towns, boat trips along the French Riviera coast also typically include views of famous villas, celebrity mansions, medieval villages like Èze perched on cliffs, and hidden coves only accessible from the sea. With so much gorgeous scenery and fascinating places to discover, it’s no wonder that cruising the Côte d’Azur by boat is such a sought-after experience.
Where can you go by boat from Nice?
From the Port of Nice, you can take boat trips to various destinations along the French Riviera, including:
- Monaco
- Cannes
- Saint-Tropez
- Villefranche-sur-Mer
- Menton
- Îles de Lérins (Lérins Islands) off the coast of Cannes
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula
- You can also book private boat charters to customize your own itinerary.
How long does it take to get from Nice to Monaco by boat?
The boat ride from Nice to Monaco typically takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the type of boat and weather conditions. The distance between the two ports is approximately 15km (9 miles).
How long is the boat ride from Nice to St. Tropez?
Saint-Tropez is located further southwest along the coast from Nice. The boat journey from Nice to Saint-Tropez usually takes between 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the speed of the boat and stops along the way. The distance is around 60km (37 miles).
Which countries can you take the boat to from the port of Nice?
While most boat tours from Nice travel to destinations within France, you can take a boat to Monaco, which is its own principality and technically a separate country from France.
Some longer full-day boat tours may also cruise briefly into Italian waters along the coast near the French-Italian border, but they do not typically stop in Italian ports. To visit Italy by boat, it’s better to depart from a port further east like Menton.
There are also ferry services from Nice to the island of Corsica, which is a region of France. These ferries usually run overnight.
In summary:
- Most Nice boat tours visit French Riviera towns within France
- Monaco is a separate country that you can easily reach on a day boat tour
- You may briefly enter Italian waters on some longer tours but won’t stop at Italian ports
- Ferries connect Nice to the French island of Corsica
So while the main draw of Nice boat trips is to explore the iconic resort towns of the French Riviera within France, you do have the opportunity to visit the sovereign principality of Monaco as well. With so many enticing destinations just a short boat ride away, Nice makes an ideal launching point for seaside adventures.