Welcome to Monaco, the world’s second-smallest country, located alongside the glamorous French Riviera. It’s a fascinating destination where the level of luxury and wealth is beyond comparison. If you’ve ever wished to indulge in a sophisticated lifestyle for a moment, this is the perfect place! Monte Carlo, the Grand Prix, Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end shopping, super yachts, fast cars… All of that makes Monaco a world-renowned hotspot that attracts thousands of visitors. But don’t worry, there’s plenty to enjoy even if you’re traveling on a budget! Here are things to do on a day trip to Monaco.
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Our travel video from Monaco
Monaco FAQ
Monaco is located on a less than 4 kilometers long stretch of the Mediterranean coast and is surrounded by the French department of Alpes-Maritimes. It’s just a short drive from popular places like Nice, Eze, Menton, or Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.
Monaco is best known as one of the wealthiest places in the world – even though it’s the second-smallest country! The iconic Monte Carlo Casino immortalized in James Bond films, luxurious yachts and cars, Formula 1 racing, and hight-end shopping – those are what most people picture when they think of Monaco.
Of course! In Monaco, you’ll be amazed at every turn – from the glamorous Monte Carlo and port dotted with luxurious yachts to the charming old town and beautiful green coastal scenery. Sure, the more money you have, the more you can enjoy Monaco’s high-end life, but don’t worry if you’re not a millionaire! Monaco has plenty to offer for travelers of all budgets.
Monaco is a perfect idea for a day trip from Nice and other places on French Riviera. One day is enough to see most of the main landmarks and get a good feel of what it’s all about. However, it’s definitely not enough to experience everything Monaco has to offer. So if you want to truly soak in the glamour and explore Monaco at a more relaxed pace, we recommend staying for at least 3 days.
Day trip to Monaco: Things to do
Monaco Old Town
Monaco Old Town, the historic district commonly known as the Rock, is full of colorful houses, picturesque streets, green areas, shops, and restaurants, all leading to the impressive fortress located at the highest point of the Rock. Some say that this area feels like the famous Notting Hill but with a Mediterranean vibe.
In the Monaco Old Town, you’ll find points of interest like the Prince’s Palace with Place du Palais square, the Monaco Cathedral, Saint-Martin Gardens, Oceanographic Museum, Palace of Justice, and Fort Antoine. There are also two ports on both sides of the rock: Port of Fontvieille and Port Hercule.
Exploring the old town area is a must-thing to do on a day trip to Monaco, and it should take you around 2 hours.
Prince’s Palace & Place du Palais
Prince’s Palace is located on Place du Palais square, at the top of the Rock. It was built in the 13th century, remodeled over the centuries, and nowadays is still the residence of the Grimaldi family.
Prince’s Palace is partially open to the public, but only from April to mid-October. There, you can discover State Apartments with places like the main courtyard, the Throne Room, or the Hercule Gallery, and many frescoes, paintings, and furniture. Entrance to the Prince’s Palace State Apartments costs €13 for adults, €8 for children 6-17, and €11 for students (May 2026). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the visitepalaisdemonaco.com website.
Also, be sure to be at Place du Palais precisely at 11.55 am. It’s when the changing of the Palace Guard takes place every day, and seeing it’s definitely one of the coolest things to do during a day trip to Monaco!
To the left of the entrance to the Palace, you’ll also find a viewing point lined with old cannons and cannonballs. Don’t miss spectacular views of the Fontvieille district!
Cathedral of Monaco
The Cathedral of Monaco is located just a few steps from the Prince’s Palace and Saint Martin Gardens. It’s a Romanesque Catholic cathedral dating back to the 19th century, built on the site of the first parish church in Monaco. It’s entirely made of white stones from nearby La Turbie and dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In the Cathedral, Prince Rainier III married actress Grace Kelly, and many Grimaldi Royal members are buried.
Inside the Cathedral, you can admire two organs, a high altar, an Episcopal throne made from white Carrara marble, and the retable by the Niçois painter Louis Bréa, which dates from 1500. Entrance is free during opening hours.
Saint Martin Gardens
Saint Martin Gardens is a peaceful, green, and terraced area located between the Oceanographic Museum and the Cathedral. It’s the Principality’s first public garden, opened in 1816.
In Saint Martin Gardens, you can take a lazy stroll among plants from Mediterranean areas like pine trees, oaks, or pistachio trees, as well as some more exotic species. Amazing views of the sea, and the “Navigator Prince” bronze statue of Prince Albert I are waiting there too.
