With an area of 2.02 km2, Monaco is the world's second-smallest sovereign state (after the Vatican). Its mild climate, scenery, and gambling facilities have all contributed to Monaco’s reputation as a playground for the wealthy. It is now widely regarded as a luxury destination. But that does not mean it is only accessible to a select few or that you have to break the bank to go. In addition, a rich history is hidden behind the appearance of decadent wealth and extravagance. If you follow these suggestions, you can see and do a lot in Monaco on a budget, even if expensive brand shops, trendy 5-star hotels, and flashy sports cars are not your thing (believe me, they are not mine either).
Monaco's history predates the Roman occupation in AD 122. Due to its sizable natural harbor, it became the ideal gathering place for traders from various cultures. They included the Phoenicians, who brought their god Melkart—later known to the Romans as Hercules Monoikos—to this region. The Romans renamed the area Portus Hercules Moneici, which evolved into the name Monaco.
Considering that what is now known as European territory was once divided into small kingdoms and sovereign states for many years, a visit to Monaco allows us to see some interesting remnants of that era. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297, with only brief interruptions through a whirlwind of battles and alliances. The Grimaldis are descended from Grimaldo, a Genoese consul during the early Crusades. And their domain used to be larger: the Grimaldi took Menton and then Roquebrune in 1341, and these cities only declared independence from Monaco in 1848.
Monaco's economy began to flourish in the late nineteenth century, with the opening of the nation's first casino and a rail link to Paris, and it has since grown to its current status.
How to get to Monaco
There are many options to get to Monaco from Nice. Here's a quick rating:
1: Train
Pros: This is the most effective way to travel to Monaco. The trip takes about 20 minutes, the trains run frequently, and the scenery is breathtaking! are stunning! The cost of train travel from Nice is typically low, and if you are traveling with four or more people, you can easily get a significant discount on your tickets, starting at 50% off. All you have to do is select the "minigroup" option on the train station ticket vending machines. My tickets cost around 2€ one way and I didn’t use the mini group option.
Cons: Monaco is one of the most popular stops on this line, so depending on the time of day, the train may be crowded, but it is usually not too bad.
2 - Driving
Pros: The views are also breathtaking (although not as stunning as those seen from the train, which frequently travels right next to the water).
Cons: Finding parking is challenging and extremely expensive. An Uber might be a good choice for you if you have a larger budget and really do not like riding the train.
3 - Bus
Pros: I honestly can not think of any.
Cons: The bus is packed to the gills, so you will have to wait a long time to board (and probably will not even make it on the first try), and then you will have an interesting ride on a bus packed to the gills on a winding road (the views are still stunning; you will just find it a little more challenging to appreciate them in these conditions). I do advise taking the bus when traveling to other locations along the French Riviera, but not when visiting Monaco. The bus also takes longer.
A word of caution:
If you are using a European SIM card, PLEASE remember to put your phone in airplane mode as soon as you get close to Monaco! Monaco is not a member of the European Union, and roaming fees are exorbitant; even a quick Google search can cost you a fortune. That also applies if you are passing through Monaco on your way to somewhere else (say, Menton). Because Monaco is so small, you may receive SMS messages from your phone operator stating that the European fees are valid for your location once more, but do not be misled; it is just because you are constantly close to the borders, and your cellphone is confused. Download any information you need for your trip ahead of time to avoid any inconvenience.
When to visit
Monaco is a pleasant place to visit all year due to its mild climate. However, if you visit during the spring, make sure to check the dates of the Monaco Grand Prix. Since 1929, this Formula One motor racing event has taken place in late May or early June. Typically, the Formula E competition comes at least a few days before it. Visiting during these competitions is difficult (unless you just want to watch the races, which is an expensive option), and visiting right before or after means that everything, including road barriers, is already prepared for the races. This occurred during my visit and did not bother me. I did not think it made much of a difference to my experience because I could still see everything on this list easily. But it is best to keep that in mind if you believe it might matter to you.
Where to stay
Accomodation in Monaco is quite expensive and really not necessary since you can see it all in one day and be back in Nice in time for dinner. Therefore, I reccomend this option in Nice, right next to the Nice-Ville train station:
I loved staying here! This hotel is right next to the train station and Avenue Jean Médecin, so the location was ideal. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the staff was always friendly and helpful. Staying close to the train station was ideal for my day trip plans. I often advise against staying close to train stations since they tend to be not-so-nice or safe areas, but this wasn’t the case here at all. The beach was only five minutes away by tram (which has a stop right next to the train station). Even if you prefer to walk, it's not too far, and it's a pleasant walk through a nice area of the city.
