Boat Rental and Yacht Charter in Cannes

Set sail in France's glamorous city of Cannes, where film festivals and azure seas enchant. With an expert captain, uncover celebrity hideaways, hidden islands, and the chic elegance of the French Riviera.

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Sailing Guide Cannes

With a boat rental in Cannes, it is easy to explore the best the French Riviera has to offer. Come during the Cannes Film Festival for a lot of glamour and luxury, discover the stunning natural beauty the French Riviera has to offer or take the opportunity to start your sailing adventure in Cannes.

Things to do and see when sailing in Cannes

Cannes is more than a city full of luxury boutiques, golden sand beaches and fancy restaurants. There are plenty of activities that await you here!

Activities in Cannes

  • The Vieux Port de Cannes is a sight you shouldn’t miss on your trip to the French riviera
  • Marché Forville is well-known for its fresh and local produce. Come here for some fresh fruit, vegetables and delicious treats
  • Do you want to see a museum that is located in a castle and showcases wonderful prehistoric and oriental art amongst other things? Look no further! Head to Musée des explorations du monde
  • Sail to Île Sainte-Marguerite for the wonderful views and to explore this stunning natural paradise
  • Boulevard de la Croisette is the place to see and to be seen. It’s a mixture between beautiful sandy beaches, luxury boutiques and even more luxurious hotels. Walk amongst palm trees and the super rich to get a feel for what Cannes is all about
  • Head to Rue d'Antibes for a bit of shopping. Admire the beautiful displays in the windows or step foot into some of the beautiful stores and try on a dress or two
  • La Malmaison is THE place you have to visit if you’re interested in contemporary art
  • Charter a yacht in Cannes to explore the French riviera and the many secluded bays and beaches that are not too far from the city. There are also plenty of islands you shouldn’t miss out on seeing while sailing here
  • The Cimetière du Grand Jas is more than an ordinary cemetery. It is inviting you for a walk along the resting place of Cannes former residents and many English people who called the city their home
  • Île Saint-Honorat is home to Monasterio de Lerins, a beautiful and historic monastery. Work on the building already started in the 1070s and today you can explore the grounds of the monastery as well as the surrounding nature.
  • Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is not just a stunning villa you can visit, it also offers beautiful gardens you can stroll around
  • Fort du Mont Alban is an old renaissance building on the top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean

Beaches in Cannes

The beaches of Cannes are a mixture between private and public beaches. Depending on your preferences and budget, there is a beach for everyone.

  • Plage du Midi is a public beach in Cannes west and therefore not far from the old town of Cannes. It is a great spot to relax for the day with many restaurants closeby
  • Palm Beach is another public beach in Cannes worth visiting. It is a little more quiet than other beaches in Cannes, making it the perfect place to get away from the crowds for a bit
  • Carlton Beach is a private beach, belonging to the InterContinental Carlton Hotel. Many of the private beaches in Cannes belong to hotels. You will need to pay in order to use them - unless you’re a hotel guest, but it is worth it as they are well-equipped with chairs, umbrellas, etc
  • Plage de la Bocca is a wonderful beach that is located away from the touristy masses and surrounded by stunning nature. The water here is much clearer than in other parts of Cannes

Restaurants in Cannes

Casual dining in Cannes:

  • Gusti Italiani: This fabulous restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious Italian food that you will cherish after a day out at sea
  • Le Troquet à Soupes is a cute place where you can have soup for very little money. Cannes is expensive, so finding a place like this is wonderful.

Beach restaurants in Cannes:

  • Plage Croisette Beach is a restaurant that is located directly on the beach. Enjoy a healthy buddha bowl or a traditional salade nicoise while enjoying the sunny weather and listening to the sounds of waves crashing in the background
  • La Môme Plage is a fantastic place for tasty seafood and sushi. You can also come here to enjoy a refreshing cocktail with a view

Fine dining in Cannes:

  • La Table du Chef is a Michelin star restaurant in Cannes you have to visit. It is a small restaurant offering exquisite fish and meat dishes. The desserts are to die for!
  • Aux P’Tits Anges is a great place to savour world-famous French cuisine. It might not be a big restaurant, but it’s what makes this place particularly charming. If you’re looking for high quality food and elegantly presented dishes, you have to come here on your vacation in Cannes!

