Your Guide Travel Guide to Monaco
/World-famous for its prestigious Casino and Grand Prix, the elegant principality of Monaco is one of the most alluring places to visit in Europe… While technically a separate country, Monaco’s proximity to France’s Mediterranean coastline makes a jaunt from Nice almost obligatory. While traveling through France for our honeymoon, we could not pass up the opportunity to spend a day in Monaco.
This was my second time visiting Monaco and it was just as beautiful as I had remembered. The first thing that catches your eye when you step foot into Monaco, is how insanely clean and truly beautiful the country is. With only 10 hours to spend in Monaco before jumping back on a bus back to Nice, it was really important to get the most out of our time.
WHAT TO SEE IN MONACO IN ONE DAY –
Monaco’s total area is only about 2km², making it the second smallest country in the world. This tiny size means you can easily tour Monaco in a day! In fact, there is a bus that runs from one end of Monaco to the other. Making it really convenient to not only see everything in the country but also, avoid the insanely steep hills.
THE PRINCE’S PALACE OF MONACO
The first stop on our visit in Monaco was the official residence of the royal family: the Princes Palace. It’s separated from the old town only by the impressive Place du Palais square, which is itself worth a visit thanks to the breath-taking views from Rue des Remparts, and the pretty-fronted buildings.
The Palace itself dates back to 1191, and over the centuries the sovereign Princes of Monaco have updated and expanded the Palace to what we see today. It now includes a grand Italian Renaissance style gallery, flamboyant state apartments, and an ornate columned courtyard.
Since the Royal family perfectly encompass the wealth and excess of Monaco, the Pristine Palace seemed the perfect place to end my Nice to Monaco day trip! Giving you all of the Princess Diaries feels!
TOP TIP: You can tour the Palace’s fabulous state apartments (when the Prince isn’t home) for €10 during the summer months. It’s usually open from the start of April until the end of October, but check the official website for confirmed dates!
MONTE CARLO CASINO:
Monte Carlo casino is one of the most famous attractions. Built-in 1858, the casino quickly became a beacon of wealth and excess, and over the years it’s notability has only increased. This is largely thanks to world-renowned films featuring the casino in several famous scenes, such as James Bond: Golden Eye (1995). The casino was at the top of Aaron’s list and this was actually my first time visiting the casino. Inside was unbelievable, Aaron spent some time gambling and I spent some relaxing time drinking wine and watching him gamble our money away. All jokes aside, you should definitely visit the Casino, even if it’s only to have a drink at the bar before heading back out into town.
We ended up having dinner at the Casino and it was delicious! I wish we could have taken more photos but sadly you are not able to take photos inside of the casino.
PORT HERCULES (PORT DE MONACO):
Because no guide on what to see in Monaco in one day is complete until it features a superyacht, the next stop on my itinerary was Port Hercules.
Home to the annual Monaco Yacht Show, the port has been used since ancient times! However, it underwent major renovations at the start of the 20th-century so it could accommodate the evergrowing number of yacht’s visiting the Côte d’Azur.
Today the port is one of the most famous in the world, and it’s definitely the heart of Monaco as views throughout the city focus on it!
FORT ANTOINE:
Port Hercules also acts as a sort of central divide to the state, with Monte Carlo on one side and my next Nice to Monaco day trip destination, the Rock of Monaco, on the other. The ‘Rocher de Monaco’ is a 62m tall promontory that also happens to be the oldest part of the country…
Due to its naturally protected position, it’s really no surprise that ‘The Rock’ was home to an 18th-century fortress, parts of which still remain, such as Font Antoine. Sitting right on the edge of the cliff, I’d read that this ancient structure provides breath-taking views over the Port and Monte-Carlo.
CATHEDRALE DE MONACO:
The next thing on our Monaco sightseeing list, was the Monaco Cathedral. Small but elegant, the Saint Nicholas Cathedral looks like something straight out of a princess movie… This link to royalty is, in fact, a reality as most members of the Royal Grimaldi Family are buried here, starting with Jean II (who died in 1505). Aaron was the only one allowed to go inside the Cathedral because my shoulders were exposed, this would not normally be an issue but it was Sunday. So if you visit Monaco on a Sunday, make sure to bring a wrap to cover your shoulders.
TRAVEL FROM NICE TO MONACO –
By now you should be sold on a Nice to Monaco day trip, but you may be wondering the best way to get there. Thankfully there are plenty of options when it comes to travel from Nice to Monaco.
For example, if you wanted to relish in the true extravagance of Monaco, a helicopter is a great option… But as this will set you back at least €150, here are the three more ‘mainstream’ methods:
1) TRAIN –
At around €4 each way, the train is an easy and affordable way to get to Monaco. Nice’s main station (Gare de Nice Ville) is a short walk from the city center, and a direct train to Monte Carlo conveniently leaves every half an hour. We opted to take a train from Nice to Monaco and it made traveling there a breeze.
2) UBER/TAXI –
The average cost of an Uber from Nice to Monaco is around €40-60. I found this to be a pretty fair price (and much cheaper than the city taxi’s which quoted me €90).
However, you should note that Uber does not operate within Monaco itself. So, if you want to use the same transport method to get back to Nice make sure you get your driver’s number!
3) BUS –
Finally, you could opt to take the Nice to Monaco Bus. But, while the 100E Bus directly links the two destinations we found it extremely difficult to find reliable information about the journey. At the time of our trip, this timetable seemed to be accurate, but finding the exact location of the bus stops is basically trial and error…
♦♦♦
Now you know how to get to Monaco, my ultimate Nice to Monaco day trip itinerary or guide is complete! As you can see from this post we really enjoyed our time in the Principality, there’s just something so perfect about its pristine streets and glamour!
