Nice to Monaco: Is Monaco worth visiting?
Are you trying to work out whether taking a trip to Monaco from Nice is worth your time and money? Look no further than below!
Is Monaco a country?
You may have heard people mentioning the ‘Principality of Monaco’ and are wondering whether Monaco is considered a country. The short answer is yes and it is actually the second smallest country in the world (behind Vatican City). Therefore, visiting Monaco is likely to be a great talking point amongst your friends and colleagues on your return home.
Though small in size, Monaco is a favourite amongst the rich and famous and is renowned for its affluent residents. The petite country of Monaco is sandwiched between the South of France and the Mediterranean Sea. A popular nearby French city, is the beloved city of Nice.
A day trip from Nice to Monaco
Many people find that the best way to visit Monaco is a day trip from the popular city of Nice. The country of Monaco is small enough to visit the majority of the main sites in a day. Although if you want to fully immerse yourself in Monaco’s culture, I would recommend booking a hotel. There are a variety of hotels that are based in great locations for exploring over several days.
How to get from Nice to Monaco.
Monaco is located around a 30 minute car ride from Nice. However, the most popular transportation option from Nice, is a train ride. There is a direct train from Nice’s main station, Nice Ville to Monaco – Monte – Carlo. The trains are normally large double decker trains that can fit a lot of eager travellers. However, as you can imagine, Monaco is a popular destination from Nice and consequently the trains can get quite busy. The business of the train will be dependent on what day and time of day you are planning to travel.
My advice would be to get a morning train, so you have the most time in Monaco. Although, the morning is likely to be the busiest time of the day with locals commuting to work and tourists also taking early trips to Monaco. Therefore, I would recommend planning in advance by arriving at the train station early and being aware that you may not be able to get a seat on the train. If this is the case then be assured that there is a lot of standing space on the trains and standing isn’t too uncomfortable for a short train ride. Which brings me nicely onto my next question…
How long does the train take?
The train from Nice Ville to Monaco Monte-Carlo takes between 20-25 minutes, so you are sure to be in Monaco in no time!
The train arrives in the centre of Monaco and it is a short walk from Monaco’s train station to the famous Monte-Carlo Casino (more on the casino below). The station that you arrive into and depart from (Monaco Monte-Carlo) has a souvenir shop inside it. So if you are someone who likes picking up gifts from new countries, be sure to bring your euros with you!
How much does the train cost and do I need a passport to visit Monaco from Nice?
Due to the train journey being around 20-25 minutes, the train tickets from Nice to Monaco are fairly affordable. A single journey to Monaco costs €5 and a return is below €10. Tickets can be purchased at the station when you arrive or in advance online. I personally purchased mine from Trainline before I arrived at the station because I was worried about there being big queues at the station. Although booking online is not necessary, as long as you plan to arrive with plenty of time before your train is due to depart.
You may be wondering whether you need to bring your passport to Monaco, my recommendation is to always carry your passport when visiting a new country for a day, just in case. However, it is not a requirement and there is no border control between Nice and Monaco, so you are free to travel as you please around Monaco without having your passport to hand.
Top Things to See and Do in Monaco
Don’t be fooled by Monaco’s small size! Considering Monaco is the second smallest country in the world; It definitely knows how to fill the space with exciting and interesting things to see and do. Below I list some of the best and most popular sights in Monaco.
Monte-Carlo Casino
The Monte-Carlo Casino is arguably one of the most popular tourist attractions in Monaco. A visit to the casino is a necessity, whether that’s to stand outside in awe of the amazing architecture or take a trip inside. Even if you’re not into gambling, I personally think that the casino is worth visiting to admire the stunning interiors, elegant rooms, and beautiful gardens. The famous casino is a cultural experience in itself, and a visit lets you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the sophistication that defines Monte Carlo. Also, who doesn’t want to say that they’ve visited the home of James Bond’s Casino Royale?!
Larvotto Beach
Larvotto Beach is a stunning beach located not far from the Monte-Carlo casino. Before you arrive, it is worth noting that Larvotto beach is mainly sandy but also includes a lot of gravel to help the beach stay clean. Therefore flip-flops/sandals and a towel are recommended. This beach is free and accessible to the public but umbrellas and sun loungers are available at an extra cost. I personally don’t feel that you need them though, because as long as you have a towel and a thirst for swimming in the sea, you’re sure to have a good time!
Oceanographic museum
In my opinion the oceanographic museum is a must-visit for those that enjoy learning about marine life. The museum has an amazing aquarium, as well as an informative museum, teaching about the history of marine life and what we can do for a brighter marine future. I will warn you that the Oceanographic museum is a little bit far out from the main sights. Although I believe that it is definitely worth the visit and it can be paired with Prince’s Palace of Monaco (below), which is a short walk from the museum. You can read my review of the Oceanographic museum and see some of my favourite pictures here.
