Monaco is undoubtedly the most famous micro-state in the world, rivaled only by the Vatican. The territory of Monaco is only 2 km². But it is constantly growing due to the fact that Monaco is building new peninsulas.
There are only 39,000 Monegasque residents in Monaco. But you should add thousands more French and Italians who work here but do not live, coming to work every morning. And yet, despite its tiny size, there are so many activities, so many opportunities, and so much history.
In such a small area Monaco has managed to gather everything you need for an interesting vacation. There are a historic city that has adapted to modernity. And interesting museums, as well as a lot of luxury, glamor and an entire industry that serves the rich and famous.
But Monaco is more than just a place for the rich. Here you will find the famous citadel, an equally famous casino, many luxury hotels, an ice rink, a circus, a circus, several museums, a zoo, exotic gardens, concert halls, three harbors, and countless restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightclubs.
I had a week of vacation in Monaco itself, so during this time I was able to explore all its beaches and interesting places, go to exhibitions and even travel around the nearest cities of the Côte d’Azur.
I’m going to tell you about it in detail. I hope it will help you plan both a one-day trip to Monaco and a week-long vacation.
Why you should visit Monaco
Monaco is a must-see for anyone traveling along the Riviera. I strongly recommend that you plan at least one day to visit.
Make a visit to Monaco at least like to see a new country. And of course you can see with your own eyes the traffic jams of expensive cars and the famous casino in Monte Carlo ))).
To get here, you will either drive or take a cheap bus along the coastal highway that winds down the mountain slope from Nica towards Italy.
As soon as you cross the border, you immediately feel that something has changed. You still hear French, but you feel like you’re in a different place. Everything around will change: chic buildings, the exceptional cleanliness of the streets, and a certain calmness that contrasts with the usual energy of a big city.
Requirements for tourists to visit Monaco
You do not need a visa to Monaco – it is enough to have a biometric passport or a permanent residence card in one of the Schengen countries.
Monaco is located on the Mediterranean coast and shares borders with only one country: France. To the west is the road to Nice, to the east is the road to Italy. To the south is the sea, to the north is the small French town of Beaulieu high in the mountains.
There are no borders entering and leaving Monaco – the country is under French protectorate. Therefore, consider that the rules for visiting Schengen countries – 90 days in six months – also apply to this territory.
How to get to Monaco?
Does this mean that Monaco is isolated? Not at all! Nice is not far away, and with it the international airport. You can, of course, get to Monaco by helicopter – it has its own heliport. But you can also take a train, or drive along the highway by bus or rented car.
Getting to Monaco from Nice Airport
The cheapest: The L2 tram runs from the airport to Nice and costs 1.5 euros. Then take the municipal bus #100, which departs from Nice from the Le Port stop and will take you to Monaco for 1.5 euros. During the day, a tram runs from the airport to the bus stop. This inexpensive transport runs from 5:00 to 21:00. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver.
The fastest: Train – goes from the Saint-Augustin train station. The station is only a short walk from the airport, but can be reached by tram if you are loaded with bags or worried about getting lost. Trains run daily from 05:15 to 21:15.
The most direct one: If you don’t have time to catch a train or a municipal bus, you can also take a direct shuttle bus. From the airport, there is a Cannes Express bus #80 (formerly #110) that runs in the direction of Menton and stops in Monaco. The ticket costs 19.5 euros one way.
The most expensive or night: If your plane arrives at night, you can only get to Monaco by taxi. Uber does not operate in Monaco, and a regular taxi can cost up to 100 euros. So here’s a life hack for you – order Uber to the border of Monaco and France, it will cost 1.5 times cheaper. Then walk to the hotel.
The most expensive air connection: Monaco and France are connected by helicopter flights. Therefore, if you are late for a flight from Nice for some reason, you can fly around the traffic jams in a helicopter – the travel time is 7 minutes! The cost of this pleasure is 650 Euros for the entire helicopter, which can accommodate 5 passengers. If there are several people, it won’t be too expensive, 130 euros each.
When is the best time to come to Monaco
Like most Mediterranean regions, Monaco can be visited in any season. The climate is always quite mild and there is plenty to do. But each, of course, has its own nuances.
A visit in the summer means the opportunity to swim in the warm sea on any of the beaches of Monaco and the Côte d’Azur. Summer in Monaco begins with the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which takes place at the end of May. This is a spectacle that you need to see at least once in your life while watching the races.
In the fall, winter, or spring, you can enjoy strolls along the harbor or go up to the historic city to admire the view. In rainy weather, you can visit the museum, casino or one of the many upscale shops in the commercial district.
Monaco does not have a “off-season”, instead there are less busy seasons during which you can discover a more relaxed city. At any time of the year, there will still be various events, concerts, exhibitions, etc.
Where to stay in Monaco
in Columbus hotel
Going for a jog in the morning and running around the country in an hour and a half is the harsh reality of one of the smallest countries in Europe. But the geographical size of Monaco does not correlate with the level of income of its citizens and the spending of tourists.
