Marinas in Monaco — 10 of Our Favourites

It’s hard to overstate the importance of Port Hercule in Monaco. Sitting at the foot of the city, this large marina sits in a natural deep bay carved out of the sheer cliffs of Monaco, and is home to a fleet of huge superyachts as well as smaller vessels and cruise ships.

The port has 700 berths, of which 30 are visitor docks according to availability. Port Hercules has 110 berths accommodating yachts over 24m, with its largest berth able to accept a yacht up to 130m in length. Marina depths range from 5m to 40m, so all drafts can be accommodated.

Due to the port’s fame and Monaco’s very wealthy residents who park their yachts there year-round, it can be difficult to get a berth at Port Hercule and finding one indeed becomes a Herculean task during the Grand Prix in May and Monaco Yacht Show in late September. Regardless of when you visit Monaco the berths tend to be expensive, but if you’re after a glamorous address then you’ve come to the right place as Port Hercule places you right in the centre of the action.

The port is lined with restaurants and bars creating a vibrant atmosphere, while the boutiques, casinos, and Michelin–starred restaurants of Monte Carlo are only a short walk away. Also worth a look is the stunning Yacht Club de Monaco, which was designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster in the shape of a boat.

For your provisioning and yachting needs, you’ll find a Casino supermarket just behind the port and many marine businesses including two chandleries, as well as a small shipyard.

Facilities and services: drinking water, electricity (220, 380V), showers & toilets, ship chandlers, 2 cranes (10T and 20T), self service laundrette, waste collection and fuel dock.

43°44'09.82"N ; 7°25'48.75"E
VHF 12

Garavan Port is situated only 800m from the Italian border in one direction, and 800m from the Old Town of Menton in the other. This is the newer and larger marina of the two Menton ports with 770 berths— of which 170 are public. The marina can accommodate yachts up to 40m in length and 3m in draft.

There are restaurants and shops lining the marina, as well as numerous marine services. The service is friendly and welcoming, and the rates tend to be very reasonable in comparison to many Riviera ports.

Local attractions are plentiful, including the Sablette Beach and the famous exotic gardens and Belle Epoque architecture. Menton’s location by the Italian border also makes Menton a superb jumping off point to either the French or the Italian Rivieras.

Please note that entry to the port can be difficult when a strong southerly is blowing.

Facilities and Services – fresh water, electricity (200V), free WIFI, telephones, restaurants and shops, toilets and showers, video surveillance, fuel dock, shipyard.

VHF: 09
43°46’58.33”N ; 7°31’13.13”E

The port is about 1km away from the train station and is serviced by the 100 bus. Eze sur Mer is a great place to stop and enjoy the beach before the brave can tackle the steep hike up Nietzsche’s Path to the perched village of Eze sitting on the cliff high above. The marina has 59 berths with a maximum length of 13.5m and a maximum draft of 2m.

VHF: 09
GPS: 43°43’00 N 007°21’03

Catering for 750 vessels up to 25m in length and with a maximum draft of 5m, Port de Beaulieu is a popular marina for smaller vessels and has excellent facilities.

Port de Beaulieu has a great location nearby the town, train station and a small beach, and offers extensive transportation links with Nice, Monaco and Italy. There’s a thriving strip of bars, restaurants and shops surrounding the port, while the busy shipyard and nautical services available on site make this an excellent choice to berth your vessel. However, berths at Beaulieu are very sought after, and this marina will often be full in the summer months.

Facilities & Services: Free WIFI, parking, careening area, shipyard, chandlery, nautical services, lounge area, toilets, fuel dock, electricity, water, 2-day loan of adapters/electrical outlets, mail delivery service, 24/7 security monitoring and a police station in the summertime.

Port de Beaulieu has an excellent website and you can pay online with most major credit cards (American Express not accepted.)

VHF radio channel: 09

There are 275 moorings with a maximum length of 30m and a maximum draft of 3m. Only 16 of these berths are reserved for visitors, so it can be very difficult to find a spot here, particularly in the summer months.

Sitting beneath the east face of the Rock of Monaco and protected by a large sea wall, the Port of Fontvieille is extremely well protected. It’s a great spot, with a vibrant collection of bars and restaurants lining the port, and the royal palace and Monaco’s old town perched high on the cliff above. There’s even an English pub. However, there aren’t many marine facilities, and you’ll have to go to the nearby Port Hercule to find practical things like fuel, a chandlery or a shipyard. This is very much a charming residential port rather than a working one.

Facilities and services: Water, electricity (220-380V), toilets and showers, restaurants and bars, telephone, waste disposal for oil and batteries, security patrols 24/7. Nearby you’ll find a shopping centre and supermarkets, as well as a helipad if the need arises.

