Monaco Travel Forum

Hello,
Is one-day enough to explore Monaco? We're staying in Nice and would like to make a day-trip to this principality. Bus or train?

thanks!

I found one day to be perfect for visiting Monaco. I was travelling from Nice to Italy and stopped off there for one day. It is very easy to get to from Nice, a spectacular train journey but I doubt I would have wanted to stay longer than that day.

Depending on how much you want to see, one day is the bare minimum. Monaco is only 11 miles from Nice and just a short train ride. If you want to see lots in one day consider renting a scooter or take the Azur Express tourist train around town. I just came back from Monaco a couple of days ago and have posted a bunch of "things to do" on my Monte-Carlo page. Check it out.

rent a scooter? that sounds fun! Can you provide some detail on this endeavour?

There is a scooter rental booth called "Monte Carlo Rent" on the waterfront in front of the Port Palace Hotel on John F. Kennedy. After exiting the train station go towards the yacht harbor and turn left. I believe that rate was 20 Euros per hour for an electric scooter or 60 to 70 Euros/8 hours for a gas powered scooter . I would opt for the gas powered scooter since Monaco is hilly. The electric scooter has no power and will not negotiate hills well. They supply the helmet and take credit cards. Be sure to bring your driver license. With the scooter you can explore Monte-Carlo and little towns in Italy and France nearby. Scootering is pretty safe because traffice is not too bad.

Oh Yes, If you rent a scooter, be sure that you get a scooter with a functioning lock. You don't want to have to pay for a scooter that was stolen.

A scooter is unnecessary in the Principality of Monaco. It is an extremely small place and you can walk anywhere in a very short time. From Nice, bus or train is fine - your choice. As for how long you need - depends onwhat you want to see or do. A day will allow you to see e.g. the Oceanographic Museum, the Jardin Exotique (should that be plural?) and probably one other location. Whatever you choose to see, you'll see a lot in a day.

My feeling is that Grimaldi-oriented tourism is largely a waste of time, and not worth seeing, but that's obviously up to you. In other words, having been to Monaco many times, I've never bothered with the palace, but you may wish to.

My suggestion - take a trip up to La Turbie by bus from Nice. See the Trophee des Alpes, then walk down into Monaco. Have a nice trip.

hi Kay
The caves you're talking about are at the Jardin Exotique. A great place to visit, with impressive views, as it's at the top end of the Principality. I believe the cactus collection there is one of the biggest in the world. It's quite true that Monaco is not a particularly impressive place, but it does have a quite a lot of nice and interesting things to see. It suffers from being small and grossly overcrowded, as well as from the rather grand expectations of the place planted in the minds of (mostly American) tourists since the 1950s. All the same, one of my favourite places on the Cote d'A and definitely worth a visit.
James

Sorry for sounding such a noobie, but isn't Monaco = Monte Carlo? We'll be there around mid-end May. I'm afraid it may be F1 season!

Monaco is the whole country. Monte-Carlo is an area in Monaco. They are used interchangibly

Yes, one day is enough to explore Monaco/MonteCarlo ;-) I did so myself 2 years back. Train trip from Nice, goes every 15 mins. Indeed a wonderful trip cos it goes along the coast. You could also check out Antibes area since you're in the neighbourhood. A nice small city.

Be sure to visit Monaco before noon, so you can catch the guards change as well as 100 other tourists... hahaha Ocean Museum is nice, but expensive. Just wandering around did it for me.

http://www.visitmonaco.com/

Enjoy
Ronald

I will be visiting Monaco for a few days in Sept. and was wondering where to stay that is inexpensive. I don't mind staying in Nice but how much does it cost every day to go to Monaco from Nice? I have to be in Monaco every day for a trade show...

Thanks,

David

Hi James

I like your suggestion on taking a trip up to La Turbie by bus from Nice. See the Trophee des Alpes, then walk down into Monaco.
Where do we take the bus in Nice?