A Monaco Yacht Show private jet trip puts you inside the single biggest week on the superyacht calendar without losing a day to travel logistics. The 2026 show runs September 23 to 26 at Port Hercule, and it draws over 560 exhibitors and around 120 superyachts available for purchase or charter, alongside roughly 50 luxury tenders on display. It is the one week a year when the entire industry, brokers, builders, and buyers, is standing on the same dock.
September in Monaco is also simply a good time to be there. The Mediterranean is still warm, the summer crowds have thinned, and the days are long enough to spend the morning on the show floor and the evening at the Casino. Here is a 5-day plan built around the show.
Getting There
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (LFMN) is the primary gateway for the show, under 20 miles from Monaco with the FBO capacity and customs infrastructure to handle the surge of international arrivals during show week. Cannes-Mandelieu (LFMD) is a solid secondary option once Nice slots tighten up, which they will as the week approaches.
From Nice, a helicopter transfer to Monaco takes about seven minutes and is the fastest way to reach Port Hercule without touching Riviera traffic. Ground transfers by car are available too, but travel time depends entirely on coastal traffic, which gets heavier as the show draws exhibitors, buyers, and press into a very small principality.
Book your aircraft and airport slot months ahead, not weeks. Show week creates real competition for both, and the later you wait, the shorter your list of real options gets.
Where to Stay
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is the most glamorous option in Monaco, sitting directly on Casino Square with sea-view rooms looking out over the harbor. Recently refurbished, it is the address most associated with Monaco itself.
Hôtel Hermitage sits directly across Casino Square from the Hôtel de Paris and offers a quieter, more understated version of the same location, built around Belle Époque architecture from the early 1900s. Harbor views here are just as strong, with a calmer feel.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort trades some proximity to Casino Square, it is about a 25-minute walk, for a modern resort setting directly on the Mediterranean, with better pool and garden space if you want somewhere to decompress between show days.
Book at least four to six months out. Show week fills Monaco’s limited hotel inventory fast, and rooms with harbor views go first.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and Settle In
Land, transfer to your hotel, and take the evening to get oriented. Walk Casino Square, have dinner at one of the hotel restaurants or in the old town, and save your energy for the show, which opens to Sapphire Experience pass holders and invited guests only on the first day.
Day 2: Monaco Yacht Show, Day One
Head to Port Hercule for your first full day on the show floor. Start with the Dockside Area to see the largest yachts up close, then work through the Designer Gallery and Sailing Yacht Area. Complimentary golf carts move guests between sections, and water taxis run between quays, so you do not need to walk the entire harbor to see everything.
Day 3: Monaco Yacht Show, Day Two and an Evening at the Casino
A second day on the floor, this time with specific yachts and brokers in mind. If you have interest in a particular vessel, reach out to the broker in advance, most premium tours and onboard visits run on invitation rather than walk-up access. In the evening, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is a short walk from either Casino Square hotel and worth the visit even if you are not there to play.
Day 4: A Day Off the Show Floor
Take a break from the show floor. Charter a boat along the coast toward Cap Ferrat, or take a car up to Èze, the medieval hilltop village about 20 minutes from Monaco with sweeping Mediterranean views. If you would rather stay closer, the Prince’s Palace and the Oceanographic Museum are both an easy walk from the old town. Holstein Yachts can help arrange the charter itself, so the boat is booked and ready before you land. Return to the show for a final pass in the late afternoon if there is a yacht you still want to see.
Day 5: Depart
A slower morning, then transfer to Nice or Cannes-Mandelieu depending on your outbound aircraft. Most itineraries from here can connect back to the U.S. East Coast the same evening.
Practical Notes
- Tickets are online only: There are no on-site sales. A single day pass runs €700, with 2-day and 3-day passes at €1,300 and €2,070. The Wednesday-only pass, which excludes the Dockside Area, is €400. Buy in advance through the official show site.
- Dress code: Business casual or nautical chic is the standard on the show floor and appropriate for most evening venues.
- Entry requirements: Confirm passport validity and review Schengen Area entry requirements, including ETIAS authorization, well before departure.
- Book early: Aircraft, hotel rooms, and yacht broker appointments all get scarce as the show approaches. This is not a trip to plan a few weeks out.
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
The Monaco Yacht Show rewards guests who show up with a plan, from the airport and aircraft you choose down to which brokers you have already contacted about specific yachts. The right aircraft for the mission makes the whole week easier, from clearing customs quickly in Nice to being on the water in Monaco within the hour.
If you are thinking about this trip or any private aviation travel, the team at Holstein Aviation can help you find the right aircraft for the mission. Contact us here.