Note: If you need your black water pumping you can do it for free at the Monaco Hercule Port.

VHF:09
43°43’43.53”N 7°25’17.42”E

Cap d’Ail is a deepwater marina that can accommodate vessels from 6-65m, with a generous 20m draft. There are 253 berths in total, of which 10 can accommodate yachts over 30m. There’s a warm and friendly mix of small boat users and visiting superyachts, and the marina restaurant and excellent marina staff add to this sense of conviviality.

There are restaurants, marine services and a shopping mall within an easy walk of the marina. There’s also access to a charming cliff walk along to exclusive Cap Ferrat which will lead you past grand villas, yellow wildflowers and stone stairways leading down to the cobalt-blue Mediterranean.

Facilities & Services: Water, WIFI, fuel, sewage pumping, electricity (340v), showers & WCs, mail service, parking, restaurant, marine services, 24/7 security, heliport, shipyard, chandlery.

Latitude/Longitude: 43°43'26.81" N ; 7°24'59.50" E
VHF 09

Cap Ferrat has 581 moorings for yachts up to 30m in length and a maximum draft of 4m. While there are 205 public berths in this number, it can be difficult to get a berth in the busy summer months. A long breakwater has been built to protect the marina from easterly swells, but access to the port during a strong easterly can prove difficult.

Port Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is a very prestigious harbour and has a charming pedestrianised area with shops and restaurants nearby. There’s also great access to the villas of Cap Ferrat, including the spectacular Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Facilities and Services: Water, electricity, fuel dock, chandlery, showers & WCs, free WIFI, video surveillance, dry dock with 16ton and 30ton lifts. Nearby you’ll find upmarket shops, markets, boutiques and restaurants.

VHF: 09

43°41’,5 N – 007°20’,1 E

The Municipal Port (also called Le Vieux Port), is the public port of Menton, offering 596 berths, of which 100 are reserved for visitors. The port accommodates vessels up to 30m, with a maximum draft of 6m.

This marina has an exquisite setting, with the views dominated by the stunning Basilique Saint Michel in the old town, and the Bastion at the entry to the port—now home to the Jean Cocteau museum. You’ll find restaurants lining the marina, many of which specialise in the local seafood caught by the fishermen of Menton. There’s a friendly and welcoming feel to this marina, and the value for money is hard to beat in this region.

Local attractions are plentiful, including the Sablette Beach and the famous exotic gardens and Belle Epoque architecture, while Menton’s location by the Italian border makes Menton a superb jumping off point to either the French or the Italian Rivieras. The port is within easy reach of the train station.

Facilities and services include fresh water, Electricity, Free WIFI, Toilets & Showers, fuel, careening area, waste collection, marine services, shops and restaurants. There is also a dry dock with a 100 ton travelift, a 2 ton crane and various technical services.

VHF: 09
43°46’6 N - 007°30’7 E

While it is generally difficult to find a berth in La Darse Marina in the summertime as the berths are privately owned, the bay also offers wonderful anchorage that is very sheltered in most conditions (with the exception of a strong southerly).

Anchorage outside the marina: There is room for many yachts to anchor in the bay there are even cruise ships anchored here in the summertime, which means the water can get quite busy with tenders ferrying passengers ashore. There are some anchorage buoys close to the town waterfront, although these are normally taken by locals. If peace and quiet are what you’re after, try and nab an anchorage on the sandy seabed in the northeast of the Bay- the best spot is in the shadow of the grand Villa Nellcote.

Villefranche has to be one of the prettiest bays in the world, and its steep medieval town perched on the hillside is a wonderful place to explore before adjourning to one of the charming waterfront restaurants and soaking in the view.

Marina Facilities & Services: 570 moorings, laundry, drydock, 30-tonne travel lift, electricity, water, toilets.

Position: Lat 43°42' N - Long 007°18,7’’ E

Port des Fourmis has 260 berths for small vessels with a maximum length of 12m and a maximum draft of 1.5m. There are 10 visitor berths, with the remainder reserved for local fishermen and boat owners. This petite marina sits below some magnificent villas, including the iconic Greek Villa Kerylos on the headland, with Rothschild’s famous Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild only a short distance away.

The marina is well-located near the town and has a nearby beach at Plage de Fourmis. Beaulieu-sur-Mer has excellent transportation links with Nice, Monaco and Italy- although this charming town of Belle Epoque architecture, charming streets and expensive boutiques certainly deserves your attention in its own right.

Facilities and Services: Water, electricity, 2 toilets, weather, small shipyard with 7ton crane and careening area. Near to the port you will find provisioning, nautical services, shops and restaurants.

Location: 43° 42' 14" N 07° 19' 56" E