When looking for accommodation in Monaco, expect to pay from 200 to 1000 euros per night for a normal hotel. Of course, some luxury rooms can cost much, much more. Double room at the Columbus Hotel where we stayed for a week in August 2019, cost 260 Euros per night with excellent breakfasts. The good news is that the man’s partners paid for it.
Cheaper to rent an apartment in Monaco – from 120 Euros per night in low season.
If you are not very rich, the most practical solution is to cross the border (read: cross the road on a mountain slope), find a place to live in the French commune of Beausoleil, and stay here for the night. In this lovely little town you will find charming hotels that are much cheaper than in Monaco. At the same time, you are only a short walk from the center of Monaco.
Restaurants and cheap meals in Monaco
Prices in restaurants are not too budgetary either: pizza and two glasses of wine will cost from 40 euros, a cup of coffee – 4-5 euros. Breakfast with a view of Monte Carlo Casino in Café de Paris is also not cheap: cappuccino – 6 euros, classic croissant – 7 euros, orange juice – 10 euros.
Monaco also has a cool thing: wine to go, which is similar to coffee, but you don’t leave a coffee shop with a glass of coffee, you leave a bar with a glass of wine. That’s what we used to do in the evenings – go to a nearby bar and drink rosé while sitting on a stone parapet overlooking the yachts in Port de Fionnay.
How else can you save money on dining out? I took a beach straw bag on the trip and went shopping at the nearest Carrefour supermarket. Food prices here are the same as in neighboring France: cheese and meat cuts start at 2-3 euros per 100 g, vegetables are also at the same price, and French rosé starts at 4 euros. This way, you can cut down on food costs.
I even enjoyed a cheese and wine dinner sitting on the balcony of the room overlooking the Princess Grace Rose Garden. And she dined most often in cafes, traveling along the Côte d’Azur by bus, buying a ticket for 1.5 euros.
What to do in Monaco
Why do tourists come to Monaco? Everyone has their own goals: someone wants to check off a box and add another country to the list. Some people are very interested in looking at the Lamborghinis and Maseratis lined up in the parking lots and taking a glamorous selfie against their background.
Some people have always dreamed of going to the Monte Calo casino and spending all their money there, hoping to win a million. And someone like me has never dreamed of Monaco. But since it happened, it makes sense to see everything to the fullest.
In fact, Monaco is almost a paradise for a tourist on a budget.
First of all, there are a lot of free things to do: gardens, cathedrals, views of yachts and the beach, after all, are all free.
Secondly, tickets to museums, exhibitions, and palaces are very reasonably priced.
Old Town and La Roche
Walking Monaco Ville is a peninsula on Roche Hill and the historic part of Monaco, measuring only 700 meters long and 300 wide. You can visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas for free, stroll through the palace square, and take a photo with a view of the Port de Fionnay.
Roche is a rocky hill that protrudes into the sea above the port and on top of which Monaco was originally built. So, this is where you’ll find the historic city center, the prince’s residence, the cathedral, and some of the best views in the city (as well as some good restaurants).
Port Hercule is the main marina in Monaco and anchorage for yachts of various shapes and sizes, from small to large, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The best view of the marina opens from the top – from Monaco Ville, but it is also interesting to walk alongside them, marveling at the luxury and wealth.
As you climb up and eventually reach the top of the Roche in front of the entrance to the princely palace. You will find yourself on the huge Place du Palais (Palace Square). Walk along the Palais to get under the trees and admire the panoramic view of the square to the south, over the neighborhood and the port of Fontvieille.
Stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town, but don’t miss the cathedral located on the south side. From the cathedral, you can walk down to enjoy the St. Martin’s Garden, located along the cliff, or go further to the Oceanographic Museum.
Continue until you reach the top of the Roche and then return along the ramparts on the other side, north, with a beautiful view of Port Hercules.
Visit the princely palace
You can visit the palace from March to October. This former 13th-century fortress has undergone numerous modifications and is now a residence of both medieval and modern appearance.
The prince and his family live in the back, which overlooks private gardens: you can visit the historic part where events and ceremonies take place, including the throne room.
The ticket costs 10 euros plus an additional 8 euros if you want to see the exhibition of princely vintage cars. For 6 Euros you can visit the local micro-zoo – the Garden of Animals, children under 6 years old are free.
Discover the oceanographic museum
This magnificent building, which plunges into the sea, was dedicated to Prince Albert East, who in the early 20th century conducted several explorations around the world and achieved significant success in natural history. The Oceanographic Museum was once run by Jacques Yves Cousteau. The museum consists of two parts: huge rooms displaying treasures brought back from the prince’s travels (from shells to whale skeletons), and an aquarium in the basement with hundreds of living species.
Tickets: 19 euros for adults, 12 euros for children. Purchase on the museum’s website.
Explore the port area
Less touristy than Roche, the area is also a lively place where Monegasques and French people like to walk, shop and dine. The streets just behind the port are mostly pedestrianized, and many of them have chairs from restaurants and cafes.
