Things to do in Monaco: the Rock, Monte-Carlo and the port
Monaco is about two square kilometers, and you can walk from one end to the other in under an hour, with public lifts to take the hills out of it. One long day covers the Old Town on the Rock, the Casino square and the harbor. It is also very expensive, and the honest way to do it is to see it by day and sleep along the coast.
The short answer
- First trip
- Do it as a long day from Nice or Menton, or give it two days if you want the museums and an evening in Monte-Carlo.
- Where to stay
- Inside Monaco rooms are among the dearest in Europe. Beausoleil and Cap-d'Ail, in France, are a short walk or bus ride away and cost far less.
- How many days
- One day sees the main sights. Two days lets you add the Oceanographic Museum, the Exotic Garden and a swim.
- Best time to go
- May, June and September are warm and bright. Grand Prix week in late May or early June brings the highest prices and the biggest crowds.
- Book ahead
- Anything in Grand Prix week, which sells out months early, and dinner at the better restaurants. Most sights can be bought on the day.
- From the airport
- Fly into Nice. The 80 express bus, a train from Nice and a seven-minute helicopter all reach Monaco. The train is the cheapest and easiest.
Where to stay in Monaco, in brief
Monte-Carlo
the Casino, the grand hotels and evenings out
The part of Monaco on the postcards, around Casino Square and the shopping streets. Convenient and very expensive, with a lot of building work in some years.
La Condamine
the port, the market and the train station
The flat district around Port Hercule, with the daily market, cafes and the station. Cheaper than Monte-Carlo, and more like a normal town.
Fontvieille
a calm, modern base near the football stadium and the marina
A district built on reclaimed land, with a small harbor, a rose garden and quiet streets. It is a 20-minute walk from the Casino.
Beausoleil and Cap-d'Ail
the best value close to Monaco
French towns on either side of the border, a walk or a short bus ride from Monaco, with hotels at a fraction of the price. Beausoleil is on a hill above Monte-Carlo.
Things to do in Monaco
Monaco-Ville and the Prince's Palace
The old town on the Rock, with narrow streets, the cathedral and the Palace square. The changing of the guard is at 11.55am daily, so arrive by 11.30 for a place. The State Apartments open only for part of the year, so check the dates.
Oceanographic Museum
An aquarium and museum built into the cliff above the sea, with a terrace over the Mediterranean. Allow two hours.
a day or two ahead in summer
Casino de Monte-Carlo
The atrium and the gaming rooms in the 19th-century building. You pay to enter the rooms, need ID, and there is a smart dress code in the evening. Walking across Casino Square is free.
Port Hercule walk
Walk the quays from the Condamine to the Rock, past the yachts. Early morning or sunset is best.
Jardin Exotique
A garden of cacti and succulents on the cliff, with views over the principality and a cave to visit. Best in the morning.
Grand Prix circuit on foot
The circuit is ordinary city streets for most of the year. Walk the Casino hairpin, the tunnel and the harbor chicane, and see the Fairmont hairpin on the way.
Larvotto beach
The public beach on the east side, with pebbles and imported sand. Free to use, with paid sunbeds and a couple of beach clubs.
Fontvieille and the Princess Grace Rose Garden
A quiet, modern district with a small marina and a rose garden dedicated to Princess Grace. A calm place for the end of the day.
Cathedral of Monaco
The white stone cathedral in the Old Town, where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are buried. Free to enter, with some quiet hours.
Public lifts and the Rock
Free public lifts and escalators link the harbor to the Old Town and Monte-Carlo. Use them instead of the hills, and the views are a bonus.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Monaco can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Monaco, and which to pick- Anything during the Grand Prixmany months ahead
Grand Prix week, in late May or early June, takes every room in Monaco and in the villages around it, and prices rise a lot.
- Oceanographic Museum tickets in summera day or two ahead
Timed entry avoids a queue at the busiest time of year.
- Dinner at the better restaurantsa week or more ahead
The well-known tables fill, especially from Thursday to Saturday and during events.
What to skip in Monaco
- Eating and drinking on Casino Square
A coffee on the terrace is a fair price for the view, but a meal is poor value. Walk five minutes to the Condamine market or the old town instead.
- Staying inside the principality on a tight budget
A room costs several times what the same night costs in Beausoleil or Nice, and the sights are the same. Sleep outside and come in by train or on foot.
- Photographing supercars as a plan
The cars are real but unpredictable, and it is not worth planning an afternoon around them. See them if you pass.
Best time to visit Monaco
May, June and September are the best: warm, bright and good for swimming and walking. April and October are quieter and mild, but some beach clubs close.
The Grand Prix weekend, in late May or early June, and the yacht show in late September, bring the highest prices of the year. July and August are hot and busy, and winter is mild and quiet, with some places closed.
- From Nice airportFly into Nice. The 80 express bus runs about every 30 minutes from 7am to 9pm, and takes around 45 minutes. A taxi covers the 30 kilometers by road. The helicopter takes about 7 minutes and costs much more.
- By trainMonaco-Monte-Carlo station is in La Condamine. Trains from Nice take about 20 minutes and run all day, and Menton is about 10 minutes the other way.
- On foot and by liftThe principality is small and hilly. Public lifts and escalators are free and link the harbor to the Old Town and to Monte-Carlo.
- By busMonaco's buses run through the whole principality and are cheap. Use one for the climb up to Monte-Carlo from the harbor if the lifts are busy.
Monaco in two days
- Day 1
Condamine market in the morning, then the Old Town and the Palace for the changing of the guard at 11.55. Oceanographic Museum in the afternoon, then the harbor at dusk.
- Day 2
Jardin Exotique, then Monte-Carlo: Casino Square, the circuit, and a swim at Larvotto. Dinner in the Condamine or Fontvieille.
Day trips from Monaco
- NiceAbout 20 minutes by train. A larger city with a seafront, an Old Town and cheaper food.
- MentonAbout 10 minutes by train. A calm town with gardens, a market and a pebble beach, a short way from the Italian border.
- ÈzeA medieval hilltop village between Monaco and Nice, reached by bus or by train to Èze-sur-Mer and a steep climb.
Monaco: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Monaco?
One long day covers the Old Town, the Casino and the harbor. Two days lets you add the Oceanographic Museum, the Exotic Garden and the beach without rushing.
Is Monaco worth visiting?
Yes, for a day or two. It is small and expensive, but the Old Town, the harbor and the setting are worth seeing, and most of it is free.
Can you visit Monaco from Nice?
Yes. The train takes about 20 minutes and runs all day, so many visitors stay in Nice and come to Monaco for the day.
What is the best time to visit Monaco?
May, June and September. They are warm and bright, and cheaper than Grand Prix week or the peak summer months.
Do you need a passport for Monaco?
There are no routine border checks between France and Monaco, but carry your passport or ID card. Monaco uses the euro.
How do I get from Nice airport to Monaco?
Take the 80 express bus, a train from Nice-Ville or a taxi. A helicopter takes about 7 minutes but costs far more.
Is Monaco expensive?
Yes. Hotels and restaurants cost far more than in Nice, and the cheapest plan is to sleep over the border and eat at the market.