Bars and Clubs in Cannes

  • Morrisons Irish Pub is THE place for everyone who wants to have a fun night out and listen to live music. The mix creates a fantastic atmosphere for a night you will never forget!
  • La Belle Epoque is one of the best places to enjoy fantastic music, a great DJ and refreshing cocktails
  • Bâoli Cannes is one of the hotspots when it comes to partying in Cannes.

Explore historical Cannes

You might only think of Cannes as this glitzy place full of chic boutiques and restaurants, but there are historical sites like the two towers on the Lérins islands that you can visit today. The first settlers arrived in Cannes in the second century BC. In the 20th century many luxury hotels and resorts were built in Cannes making the rich and famous flock into the city - especially during the Cannes Film Festival.

The Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage is a true architectural masterpiece. What was once a small chapel where people could find shelter is now a breathtaking church. It is located not far from the Boulevard de la Croisette.

Sailing conditions in Cannes

Sailing season in Cannes generally starts in May and lasts until October. As Cannes is located on the French riviera and therefore on the Mediterranean sea, you can expect many sunny days with hot summer days in July and August with the water temperatures reaching 25 degrees. It’s the perfect temperature to enjoy a swim or just lay on deck to soak up the sun.

Tides are generally not very high and winds are not too strong. However, you should keep in mind that if you’re planning on sailing off season the Mistral winds can become quite strong in the winter months.

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Cannes?

The price to rent a boat in Cannes highly depends on the type and size of the boat you want to rent, how many people will join you on your trip, the age of the boat and the seasonality of course. There are definitely cheaper destinations in the Mediterranean than Cannes, but renting a boat in France really doesn’t need to break your bank!

It costs just 38 EUR per person per day on average to rent a speedboat in France. This makes speedboats one of the cheapest options in France. You can rent a sailboat in France for just 45 EUR per person per day on average while renting a RIB in France will cost you 49 EUR per person per day on average. You can expect to pay around 70 EUR per person per day to rent a catamaran in France. At an average price of 283 EUR per person per day renting a motorboat is the most expensive option to rent a boat in France.

Keep in mind that renting a boat during the Cannes film festival will probably cost much more than that! However, as these are only average prices, you can always find cheaper or more expensive boats to rent in France. If you want to charter a yacht at a lower price, we would recommend you book your boat off season, but keep an open eye for many deals all year round with Zizoo!

What type of boat is best for sailing in Cannes?

It all depends on the type of boat holiday you would like to experience in Cannes. Choose your boat according to the needs of your vacation and you’re going to have the best time!

Rent a catamaran in Cannes

Pros of renting a catamaran in Cannes

Renting a catamaran in Cannes comes with many advantages. As they are equipped with sails as well as engines, catamarans are the perfect water vehicles to have the best of both worlds: A fun and adventurous sailing vacation, but with the option of relaxing as well.

Another advantage of chartering a catamaran is the fact that they have a shallow draft and no keel. This makes them perfect for exploring all the hidden bays and beaches you get to discover on the French riviera.

Catamarans often offer more space than other types of boats, making the cabins feel less claustrophobic.

One of the most popular catamarans to rent in Cannes is Catamaran Lagoon 400 S2 offering space for up to 12 people on board.

Cons of renting a catamaran in Cannes

One of the downsides of renting a catamaran in Cannes is the fact that the size of them can make it difficult to find a place for mooring in the marinas. This can become even more complicated when sailing in high season and most ports in Cannes and the surrounding areas are already overflowing with people and boats.

Charter a catamaran in Cannes

Rent a sailboat in Cannes

Pros of renting a sailboat in Cannes

One of the advantages of renting a sailboat in Cannes is the fact that they solely run on wind and not on fuel. This makes them the perfect boats to sail in this area of the Mediterranean. The wind conditions are ideal and Cannes is known for being a great sailing spot.

Charter a sailboat if you are not afraid of having an adventure and to experience a sense of freedom that you might not feel with other types of boats. One of the most popular sailboats to rent in Cannes is Sailboat Wauquiez Centurion 57 which even has a fridge on board. It offers space for up to 8 people and comes with a professional captain. This is a great opportunity for novice sailors to learn from someone with a lot of experience on sailboats and in the waters of the Mediterranean.