Here you can also visit the Condamine Market, Monaco’s historic food market. In the mornings, Monegasques come here to socialize and buy fresh produce. In the evening, there are food courts inside the covered market where you can eat inexpensively. For example, you can order a Nicoise salad, baby octopus in batter and a glass of wine for 25 euros. The market is located on Place d’Armes (Place des Armes), which is a convenient place to start your walks by buying fruit. Or end the day with a glass of wine.
Depending on the season of your visit, the port will offer different activities. If you come in the summer, you can enjoy a temporary water park. In the fall, a carnival reigns supreme, during which a big wheel is installed. In winter, there is a temporary ice rink and a Christmas market.
Finally, when warm weather approaches, this is where the starting line for the Formula 1 Grand Prix is set up.
Visit the city gardens
Despite all its modern infrastructure, Monaco has managed to locate five themed gardens on its own territory:
- The exotic garden near Zbroy Square (on the reconstruction).
- Saint Martin’s Garden – built on a cliffside on Rocher.
- Casino’s Gardens – located in front of the casino, you will definitely not miss it while walking around the city.
- Japanese Garden is the most exotic of the four: 5 minutes from the casino to Larvotto Beach – the path is clearly marked and everyone can point in the right direction.
- The Princess Grace Rose Garden – geese, ducks and swans walk importantly on the lawns among hundreds of species of roses. They are the main locals here – they are fed, the water in the pond is changed for them, their houses are opened in the morning, from which they go for a walk in the morning and return somewhere for a night’s rest.
Each of them is as nice and worth of visit time.
Rest on the beaches
Monaco has not one but several beaches. The most popular is Larvotto, near the eastern border and the principality.
But the two most original ones are located at the foot of Roche and can be reached either from Roche or from the port. The first is the Solarium beach, which is completely artificial (and without sand), built on the Port Ercule breakwater.
Regular visitors usually prefer the Pêcheurs Bay, which can be reached along the western side of the harbor: discreet and tranquil, it is one of the hidden treasures of the principality.
Another alternative is the small beach of Marques on French territory, located on the western border with Monaco. A walking path around the Cap d’Ail (Garlic Cape) leads from the Marais beach towards Nice.
Go to a casino
Monte Carlo Casino is a cult place for 007 fans. Scenes of the movie Goldeneye were filmed here. Not only the rich and famous come to casinos in luxury cars.
The casino is open to everyone… except Monegasques – you can go inside to try your luck. For example, play a one-armed bandit. What if you get lucky? Entrance to the casino lobby is free, while entrance to the gaming halls is 20 Euros, which can be exchanged for tokens.
Whether you gamble or not, the casino is worth a visit because of its magnificent Belle Époque architecture.
What to see around Monaco
Buy a ticket for bus #80, which runs from Nice to Menton and back. For just 1.5 Euros, you will discover cozy towns, beaches, and attractions in the vicinity of Monaco.
Nice is the capital of the French Riviera, stretching along a huge promenade lined with historic Italianate buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Nice is the second largest city in France by the number of museums and palaces, which is why it is considered the cultural capital of Provence.
Go to the old town of Vieux Ville, which has a stunning atmosphere of a classic Mediterranean city. Eating in one of the street cafes of old Nice is an inexpensive and special treat.
Menton
Menton is a small town located between the Italian border and the Principality of Monaco. The old town in Menton is a classic with narrow streets, parks and cathedrals, reminiscent of the atmosphere of an Italian resort. While walking around the city, take a look at the 17th-century Saint Michel Cathedral.
Fans of Jean Cocteau’s work will not miss his museum. The beaches of Menton are among the best on the Côte d’Azur, and most of them are municipal: safe coastline, good sand, cleanliness and well-developed infrastructure.
Take the train from Menton to Italy – for 3.5 euros you will reach the town of Ventimiglia, the closest to the border. French housewives and grandmothers with wheelbarrows fill all the cars – they travel to Italy for inexpensive, high-quality products.
I did the same: I walked around Ventimiglia, eating the most delicious gelato for 2.5 euros, went to the Mercado, where I bought the freshest gorgonzola for 11 euros per kilogram. I also ate ravioli with spinach at the market, which is sold here as a semi-finished product. But they will be happy to cook a portion for you – it was very tasty and cost only 3 euros.
Instead of conclusions
And yet, is it worth going to Monaco for a week? I really enjoyed my trip to Monaco, but it’s enough to come here for one day. Well, a maximum of two days will be enough to see all its interesting places. And the rest of the time, it’s better to rent a car and drive the route through Provence and the lavender valleys.
Useful links for travelers:
Car rental – we booked a car at the Nice airport. We picked up an inexpensive option on Rentalcars.com
Hotels – I traditionally book through Booking.com
Insurance can be bought online on the website Hotline.Finance.
Read also:
- Guide to the districts of Paris – where to book accommodation for tourists
- Paris – a mini-guide for a romantic trip
- Wine and gastronomic route in Burgundy