Entrance to Saint Martin Gardens is free during opening hours (daily from 9 am to 6 pm). Spending some time in the gardens is such a relaxing thing to do on a day trip to Monaco!
Oceanographic Museum
The Oceanographic Museum is located in a beautiful building built on the edge of the cliff, right next to Saint Martin Gardens. It was created in 1910 by order of Prince Albert I and is dedicated to undersea research.
Inside, you’ll find an aquarium with a wide variety of marine species (like coral reefs, sharks, turtles, or jellyfish) and a museum with plenty of informative displays and models. If you’re interested in marine life, visiting the Oceanographic Museum for sure will be one of the most interesting things to do in Monaco for you.
Entrance to the Oceanographic Museum costs €22.5 for adults, €14 for students and children between 4-17, and is free for children under 4 years old (May 2026). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the musee.oceano.org website.
Fort Antoine Theatre
Fort Antoine is an early 18th-century fort currently hosting performances during summer months in its open-air theater. It was destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt a few years later by the orders of Prince Rainier III.
From Fort Antoine you can admire amazing views over the sea, coast, Port Hercule, and Monaco itself. There you can also spend some relaxing time in green, shaded areas away from huge crowds. Entrance is free, except for performances.
La Condamine district
La Condamine district is a place full of charm where modernity mixes with history. Colorful houses, modern buildings, picturesque streets and squares, restaurants, and shops, are located in an area behind Port Hercules. Just wander around and enjoy the vibe.
In the La Condamine district, you’ll find points of interest like Port Hercule, the Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco, the Condamine market, and part of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix circuit. It’s a place you definitely don’t want to miss on a day trip to Monaco from Nice!
Port Hercules
Port Hercules is located at the foot of the Rock. It was already used in ancient times by Greeks and Romans but the modern port was completed only in 1926. Later it underwent improvements in the 1970s and 2011 to adapt to the needs of the time.
Nowadays, Port Hercules is the only deep-water port in Monaco with around 700 moorings available for luxurious yachts and smaller boats alike. The largest spot can accept a yacht up to 130m in length!
Be sure to take a good, long stroll around Port Hercule up to Monaco Yacht Club – it’s definitely one of the coolest things to do in Monaco during your day trip!
Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco
Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco is an interesting museum located in Port Hercules, just a few steps from the iconic Formula 1 circuit. Inside, you’ll find a wide collection of racing cars that competed in the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, high-end cars, vintage vehicles, and cars important to the Grimaldi Family. All collected by the Princes of Monaco since the 1950s. We loved that museum and we’re sure that not only car lovers will appreciate it!
While in front of the museum, take a good look at the road – it’s part of the Monaco F1 Grand Prix circuit!
Entrance to the Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco costs €15 for adults and €10 for children 6-17 (May 2026). Or current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the mtcc.mc website.
La Condamine market
If you want to experience some of the more local vibe, be sure to head to La Condamine market located on Place d’Armes. Each morning this square turns into an open-air market full of colorful stalls and delicious regional products. There are also some restaurants and cafes around, located under the arcades (including Santo Gelato Monaco selling one of the best ice creams we’ve ever eaten!).
Oh, and don’t forget to look up while on the square – nice views over the Rock and Prince’s Palace await!
Monte Carlo district
Monte Carlo district is the most iconic area in Monaco. As you already know, in this tiny country, almost everything revolves around luxury, but in this district you’ll experience it at its best. Casino, high-end brands, Michelin-starred restaurants, fancy dresses, millionaires, supercars… It’s all there! Exploring Monte Carlo is a must on a day trip to Monaco.
In the Monte Carlo, you’ll find points of interest like Place du Casino square with the famous Monte Carlo Casino, Casino Gardens, Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo, One Monte-Carlo – an area full of high-end brands, and St. Charles Church. Also, don’t forget to take a good look at the iconic 5* Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo.
If you wish to put on your fancy clothes and try exceptional cuisine, you can try to book a table in one of Monaco’s Michelin-starred restaurants. You can take a look at Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse, Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, R – La Table d’Antonio Salvatore, or Yoshi (the only Japanese restaurant on Cote d’Azur that won a Michelin star).
Monaco Tourism Office is located in Monte Carlo too, at Boulevard des Moulins, just a few steps from the Casino.
Place du Casino & Monte Carlo Casino
The iconic Place du Casino probably needs no introduction. This square is home to many elegant Beaux-Arts buildings filled with luxurious hotels, boutiques, and restaurants. There’s also a lovely small garden, and of course a world-renowned casino made famous in James Bond movies.
