A Day Trip to Monaco and Monte Carlo
Monaco is only about 2 square kilometres, but it can make a full-size impression in one afternoon. The money is obvious. The streets are clean. The harbour looks like a floating showroom.
We visited after a stop in Èze, travelling by van with our guide, Raj. He walked our group through the old town streets, pointed out the landmarks, explained the cost of living, then gave us free time. That mix worked so much better than our trip to Cannes and Antibes. A guided visit helps provide context.
A Trip to the Old Town
Most day trips start in Monaco-Ville, the old town on the Rock. This is where the country feels less like a money display and more like a historic place with narrow streets, stone walls, ocean views, and royal buildings.
The Grimaldi family has ruled there, with interruptions, since 1297. Monaco is a sovereign city-state, not a French resort town, even though France surrounds it on three sides. The head of state is Prince Albert II, and the country runs as a constitutional monarchy.
The Prince’s Palace is a key sight in this area. Even if there is no time to tour the inside, the square outside is worth seeing. The position above the harbour gives a clear view of the sea, the port, and the tightly packed city below.
The Cathédrale de Monaco is also nearby. We went inside on our trip. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are buried there, which adds another layer of modern royal history. People still put flowers on Princess Grace's grave to this very day.
Understanding the Wealth
The wealth in Monaco is the thing that astounds you. Raj told us it costs millions to live there. That was easy to believe before he finished the sentence. Real estate in Monaco ranks among the most expensive in the world. The price per square metre is hard to process.
The tax system helps explain this in part. Monaco does not charge personal income tax for most residents. The result is clear on the streets. The country attracts high-net-worth residents who can afford extreme property prices.
Workers commute in from France and Italy. And the place is full of tourists during the day. Visitors come for a few hours. Tour groups move through the old town and Casino Square. Still, the presence of money is impossible to ignore. Raj said that basically no one who lives there ever comes out until the night time.
Wealth in the region and the South of France are linked, but Monaco and Monte Carlo are on another level. Nice feels wealthy. Cannes' entry-level properties are around 3.5 million dollars. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat has serious money too. But Monaco compresses it into a few steep streets, one famous casino and a harbour packed with yachts.
Driving on the Formula 1 Circuit
We rode in the van as Raj drove from the old town on The Formula 1 circuit to Monte Carlo. This is a neat part of visiting, even for people who do not follow racing. The Monaco Grand Prix route uses public streets. That means a normal van, taxi or bus will pass along parts of the same roads used during the race.
Driving on that road changed how the city looked. The corners are sharp. The elevation changes are obvious and even when it isn't race time the route still feels dramatic.
If visiting without a tour, it is possible to walk sections of the circuit. The city has hills, traffic and reflective pavement, so it's hot. I wouldn't plan to try to walk this area quickly. It is better as part of a route between the old town, the harbour and Casino Square.
Heading toward Monte Carlo and Casino Square
Monte Carlo is a place people picture before they arrive. This is where Casino Square, luxury hotels, designer stores, and polished cars cluster together.
Casino de Monte-Carlo opened in the 19th century and played a major role in the country’s development. The building still carries old European glamour. Even standing outside is part of the experience.
We planned to go in and play roulette. The entry fee for the gaming area was €10 per person when we visited. Dress rules also applied. Dean was wearing sandals, and open-toed shoes were not allowed for men. That ended our casino plan fast.
This is worth knowing before going. If the casino is part of the plan, wear closed shoes. Avoid beachwear. Bring your passport. Check the latest entry rules before visiting, because hours, prices, and dress requirements can change.
The Monaco Spritz
Skipping roulette was not a disaster. We went to a restaurant nearby and had a drink instead. I ordered a Monaco Spritz, an orange-flavoured champagne drink that fit the setting and the heat. Sitting near the casino with a cold drink was probably a better use of the afternoon than losing money at a table.
This drink is like a Limincello Spritz, but I don't like it quite as much. It was refreshing though, and I felt thankful to get service when we were just ordering drinks. This hadn't been easy at other places on our trip.
Enjoying the Harbour and the Sea Views
The best free activity is looking out over the water. After Dean ran off to find sweat towels, I stayed near the walls and looked down at the ocean and the boats. That was one of the simplest and best parts of the visit.
The Mediterranean is the reason the whole place is visually stunning. Without the sea, the density and wealth could feel heavy. With the sea, the cliffs, the towers and the yachts make sense together.
Port Hercule is the main harbour and the classic yacht-viewing spot. It sits below the old town and close to the Formula 1 circuit. Even a short walk around the port gives a better sense of the country’s scale. Everything is close.
Options for a Self-Guided Day Trip
A guided tour made our day easy. We did not have to manage timing, transport, or the best order of stops. That said, a self-guided day trip from Nice would also work well with a clear plan.
The train from Nice is usually the simplest independent option. Our experience riding the train from Nice-Ville though, was that trains are not straightforward or simple. The ride to Monaco from Nice is short though, and the station is central enough for a day visit.
Driving can be stressful because parking is expensive and the roads are tight. A tour van removes that issue. Here are some options to go to Monaco and to do in the city (the first option is the exact tour we did):
What to Wear and Bring
Clothing matters more here than in many day trip destinations. The streets do not require formal clothes, but some venues do. The casino is the main one. Men should avoid sandals if they want to enter the gaming rooms. Closed shoes are the safer choice. Smart casual clothing also makes sense near Casino Square.
A small towel can help on very hot days. Dean left to buy sweat towels, and he used his. That detail sounds minor until the sun is bouncing off stone walls and you still have hours before the drive back.
Bring ID if planning to enter the casino. Also bring a realistic spending limit. Monaco is not the place for casual browsing if impulse shopping is a personal weakness.
Is a Day Trip Enough?
If I had the money to stay there, I might have chosen a hotel in Monaco, but ultimately we felt like we saw everything and one day is enough for the main sights. A good day trip gives a clear taste of the history, the harbour, the casino, the royal story, and the extreme money.
Staying overnight would allow a slower pace and evening views. It would give you a chance to rub elbows with truly wealthy people, if it's really true that they only come out at night. It also costs far more than staying in Nice. Nice makes a practical base because it has better value, more food options and easy transport along the coast.
Our Ride Back to Nice
We were actually happy to be heading back to Nice after the tour. Combining Eze and Monaco into one day did make for a long day. It also was extremely hot and the heat takes all your energy away.
That night, we got dinner from a burger place across the street from our hotel. We grabbed some sparkling wine and had a relaxed evening in. In fact, all our evenings were relaxed evenings the whole time we were in the South of France. It made sense on this occasion in particular, because we had to rest up for our plans the following day, which ended up being a marathon sun exposure day. Dean went scuba diving and I rode on the boat, but a strike got in our way,
Read about our crazy scuba diving adventure here!
Comments