Cons of renting a sailboat in Cannes

One of the downsides of renting a sailboat in Cannes is the fact that sailboats have a keel. This makes it difficult to sail closer to the shore. You might miss out on exploring some of the most beautiful bays and beaches this part of the Mediterranean has to offer.

Another disadvantage can be the fact that sailboats solely run on wind. Should the wind suddenly stop blowing, you’re stuck in the middle of the sea and have to wait patiently for the wind to pick up again.

Rent a sailboat in Cannes

Rent a motorboat in Cannes

Pros of renting a motorboat in Cannes

Renting a motorboat in Cannes comes with many advantages. They come with a shallow draft, making them the perfect boat to discover secluded places along the French riviera that you might not reach with a sailboat. You can explore everything from up close and create beautiful memories that you won’t ever forget.

Another advantage of motorboats is their speed. They are often faster and more easy to navigate than other types of boats. You can sail super fast from Cannes to another part of the French riviera. One of the most popular motorboats to rent in Cannes is Motorboat Sessa Key Largo 36 which offers space for up to 11 people and comes with an experienced captain who is going to operate and navigate the boat for you. You just have to come onboard and relax on your sailing vacation. A refrigerator on board allows you to store fresh food and to keep your drinks cool.

Cons of renting a motorboat in Cannes

One of the downsides of renting a motorboat in Cannes is the fact that they run on fuel. Fuel is expensive and racing around the Mediterranean on a motorboat from place to place can come with a hefty price tag.

Motorboat rental in Cannes

Charter a luxury yacht in Cannes

If you’re looking for a luxurious vacation and have the necessary cash to afford to rent a private luxury yacht in Cannes for a week, you should take the opportunity and feel like the rich and famous on your vacation. A beautiful luxury yacht you can charter in Cannes is Catamaran Sunreef 70 . This beauty is offering space for up to 9 guests. A captain and professional crew are ready to assist you with everything you need while vacationing in Cannes and the Cote d’Azur. A deck shower and a fridge are just some of the additional amenities included when renting this luxury catamaran.

Charter a luxury yacht in Cannes

What kind of boat license do you need when renting a boat in Cannes?

You might be surprised, but if you rent a sailboat or catamaran you don’t need to have a boat licence in France, but you need to show that you already have experience sailing these types of boats by outlining where, when and what kind of boat you were sailing on previous sailing adventures. If you don’t feel comfortable sailing these boats by yourself, you can always hire a skipper in addition to your bareboat charter. Just keep in mind that this will cost you extra - although some charters offer a professional captain that is included.

In general you are required to have a valid boat licence when renting a boat with more than 6 hp. This includes motorboats with more than 6 hp.

Sailing routes in Cannes

Whether you are interested in starting a week-long trip from Cannes or just head out to different locations alongside the French riviera, Cannes and its surroundings have plenty of options to offer.

Sail from Cannes to Nice: Nice is probably best known for its pebble beaches. The clear water, beautiful promenade and many great restaurants make it the perfect spot for a day trip from Cannes.

Sail from Cannes to St. Tropez: In 1965 the tiny city of St. Tropez rose to fame due to the movie “And God created woman” that was shot here with Brigitte Bardot. The rich and famous have since been flocking into the town to vacation

Sail from Cannes to the Îles de Lérins: Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat as well as the smaller islands Îlot Saint-Ferréol and Îlot de la Tradelière make up this group of islands offer stunning views as well as beautiful nature and some historic buildings

Sail from Cannes to Corsica: If you are looking for a more challenging sailing experience, sail from Cannes to Corsica which is going to take you about a day, depending on the weather conditions, the type of boat you’re sailing with and the power of the engine or the strength of the wind. Corsica is a fantastic place to see different kinds of natural beauty - from pine trees and mountainous landscapes to white sandy beaches and sleepy fishing villages, Corsica is a real treasure in the Mediterranean

Sail from Cannes to Antibes: Antibes is a beautiful spot not far from Cannes offering stunning views of the Mediterranean, picturesque streets and a stunning old town you shouldn’t miss when vacationing here

Sail from Cannes to Monaco: Monaco is a playground for the rich and famous. Casinos, luxury hotels and stunning fountains make it a spectacular country and city to visit at least once in your life.