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Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var lies on the western bank of the Var estuary, directly opposite Nice Airport and right next to the Cap 3000 shopping centre. Here you'll find how to get to your trip departure, where to park and shop, what weather to expect, which sailing destinations on the Côte d'Azur are nearby and what skippers need to know about registration, cruising regulations and sea weather.
The essentials at a glance
- From Nice Airport you're at the harbour in a few minutes: by taxi across the Var, by bus 20 from the Grand Arénas bus station or by bus 12+ to Cap 3000.
- Saint-Laurent-du-Var has its own railway station on the coastal line between Cannes and Nice; from Cannes you're there in around 25 minutes by regional train.
- For provisions, walk along the waterfront promenade to Cap 3000, which is open daily from 8:30 to 21:00. There is parking at the harbour.
- Light land and sea breezes usually determine the weather. Low-pressure systems over the Gulf of Genoa bring strong winds and seas from the south-east.
- Harbour redevelopment is planned until the end of 2029; individual quays and car parks may be temporarily restricted.
Where is Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
The harbour is on the coast of Saint-Laurent-du-Var, a town of around 31,000 inhabitants immediately west of Nice. To the east are the Var estuary and Cap 3000; on the other side of the river lies Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. The capitainerie and the Yacht Club International are on Quai La Pérouse.
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More InformationThe harbour has 1,094 berths and around 3.6 kilometres of quays. Restaurants, bars and shops line the quays. The Var estuary next door is protected as a Natura 2000 area. You'll find the large city harbour of Nice, Port Lympia with its ferries to Corsica, a good 5 nautical miles further east.
Since November 2025 the Chamber of Commerce CCI Nice Côte d'Azur has held the concession for the harbour, awarded by the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur for 20 years. According to the current status (October 2026), this includes extensive work: by the end of 2028 the capitainerie, launderette and toilet and shower facilities are to be refurbished, and by the end of 2029 the harbour basin, walkways and car parks. During construction there may be restrictions at individual quays and in the car parks; the schedule may change.
Arriving for your trip departure at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var
From Nice Airport to the harbour
The quickest way to the harbour is by taxi: Cap 3000 is about five minutes from the airport and the harbour adjoins it to the west.
By bus you have two options. At the "Aéroport / Promenade" stop on the Promenade des Anglais, around 150 metres from Terminal 1, line 12+ runs to the Cap 3000 shopping centre. From the Grand Arénas bus station, less than 500 metres from Terminal 1, line 20 runs to Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Between Terminal 2, Terminal 1 and Grand Arénas the tram runs free of charge. You can buy tickets for the Lignes d'Azur bus network at the machine; for the rechargeable card you pay a €2 deposit. At the harbour itself, the Tabac du Port sells tickets for bus and train.
The third option is the train. From exit A0 at Terminal 1 you walk about seven minutes to Nice Saint-Augustin station. From there regional trains run towards Cannes, stopping at Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
By train, bus or ferry
The station at Saint-Laurent-du-Var lies on the coastal line Cannes – Nice – Monaco. From Cannes you reach it by TER regional train in roughly 25 minutes. The hourly regional trains from Marseille and Toulon stop at Nice Saint-Augustin at the airport, where you change to a train towards Cannes.
From Cannes and Antibes the ZOU! regional buses also run to the airport, as do services from Monaco and Menton. Ferries from Corsica berth at Port Lympia in Nice. From there tram line 2 takes you to the airport, where you change to bus, train or taxi to Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
Parking
At the harbour there are parking areas to the north, west and south of the site. They are being reorganised as part of the redevelopment, which includes a planned two-storey car park. In addition Cap 3000 has a covered car park on four levels.
Showers and sanitary facilities
Sanitary and shower facilities are available in the harbour, and at 136 Quai La Pérouse there is also a laundrette.
Shopping for the trip
The most important address for shopping is Cap 3000. From the quays you walk east along the car-free waterfront promenade; as the crow flies it is roughly one kilometre. The shopping centre has around 300 shops and about 50 restaurants and is open daily from 8:30 to 21:00, closed only on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December (as at October 2026).
The shopping centre also includes a large food shop. Further supermarkets can be found in the town of Saint-Laurent-du-Var.
Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services
The nearest pharmacy is in Cap 3000, others are in the town centre, for example on Avenue du Général Leclerc and on Avenue du Général de Gaulle. The out-of-hours service for doctors and pharmacies can be reached on +33 825 00 50 04.
- 112: European emergency number
- 15: ambulance service (SAMU), 17: police, 18: fire brigade
- 196: Sea rescue by telephone from the coast; at sea use VHF channel 16 first
Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var at a glance
The harbour has electricity and water, a fuel berth and a yard for work ashore. The main details at a glance:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Quai La Pérouse, 06700 Saint-Laurent-du-Var, west of the Var estuary |
| Berths | 1.094 |
| Quays | approximately 3.6 km |
| Operator | CCI Nice Côte d'Azur, concession of the Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur for 20 years |
| Harbour office | all year daily, VHF channel 9, tel. +33 4 93 07 12 70 |
| Electricity and water | available |
| Fuel | Fuel berth in harbour |
| Technology | Crane 4 to 6 t, travel lift 50 t, yard for work on underwater hull |
| Further | Wi-Fi, security, waste disposal, pets allowed |
Around the harbour there are numerous restaurants, bars and pubs.
What is the weather like in Saint-Laurent-du-Var for sailing?
Along the coast around Nice the wind is usually light: during the day a breeze blows from the sea, at night it comes from the land. Strong winds and heavy seas are brought mainly by lows over the Gulf of Genoa; ahead of them the wind backs from south-westerly to south-easterly, often for one or two days. Thunderstorms also bring strong gusts. For the coast Météo-France issues a gale warning from force 7 upwards, and a storm warning from force 8.
