One of the best elements of hiring a day boat or exploring the coast on a yacht, is the possibility of dropping anchor wherever you fancy, and just going for a swim. The waters of the French Riviera are lovely and refreshing, and the coastline offers some gorgeous spots for admiring the scenery, whilst cooling off. Here is our selection of the top Riviera swimming spots, in perfect order from East to West:
Top Riviera swimming spots, Villefranche-sur-mer and St Jean Cap Ferrat
Just around the headland from Nice, lies Villefranche-sur-mer, a quaint little fishing village with loads of character. Clear azure waters and beautiful surroundings make this the perfect swimming destination, once you’ve rented your boat. Why not explore the old town afterwards for a spot of lunch?
Then, right next to Villefranche is St Jean Cap Ferrat, a favourite place for boats to drop anchor and enjoy the scenery! Plenty of coves to explore in a boat, or whilst you’re swimming. Also, this is a great place to admire the luxurious houses and villas that sit along this part of the French Riviera coastline!
Cap d’Antibes
“I have never seen such a surprising thing as Antibes in front of the French Alps when the sun is falling” said Guy de Maupassant, and boy was he right – it’s absolutely gorgeous. If renting a boat from Antibes or Golfe Juan, you may want to go no further than the Cap d’Antibes. Definitely a 212 Yachts favourite for great swimming, with beautiful bays and loads of beaches to choose from!
Top Riviera swimming spot, Cannes Islands (Iles de Lerins)
These islands are perfect for a spot of swimming, simply because they are not accessible unless you take a boat! Loads of space, clear blue waters, and the chance to swim up to the islands to grab some lunch or an ice cream! Top rated amongst 212 Yachts’ clients!
Agay and Anthéor earn their places
The bay of Agay is absolutely gorgeous and perfect to dive off the boat and have a swim! You can also jump off and head to one of the watersports huts, and do something a bit more exciting – jet skiing, wakeboarding.. and much more! Drop anchor anywhere between here and the Cap d’Anthéor, and admire the gorgeous red rocks, and the stunning rugged scenery.
Great swimming in La Croix-Valmer
With loads of beautiful natural sandy beaches to choose from, this is a great spot for swimming, if you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle of St Tropez. There are seven beaches to choose from, with Gigaro Plage being the favourite. There are also nature reserves around, if you fancy going for a wander too!
Swimming Ile de Porquerolles
Absolutely perfect for a family day out on a boat, and for swimming! The French government bought this island in the 1970s. Therefore it is protected from over-development, and thus maintains clear blue seas and a peaceful environment. Check out the Plage de Notre Dame for luxurious white sands – claimed to be one of the best beaches in France.
With warm summer, clear waters, the French Riviera is the perfect destination to charter a yacht and go swimming! At 212 Yachts, we pride ourselves on top-class customer service. And we would love to help you organise not only a magical time on a yacht, but your days on the water too. Including recommending the top Riviera swimming spots! We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Contact our team if you want to go on a yacht charter and visit on of the idyllic places along the French Riviera.