Monaco is an independent Principality located in-between the French Riviera otherwise referred to as the Cote d’Azur and the Italian Riviera. It is a tax-free haven favoured by the famous and wealth and it is every bit as glamorous as you imagine that it will be. Steeped in history it is a fantastic city to visit and spend several days exploring prior to the commencement of your luxury yacht charter. It is ideally positioned so that you can join your luxury yacht and either sail along the Cote d’Azur to St Tropez, or along the Italian Riviera visiting the beautiful harbour of Portofino.
Monaco is famous for the F1 Grand Prix that is raced along the streets during May every year. It is amazing how quickly they can turn a regular road into an F1 racetrack. Stars ‘N’ Bars is the famous bar located at Quai Antoine on the marina front that sees plenty of Grand Prix action every year.
Casino de Monte-Carlo is another place that you should visit during your time in Monaco. The building itself is amazing, it holds the famous casino, the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo, and the office of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. It is located opposite the famous Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo. This is a great location to dine outside during the summer months one of the more famous restaurants just outside the Casino is he Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. During the Monaco Grand Prix weekend this restaurant is bustling with people drinking and dining until the early hours.
If you have time it is worth exploring the old town, walking around Le Palais des Princes de Monaco. A short walk away is the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco and the Jardins de Saint-Martin, which is a peaceful, terraced public gardens featuring Mediterranean flora, statuary & views of the sea.
Monaco is also host to the famous Monaco Yacht Show that takes place every September. This show exhibits superyachts that are both available for charter and also yachts that are for sale as well as exhibitors offering their services to the luxury yachting industry. The majority of yachts that are exhibited at the show are motor yachts.
Because Monaco is one square mile in size, everything is closely located to the marina where you will board your luxury yacht. As with all Mediterranean ports the yachts moor stern to the dock. This gives you the perfect vantage point in Port Hercule to sit back with a glass of chilled French wine onboard your yacht and to watch this glamorous world go by.
From Monaco you have the choice of sailing along the French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) visiting Cap Ferrat, Villefranche, Nice, Antibes, Cannes and St Tropez. And if time permits to cruise around the beautiful tiny group of islands located southeast of Toulon called Iles d’Hyeres. Alternatively you can sail along the Italian Riviera visiting Sanremo, Genoa, the picture perfect port of Portofino and continuing along the coast to La Spezia.
The main Mediterranean yachting season runs from April until the end of October, however the peak time is July and August when all of the ports that you will visit on your cruise will be busy with tourists on land. For a quieter vacation you may want to consider chartering in June or September when the water temperature has warmed up slightly, however the summer crowds have not yet arrived.
As one of the most popular yachting destinations in the Western Mediterranean all types of luxury yachts are available to charter; motor yachts, sailing yachts and luxury catamarans. Yacht Charter Specialists can help you with the process of finding exactly the right yacht for you with the perfect yacht crew to take care of you on your luxury yacht vacation.
