Larvotto, Monaco, MonacoVideo: GALAXY DIGISAT, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Monaco
Monaco, made simple: a palace on the Rock, a casino by the sea and a harbour full of yachts
Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, a sliver of coast between France and the Mediterranean with a royal palace, a legendary casino, a superyacht harbour and a Formula 1 track that runs through its streets. It is easy to reach from Nice and surprisingly walkable. This guide explains how it all works so you arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy it.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you goEntry through France, event dates, dress codes and travel insurance, answered
- ArrivingNice airport, the coastal train, buses and the helicopter hop, explained
- Your days in MonacoThe palace, the casino, the port, the beach and the food, planned with care
- Heading homeTrains back to Nice, airport timings and last views from the Rock
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain where Monaco is expensive, where it is free and how to keep costs under control.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Monaco can look intimidating from the outside: dress codes, glamour and a reputation for eye watering bills. We take the mystery out of it, from how to get in from Nice to which sights are free, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Most visitors see Monaco as part of a wider Riviera trip from Nice, Menton or Italy. This guide shows how to fit it in at a calm pace, whether you have one day or a long weekend.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your MonacoPalace and old town, casino glamour, the port, the beach or a big event: start with the districts that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules through France, the right dates and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, gardens, museums, bars and stays in every district.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Monaco with Nice, Èze, Menton or the Italian Riviera at a realistic pace.
Everything your Monaco trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Monte-Carlo, Monaco-Ville, La Condamine and Port Hercule, Fontvieille and Larvotto, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, gardens, museums, bars, events and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Nice and stays in Monaco and the towns around it.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each district.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a Riviera route that fits.
Plan your trip
A country you can walk
From palace to casino to beach in an afternoon
Monaco is only about two square kilometres, so you can walk from the palace on the Rock, down to the yachts in Port Hercule, up to the casino in Monte-Carlo and on to the sand at Larvotto in a single afternoon. Free public lifts and escalators cut out the steepest climbs, and a little ferry crosses the harbour. Many of the best things here cost nothing at all: the changing of the guard, the views from the Rock, the gardens and the Grand Prix corners.
- The Prince's Palace and the changing of the guard just before midday
- The Oceanographic Museum built into the cliff
- The Casino de Monte-Carlo and its gardens
- Larvotto beach and the Japanese Garden
Start with the destinations
See how the Rock, the port, Monte-Carlo, Fontvieille and Larvotto fit together.
Monaco destinationsPlan with confidence
Your Riviera route, without the worry
Monaco rewards a little preparation: the right entry rules for your passport through France, dates chosen around the Grand Prix and other big events, hotels booked early if you want to stay inside the principality, and a clear idea of how to get there from Nice. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic travel times from Nice by train and bus
- Event dates that change prices and crowds
- A base that suits your budget, inside Monaco or next door
Where to go in Monaco
From the old town and palace of Monaco-Ville and the glamour of Monte-Carlo to the harbour of La Condamine, the gardens of Fontvieille and the beach at Larvotto.
Monte-Carlo
Monte-Carlo
Monaco's most famous district: the casino, the belle époque hotels, the Opéra and the streets of the Grand Prix.
Read the guidePhoto: Spike, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Monaco-Ville
Monaco-Ville
The old town on the Rock, home to the Prince's Palace, the cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum.
Read the guidePhoto: villlamania, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
La Condamine
La Condamine and Port Hercule
The harbour district, with superyachts, the daily market, the pool, Sainte-Dévote and the heart of the Grand Prix.
Read the guidePhoto: Spike, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fontvieille
Fontvieille
A calm modern district on reclaimed land, with gardens, a marina, the car collection and the football stadium.
Read the guidePhoto: Pierre Blaché from Paris, France, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Larvotto
Larvotto
Monaco's public beach and seafront, with the Japanese Garden, the Grimaldi Forum and summer nightlife.
Read the guidePhoto: Benoît Prieur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Do I need a visa for Monaco?
Monaco is not in the EU but it follows French and Schengen entry rules, and you reach it through France. If you can enter France, you can usually visit Monaco. Rules depend on your passport, so check the official France-Visas site and the EU travel pages before you book.
How do I get to Monaco?
Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, then take the coastal train from Nice station, a bus, a taxi or a helicopter transfer. The train is the easiest and cheapest way in and takes around twenty to twenty five minutes from Nice.
Is Monaco safe to visit?
Monaco is one of the safest places in Europe, with a very visible police presence and cameras on most streets. Normal care with bags and phones is still wise in crowds, especially during big events. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
What currency does Monaco use?
Monaco uses the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless payments, and cash machines are easy to find in every district.
Can I visit Monaco on a budget?
Yes, more than people expect. Many highlights are free, the train from Nice is low cost, and the market at La Condamine serves cheap local food. Staying in Nice, Beausoleil or Cap-d'Ail rather than inside Monaco saves the most.
How many days do I need in Monaco?
One full day covers the palace, the Oceanographic Museum, the port and the casino. Two or three days lets you add the gardens, the beach, a long lunch and an evening out without rushing.
Ready to find your Bliss in Monaco?
Tell us your dates and interests and use the free trip planner to shape a Riviera trip that feels easy.