Discovering hidden ports in the West Mediterranean

Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Palma, Porto Cervo – these are all failsafe ports-of-call for summer yacht cruising. But if you want to skip the crowds, it’s worth cruising away from the well beaten path and exploring some of the more secluded coves and historic harbours that also dot the Western Mediterranean coastline. From volcanic Italian outcrops to secluded Maltese coves, here are six alternative yacht destinations worth knowing about.

Why seek out the West Mediterranean’s hidden ports?

The port-of-call you choose can significantly impact your overall cruising experience – and whether you crave tranquillity or simply seek a safe haven away from the crowds of tourists, berthing or taking the tender into an alternative, lesser-known marina offers a convenient way to access the lesser known shoreside offerings. And, with more options available for eating and drinking than you might have in the usual hot spots, you can relax. After all, relaxation is what yachting is all about.

Mgarr Marina, Gozo

As an established superyacht hub in the Mediterranean, Malta is an ideal gateway to the southern Mediterranean’s most popular cruising grounds, but for those looking to explore Malta herself and her sister islands of Gozo and Comino, there are plenty of attractions located more locally around the archipelago. 300-plus days of sunshine per year, deep natural harbours, picturesque fishing villages and secluded bays are all a given, while ashore the islands offer three UNESCO sites, Michelin-star restaurants, and extensive superyacht facilities.

Cruising around the island of Malta, for example, from Marsaxlokk to Golden Bay and Gnejna in the south, to Mellieha, Selmum and St Paul’s Bay in the north, and you will find genuinely beautiful anchoring spots all around the island. The UNESCO World Heritage city of the Maltese capital Valletta is home to the island’s main marina, Marina Di Valletta, but for those looking for an alternative to Valletta then Gozo’s Mgarr Marina still offers berths for superyachts of up to 85m (278ft) in length and can provide visiting yachts with an ideal launchpad for exploring the rugged island which is also home to some of the best dive sites in the Mediterranean.

Porto Cristo, Mallorca

The golden Spanish isles of the Balearics have evolved to be among the Mediterranean’s most glamorous cruising grounds, attracting the yachting crowd to enjoy the long hours of sunshine and world-class hip hangouts. The most popular island of Mallorca is busy year-round, but even during the peak summer months you can still find secluded coves and pretty bays, including the picturesque fishing village of Porto Cristo. Located to the east of the island, it takes advantage of its position at the end of a sheltered bay and is blessed with clear waters that lap the blue flagged sandy beach. The port itself houses the famous Caves of Drach, family-run restaurants and a Yacht Club, however the berths are too small for superyachts but a great place to tender ashore.

Vernazza Harbour, Cinque Terre, Italy

The Italian Riviera is best known for its dramatic cliffs and charming seaside towns, including the tiny horseshoe bay of Portofino, but further along this vertiginous coastline the Cinque Terre (five lands) offers the waterborne a string of five little fishing villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The entire Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage site and protected marine area, and boasts footpaths that take walkers through tiny settlements, churches and old castles. Anchor in Vernazza Harbour, the area's only natural harbour, and tender ashore to dine on fresh seafood at one of the alfresco restaurants facing the water’s edge.

Sète Marina, France

With its well-connected waterways and easy access to the popular cruising grounds of the Mediterannean and beyond, Sète is located halfway between Barcelona and the French Riviera. A convenient stopover to and from the Côte d’Azur for yachts cruising from mainland Spain or the Balearics, the town is a cultural haven offering local art galleries and museums, and is also well-known for its gastronomic scene.

The surrounding area is home to fine sandy beaches, national parks and ancient Roman attractions such as Pont du Gard. The marina itself offers berthing for yachts of up to 180m (590ft) in length, with provisioning and service facilities and a clubhouse for yachts and their crew.

Port Grimaud, France

For those looking to enjoy the infectious joie de vivre of Saint-Tropez and the golden stretch of Pampelonne Beach without having to battle with the traffic jams of yachts in the Port of Saint-Tropez, then nearby Port Grimaud is ideally located. Tucked into the opposite corner of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the port has a relaxed, provençal atmosphere with its pastel coloured fishermen’s houses, church square, and plethora of restaurants and cafes. Catering for smaller yachts, this might be one to tender ashore to if your yacht is over 24m (78ft) in length.

