We took a day trip to Monaco during our holiday in Nice. The tiny principality, bordered by France on 3 sides and the Mediterranean on the other, covers an area of just 0.8 square miles. Monaco has a population of around 38,000 people, which apparently makes it the second smallest and the most densely inhabited country in the world. Famous for its wealthy residents, its opulent casino and glitzy annual Grand Prix, Monaco is a fascinating place to visit.
How to get to Monaco
Monaco does not have an airport – the nearest airport is across the border in Nice. So unless you have bags of money for a helicopter or private yacht, the principality can be reached via road or train. We caught the train from Nice, which takes just 22 minutes. Fares vary, but cost around €5. You can also travel by bus, which is slower but more scenic.
Getting around Monaco
The sights of Monaco are best visited on foot. Bear in mind that many of the streets (particularly around Le Rocher) are steep and there are lots of steps to climb. Parts of Monaco aren’t very accessible – we found visiting with a pushchair quite hard work!
Where to stay in Monaco
Accommodation in Monaco is very expensive. Unless you have an extensive budget, it’s probably best to stay outside the principality – we stayed across the border in Nice.
Monaco in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Train to Monte Carlo Jardin du Casino Casino de Monte Carlo Jardin d’Acclimatation Auditorium Rainier III Port Hercule Stade Nautique Rainier III Monaco Grand Prix Old Town Le Rocher Prince’s Palace |
Train to Monte Carlo
Although the train from Nice to Monte Carlo only takes 22 minutes, when we visited, it was mega packed, so it wasn’t a very pleasant 22 minutes. Trains run very regularly, with frequency depending on the time of day. Trains depart from Nice Ville Station, to the north of the old town -we opted to board at the next stop, Nice Riquier.
At the end of the journey is Monaco Monte Carlo Station. This rather grand station, like the entire railway line through the principality, is underground.
Jardin du Casino
Monaco’s most famous attraction is the Casino de Monte Carlo. The casino is a 13 minute walk from the station. It is well sign posted, but it doesn’t really matter, because pretty much everyone getting off the train is headed there. The casino building is reached via a large, exotic garden; Jardin du Casino, complete with exotic plants, fountains and sculptures.
Monaco may have a prince, but here, money is king. Even the sculptures around the garden have price tags on them. Below, is Reina Marina Blue (€800,000 – €1,200,000).
Casino de Monte Carlo
At the end of the garden, overlooking the sea and surrounded by high end sports cars is the Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco’s world famous marble and gold casino.
The casino is open to the public in the morning for self guided tours. After this, the gambling commences… If you don’t want to fork out for a tour, you can still enter the opulent marble foyer and gawk at how the other 1 per cent live. When we visited, there was even a bejewelled Ferrari on display.
The casino is open for tours from 10 am until 1 pm. The gaming rooms open at 2 pm. Entry costs €20. In the afternoon, this includes a €10 slot machine or bar/restaurant voucher.
Jardin d’Acclimatation
From the rear of the casino, take a walk through the Jardin d’Acclimatation with its exotic plants and sculptures, towards the Yacht Club.
Auditorium Rainier III
You will pass by the top of the Auditorium Rainier III. This building overlooking the sea, with its unique multi-coloured roof, is home to the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Port Hercule
Take the Yacht Club public lift and continue along the harbourside on the Quai des Etats-Unis towards Port Hercule. Monaco’s port dates back to 6th Century BC, when it was colonised by the Greeks, who gave the port its name. Nowadays, it is the home of many a super yacht.
Stade Nautique Rainier III
Just inland from the port is an outdoor swimming pool, the Stade Nautique Rainier III. For anyone who has watched the Monaco Grand Prix, the pool gives its name to a chicane which has seen much action over the years.
The swimming pool is open most days between May and October and costs €12 for foreign adults.
Monaco Grand Prix
If you’re a Formula 1 fan (or even if you’re not), there is evidence of the iconic Monaco Grand Prix all around you. From the street furniture to the souvenir shops and motor racing related sculptures. If you’re a fan, you can follow the road which makes up the track, spotting the famous corners. Exit to the rear of the Casino via the lift inside the Yacht Club, which will bring you into the Tunnel. From here, you can follow the track round the Marina, via Tabac and Swimming Pool, before turning towards the Castle by La Rascasse.
Dotted around the course, you will find sculptures of famous racing drivers synonymous with Monaco, such as William Grover-Williams, who won the inaugural event in 1929, before becoming a British spy and being executed by the Nazis during WW2.
Old Town
Wander through the streets of the Old Town, which are lined with shops and restaurants overlooked by the imposing rock or Le Rocher. You may choose to stop here for lunch. We opted to be more budget conscious and purchased picnic supplies from a Carrefour supermarket.
Le Rocher
From the old town, you can follow the staircase up the side of Le Rocher; a pistol-shaped rock overlooking the sea.
The view from the top is worth the climb, as you can see right across the principality and beyond, with the Formula 1 Pit Lane and the port in the foreground.
Prince’s Palace
Sitting atop Le Rocher is the 13th Century, Prince’s Palace, the private residence of the ruling Grimaldi family. The palace is protected by the Carabiniers du Prince. There is a ceremonial Changing of the Guard daily at 11.55 am, which crowds gather outside the gates to watch.
Most of the palace is off limits, but you can get a glimpse of royal life on a tour of the State Apartments, where you can see some of the furniture and artworks collected by the family over the years. The apartments are open most days between April and September from 10 am until 5 pm (6 pm in July/August). Adult entry costs €10.
- Trip taken: June 2024
- Updated: July 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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