Genoa to Antibes. Which places are worth visiting?

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We will be completing the 2nd leg of our trip from Carloforte to Antibes during bank holiday week. Our boat is currently parked in La Spezia and we will follow the coastline north and around to Antibes. We already know the Cinque Terre coastline from La Spezia to Genoa but the coastline from Genoa to Antibes is a bit of a mystery to us. It doesn't look very interesting on the chart but I guess there are a few interesting ports to visit? What about anchorages?

Any advice appreciated
 
Imperia is worth a visit -two sides ,port a moden marina ,Stb the old town with a industrial area smack in the middle separating the two ! -,kinda mini IT version of St Trop scaled down .Nice old town up a hill .
San Remo - nice port and Marina .Towns a 10-15 min walk -sort of faded IT grandure -nice shops on the High street and good eateries .
Apart from that it's pretty dull and flat no real caps to find shelter to anchor .
Marina fees + diesel a lot more than Fr , but shoreside stuff a lot cheaper in IT .
In fact ( apart from Portofino / Rapillo ) it's a bit dull that whole area from where you are now to Monaco.
Elba - N Corsica - to Calvi -then its 95 nm to Antibes 3-4 hrs ? Is a a lot more interesting .
We will be arround Antibes / La Nap when you arrive , no dought paths will X
 
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We really like the area around Beaulieu s/Mer and Cap Ferrat St Jean. There are great anchorages around the marinas are very good and great links to everywhere else. There is also Villefranche which is also a great stop. As August draws to an end things will start to slow down, but the locals in Beaulieu call September the velvet month as it had the weather without the crowds.
If you are passing let me know. We are back 2 Sep for 2 velvet weeks.
 
You're right Mike, it's not the most interesting coastline, with few if any anchorages. Varazze and San Remo towns are worth a visit. We've been to Imperia once but i barely remember it, maybe we didn't go to the old town. Menton, just over the Fr border is lovely, but it's in easy reach of Antibes. What about Genoa itself? We haven't been, but the port area has apparently been tarted up, and the town is nearby.
 
Thanks guys for the replies. To portofino, yup we could retrace our steps a bit and explore a bit of N Corsica but I really want to leave that as something to look forward to doing next year and I don't want to be stuck in Corsica waiting for a mistral to blow through as, due to a couple of commitments, we really have to get the boat to Antibes by around 5 Sept latest

mcanderson, I will definitely send you a PM if we're around Beaulieu after 2 Sept

NickH/portofino, yup will probably go St Margharita, Genoa, San Remo, depending on marina prices, with maybe 2-3 nights in and around Beaulieu/Villefranche on the hook. Any tips on Villefranche? I was looking at the chart and there seems to be a large no anchoring section in the middle. What about restaurant recommendations in the area? Nothing too flash coz I won't have any smart clothes!
 
Cruise ships anchor in the middle of Villfranche .
I,am rubbish at remembering and pronouncing French Restaurants and wine .Theres a whole spectrum in VF
Only thing if a ship (s) in then places is bombed put with folks in sandals and base ball caps swarming !
How ever Cap Ferrat is more like it -no cruise ships here .
But you are only a Bay away from new home 40 mins -these are day trip places really .
 
Deleted User said:
Thanks guys for the replies. To portofino, yup we could retrace our steps a bit and explore a bit of N Corsica but I really want to leave that as something to look forward to doing next year and I don't want to be stuck in Corsica waiting for a mistral to blow through as, due to a couple of commitments, we really have to get the boat to Antibes by around 5 Sept latest

mcanderson, I will definitely send you a PM if we're around Beaulieu after 2 Sept

NickH/portofino, yup will probably go St Margharita, Genoa, San Remo, depending on marina prices, with maybe 2-3 nights in and around Beaulieu/Villefranche on the hook. Any tips on Villefranche? I was looking at the chart and there seems to be a large no anchoring section in the middle. What about restaurant recommendations in the area? Nothing too flash coz I won't have any smart clothes!
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A forum favourite in VF is La Mere Germaine on the front line. Not the cheapest restaurant you've ever been to, but great location and very nice fish soup. Myag is the forum expert on this place! :D

We had dinner in La Grignotiere a week or two ago with Nick_h, and that was also good.

The no-anchor section in the middle of VF is for the cruise ships as Portofino says, there's a couple of massive buoys that they tie to (although I've only ever seen a ship tied to the northern one once). We generally anchor in about 4-5m in the top ne corner. Although this is a long way from the town by tender, we've found that the closer to the town you get, the more passing tender traffic there is. In bigger boats with stabs this is of no consequence, but for us it's easier to be further away.
 
Thanks for the recommendations guys. It doesn't look as though I'm going to be getting any slimmer whilst we are moored in Antibes:)
 
I am really happy to help with the St Jean and Beaulieu info. We have been there for three years and love it.

For anchorages the bay of St Jean and Beaulieu is very popular. The St Jean end more so. Both ports will take tenders happily. Fuel is a bit cheaper in St Jean.

Villefranche is lovely and many places will deliver to your boat. There is also a good Vietnamese if you want a something away from the usual fare.

Restaurants are very flex on dress - Tripadvisor will be of help. I post as Shane A on there and have eaten at quite a few places.

I really rate Plage a la Berlugan in Beaulieu for evening cocktails. They will pick you up via their tender.

Beaulieu has a good supermarket - SuperU an easy walk from the port.

PM me when you arrive.

Top tip - try the Fossettes as anchorages at the southern tip of St Jean. Nice and quite. Most head in for a long lunch and then depart early evening. Protected apart from th south and very little wash. Anchor in 5m on sand.
 
Thanks again mcanderson. Will PM you when we get there
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
A forum favourite in VF is La Mere Germaine on the front line. Not the cheapest restaurant you've ever been to, but great location and very nice fish soup. Myag is the forum expert on this place! ........................
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Oh yes JtB, splendid place recently visited with JFM and families/friends........... I recommend the Minuty 281, extra chilled and served in magnums.... of course.

Deleted User, just to let you know the sort of company you will now be keeping.......
https://twitter.com/Lord_Sugar/status/766355717083332608
 
Restaurant La Belle Etoile in Villefranche should be good, in a narrow street a few steps from the waterfront. I tried to get a table there 2x but without success; full and that was end of October! Hence reservation recommended.

below the bay of Villefranche seen from Port de la Darse, end of Oct 2015. The big one is Quantum Blue, built by Lurssen.

Have a great trip!
EricJ
 
Lovely seaside town. We had to stop there for a drink as it took us 2 hours to drive from San Remo due to the chaotic Italian traffic.
 
mcanderson said:
Over the period 2-4 Sep is the Fete Patron for Beaulieu. The town has a few things on. www.otbeaulieusurmer.com is the official tourist association.
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Does that mean its worth visiting at that time or we should avoid it like the plague;) Only joking! Are we likely to get a berth in the marina during this period or will it be rammed?
 
Thinking more of the casino and buildings of the era when Menton rocked.

First thing I saw last time I was there was a bunch of girls in sequins on the promenade, who prolly wouldn't have added to the domestic harmony.
 
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