Porto Olbia, Sardinia

One of Italy’s most glamorous places to spend the summer, the coastline of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda is where you will find exclusive restaurants, stunning beaches and a wide variety of landscapes. In high season, the long favoured Porto Cervo is both beautiful and very crowded, and finding a berth can be difficult. The nearby resort harbour of Porto Rotondo is just 20 minutes cruise away and offers an alternative location to berth or anchor.

Surrounded by charming bays, the crescent bay is home to beautiful beaches and an exclusive (and very sheltered) marina with high-end facilities for yachts of up to 75m (246ft) in length. Spend time beachside or explore the small fishing village with its boutiques and contemporary art galleries. Early evening is the best time to stroll around the stylish port with its trendy bars and restaurants and small piazzas.

Events in the West Mediterranean

From tennis championships to polo, the iconic Monaco Grand Prix and a variety of yachting regattas, the West Mediterranean plays host to all manner of major sporting events. It's also where you will find the Hollywood elite gracing the shores of Cannes at the world famous Cannes Film Festival, or wearing their most glamorous gowns and tuxedos to attend the Red Cross Ball in Monaco. Some events are even held portside, allowing you to view the action from the comfort of the decks of your yacht.

Palma International Boat Show

The inaugural show of the Mediterranean cruising season, the Palma International Boat Show is hosted on the pretty island of Mallorca. The perfect place to view the latest cutting-edge water toys and a variety of superyachts, the latter of which can be viewed at the Palma Superyacht Village, the show is located right by the island’s capital with all its restaurants and bars, and historic city centre. Sailing yachts are a particular speciality of this yacht show.

Monaco Rose Ball

Opening Monaco’s ‘season’ every year in the spring, the Rose Ball is the most glamorous invite on the Principality’s social calendar. Hosted by the Monegasque royal family since 1954, this annual high-society charity gala draws on an impressive guest list that includes both royals and A-list celebrities.

Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Monaco

The annual Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters is a small tournament which welcomes world class players to compete in the first clay court tournament of the year, and is used by many players as a warm up for the French Open. Hosted each spring, the event is one of the oldest and most prestigious on the circuit, welcoming the biggest names from international tennis to play at the Monte Carlo Country Club.

Unlike the Grand Slam tournaments where the crowds are huge and the players kept very separate from the fans, at Monte Carlo the biggest names in the world of tennis will literally walk past you on their way to the courts from the changing rooms. For tennis fans this makes it an unmissable event, with the opportunity to see even the top 10 international male players close-up as they compete for the ATP World Tour Title – previous players have included legendary names including Sampras, Agassi, Federer and Nadal.

Even if you are not particularly a tennis fan, it's still worth stepping ashore just to enjoy the charged atmosphere on the courts that heats up over the nine days of play.

Cannes Film Festival

The star of the Côte d’Azur, Cannes welcomes the world’s premier film festival to its shores each Spring along with the biggest stars in the film world. Created to draw attention and raise the profile of competing films, the Cannes Film Festival promotes and rewards the world’s most cutting-edge films throughout the 12-day festival. While the main screenings are open only to accredited film professionals, directors, actors, and producers, public beach screenings are also held for the general public every night on the beach. The hottest invites are, of course, to the parties on board the most exclusive superyachts either berthed in the Old Port or anchored out in the bay.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez 

One of the largest gatherings of classic and modern sailing yachts worldwide, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez sees a legendary fleet of awe-inspiring classics and a fleet of modern sailing yachts enjoy racing and fun in the Bay of Saint-Tropez. The sight of hundreds of modern and classic sails filling up the bay is genuinely spectacular and the atmosphere in port is also truly incredible – certainly one not to be missed by any yachting afficionado, and a great experience for anyone.

Discover the best of the West Mediterranean with Burgess superyacht charter

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