Photo: Josh Withers / Unsplash
France
Speedboat rental on the French Riviera
Two Italian day boats for hourly hire: the practical Pardo and the elegant Riva.
Speedboat rental on the French Riviera gets you afloat for a morning or afternoon without the cost of chartering a large yacht. The local summer rhythm suits it perfectly: nip from cove to cove, swim, then anchor near a waterfront restaurant for lunch. Both boats here are Italian, come with a captain and normally start at three hours.
At 13.4 metres, the Pardo 43 is a silhouette you will spot everywhere along this coast — sleek and low, with sprawling sunbeds at bow and stern and side decks you can walk right round. Out of Cannes, Sainte-Marguerite is a quarter of an hour at most, and a compact cabin with a WC means even a whole day aboard feels easy. Twelve can come along.
The Riva Rivamare, 11.9 metres of polished open runabout, belongs to a marque woven into Riviera folklore since the fifties. Near-40-knot pace means Cap Ferrat, Villefranche and Monaco's harbour can share a single outing, and pulling in at Pampelonne or Saint-Tropez feels like an event. Ten is her limit; couples and film or photo crews love her.
Speedboats on the French Riviera
What it costs
The lowest indicative prices among the yachts of this type on this page.
- Hourly cruise
- from €450 / hour
- Full day
- from €2,800 / day
Minimum hire from 3 h
Indicative "from" market prices for this destination. The exact price depends on dates, duration and the specific yacht, and comes in your personal quote.
Usually included
- Captain at the helm
- Insurance cover
- Chilled water and sodas
- Landing at a beach restaurant
Usually extra
- Fuel, unless the hourly price already covers it
- French VAT
- A reserved table on the Lérins Islands or at Pampelonne
- Time added past the minimum
Exact inclusions depend on the yacht and are always listed in your written offer.
Where you go
The Pardo mostly leaves Cannes' old harbour or Antibes, while the Riva tends to work out of Nice and Monaco. A short spin covers the strait separating the two Lérins islands and comes back past the Croisette promenade. Starting from Nice, you take in Villefranche, the coves around Cap Ferrat and the run up to Monaco.
Marinas
- Nice (Port Lympia)
- Cannes Vieux Port
- Antibes Port Vauban
- Monaco Port Hercule
- Saint-Tropez
When to go
The boats work from May through September. Early summer and September mean warm water and plenty of room to anchor; high summer is busy, and the prime hours are claimed early. Mornings are usually the calmest; an evening slot fits a sunset and a harbourside dinner.
Speedboat rental on the French Riviera: FAQ
Pardo or Riva — which one?
The Pardo is the sensible pick: more room, twelve seats and a WC, perfect for the Lérins. The Riva is about theatre — timeless styling, close to 40 knots and a memorable entrance in Monaco or Saint-Tropez.
How long should we book for the Lérins Islands?
Three hours generally does it: the hop from Cannes is ten to fifteen minutes and the remainder is swim time in the channel. Planning lunch at an island restaurant? Add a few hours.
Should we carry ID?
If Monaco or a meal ashore features in the plan, bring passports or ID cards — simply a sensible precaution.