Mediterranean · Côte d'Azur & Corsica
The Côte d'Azur and Corsica offer some of the most varied sailing in the Mediterranean. Pick the right marina and you have glamour, anchorages, and open-sea passages all within a day's sail.
Navigation
Explore verified marinas, anchorages, moorings and harbours across France.
Places
View all marinas Marina Argeles-sur-Mer Marina, also known as Port d'Argeles-sur-Mer, is a Mediterranean marina near Le Racou, France, offering 890 berths, VHF channel 9, and amenities including fuel, repairs, shops, and restaurants.
Marina Cap d'Ail Marina is a 253-berth marina in Monaco, offering berths up to 60m and 5m draft, with fuel, Wi-Fi, and 24/7 security.
Marina Port de Plaisance Larraldenia is a marina in Ciboure, France, on the North Atlantic Ocean, offering 81 berths, max LOA 17 m, draft 2.4 m, VHF 9, and amenities including fuel, water, power, wifi, showers, laundry, and repair.
Marina Hendaye - Sokoburu is a marina at the mouth of the Bidasoa in Hendaye, France, offering 890 berths and full services.
Details
Marina La Grande Motte Marina is a large marina in La Grande-Motte, France, with 1547 berths, max LOA 30m, max draft 3m, VHF channel 9, and full amenities.
Marina Marina Bandol (Port de Bandol) is a large marina in Bandol, France, with 1,700 berths, a 35-ton Travelift, and amenities like fuel, water, electricity, and Wi-Fi.
Marina Marina Calvi, also known as Port Xavier Colonna, is a 500-berth marina in Calvi, northwest Corsica, offering water, electricity, fuel, and a 100t lift, with anchorage prohibited in summer.
Details
Marina Marina Cap d'Agde is a large Mediterranean marina in Cap d'Agde, France, offering 3,100 berths, depths to 3m, and full services including fuel, cranes, and security.
Sailing guide
For a first charter in French Mediterranean waters, the Côte d'Azur is the obvious starting point. The largest and best-known charter hub on this stretch is Vieux Port de Cannes, where you can pick up a boat and head east toward the Italian border or west toward the calanques. Cannes sits at the centre of the Riviera, with daily access to the Lérins Islands, the bay at Cap d'Ail Marina, and the glamorous anchorages around Antibes and Nice.
If you prefer a quieter base with easy access to the open sea, Marina Bandol (Port de Bandol) and Port Pierre Canto in Cannes are both solid options. Bandol puts you close to the calanques of the Côte d'Azur and the islands of Porquerolles, while Pierre Canto is a practical alternative to the old port when space is tight. Further west, Port Cavalaire (PORT HERACLEA) is a good jumping-off point for the Îles d'Hyères and the long passage to Corsica.
Corsica is a different kind of sailing. The island's west coast is steep and dramatic, with deep gulfs and granite cliffs. Marina Calvi is the natural first stop after a crossing from the Riviera, and it is the largest marina on the island's northwest coast. From Calvi you can work your way south to the Gulf of Ajaccio or head north to the Cap Corse peninsula. Marina Port Tino Rossi in Ajaccio is another reliable base if you want to start your charter on the island itself.
The distances between the Côte d'Azur and Corsica are manageable for a week-long charter. A direct crossing from Cavalaire or Cannes to Calvi is roughly 90 to 100 nautical miles, which means an overnight sail or a long day passage in settled weather. Once in Corsica, the anchorages are less crowded than on the Riviera, but the winds can be stronger and the harbours smaller, so plan your berths ahead in high season. For a first trip, basing in Cannes and doing a loop to Calvi and back gives you the best mix of facilities, scenery, and variety.
The Côte d'Azur side is busier, with more marinas, more services, and more nightlife. Corsica rewards you with wilder scenery and quieter anchorages. Both are worth sailing, and the choice comes down to whether you want the Riviera's buzz or the island's solitude.
Vieux Port de Cannes is the largest and most central charter hub on the French Riviera, with easy access to the Lérins Islands and the coast toward Italy.
A direct crossing from Cavalaire or Cannes to Calvi is roughly 90 to 100 nautical miles, so plan for an overnight sail or a long day passage in settled weather.
Marina Calvi is the largest on the northwest coast and a natural first stop, while Marina Port Tino Rossi in Ajaccio offers a starting point further south.
The Côte d'Azur has more marinas, services, and nightlife, which makes planning easier. Corsica offers wilder scenery and quieter anchorages but requires more careful route planning.
The Mistral can blow strongly from the northwest, especially near the Rhône delta, and the sea breeze builds in the afternoon. Check the forecast daily and plan morning passages.
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