Day trip from Nice to Monaco: the perfect itinerary (with an optional stop at Eze)

I don’t know why I planned the trip from Nice to Monaco.

I don’t do luxury. I don’t understand luxury. When people talk to me about too much money, about millions and billions of dollars, I don’t care how much money they are actually talking about. It is beyond my comprehension. I just know it is too much money and move on. And it is not because I am bad at numbers, I just don’t care about shit loads of money.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate money, that will be stupid. We need money for our daily life, for sustaining, and for small luxuries. I need it for coffee, I need it for all the Harry Potter Merch in the world. I need money to travel and I need money to sustain this blog. All-in-all I can’t relate to shit loads of money.

So, I surprised myself when I decided to visit Monaco from Nice as a day trip. I never thought about visiting Monaco before. The only thing I knew about Monaco is that it reeks of money. And of course, the Grand Prix. 

I still try to think about why. Maybe the urge to visit one more country drove us there. Something irresistibly absurd about this tiny mini-state.

Guess what I learned from visiting Monaco, It reeks of money. Also that Grand Prix doesn’t happen in August.

I learned a lot more things about Monaco during and after the trip, let me walk you through the shiny streets of Monaco. But before, enjoy this visual representation of Monaco.

Monaco

Okay, I think I am done with all the money jokes (maybe), let’s have a look into Monaco.

In my first impression, the Monacan landscape was stunning, as in the rest of the French Riviera. Stunning view of the deep blue Mediterranean, luxury boats docked in two famous docks in Monaco. And then I realized, there are a lot more buildings, apartments stacked over each other. This felt a bit denser than other places in French Riviera. 

Monaco, the second-smallest nation in the world, is still six times the size of the smallest nation, Vatican City. Its area is only 2.02 square kilometers (0.78 square miles) making it one of the most densely packed countries.

Fun fact: The whole country of Monaco is smaller than Central Park in New York!

Since the land area is so small, Monaco has almost no natural resources to exploit other than its location and climate. Over the years, it has become a resort for tourists and a tax haven for wealthy people. 

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Fun fact: One-third of the population of Monaco is a millionaire.

All that money and no taxes? How does that sound? Known as Europe’s tax haven, each and every individual citizen of Monaco has enjoyed a tax-free lifestyle since the 1870s.

W Somerset Maugham described Monaco as a ‘sunny place with shady people. We didn’t see any shady people in Monaco. To be honest, we didn’t see many people in Monaco, surprising for a country this dense. But again, we were either walking or taking a bus, probably not a millionaire thing to do.

Fun fact: Monaco has the highest average life expectancy in the world around 89 years. I guess money can buy a few things!

History of Monaco

Looking at all the shiny roads and buildings, it is difficult to imagine this place is not brand new and has a history. It looks like it was built from scratch a few years ago. Well, some parts of Monaco are new as they were recently claimed from the sea. Yes, almost 20% of Monaco city was extended over the sea a few years ago. Another extension is planned to take place in the next few years. I did not know that was a thing!

Contrary to what it may seem like, Monaco indeed has a long interesting history.

Greeks inhabited the harbor of Monaco in 6 BC and called it Monoikos. Legend says that Hercules passed through Monaco and a temple was built to honor him, the Temple of Monoikos. Because the only temple of this area was the “House” of Hercules, the city was called Monoikos  

Historically, Monaco was part of France, but in 1215, it became a colony of Genoa when Emperor Henry VI gave it as a land grant. The Grimaldi family settled in Monaco in 1297 and the ancestors of the family have controlled the principality for over 715 years now. This makes it the longest ruling dynasty in Europe. Even longer than the current British royalty! (But let’s see how long that lasts, Hi Meghan, Hi Harry)

In April 1955, the supermodel and one of the most popular actresses from the USA, Grace Kelly, met Prince Rainier III during a photo session. A year later, they got married! The wedding was very popular, and it was watched by almost 30 million people on TV.

When their first son was born, the day after was announced as a national holiday where everyone in the principality celebrated with free champagne. Free champagne!! That’s how they roll here!

Today, Monaco is governed by a constitutional monarchy but is a protectorate of France.

If you are interested in more information about Monaco, I think you will like this video from Geography Now. A big shout out to the wonderful team who create these videos for every country, alphabetically! And all their videos are heavily researched, informative, and entertaining at the same time.

What to do in Monaco for a day?

There is a lot to do in Monaco. Strike that! There is a lot to do in Monaco if you are not on a budget. Luxurious yachts, helicopter tours, Mediterranean-facing resorts, casinos, and a lot more.

I decided to spend just one day in Monaco to see what it offers for someone like me who are not interested in the luxurious options listed above. Neither could I afford them just for one day in Monaco.

So, my Monaco itinerary is a curated list of things I am interested in: The botanical garden, caves, museums, old town.

Jardin de exotique

After reaching Monaco from Nice, the first thing we did was to locate the Jardin de exotique. This stunning garden hosts a diverse assortment of succulent species, all expertly planted on the cliffside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Most of these cacti and succulents were imported from Mexico around a century ago.

