Before I started travelling actively, I used to think: how can one afford to visit this bougie upscale city without breaking the bank? I even met some solo travellers who said they wished to take a day trip to Monaco, but were not sure how to. That’s why, for this post, I’ll detail everything you need to know about Monaco, as well as a day trip guide to Monaco on a budget.
Disclaimer: The links in this post are not affiliate links and are only used as a reference to my readers.
But before I continue, let’s get familiar with Monaco. Monaco, also called the Principality of Monaco, is a small sovereign state in Europe, bordered by France and the Mediterranean Sea. Some tourists tend to think of it as another city in France, but Monaco stands on its own. In fact, when you visit the state, your telecom provider requires you to turn on roaming and connect to Monaco Telecom.
Aside from that, the state shares close proximity with other towns in the South of France – making it a great addition to a travel itinerary for the South of France. If you want to see luxury, wealth, and the beach in their full form, a day trip to Monaco is worth considering.
Before you pack your jeans, there are certain things you should know about Monaco.
CONTENTS:
- What to know before you visit Monaco
- Best Time To Visit Monaco
- How To Get To Monaco From Nice
- How To Get Around In Monaco
- A Detailed Day Trip Guide and Itinerary to Monaco on a Budget
- Free Things To Do in Monaco
- My Budget For A Day Trip To Monaco
- 7 Top Tips for Visiting Monaco
- FAQs About Monaco
- Final Thoughts
Further reading: 2 Days in Nice: A Complete Travel Guide and Itinerary
What To Know Before You Visit Monaco
- You don’t need a separate visa for Monaco. To visit the state, you have to be in France. And to visit France, you’ll need to have a French/Schengen visa. Because of its relations with France, there is no passport control to visit Monaco, but make sure you have a valid visa (just in case).
- Monaco is an expensive city. You might be shocked to buy a 50cl bottle of water for €5, but this is totally normal for them. So for your day trip, plan accordingly and expect surprises.
- There is no airport in Monaco. Monaco is one of the five small countries with no airport. If you are planning a day trip to Monaco, your flight should land at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (the closest) or Marseille Provence Airport, Marseille. From here, you can find your way to your accommodation and later plan your day trip.
- There are no Uber, Bolt, or ride booking services in the state. To protect its luxury and wealthy perception, the state has placed strict restrictions on these ride booking services. But to ensure that its locals and visitors commute easily, Monaco has a reliable transport system in place.
- Entrance into the Casino is with a proof of identity and a certain dress code. EU nationals can enter with a valid national identity card, while non-EU nationals must enter the casino showing their international passports. For the dress code, your outfits must be classy and elegant.
Further reading: 5 Day Multi-Country Europe Itinerary
Best Time To Visit Monaco
The weather in Monaco feels the same as that of the South of France – warm or hot – depending on the season. In warmer months, June to late August, the state is already swarmed with tourists because it is considered a summer destination.
But if you don’t like the crowd, the best times to visit Monaco are from late April to May and mid-September till late October. If you want to have a less crowded experience in Monaco, these are the best times to visit.
Any visits from June to August will be tedious, hot, and crowded for you. The weather can also be unbearable during the heat wave, so plan your trip during the slow months.
How To Get To Monaco from Nice
The best and easiest ways to get to Monaco are by train and bus. To take the train, find your way to Nice Ville train station and take a 30-minute train in the direction of Menton or Ventimiglia, to Monte Carlo.
Buses 600 and 602 are two bus lines you can take to the centre of Monaco from Port Lympia or Place Garibaldi, Nice. A ticket fare costs less than €4, and you can also board the bus with your Ligne d’Azur card. The buses are frequent and flexible, and you can also purchase a ticket directly from the bus driver.
You can also drive to Monaco if you want. Depending on the time of day and traffic congestion, your drive from Nice will take about 45 minutes. Also, don’t forget to plan for parking, as it can be pricey too.
There are ferries too. Trans Côte d’Azur is a ferry service that goes from Port de Nice (Port Lympia) to Monaco (as well as other cities). With the ferry, you will explore the Mediterranean Sea and other views along the French Riviera. You can book a round trip at their kiosk by the Port, and be sure to confirm their availability.
For this day trip guide to Monaco from Nice, I recommend that you take the bus to and from Monaco. The trains get busy in the mornings and evenings (from 4 pm).
Further reading: How To Plan The Perfect Trip
How To Get Around In Monaco
Monaco is a pretty small country to cover on foot. But as I mentioned previously, most attractions are clustered on both ends – one end towards the old town. Walking is the best way to explore the principality and see how Monégasques live.
And from my experience, it’s best to start from one end of the country and walk to the other end. If you can see below, I marked both ends with A and B.
