Flying Private to the Riviera: Nice, Monaco and St Tropez
The French Riviera is one of the most popular private aviation destinations in the world, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The coast is beautiful, the roads in summer are not. With the right airport and a helicopter connection, though, you can be on the terrace in minutes.
Nice: the gateway
Nice Côte d’Azur (NCE) is the main arrival airport for the Riviera, with a dedicated business aviation terminal. Large-cabin aircraft can fly here nonstop from New York, and light jets reach it from London or Paris in around two hours.
Monaco: seven minutes by helicopter
Monaco has no airport of its own. From Nice, a helicopter reaches the Monaco Heliport at Fontvieille in around seven minutes, against twenty-five minutes or more by road. During the Grand Prix in May and the Yacht Show in September, helicopter transfers are by far the most reliable way in, and they book early.
St Tropez: plan the last leg
La Môle–Saint-Tropez (LTT) is the closest airport to town, but its short runway and steep approach mean only certain aircraft and specially approved crews may land there. Most clients fly into Nice and continue by helicopter, a scenic flight of around half an hour, or into Toulon-Hyères (TLN), around an hour away by road. In July and August, the drive from Nice can take hours, so the helicopter is well worth it.
Cannes and the hills
For Cannes, Cannes-Mandelieu (CEQ) welcomes smaller business jets close to the Croisette. For villas in the hills behind the coast, we can arrange cars or helicopter transfers to suit the property.
When to book
The season runs from May to September. The Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix and the peak weeks of July and August are the busiest, and aircraft parking at Nice can be limited. If your dates fall on one of these weeks, start planning months ahead.
One journey, arranged
We arrange the flight, the helicopter and the car so they meet on the ramp, and through Le Rambouillet we can take care of the villa, the yacht and the beach club too. Tell us where you would like to wake up, and we will work backwards from there.