A Monaco day trip from Nice is a bucket-list experience that offers the chance to tick off two countries in one day.
It only takes about 30-40 minutes to get from Nice to Monaco, and it makes an exciting day trip as part of your South of France itinerary.
Spending the day in Monaco and then returning to Nice at night also means you avoid the sky-high accommodation prices without sacrificing all the best Monte Carlo attractions.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a Monaco day trip from Nice, including how to get there, things to do, and top tips for your visit.
How to get to Monaco for a Day Trip
There are four ways to do a Monaco day trip from Nice, and each have their pros and cons. I’ll cover all of them below, but you can scroll on to get to the 1-day itinerary and things to do when you’re there.
Bus
You can take the bus from Nice to Monaco, although this is probably the slowest option. It takes around an hour and you’ll probably have to change buses and/or use the tram network in Nice too. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this option for a Monaco day trip from Nice. If you prefer public transport, the train is by far the better choice.
Train
Trains in the South of France are easy, cheap, reliable and convenient. There’s a train that departs from Nice Ville to take you to Monaco four times an hour, also stopping at Nice Riquier – so you can choose the station that’s closest to your accommodation in Nice.
Once you get to Monaco Monte Carlo train station, it’s a short 15-minute walk to get to Casino Square and the other major attractions in Monaco.
Taxi or Drive
A taxi from Nice to Monaco is convenient but expensive. It costs about €100 each way, and you’ll need to book your cars in advance, including the return journey.
If you’ve rented a car for your time in Nice, you might consider driving. The drive takes about 30 minutes, but parking in Monaco can be expensive.
There are a few large public car parks near the entrance to the city where you can park for the whole day, Parking des Salines is one of the more affordable options.
From here, you can walk to the city centre in about 30 minutes or take the number 2 bus, which takes about 15 minutes and comes around every 15 minutes.
You shouldn’t need your passport to cross the border, but it’s still a good idea to have some form of photo ID.
Guided Tour
The final option for doing a Monaco day trip to Nice is to book a guided tour.
This might be a good option for you if you’re already planning to take a tour when you get there, since it will save you the cost and hassle of transport as well. The tours I recommend are:
Full Day Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo: A highly-rated full day option which also includes a stop at the beautiful hilltop town of Eze and a visit to the perfume factory there.
Monaco and Monte Carlo Night Tour: Monaco really comes alive at night when the jet set come out to drink, dine and gamble. This evening option gives you a guided tour of the F1 circuit plus free time to soak up the atmosphere in Casino Square after dark.
The Ultimate Itinerary for a Perfect Monaco Day Trip from Nice
Prefer to DIY your Monaco day trip from Nice?
Here’s an itinerary to follow to get the best out of your visit. I’ll go into more detail about each of the attractions below, but this overview gives you a quick idea of what 1 day in Monaco could look like.
08:00 – Take the train or taxi to Monaco from Nice
09:00 – Stroll the old town (Rock of Monaco) while it’s quiet, or opt for a walking tour
11:55 – See the changing of the guards at Prince’s Palace
12:30 – Have lunch overlooking the yachts in the harbour at Caffè Milano
14:00 – Have a guide show you around the Grand Prix circuit
16:30 – Pop inside the Monte Carlo Casino
17:00 – Have a cocktail at Café de Paris and people watch in Casino Square
18:00 – Take the train or taxi back to Nice (or stay for dinner – I recommend Crazy Pizza in the port!)
Monaco 1 Day Itinerary: Things to Do
Old Town Rock of Monaco
The old town of the city is also known as the Rock of Monaco, thanks to its privileged position perched on a small hilltop overlooking the sea. You might also see it referred to as Monaco Ville.
It’s home to the Prince’s Palace, the courthouse, and the cathedral where Grace Kelly got married to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
It’s also filled with gorgeous French Riviera architecture in all the classic sorbet shades: lemon, orange, peach and strawberry.
You can spend hours simply strolling the gorgeous streets, soaking in the sea views and stopping for a coffee in one of the bustling plazas.
Try l’Express near the cathedral for a quick coffee or lunch in the sunshine.
If you want more information on the sights and history of Monaco’s Old Town, I recommend this walking tour.
You’ll get to know everything there is to know about this iconic city, with stops at all the major sites, from the Monte Carlo Casino to the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried.
Prince’s Palace and the Changing of the Guards
You can visit the Prince’s Palace of Monaco and even go inside to tour the royal apartments from April to mid-October (apart from during the F1 Grand Prix weekend).
While the palace itself is impressive, it’s the changing of the guards ceremony that most come to see.