Buses are the most reliable means of moving within the city. Once I arrived at the train station, I took Bus 2 (from Pont Sainte Devote), in the direction of Monaco-Ville, to the last stop at Place d’Armes. From here, you can explore the old town and then go back to the other end by bus.
If walking is not your thing, you can use a tour bus service to explore Monaco with ease. STTM is a popular tour service in the principality, and you have to meet them at 3 rue Sainte-Dévote, just by the train station.
A Detailed Day Trip Guide to Monaco on a Budget
I arranged this itinerary in the order I took during my trip – from one end (Port Hercule’s area) to the old town. Some people prefer to start from the old town and go down to Port Hercule, so that they can get to the train station easily. The choice is yours.
Also read: Solo Travel 101 – The Ultimate Guide to Travelling Alone
Prince Rainer’s Private Car Collection
When you are out of the train, follow the arrows or signs inside the station in the direction of Port Hercule. Once you leave the train station, you should come out to a street view with a small roundabout and Port Hercule in sight. You can use your Google Map from here to find your way to the Prince Rainer’s Car collection, less than 5minutes ahead.
The building houses 69 cars from Prince Rainer’s Car collection – from 1877 to 2021. Entrance into the museum is for €10, and you get to explore 2 floors of his collections from Peugeot to Jaguar. It’s a beautiful sigh,t and you should not skip here. I think most tourists skip here because I did not see a crowd when I visited.
Port Hercule
When you are done admiring Prince Rainer’s cars, walk down to Port Hercules. You will find small boats and luxury yachts lined up at the waterfront. You can also wander between each yacht and take some photos, too.
Also read: A Day Trip Travel Guide to Vatican City
Casino and its garden
Continue walking along the Port until you see the Casino ahead of you. Before you continue towards the Casino Square, make a right and explore the gardens first. Walk through the turns in the garden and take in the view of the Mediterranean sea as well. Don’t forget to take photos of the Hexagrace and Hand of Fate sculpture here.
Once you are done with the garden, find your way to the Casino Square. Entrance into the Casino (first and second entrances) is free, but you will need a valid ID to enter the main casino. You can take photos at the first entrance, but please be aware, photos are not allowed inside the main Casino.
F1 Curve
Now that you have taken photos of the square and Hotel de Paris, find your way through the small shopping mall (Amazanico) to the F1 curve. For the best view, you should take your photos from the top of the stairs. Don’t forget the Fairmont Hotel opposite it.
Once you are done with your photos, you can walk the curve on foot.
Meditation Room
The Meditation or Crystal room is a hidden activity that is not well-known to tourists. I found it on my second visit to Monaco. It’s a small room filled with crystals of various shapes and sizes, and the ambience is quite calm here. You might be tempted to close your eyes here, but let’s keep going.
Japanese Garden
From the Crystal room, find your way to the Japanese garden. Through the brown gates, you will see a beautiful garden with small waterfalls, sheds, ponds, and some Japanese-inspired sculptures.
Grimaldi Forum
Just at the exit of the garden, you will find the Grimaldi Forum in front of you. It’s a large auditorium for events and exhibitions, so if you love art, you can visit the forum. Please note that this is a paid experience.
Also read: My Solo Travel Itinerary + Travel Guide + Tips for Rome
Café Lacoste
If you feel like sparing a few euros, you can make a detour to Café Lacoste Monaco. Although it is a clothing chain, Lacoste has an open café where you can stop by for lunch or a bite of the famous ‘tennis lemon tart’ and pistachio ‘crocodile dessert’. The ambience is beautiful and elegant, and the food is delicious too.
After your lunch here, find the nearest bus stop (Larvotto) and take a bus to the old town.
Visit Town Hall and explore the old town
Once you arrive at the old town, find your way to the town hall. Walk into the town hall and ask the officials to stamp your passport. Please note that the Town Hall (Mairie de Monaco) is the only place to stamp your passport legally – any other stamp will render your passport invalid.
Walk to the Prince’s Palace
Barely 5 mins away, you will find the Prince’s Palace. If you get here before 12 pm, you will see the changing of the royal guards. At the time of my visit, the Palace interiors were closed to the public, but it is well to confirm before your visit. Entrance into the museum is a paid experience.
A few feet from the palace are old canons around the palace. You will also see an aerial view of Port Hercule from the Palace.
Cathédrale de Monaco
Just few minutes away from the Palace is Monaco’s Cathedral, or Saint Nicholas Cathedral. Entrance into the church is free and visitors are allowed to explore the church. Feel free to drop fresh flowers on the tombs of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III.