Prince’s Palace of Monaco
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco is located near the Oceanographic museum and is a focal attraction when in Monaco. The Prince’s palace of Monaco is a spectacular sight and is located high up, showcasing some stunning views of Monaco. There is a lot of steps up to the area of the Prince’s Palace so I would take caution if deciding to walk the route. If you do decide to walk, you will pass some stunning views along the route. If walking is not for you, there are many bus stops located around Monte Carlo and the numbers 600 and 80 buses can drop you off very near to the Prince’s Palace, with no up-hill walking involved.
Monaco Grand-Prix circuit
A focal talking point within Monaco is of course the Grand Prix circuit. Being the esteemed home to Formula 1 racing, the popular circuit really is a must-see when in Monaco. There are various tours that F1 fans can partake in when in Monaco, including walking tours. I personally found that walking around Monaco and exploring, satisfied my Grand Prix craving. There are a variety of statues placed around Monaco, dedicated to the Grand Prix. Some of these statues are pictures below.
Visit some stunning Gardens
Monaco is home to multiple beautiful gardens. If you are a nature and plant lover then it is worth visiting as many gardens as you can fit into your day. However, for those travellers who are on a time constraint and would like to see all the popular sights of Monaco, I would settle for just one of the below:
🌺Jardin Du Casino
Unlike some of the other gardens on this list, the Casino Gardens are ideally situated outside of the Monte-Carlo casino, making them an easy visit whilst you are exploring the main sights of Monaco. This is arguably the most popular of the gardens in Monaco and would be my personal recommendation for those looking to explore the main sights of Monaco only. The gardens overlook the famous Monte Carlo casino and offer some amazing views as well as beautiful greenery. The Jardin Du Casino is located opposite the casino and you cannot miss it when taking a trip to the casino area.
🌺Roseraie Princesse Grace
These unique gardens are also known as Princess Grace Botanical Gardens and they pay homage to Monaco’s popular past princess, Grace Kelly. I personally visited these gardens and was not disappointed. They have beautiful and exotic plants and flowers throughout, as well as a lovely pond which is home to some terrapins. Being a big lover of terrapins (I used to own two terrapins) this was a particular point of interest for me. Throughout the gardens, there are many interesting sculptures and statues that are sure to catch your eye. Once you have visited these gardens, you will know the exact statue that I’m referring to!
🌺Jardin Exotique
As you can guess by the name of the gardens, Jardin Exotique is home to many exotic plants. Cactus lovers will particularly enjoy this garden as there are so many unique and colourful cacti meticulously placed throughout the garden. These gardens are located around a 30 minute walk away from the Monte Carlo casino. Although please take note that the walk is mainly uphill, so may be difficult to access for those with low mobility. In this case, I would advise getting a bus or taxi.
Food and drink in Monaco
There are multiple cafes, restaurants and bars situated around Monaco and I can assure you that you won’t be short of places eat and drink. Both times that I have visited Monaco, it has been a particularly hot day, so relaxing and cooling off in shaded cafes was a must and I came across one at pretty much every turning. I personally didn’t like the food where I ate but I think I fell into a tourist trap restaurant and I have generally heard good things about the food in Monaco.
My best recommendation would be to look at the menus of several restaurants before choosing one and also look at the customers that are in there. If it is a mixture of locals and tourists, it’s probably a good place to choose, rather than restaurants with only tourist custom.
For drinks, I would highly recommend the cafe situated next to Monte-Carlo Casino, Café de Paris, I only stopped here for a quick drink before continuing my exploration but I was highly impressed by the service and quality of drinks. It can be quite expensive though, so please do bear that in mind when deciding whether to eat or drink here.
Is Monaco safe?
Yes, very. I personally felt extremely safe in Monaco. I walked A LOT of places and I never felt uneasy or uncomfortable. Monaco has a low crime rate, however this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the common precautions to protect yourself against pickpockets etc. As long as you are acting sensibly and protecting valuables in busy areas, the same way you would in any country, then you should feel safe in Monaco.
So… Is Monaco worth the visit from Nice?
My honest answer is most definitely! I honestly believe that it is worth taking the trip to Monaco from Nice. There are so many incredible and exciting sights to see within Monaco and I can assure you that you will be spoilt for choice for places to eat and drink.
The quick and easy transportation from Nice to Monaco makes a visit to this unique country a no-brainer. Plus, visiting Monaco gives you bragging rights that you’ve been to one of the world’s most exclusive destinations! The compact size means everything is easily accessible, and you’ll feel like you’ve experienced a lot, even in a short time.
Relevant Posts
Day Trips: Making the Most of Your Adventures – If you enjoyed this post, find out what other European cities can be explored in a day.
Monaco on a Budget: Glamour without the Price Tag – Read my guide to exploring this luxurious country inexpensively.
Monaco in Pictures – some of my favourite pictures from my time exploring the world’s second smallest country