Tides play virtually no role. The water stands higher during low atmospheric pressure and strong onshore winds.
From late autumn to spring the Levant often blows, a moist easterly wind bringing cloud and rain; in spring and autumn the south-easterly Marin is more frequent. The Mistral is often strongest in winter and spring. When it reaches the Côte d'Azur, it arrives at Nice from the south-west.
Which destinations lie near Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
From the harbour you can reach Nice, Villefranche and Monaco to the east, and Antibes and the Îles de Lérins off Cannes to the west. The distances are rounded water routes on the usual course; for precise planning the chart applies.
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Rade de Villefranche
The roadstead of Villefranche-sur-Mer lies roughly 7 nautical miles to the east, beyond Cap de Nice. It is one of the deepest and best sheltered bays in the Mediterranean. In the town stand the 16th-century citadel Saint-Elme and the chapel of Saint-Pierre decorated by Jean Cocteau, as well as the Darse, the former military harbour of the Dukes of Savoy. Special rules from the Préfecture maritime apply in the roadstead: in the northern part you travel at 5 knots maximum, anchoring is prohibited in several zones, and vessels of 20 metres and over may not anchor in some areas.
Antibes and Îles de Lérins
To the west, Antibes lies about 5 nautical miles away. Further on around Cap d'Antibes are the Îles de Lérins off Cannes; the islands are about 12 nautical miles distant. Sainte-Marguerite, at roughly three kilometres long, is the larger island, with pine and eucalyptus forest and the Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned. On Saint-Honorat, around thirty Cistercian monks live in the Abbey of Lérins and cultivate wine on eight hectares. The anchorage between the two islands is very busy in summer.
Nice and Monaco
Port Lympia in Nice lies a good 5 nautical miles to the east, Monaco around 12 nautical miles, going outside around Cap Ferrat. If you want to head further west: we present a major city harbour on the Provence coast in our profile of the Vieux-Port in Marseille .
What can you do on a harbour day in Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
The old town, beaches and the river park along the Var are within walking distance from the harbour; for Cagnes-sur-Mer, take the coastal cycle path.
- Waterfront promenade and beaches: From the harbour, the Promenade des Flots Bleus leads along the Esplanade des Goélands with sea views. The public beaches Plage des Flots Bleus and Plage des Vespins are supervised in summer; altogether the town has around two kilometres of beach.
- Old town: The Vieux Village has narrow lanes, typical three-storey houses and an 11th-century church. You can follow a self-guided walking tour using a free app. Until 1860, so-called Gueyeurs guided travellers across the river here; then a permanent bridge over the Var made them redundant.
- Parc Départemental des Rives du Var: The park runs from Cap 3000 northwards along the river, with picnic tables and information boards about the plants and animals by the river.
- Haut-de-Cagnes: Via the coastal cycle path La Littorale you can ride to Cagnes-sur-Mer. From Square Bourdet, a free shuttle bus runs every ten minutes up to the Château Grimaldi.
For skippers: Berthing and sea weather in Saint-Laurent-du-Var
The harbour office is staffed daily throughout the year.
Registration at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var
Announce your arrival to the harbour office on VHF channel 9 or by telephone on +33 4 93 07 12 70. It is located on Quai La Pérouse next to the Yacht Club International. The fuel berth is in the harbour; from January 2027 it will be run and refurbished by a new operator. For work ashore there is a crane for 4 to 6 tonnes and a 50-tonne travel lift.
Area rules off the coast
In the 300-metre strip along the entire French Mediterranean coast, your speed limit is 5 knots, even where there are no buoys. This is regulated by an ordinance of the Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée.
Which sea weather forecast applies to Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
The coastal weather forecast from Météo-France for the area "Côte d'Azur, from Saint-Raphaël to Menton" applies. The rescue co-ordination centre CROSS La Garde broadcasts it on VHF; for this stretch of coast via the relay station Pic de l'Ours near Cannes on channel 64. Every broadcast is announced beforehand on channel 16.
Strong wind warnings from force 7 upwards are repeated every hour by CROSS La Garde. The forecast in English comes via NAVTEX from the station La Garde, callsign W, on 518 kHz. All broadcast channels are explained in the Marine weather guide from Météo-France.
Trips from Saint-Laurent-du-Var on Törnfinder
In October 2026 there are 13 trip dates on Törnfinder in the next twelve months with departure or destination at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var. Most start in July, September and August; eight days is typical.
All current offers are in the trip overview. An overview of the whole country is given on the page Sailing in France; trips in the wider region can be found under Sailing in the Mediterranean.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Nice airport to Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
Quickest by taxi, as the harbour lies just on the other side of the Var. By bus, travel from Grand Arénas on line 20 to Saint-Laurent-du-Var, or from the stop "Aéroport / Promenade" on line 12+ to Cap 3000.
Is there a railway station near the harbour?
Yes, Saint-Laurent-du-Var has its own station on the Cannes – Nice line. From Cannes it's around 25 minutes by regional train.
Where can I shop for provisions at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
At Cap 3000, which you can reach on foot from the harbour along the waterfront promenade. The shopping centre includes a large food store, open daily from 8:30 to 21:00.
Are there showers at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
Yes, the harbour has toilet and shower facilities, and there is also a launderette at Quai La Pérouse. The facilities are being refurbished until the end of 2028.
Is there construction work at Port de Saint-Laurent-du-Var?
Yes, the plan is to renew the harbour basins, walkways, car parks and buildings by the end of 2029. Individual areas may be restricted in the meantime.
How far is it from Saint-Laurent-du-Var to the Îles de Lérins?
Around 12 nautical miles by water, passing outside round Cap d'Antibes. Villefranche is around 7 nautical miles in the other direction.