Jardin St. Martin
Just outside the church’s (front) entrance is St. Martin’s Garden (Jardin St. Martin). You will find beautiful sculptures, flower beds, and even a statue of a green Princess Grace reading a book inside the garden. Take pictures of the sea, Port Fontvielle, and Grimaldi’s statue from the garden.
Océanographique Museum
While you are exiting the garden, you will see the Oceanographique Museum ahead of you. The museum houses a collection of marine life (an aquarium) with beautiful displays.
I was short on time and could not visit the museum, but this is a paid experience. You can book your tickets here for €22.50 for adults and make sure to check if they are open on public holidays.
The Frame
After your photos at the aquarium, walk down from the old town towards the city, and you will find a lush small garden on the way, with a square frame. You will also see a view of Port Hercule from here, and feel free to take some selfies too.
Marché de la Condamine
When you are done with the Frame, walk down the road (about 5 mins) to Marché de la Condamine. It’s an open street market just along the road. You can buy fresh fruits or sit down here for a late lunch or early dinner. The market is great for relaxing after a long walk, and you can watch other tourists walk by.
From here, you can take a 10-minute walk back to the train station to head back to Nice or continue exploring Monaco.
Walk the F1 Track
The F1 Track is different from the F1 Curve (in front of the Fairmont Hotel). However, you can walk through the F1 Curve, but be careful of the speeding cars.
I only walked through the F1 Curve because I did not have time to walk the full track. But if you feel like you can walk the full track, lace your shoes and kick off.
Here’s a full layout of the track to help you.
To cover most of the attractions in the principality, I recommend that you start as early as 9.30 am or 10 am. Also, please bear in mind that if you are going to Monaco from Nice, the trains are usually packed in the mornings. So, you should leave very early or from midday. Buses to Monaco from Nice (Bus 600 and 602) are not typically packed in the morning, so I recommend taking the bus instead.
Also read: Headed to Paris? Top Scams To Avoid While Visiting Paris
Free Things To Do In Monaco
For a day trip guide to Monaco on a budget, here is my list of free things to do:
- Explore the Saint Martin’s Garden/Jardin St. Martin and look at the statues there. Also, don’t forget to take a picture by Grimaldi’s Statue and the view of the Port Fontveille.
- Visit the Cathedrale de Monaco and pay your respects to Princess Grace. Her tomb is there.
- Visit the Prince’s Palace and watch the changing of the guards.
- Leaving the old town, you will see the Frame. Take some pictures there and take in the view of Port Hercule from there.
- Stroll around Marché Condamine and grab a snack if you want.
- Walk the full F1 track, but if you don’t have the strength, you can just walk the F1 curve in front of Fairmont Hotel, Monaco.
- Admire the boats and yachts at Port Hercule and stroll through the front. You can find some walkways, if you wish to walk between the boats.
- Visit Place du Casino for pictures and enter the Casino as well.
- Check out the Casino Gardens for a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea.
- If you have time, you can visit the Meditation Room and see the crystals
Also read: A 2 Day Amsterdam Travel Guide and Itinerary
My Budget For A Day Trip To Monaco
For me, I took a solo trip to Monaco, hence my budget was light for this trip. I didn’t plan a budget in the first place, but I tracked my spending while I was in the country.
I arrived in Monaco around 10:30 am, found my way to the bus stop at Saint-Dévote. Since I had a Ligne d’Azur transport card for the day (€7), I took Bus 602 from Nice to Monaco. I wanted to start with the old town and walk down later on, so I took the bus (Bus 2/1 to Monaco Ville = €2). Once I was done there, I walked down towards the Frame but missed my way (while exploring) and had to take another bus (€2).
I stopped around Casino Monte Carlo, then towards the Prince’s Car Collection. Got thirsty and stopped by a bar for a bottle of water (€4.50) from a bar, then bought pain au raisin (€5) to snack on while I rested my feet. From there, I went to see the Prince’s car collection and paid €10 at the entrance for a ticket.
In all, I spent €30.50 in Monaco for the day with no overpriced activity or shopping. If you are a couple or with a friend, you should multiply this budget by 2.
7 Top Tips For Visiting Monaco
To help you have a memorable experience for your day trip to Monaco, here are my 7 top tips for your day trip to Monaco:
- Avoid visiting during the Formula 1 Grand Prix season (around June). Hear me out! It is one thing to visit Monaco to see the event, and another thing to visit the state during the event. If you just happen to plan your day trip during this event, you might be disappointed. The streets will be closed, and there will be limited access to most parts of the state because of the event. So, plan to visit before or after the event.
- Prep your wallet because it’s an expensive city. I got thirsty in the afternoon and stopped to buy a 50cl bottle of water from a bar for €5, as against €0.60 in France. For meals, a plate of pasta can cost between €20 – €40 per person, without drinks. So, make sure to adjust your budget.
