Monaco day trip from Nice or Menton or Sanremo
A day trip to Monaco from Nice, Menton or Sanremo: Port Hercules and the Oceanographic Museum on its sea cliff, the Saint-Martin gardens, the cathedral with Grace Kelly's tomb and the Prince's Palace on the Rock, the Condamine market, then the Casino and the Café de Paris terrace in Monte-Carlo. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Monaco in 1 day
Day 1
Marché de la Condamine
Daily market on Place d'Armes with fruit and flower stalls outside and a food hall serving socca, barbajuan and pasta inside.
Port Hercules
Monaco's harbour below the Rock, lined with superyachts and the Grand Prix pits, with a seawater pool that becomes an ice rink in winter.
Prince's Palace and Place du Palais
Home of the Grimaldi princes since the 13th century; the square hosts the changing of the guard, and the State Apartments open in summer.
Monaco Cathedral (Grace Kelly's tomb)
19th-century white stone cathedral on the Rock where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are buried, with altarpieces by Louis Bréa.
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Museum opened in 1910 on the sea cliff by Monaco's scientist prince, Albert, with a large aquarium, a shark lagoon and a rooftop terrace.
Jardins Saint-Martin
Shady Mediterranean gardens on the cliff edge of the Rock, with paths, statues and sea views between the museum and the cathedral.
Monte Carlo Casino and Place du Casino
Belle Époque casino by Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opéra, facing gardens and the square where supercars park outside.
Café de Paris Monte-Carlo
Belle Époque café-brasserie facing the Casino, with a terrace for an aperitif while watching Monte-Carlo's cars and passers-by.
Watch: Monaco
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
The coastal train is the easy way: about 20-25 minutes from Nice and 10-15 minutes from Menton to Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, built inside the hill; the bus from Nice takes about 45 minutes. From Sanremo, take a regional train to Ventimiglia and change for the French line to Monaco, about an hour in all. Driving is possible, with parking in underground car parks.
Staying in Nice or Menton or Sanremo? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Monaco
Spring and early autumn are the best seasons, warm and sunny with fewer crowds; summer is hot and busy with cruise passengers. The Grand Prix in late May and the Yacht Show in September fill the city, and the Monte-Carlo Rally starts in January. Winters are mild, and National Day on 19 November brings celebrations on the Rock.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Monaco on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Monaco on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Monaco on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Monaco from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Monaco
- Be on Place du Palais a little before 11:55 for the daily changing of the guard; the best spots along the railings fill quickly.
- Monaco is steep: free public lifts and escalators link the port, the Rock and Monte-Carlo, and the Rampe Major path climbs from Place d'Armes to the palace.
- The Casino's gaming rooms require ID and a minimum age of 18, with smart dress; in the morning the building can be visited as a sight.
- The Formula 1 Grand Prix, usually in late May, closes streets and fills hotels, with stands going up weeks before; check the dates first.
- Try barbajuan, Monaco's fried pastry filled with chard and ricotta, and socca at the Condamine market, best at lunchtime when the stalls are busy.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Jardins Saint-Martin: avu-edm, CC BY 3.0
- Monaco Cathedral (Grace Kelly's tomb): User:Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oceanographic Museum of Monaco: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Port Hercules: Uhooep, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Prince's Palace and Place du Palais: Nikolai Karaneschev, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