Visiting some parts of Monte Carlo Casino (Atrium, Café de la Rotonde, and Boutique) is available for free every day from 10am to 1pm. During this time you can also choose a visit with an audio guide to learn more about building history and heritage. It costs €20 for adults and €15 for children (May 2026). For more information and current prices visit montecarlosbm.com website.
At 2pm gaming rooms open and from that time for free you can only see the Atrium. For more, you’ll have to pay €20 for a ticket which includes a €10 voucher to spend at the bar or at the slot machines. Of course, you can also spend more and try your luck on various slot machines or roulettes!
One more thing! If you’re in Monaco for fast cars – Place du Casino is exactly the spot where you’ll have the highest chances to see a lot of them. Well… Unless there’s some fancy wedding planned on the square and you’ll leave empty-handed, like we did.
Other things to do in Monaco
Do you still have the time and energy to see more places on your day trip to Monaco? Here’s a list of other things to do you can choose from.
Visit Fontvieille, a district that was built entirely on land reclaimed from the sea. It’s the westernmost district bordering France, mostly residential. There you’ll find places like Port of Fontvieille with nice restaurants and shops around, as well as the Princess Grace Rose Garden.
Another place worth exploring is the Exotic Garden district, located just above Fontvieille. It’s a place where different styles and eras meet, and amazing views over Monaco await.
Fancy a break on the beach? Head to Le Larvotto district which is located to the east of Monte Carlo. It’s most popular thanks to the artificial Larvotto Beach. There, you’ll also find Princess Grace Japanese Garden – a small green area with a pond and tea house, and the National Museum of Monaco.
How to get to Monaco from Nice
Monaco is located about 20km from Nice Old Town, and there are a few different ways to get there.
First of all, you can travel by car, either yours or a rented one. In Monaco, you can leave the car in one of many paid parking lots. We can recommend Parking Ostende located right next to Port Hercules and just a few steps from Monte Carlo Casino.
You can also choose a trip by train, which will take about 30 minutes. But remember that the Monaco Monte-Carlo train station is located underground in the Condamine district – about 15 minutes on foot from the Monte Carlo Casino and 30 minutes from the old town. To learn more about train connections that interest you, visit the connect-sncf.com website.
If you want some nice views during your trip to Monaco from Nice, choose a trip by bus, which will only take about 35 minutes. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit the rome2rio.com website.
If you don’t want to figure out all the bus and train schedules, you can always take a taxi or Uber from Nice. It’s a very convenient option, but obviously more expensive.
Another great option for getting from Nice to Monaco is to take advantage of the guided tour. You can, for example, choose this popular and well-rated Full-Day Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze Tour.
Explore local attractions
Day trip to Monaco from Nice – Summing up
Now you’re ready to explore Monaco and immerse in its elegance and luxury. As you can see, this tiny country has plenty to offer. Number of attractions and places to discover there is quite long and we’re sure that you’ll find something perfect for yourself.
No matter if you’re looking for luxurious experiences, an adrenaline boost at casinos, cultural events, a charming old town, or relaxing on the beach… Monaco has it all, and even more. We wish you a great time during your day trip to Monaco.
Our opinion about Monaco
For us, a visit to Monaco was a day trip in early November, and during that time, we didn’t come across huge crowds. In the morning, when we were exploring the Port Hercules areas, we were two of just a few other people there. We needed about 7 hours to explore all the places we wanted.
Monaco didn’t impress us that much. Actually… it did and it didn’t at the same time. It was nice, pleasant, and super clean, but also looked just like a big blob of apartment buildings, which we didn’t particularly like.
What we liked most was strolling around the Old Town and La Condamine districts, especially in the port area. In Monte Carlo, we were unlucky as we came across wedding preparations at Place du Casino, so everything was closed/cluttered/busy. We saw only three supercars too.
Overall, Monaco didn’t strike us as the most exciting place on the French Riviera, but we think it’s worth a visit. If only to dive into all the luxury it has to offer!
Update 2025. We recently returned to Monaco, curious to see if it would impress us more the second time around, almost 3 years later. And what can we say… we still feel exactly the same about it. But this time, we were lucky enough to see the Monte Carlo Casino in all its grandeur, which was definitely a highlight. But once again, there were almost no cool sports cars in sight! So either we’re just very unlucky, or their constant presence is a bit of a fairy tale.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Monaco?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Monaco:
