Welcome to Monaco, the world’s second-smallest country set 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 curious visitors every year. But don’t worry, there’s plenty to enjoy even if you’re traveling on a budget. Keep reading and discover things to do on a day trip to Monaco from Nice.
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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 on the French Riviera like Nice, Eze, Menton, or Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.
Monaco is best known as one of the wealthiest and most luxurious 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. But beyond all the glitz and glamour, Monaco also boasts a charming old town perched on a cliffside, offering a quieter, more historic side of this famous destination.
Of course! In Monaco, you’ll be amazed at every turn – from the glamorous Monte Carlo district and port dotted with luxurious yachts to the charming old town telling the stories of the past 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 – this tiny country has plenty to offer for travelers of all budgets.
Monaco is a perfect day trip destination 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 this unique country 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.
Few facts about Monaco
Monaco, or officially the Principality of Monaco, is an independent and sovereign state. It’s governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, with Prince Albert II as head of state. He is the son and successor of Prince Rainier III and the Princess Consort Grace of Monaco, formerly known as Grace Kelly (yes, a famous American actress).
Interesting fact. The House of Grimaldi (same family!) has ruled Monaco, only with brief interruptions, since 1297!
Currently, there are about 38k inhabitants in Monaco, represented by over 140 nationalities. French is an official language used in Monaco although English and Italian are widely spoken too. Even though Monaco is not a member of the European Union, it uses the euro as its currency.
Monaco is divided into 9 districts, and these six are most popular among tourists: Old Town, Monte-Carlo, La Condamine, Fontvieille, Le Larvotto, and Jardin Exotique. In this post, we’ll mostly focus on the first 3. You’ll also find a map with all the mentioned places at the bottom of the post.
Things to do on a day trip to Monaco from Nice
Monaco Old Town
Monaco Old Town, the historic district of the Principality 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 from Nice, and it should take you around 2-3 hours.
Prince’s Palace & Place du Palais square
Prince’s Palace (fr. Le Palais Princier) 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, currently the Prince of Monaco Albert II and his wife.
Prince’s Palace it’s 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 €10 for adults and €5 for children and students (May 2025). 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 from Nice!
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 (fr. Cathédrale de 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 (fr. Jardins Saint-Martin) 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 (fr. Musée Océanographique de Monaco) 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 2025). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets, visit the musee.oceano.org website.
Fort Antoine Theatre
Fort Antoine (fr. Théâtre du 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 (fr. Port Hercule) 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 (fr. La Collection Automobiles de S.A.S. le Prince de 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 €10 for adults and €5 for children and students (May 2025). 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 from Nice!
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 square & Monte Carlo Casino
The iconic Place du Casino square 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 2025). 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! It’s one of the coolest things to do in Monaco, totally worth trying.
Also remember that there are some entrance rules so be sure to read and follow them all before your visit. To learn more check montecarlosbm.com website.
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).
Shopping in Monte Carlo
Alongside Paris, Milan, Cannes, and London, Monaco is a fantastic destination for luxury shopping. No matter if you have some money to spend or you’re up only for window shopping – while in Monaco you can’t miss strolling around streets and shopping malls filled with luxurious brands. Clothes, perfume, jewelry… it’s all there!
In the Monte Carlo be sure to visit the spectacular Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo and One Monte-Carlo area and feel like a million dollars for a moment!
Other things to do in Monaco
Do you still have the time and energy to see more places on your day trip to Monaco from Nice? Here’s a list of other great 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. There you’ll find places like the Exotic Garden with a wide variety of cacti and other succulent plants from all over the world, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology with a collection of fossils and prehistoric artifacts from surrounding areas, Villa Paloma housing National Museum of Monaco, and Princess Antoinette park with great views over the Rock and the sea.
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, yet very beautiful, sandy 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 – a contemporary art museum located in Villa Sauber.
Bonus tip: Monapass App
Monapass is a unique ticketing application available in Monaco. With the app you can buy tickets and passes for public transport (buses, MonaBike electric bicycles, and public street parking), and for cultural and leisure activities (like Oceanographic Museum, Prince’s Palace, or Cars Collection of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco). You’ll also get real-time updates on nearby transport options.
Seems like a great app that will make planning your trip to Monaco easier. It’s available on iOS and Android. For more information visit monapass.mc website.
Explore local attractions
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. Also, know that the train route isn’t as scenic as the bus/driving one.
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.
Fancy a boat trip? It’s another amazing, and for sure very scenic, way of getting to Monaco from Nice! Click here and buy your Round-Trip Nice/Monaco Ferry Tickets.
Another great option for getting from Nice to Monaco, especially if you don’t want to put too much effort into planning, 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. For more tour options visit GetYourGuide or Viator.
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 from Nice!
Our video from Monaco
Our opinion about Monaco
For us, a visit to Monaco was a day trip from Cannes where we lived for a few weeks. We visited it 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 8 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 square, so everything was closed/cluttered/busy. We saw only three supercars too. But Metropole Shopping and streets with high-end boutiques made quite a big impression there.
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. And we want to revisit it too, to give it another chance (and play some games in the world’s most famous casino!).
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. Sorry, Monaco lovers! 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. Best parts of this visit? We experienced a unique changing of the guard in the palace, and found a fantastic, hidden gem restaurant – Puzzle, which we totally recommend!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Monaco?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Monaco:
Where to sleep in Monaco?
Fairmont Monte Carlo
The Fairmont Monte Carlo is a luxurious hotel offering stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, located in the heart of Monaco. This prestigious accommodation features spacious rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, a spa, and multiple fine dining options, including the renowned Nobu restaurant. Situated near iconic attractions like the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Monaco Grand Prix circuit, the Fairmont Monte Carlo provides an opulent experience.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo is an iconic luxury hotel located in the heart of Monaco, renowned for its historic charm and opulent amenities. The hotel offers elegantly designed rooms and suites, world-class dining at restaurants like Le Louis XV by Alain Ducasse, and a prestigious location adjacent to the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo. With its exceptional service and exquisite décor, this hotel provides an unparalleled experience of glamour and sophistication.