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What to see and do
I've listed these in order considering that you'll be coming from the train station, but they can, of course, be visited and enjoyed by any order according to what works best for you.
The Grimaldi family had ongoing financial problems, but after 1848, when they stopped receiving tax payments from Menton and Roquebrune, things got even worse. Princess Caroline came up with the idea of opening a gambling casino in Monaco to save the Grimaldi family from bankruptcy.
If you are a James Bond fan, you should definitely pay a visit to this iconic location in the saga. But keep in mind that this is one of the most visited spots in Monaco, so the square in front may be crowded.
Given the lack of cultural options in Monaco in the 1870s, Prince Charles III made the decision to include a concert hall as part of the casino. You can think of this theater as the younger sibling of the renowned Opera Garnier in Paris because it was designed by Charles Garnier, the same architect, and many of the same artists worked on both theaters. Despite not being built with opera in mind, this theater quickly became popular for it and was later converted.
On January 25, 1879, Sarah Bernhardt herself gave the inaugural performance at this concert venue! Numerous well-known performers, including Enrico Caruso, have performed here since that time. The theater still presents five or six operas each season.
By the way, if you are a fan of The Phantom of the Opera like I am, here you’ll have a fantastic opportunity to see it in a theater that is similar to the opera house that served as the inspiration for the original tale during the final two weeks of December!
The most interesting (and beautiful) area of Monaco, in my opinion. The majority of the political, judicial, and historical buildings in the nation are located here. Le Rocher is still fundamentally a medieval village even though Monaco is so densely populated; it is composed primarily of peaceful pedestrian streets and is very quiet after sundown.
There's no shortage of great viewpoints on this area of Monaco, this is one of my favorites because you can easily see both sides of La Rocher from here
According to legend, in January 1297, François Grimaldi, disguised as a monk, sought refuge at the castle. Once inside, he killed the guard, at which point his men showed up and took control of the castle. As a result, the castle became the Grimaldi's fortress.
This is the official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Built as a Genoese fortress in 1191, it has been besieged numerous times throughout its turbulent history and has been the home of the Grimaldi since 1297.
Although many palaces in Europe began as fortresses, this palace is unique in that it remained a fortress for a much longer period of time, as this was a tiny sovereign state surrounded by larger powers. The fortress experienced frequent bombardment, damage, and repairs.
The Grimaldis' occupation of their palace is also unusual because, unlike other European ruling families, the Grimaldis had limited land on which to build additional palaces. As a result, they were forced to limit their presence to one palace, and if they wanted to add something new, they would simply add a new tower or rebuild an existing portion of the palace. It is still a fully operational palace and the Monégasque ruler's headquarters.
The changing of the guard occurs every day at 11:55 a.m. The square quickly fills up, so if you want to see it, try to get there at least a few minutes early. If it is not your thing, I would suggest going at a different time to avoid the crowd.
I thought it was more interesting to see Fontvieille from above than to visit it. It is one of the newest areas of Monaco and was built in 1966 to address the land shortage in the incredibly densely populated principality. Construction was done almost entirely on artificially reclaimed land. The views from this point are stunning!
Also known as Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. This Romanesque-Byzantine structure was constructed between 1875 and 1903 and consecrated on June 11, 1911. It was built on the site of Monaco's first parish church, which was constructed in 1252.
On April 19, 1956, Prince Rainier married American actress Grace Kelly here. The event was widely broadcast on television and covered extensively in the popular press.
They are both buried here, as are many Grimaldis. When looking for her tombstone, keep in mind that the names on the tombs are written in Latin, so look for "Gratia Patritia" ("Patricia" was Grace Kelly's middle name).
Kees Verkade created this sculpture. Grace Kelly's marriage to Prince Rainier III had a significant impact on how Monaco is today. Her wedding brought this tiny principality into the spotlight and made it a fashionable destination.
This area is also a gorgeous garden with more stunning views over the sea and surrounding landscape.
Built in the Baroque Revival architectural style, this museum opened its doors in 1910. It has an impressive façade above the sea. I did not go because I am spoiled living in Lisbon with one of the best aquariums in Europe nearby (plus it is not a topic I am particularly interested in), so I can not say much about the inside, but if it is a topic that interests you, you should go!
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Where to eat
I said this guide would be budget friendly, and going to a restaurant in Monaco could probably ruin that. So here's another option:
This supermarket sells a variety of takeaway food and drinks, all for prices that are pretty much the same as you'd see in any other place on the French Riviera.
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Right in front of this supermarket there was also a pizza trailer that sells really good pizza for great prices, I bought the biggest size to share with my group and it cost just 15 euros