And the damn views! The views from the garden are splendid. The very definition of french riviera: the mesmerizing blues of Mediterranean, pastel-colored cliffside towns, clear blue sky. If not for the exotic succulents, visit this garden for the views.

Another attraction worth visiting the gardens are the caves! Admission to the garden also includes a visit to the Observation Cave at the bottom of the cliff. We went into the cave as a part of the guided tour and it was spectacular. It reminded us of the Postojna Caves in Slovenia, except it was smaller and didn’t have the cool underground train. But it was still really nice to go in the shade and see the beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Don’t forget to ask the time of the next guided tour of the cave, when entering the garden.

You can reach the garden by bus or by walking up from the main train station/ city center. You can also use the free public elevators because it could be a steep walk up otherwise. That’s the kind of luxury I understand and appreciate!

Also, the entrance was free for us as we had French Riviera passes, which I highly recommend by the way.

Museum Oceanography

Since we wanted to make the most of our time in Monaco, we took a bus from the Botanical garden down to the Oceanography Museum.

This grand baroque building holds a world-class collection of marine life (both preserved in the museum and swimming in aquariums). 

This was my favorite thing to do in Monaco. I will definitely add it to the list of must-see in Monaco. The jellyfishes were an absolute favorite of mine. Seeing those beautiful creatures floating around with changing background lights was therapeutic. I spent a lot of time admiring the sea life there.

Also, you get a nice view of the city from the terrace of the museum building. Make those bucks count! The entrance was free for us since we had the, you guessed it right, the french riviera passes. Otherwise, you can get your tickets here.

Monaco-Ville, The rock

Monaco Ville, also called Le Rocher (The Rock), is the only part of Monaco to have retained its original old town. This is the part that resembles a typical European old town picture with its winding narrow streets lined up with pretty houses. 

I have a thing for pastel-colored houses. So I loved walking in the old town. Even though the old towns are the most crowded attractions in any European city, we didn’t see many people here.

Prince’s palace

After a short walk in the old town, you will find cannons and neat pyramids of cannonballs aligned together in a neat array. This means you have reached the Prince’s palace. Not that you wouldn’t have guessed it from the architecture.

Originally built as a fortress in 1191, the Prince’s Palace of Monaco sits high on a rocky hilltop overlooking the sea. In the 13th century, Francois Grimaldi, a member of an aristocratic family, disguised himself as a monk and requested shelter there. Once admitted, he and his men killed the guard and captured the fortress. Despite incursions and attacks from the French, Italians, Germans, and English, the Grimaldis stood their ground.  That’s one way to start a dynasty!

Since then, the palace has been expanded and restored. Visitors can visit the posh living quarters of Serene Highness Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. The palace is still home to the current-day Prince of Monaco, Albert II.

The palace is open to visitors from April through mid-October. The changing of the guards takes place at 11:55 a.m. daily. Since we were there in the evening, we missed it.

Monaco Grand Prix

Most people know Monaco for the Grand Prix. During the Grand Prix, the whole country of Monaco transforms into a racing track.

Every year since 1955, the streets of Monaco have played host to one of the most coveted and glamorous Formula One races! However, this wasn’t the first road race Monaco staged; the first-ever race around Monaco was held on 14th April 1929, long before the Formula One World Championship was formed.

For someone who is just starting to learn to drive, I wasn’t interested in the Grand Prix. (An update: I have my driving license now, Yay!! still not interested in the Gand Prix though :D) Also, we didn’t visit the country when it was happening. I can’t imagine how expensive it would get during such a big event. But what you can do all around the year is to experience driving (or being driven around in) a Ferrari along the French Riviera and the F1 circuit. There is a similar tour for the Lamborghini lovers as well.

Monte Carlo Casinos

Yes, Yes! I know you have been waiting for this!

You have to talk about casinos when talking about Monaco. Casino driven economy has become analogous to Monaco.

I didn’t go in. That is not why I was there. Even though it is the stereotypical thing to do in Monaco, I didn’t give in!

Fun fact: Monaco does not allow its own citizens to bet in Casinos. Maybe that is how you stay being a millionaire.

So, for decades, Monaco lived off solely on its casinos. Now Monaco is putting in a lot of effort to diversify its economy. As a result, tourism has become its number one source of income. You are welcome Monaco, you are welcome! (My husband in the background: but didn’t you just visit the attractions that were included in your French Rivera pass?)

Alternative itinerary: Nice to Eze to Monaco

To make the best of our day trip in the French Riviera, we decided to stop by the popular village of Eze.

Eze the cute little Mediterranean village has become very touristic over the years, it still is worth having a short trip. I mean, we are talking about French Riviera, most of the things are tourist traps here.

Also, we had a voucher for making personalized perfumes in the perfumery in Eze, also included in the French Riviera card.

Yes, there I gave in. I have a weird relationship with perfumes.

What I liked the most about Eze was again the Botanical garden and beautiful views of the Mediterranean from it. There is a certain charm to walking amidst the exotic plants that are not very usual in the Mediterranean while gazing at the deep blue sea in front.