Taking place outside the palace gates at 11:55am on the dot every day, this regal ritual is undertaken by the guards (known as the Prince’s Carabinieri) in their striking white and red uniforms. Arrive early to get the best view!
Grand Prix F1 Circuit
Of course, one of the most famous things about Monaco is the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Whether you’re into racing or not, this incredible competition has a fascinating history to discover – an event that has captivated some of the world’s most influential people for over 100 years.
It usually takes place on the last weekend of May, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the area, you can try and get tickets to see the race. You can watch it from the stands, one of the fancy hotels or (if your pockets are deep enough), one of the yachts parked in the harbour.
If you’re visiting at any other time of the year, you can take a walking tour of the famous race track instead.
You’ll learn all about the history of the race, the world’s most famous drivers, and even some of the biggest crashes and notable events that have shaped the race over the years.
Book the F1 walking tour here.
Exotic Garden
Located a little way outside the central areas of Monaco, the Exotic Garden is well worth a little extra effort to get there. It makes a nice alternative to the Grand Prix circuit tour.
Overlooking the city, this beautiful botanic garden is home to thousands of species of Cacti, along with Italian-style pergolas draped in bougainvillaea.
There’s also the Observatory Cave, which is a small subterranean chamber carved out of the limestone over thousands of years.
A guided tour of the cave is included in your entrance ticket to the garden.
Please note that the exotic garden is re-opening after renovation works at the end of summer 2025.
Monte Carlo Casino
Possibly the most famous casino in the world, but most certainly in Europe, the Monte Carlo Casino is the spot to make like James Bond on your day trip to Monaco.
It’s free to enter the entrance hall and have a look around, although you’ll have to pay if you want to go inside the gambling halls. It’s €17 per person to enter, and you’ll get given a token to use towards the cost of a drink when you get inside.
You’ll need a photo ID to get inside (preferably a passport), and you can’t take cameras in or take photos while you’re in there.
A dress code is enforced, so you’ll need smart casual clothes during the day and more formal attire in the evening. Things like trainers and flip-flops are generally not permitted.
If you decide to stay in Monaco for the evening and have some money to gamble, you could go in after dinner to try your luck on the Roulette and Black Jack tables.
Alternatively, it’s still fun to pop your head inside the entrance hall, or have a drink at Café de Paris in Casino Square, where you can watch the rich and famous come and go instead.
Monaco Day Trip from Nice FAQs
Is 1 day in Monaco enough?
Even though it’s technically a whole country, Monaco is compact, and you can see a lot in one day.
However, you could certainly spend more time if you decided to stay for longer, adding in the Oceanographic Museum, cathedral, Larvotto Beach and the Princess Grace Rose Garden into your itinerary.
If you came to Monaco to splash the cash in chic bars, fine dining restaurants and the casino, you could easily spend weeks in the city.
Where to stay in Nice
Three hotels I recommend in Nice are:
Palm Boutique: With stylish boho interiors, this charming hotel is tucked right by the Old Town, with a rum bar on the ground floor.
Aparthotel AMMI: With stunning interiors and a prime location overlooking Place Masséna, some of these studios come with balconies for people watching with a glass of cool Côtes De Provence rosé.
Le Negresco: If you’re looking for luxury, this is the most iconic hotel in town, with its striking pink dome and eccentric interiors.
Looking for more day trips from Nice? Read my guide to visiting the medieval hilltop Eze Village from Nice in 1 Day, or the ultimate 3-day Nice itinerary.
How to spend more than 1 day in Monaco
If you have more than 1 day in Monaco, you can cover some of the other attractions such as the Oceanographic Museum, Monaco Cathedral, the Princess Grace Rose Garden, and the Opera de Monte Carlo.
You could also spend an afternoon relaxing on the man-made Larvotto Beach or taking a tour of Monaco’s markets and seeing the private car collection of HSH Prince of Monaco.
Best way to get around Monaco
Monaco and Monte Carlo are fairly walkable, although the city is very hilly with some steep inclines to deal with. Lifts and escalators have been installed in places to help you get about more easily.
There are also several buses to help you get around Monaco more easily – see the timetable and routes here.
Taxis and Ubers also operate throughout Monaco, although you can expect to pay a premium for journeys inside the principality!
Have more questions about visiting Monaco? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to help plan your trip.
Thank you so much this has been so helpful! I am going away for a girly weekend to celebrate our big birthday’s and it’s my job to organise a day in Monaco.
Hi Faye,
So glad you found it helpful.
A day in Monaco sounds like the ultimate girly day out – you’ll have an absolutely fabulous time!
Thanks so much for reading Classy Travel Guides,
Amabel