The Mediterranean Sea has long been known for its ability to provide an enchanting escape for intrepid seafarers and leisure cruise-goers alike.
Around 20 countries share a border with this body of water, meaning that travellers seeking exploration will be able to visit multiple varied destinations with ease. What’s more, there are areas for most sailing abilities and vessel sizes to enjoy, so if you’re thinking of heading there this summer to enjoy the delights of the region you’ll be in for a treat.
With such an expanse to cover and so many stunning destinations to see and experience, how will you decide where to go? From the Adriatic to the Balearic Islands and the delightful Greek Islands, there’s a wealth of waters to be traversed, but here, we’re going to focus on the stunning southeastern French coast, known as the Cote d’Azur, or French Riviera.
The Cote d’Azur
Stretching to Menton in the east, which rests near the Italian border, the region encompasses some of the most stunning coastal towns, communes and cities to be found in Europe, including the microstate of Monaco, Nice, Antibes, Cannes, and St Tropez.
Long been lauded as the summer destination of dreams, the Cote d’Azur boasts glamorous beach resorts; majestic villas offering a home from home plus plenty of luxuries; beautiful sands, coves and crystal clear waters to explore by boat; a fantastic arts scene; plenty of history to discover on foot; foods and wines to delight in, and so much more on top of this.
Nice is the city with a bit of everything to enjoy – art, history, fine foods, and the Promenade des Anglais, while Monaco is the epitome of extravagance with its opulent hotels, casinos and supercars winding their way around the streets. Cannes will impress with its beaches, beautiful buildings, film hot spots, beach clubs, La Croisette, marina and more, meanwhile the beaches, nightlife, cobblestoned old town and beautiful boats of St Tropez will delight. Ancient Antibes is not to be missed with its beautiful old town boasting cafés and markets upon its cobbled streets, and enclosed by 16th century ramparts, along with its superyacht-filled port and laid-back charm.
Taking to the waters
Enjoying time on land is sure to be filled with exciting experiences and lots of laid-back exploring, but heading out on the water will certainly elevate your summer trip to lofty new heights. Whether you plan on renting a boat for a day or you want to enjoy days or weeks sailing the seas, you’ll be in the best place to find a vessel to suit your needs with the variety of ports and boat rental companies here.
Monaco’s marina is a fantastic place to begin your sailing adventures and from here you can explore the beauty of the coast onboard a luxurious boat, with features like jet skis and Jacuzzis, or head there in May to take in the Grand Prix onboard a luxury yacht while watching the race take place on one of the most iconic tracks in the world. Monaco Boats is a great place to start your search for the best boat for your travels and their varied collection includes 13m Cranchi yachts to 35m Sunseekers superyachts. Their concierge team will be able to arrange supercars for you to drive around the streets of Monaco, private jet flights and luxurious transfers to your boat, or even a helicopter transfer to get you to your destination in style.
Sitting back and letting the crew take you in and around the coastal gems as you luxuriate on board is a fine way to spend any summer and you and your companions – whether you’re travelling with close family, extended family, friends, or as a couple – can do so in the utmost comfort and style. A Sunseeker 115, for example, is one of the most popular yachts on the French Riviera and can hold up to 10 overnight guests, who can enjoy the use of a jet ski before relaxing on the spa or loungers on the sun deck, while al fresco dining, indoor and outdoor living areas and beautiful interiors induce a calming environment on the water.
What will you do with your time on the water? Those in need of an organised trip can curate a bespoke itinerary for their time out at sea, to include dinners booked at Michelin-starred restaurants at the ports, museum and gallery visits, tours of the towns, and the like. Other people prefer the freedom to tour, relax and make their minds up as they go with no fixed schedule to keep them tied down. The great thing about sailing the waters of the Cote d’Azur, as well as the luxe surroundings and beautiful scenery, is that you can do just that.