You can easily reach Eze from Nice by bus. It is the same bus/train that goes to Monaco. But at a different height. So, while the bus and train can leave you at Eze, you still need to go up to the village itself. We took another bus from the train/bus top to go up to the village on the top and vice versa.

FAQs about Monaco day trip

Budget tips and recommendations

We realized from our trip to Reykjavik that if you want to do the most in a limited time, city cards are the best option. We used the French riviera card for three days and it was the best thing ever! We got so much value out of this card. This card got us free transport by bus within French Riviera and so much more. In Monaco, we got free entrance to the Oceanology museum, the botanical gardens, and even our bus ride from Nice to Eze.

Where to stay in Nice

We stayed at this cute Airbnb in Nice. The balcony was the highlight and it was reasonably close to the city center.

If you would rather prefer hotels, I got you covered. I researched and found out the best options for you here:

Best budget option: Hotel de France

If you want to stay at a cute little boutique-style hotel at the perfect location in Nice, look no further. Hotel de France is your spot. Plus points are the outdoor terrace, free wifi, and extremely professional staff. But the selling point for me is a good coffee machine in any room and when I say good, I mean my favorite Nespresso coffee machine. And all this in a budget hotel in Nice!

Best mid-budget option: Hotel Nice Cote d’azur

Hotel Nice Cote d’azur puts the style in stylish. With such stylish rooms and wonderful staff, no wonder this hotel is so highly rated and loved by travelers. Great ratings and reviews online!

Luxury option: Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée

Cote d’Azur isn’t really for the budget guests. It is for luxury and if you want to do luxury, do it right at the Hyatt Regency. You get up and eat breakfast with the panoramic views of the coastline and then take a dip at one of the two in-house swimming pools, or relax at the sauna and hammam. Not luxury enough? Try the in-house casino!

Go all out: Hotel Negresco

One of the most famous hotels, no, scratch that, the most famous hotel in Nice is Hotel Negresco. Each room is designed uniquely and hosts period furniture and art pieces. I love a hotel with history and what better place than the Negresco. While the hotel is primarily famous for its grandeur design, did you know that the hotel actually served as a hospital during World War I? Yes, not only was the hotel that vintage, it actually served the war victims during the war. Once again, it opened its door for the victims of the 2016 Nice truck attack. That does earn brownie points for the hotel!

Nice to Monaco day trip

During the day, the number of people staying in Monaco doubles as the residents of France and Italy arrive for work. This makes the population of 40,000 grow instantly to 90,000.

That shows how easy it is to travel to Monaco from French Rivera and Italian border.

How to reach from Nice to Monaco

By Bus

Bus no 100 takes you from Nice to Monaco in an hour for just 1.50 euros. Bus leaves from Nice le Port to Monaco Place Des Moulins every 10-15 minutes. It can be crowded at times so you might have to go standing but the views will make up for it. I could not take off my eyes from the window. By this time, I was already in French Rivera for a few days but there is something so captivating about the Mediterranean blue, that I could not look away.

By train

While the bus is the cheapest option, I will still recommend taking a train, one way at least. And the reason is the beautiful train station in Monaco. The moment I got inside the station, I was gazing in excitement and wonder. Wow! How can a train station be this shiny and clean? The light was bouncing off the shiny floors. I have never seen a cleaner train station. Even the staff was dressed in formal clothing, almost like a flight crew.

You can take different trains from Thello, TGV, and SNCF. The cheapest one SNCF takes about 20 minutes from Nice to Monaco and costs about 4 euros. It leaves every half an hour and takes you through the stunning riviera. You can book your advance online ticket here to avoid queueing at the train station or any other last moment’s distress. Thello and TGV are on the more expensive front (costs about 8-25 euros) and takes around 12-15 minutes. I personally don’t think getting a more expensive ticket makes sense here as you will only be saving 5-8 minutes and pay more than double the price.

By Car

Usually, I don’t recommend renting cars and driving around. It is always more fun to travel on public transport. You get to know the public system and see daily life more closely.

But since the drive is so beautiful, I can make an exception. You can rent a car and drive from Nice to Monaco for a day trip. There are three different routes along the coast, by the sea, up high in the mountains, and one in between the two. You can pick whichever one you like.

By cruise/ferry

To enjoy the whole experience by the sea, you can take a ferry between Nice and Monaco.

With a guided tour

You can also take a guided tour from Nice to Monaco. You can check out the best of french riviera in a day (Eze, Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Antibes) in one day! If you do not have one full day, you can also try this half-day tour to Eze and Monaco.

By Helicopter

You can’t take an airplane to Monaco. It is tiny and doesn’t have space for an airport. If you want to fly in, Helicopters are the way. You can coordinate with your flight at Nice and they can schedule a helicopter for you to pick up from the Nice airport and fly you over to Monaco in just 7 minutes.

It is more common than you think to fly over by a helicopter. During the tourist season, a helicopter arrives every twenty minutes.

One word to describe Monaco is overwhelming. Yes, overwhelming. I was overwhelmed by this tiny little country, overwhelmed by its clean shiny streets, its pastel buildings, its fancy yachts, its shiny train station. I was overwhelmed by Monaco more than I have ever been by any other country.

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