Antibes blends the elegance of the French Riviera with the rugged charm of a fortified Provençal town. It's a standout yacht charter destination in the West Mediterranean, with its golden beaches, artistic history, and close-knit sailing community all anchored around one of Europe's most iconic harbours. For those eyeing a yacht vacation that mixes cultural depth with coastal indulgence, Antibes consistently earns its place among the best yacht destinations in the Mediterranean.

The town's centrepiece is Port Vauban, the largest marina in the Mediterranean and a major draw for both experienced yacht owners and first-time charterers. It accommodates everything from compact motor vessels to some of the world's largest superyachts, with over 2,000 berths, many over 50 metres. This isn't just a marina—it's a full-service hub, built with the needs of luxury yacht charter guests in mind. There's 24/7 security, crew support, private lounges, concierge services, and provisioning specialists who understand the expectations of elite charter clientele. And its location could not be more strategic. Nestled between Cannes and Nice, with direct cruising access to Monaco, Saint-Tropez, and further into the West Mediterranean yacht charter routes, Port Vauban is the ideal launchpad for exploring the iconic French coastline.

Antibes itself is built for drifting. There's no rush here. Just slip into the narrow, winding alleys of the old town, where honey-coloured stone buildings tilt slightly with age, and the shutters carry a memory of past summers. Local cafés spill into the streets, studio doors stand open to passing curiosity, and artists still cluster in the shadows of galleries inspired by Picasso himself. It was in the Château Grimaldi, now the Picasso Museum, that the artist spent time in 1946, producing works that are still on display, steps from the sea. This cultural thread adds a certain resonance to Antibes, one that makes it feel more rooted than many glitzier neighbours along the Côte d'Azur.

A walk through the Marché Provençal on a morning before boarding your yacht is a sensory education. Pyramids of sun-ripened tomatoes, buckets of olives, lavender satchels, truffled cheeses, warm fougasse, and artisanal honeys line up in a way that dares you not to stock the galley with too much. Many yacht charter itineraries begin with this very ritual—fresh market haul in hand, returning to the yacht for coffee on deck before slipping lines and heading for the open blue.

The coastline around Antibes is a mosaic of coves, cliffs, and classic Riviera beaches. Plage de la Salis is ideal for families, with soft sand and shallow, gentle waters perfect for paddleboarding or swimming right off the tender. Plage de la Gravette, near the old port, sits in a calm, protected cove and has that postcard Mediterranean clarity that constantly surprises you, even when you've seen it before. Active charter guests can set off on the Sentier du Littoral, a cliffside trail tracing the contours of Cap d'Antibes, offering views across the bay and out towards the Alps. These are the moments that turn a yacht trip into a true connection with the land—mooring in a private bay, hopping ashore for a hike, then returning for sundowners with salt still drying on your skin.

Antibes carries its maritime heritage with pride. Fort Carré, the 16th-century star-shaped fortress that overlooks the port, was once a defensive linchpin for this coast and now serves as a powerful reminder of the town's strategic role in centuries of Mediterranean navigation. Today, it guards the yachts below more as a symbol than a protector, but the connection to seafaring history runs deep here.

For guests who want a touch of Riviera glamour without the frenzy of Cannes or the theatricality of Monaco, Antibes is the answer. Juan-les-Pins, the neighbouring district, adds a dose of night-time energy with its beach clubs, restaurants, and the famed Casino Juan-les-Pins. During July's Jazz à Juan festival, superyachts anchor just offshore while international artists play open-air sets on the sand. It's one of the few places where live music, luxury yachts, and beach bonfires blend without pretense.

If your yacht charter itinerary includes golf, the Golf de Biot is just minutes away, set among pine trees and offering views toward the surrounding valleys. Food lovers will also find no shortage of Michelin-level restaurants dotted around the region, but equally worth celebrating are the family-run bistros that serve a glass of Provençal rosé with just-caught sea bass and grilled courgette flowers. Many charter guests request private chefs to incorporate these regional ingredients into bespoke onboard dining experiences.

Antibes is also one of the most connected towns for broader cruising across the Mediterranean. Whether you're heading toward the glitzy enclaves of the West Mediterranean or planning to cross into the Italian Riviera and Ligurian coast, the position is ideal. For those returning from a Croatia yacht charter or planning a transition from Adriatic Sea yacht charters to the Riviera, Antibes offers excellent marina facilities for crew changes, provisioning, and yacht servicing. Some charterers choose to winter their yachts here after East Mediterranean yacht charters, using Antibes as a base between seasons.

As yacht charter destinations go, Antibes is both an anchor and a springboard. It's equally suited to guests embarking on their first charter and those planning back-to-back itineraries across multiple regions. While East Dalmatian yacht charters and Greece yacht charter routes offer island-hopping, Antibes delivers a coastal narrative, where each stop along the French Riviera carries its own distinct character. You might leave for lunch in Saint-Tropez and return at midnight, or wake up in Villefranche-sur-Mer after an overnight cruise, still carrying the sounds of last night's jazz in your mind.

For guests dreaming of combining cultural immersion with seamless yachting, Antibes is not just a waypoint—it's a reason to charter altogether. It's one of those rare places that satisfies both the quiet moments at anchor and the indulgent nights ashore.

Whether you're booking a full summer yacht vacation or adding Antibes to a larger West Mediterranean yacht charter, there's something magnetic about this town. It invites you to slow down, explore, taste, and listen. It doesn't shout—it draws you in. And once you're here, docked under the lights of Port Vauban with the hum of life behind the ramparts, it becomes very easy to stay longer than planned. Discover our fleet of luxury yachts available and begin your South of France yacht charter in Antibes.