- Dress like the locals. You don’t have to be in fancy or flashy clothing to feel like you belong. A good linen or cotton or comfortable clothing is enough, as long as it protects you from the sun and feels airy for the hot weather.
- In the same vein, wear comfortable shoes. Some parts of the municipality are hilly, like Avenue d’Ostende and some parts of the old town. So, for the sake of your feet, wear flat or comfortable shoes – the heels are not necessary.
- There’s no need to drive in Monaco. Let me explain – the municipality is densely populated with very limited street parking. Unless you have a budget for valet parking, be my guest. If not, the bus is the best method for getting around in Monaco.
- Bring your passport. If you plan on gambling or using the slot machines inside the casino, please bring your passport. No ID, no entry!
- If you wish to use the Casino, make sure to dress accordingly. The casino requires you to dress to the nines, so pack a pair of stilettoes or a tux. Also, you are not allowed to take photos inside the Casino, so keep your phones out of sight.
Further reading: A 2 Day Travel Guide and Itinerary for Brussels
FAQs About Monaco
Can I stay in Monaco instead of Nice?
Sure, you can! But then it will not be a budget day trip to Monaco. However, if you feel like splurging or living with the locals, feel free to book a nice upscale hotel in Monte Carlo.
Can I walk to Monaco from Nice?
Sweety, I do not recommend that! It’s about 21km from Nice and more than a 4-hour walk. It will be a long walk, but not necessary.
How much can I set aside for a budget day trip to Monaco?
Your budget depends on your plan for the day. If you are planning to eat in a restaurant, your budget will be higher than mine. I took a solo day trip to Monaco and spent €30.50 in the principality for the day (you will see the detailed expenses above). Imagine if you were a couple, multiply that by 2. In other words, a budget day trip to Monaco can be less than €50 (solo) or less than a €100 (two or more).
Can I walk to Monaco from France?
Yes, you can! But hear me out – Beausoleil and Cap d’Ail are two small towns that share land intersections with Monaco. In fact, you only need to cross to the other side of the street to get to Monaco. Because of this, tourists can stay in Beausoleil or Cap d’Ail and walk over to the state with no transport. Boulevard de la République is a popular boundary point in Beausoleil
Is Monaco a walkable city?
Yes, it is a walkable city. But I’ll like to point out that the state is shaped like a long rectangle, which means that it is easier to start from one end and walk to the other end. I would say start from the old town or Prince’s Palace, and then continue towards the Casino and the Prince’s car collection (and vice versa). This way, it’s easier, and you can cover major attractions in no time.
What is the best way to see Monaco?
On foot! If you want to see the bustling city, its locals and the flashy cars, you will have to explore the state on foot. You can also use a hop-on hop-off bus tour service to see the city, but the best way to explore Monaco is on foot.
Can I walk the F1 track and tunnel?
Yes, you can walk the F1 track. The race begins at Boulevard Albert the first, through Saint-Dévote (train station), around the Casino, by the F1 Hairpin curve, through Route de la Piscine (front of the Prince’s Car Collection), and back to the Boulevard. It roughly takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to walk the entire circuit, including taking photos. Bear in mind that Avenue d’Ostende (leading to the casino) is a hilly walk.
How long do you need to explore Monaco?
One day is enough! If you enter and get into Monaco by 10 am and leave by 5 pm, you would have covered the major attractions. But if you feel like hanging out in the city, feel free to visit at night or stay through the evening.
Also read: Barcelona in 2 Days – A Full Travel Guide and Itinerary
My Final Thoughts
If you feel like the full-day trip guide to Monaco might be too much for you, you can just explore the main attractions. I walked a lot when I visited Monaco, hence I was able to explore these places.
But if you are not keen on all the activities, the main attractions to visit in Monaco for a day are: the Old town, the Oceanographique Museum, Monte Carlo Casino, the F1 Curve, Port Hercules, and the Prince’s Car Collection.
Who said you can’t take a day trip to Monaco on a budget? I know TikTok and Instagram have made you feel like you need to be flashy and exorbitant to visit Monaco, but this is not the case. Yes, the principality is not the easiest place to be thrifty, but a day trip to Monaco can be memorable and budget-friendly if you want it to be.
Whatever your plan is, I believe that one day is the perfect amount of time to explore Monaco. I have a gallery of all the pictures I took while I was in Monaco. If you are planning a trip to the French Riviera, do well to check out my travel guide to the French Riviera. And if you are in Monaco, you should also read my full travel guide and itinerary for Nice.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Toodals!😊
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.