From Nice to Monaco: four ways to get there and what to see

Getting to Monaco from Nice takes 20 minutes. The principality lies about twenty kilometers to the east (on the map), right on the French border, and the road along the French Riviera is already part of the trip.

Your choice of transport changes both the price and the route itself. The bus takes an hour along the coastal switchbacks, the TER train gets you there in 20 minutes, and the Monacair helicopter flies for 7 minutes. Below we compare four options by time, price, and stops, then round up the main sights in Monaco you can cover in one day.

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Four ways to get to Monaco

💡 In short:

• Compare the options: bus 600, TER train, taxi, and helicopter.
• Buy your train ticket online so you don't have to wait at the ticket office.
• Book tickets to the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum in advance.
• Tickets and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official Prince's Palace platform

Prices are as of 09/2026 and vary by season. Check the amount before buying, especially in summer.

Bus 600: an hour along the sea

© Moody Dreiza ( Moody751 at English Wikipedia ) · CC BYPhoto: Moody Dreiza ( Moody751 at English Wikipedia ), CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia Commons

The cheapest way to Monaco is bus 600. It merged the old routes 607 and 608 in 2024 and continues on to Menton, so buses run every 10-15 minutes (as of 09/2026, route 600 report). A ticket in the ZOU! app costs €2.20, and from the driver it's €0.40 more, meaning €2.60 (as of 09/2026, ZOU! fares).

The trip takes about an hour, but the time flies by. The bus runs right along the shore and passes the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and Eze. These views are the main reason to choose the bus over the train.

A separate express bus runs from Nice airport to Monaco. It's faster than the city bus, stops at the terminals, and drops you in the center of the principality.

A particular plus of this line is the stop in La Turbie. The express takes the A8 motorway and stops in the mountain village where the Roman Trophy of Augustus stands. Nearby there are restaurants serving local cuisine.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, night buses run along the coast. They connect Nice, Monaco, and Menton from 10:00 PM to 2:30 AM, so you can also get back late in the evening.

• The catch: in summer the bus fills up almost to capacity, and in traffic leaving Nice the trip stretches to an hour and a half.
• Who it's for: those who want views and the lowest price.
• Not for: those short on time with a scheduled meeting.

TER train: 20 minutes from Nice station

© DV · CC BY-SAPhoto: DV, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The TER regional train from Nice to Monaco is the fastest overland option. The train avoids traffic, the journey takes 20-25 minutes, and a full-fare ticket costs €6.10 (as of 09/2026, TER SNCF).

Trains depart from Gare Nice-Ville from early morning until late at night. An e-ticket is more convenient than a paper one: you buy it online and don't need to queue at the ticket office. TER tickets to Monaco on Trip.com can be booked in one click and arrive as a QR code.

A special line runs from Mandelieu through Nice to the Italian town of Ventimiglia. It makes many stops and follows a convenient tourist route along the entire coast, so both locals and travelers use it.

The Monaco train station is underground. You step off the train and within a couple of minutes you're in the center of Monte Carlo.

• The catch: at peak hours the cars are packed, and you have to hunt for a free seat while standing.
• Who it's for: those who value their time and are going for a day.

Taxi and helicopter: fast but expensive

© Chris the Borg from Bruxelles, Belgique · CC BY-SAPhoto: Chris the Borg from Bruxelles, Belgique, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

A taxi from Nice to Monaco will take you to your hotel doorstep in any class of car. There is no fixed fare, so you agree on the price with the driver before getting in. The ride takes 30-40 minutes and costs several times more than the train.

The Monacair helicopter is a different story altogether. The flight from Nice airport to Monaco takes 7 minutes and costs from €195 per person (as of 09/2026, Monacair). Flights run daily; the helicopter rises over the bay and lands right at the principality's waterfront.

If you want to get from the airport to your hotel in comfort, compare transfer options in advance.

What to see in Monaco

Monaco is compact, but in one day you can see two main districts. The old city on the rock Saint-Antoine preserves history and the prince's residence, while Monte-Carlo shows the other, glamorous side of the principality.

Monte-Carlo Casino

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The Monte-Carlo Casino was built in the 19th century to a design by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera. The Beaux-Arts building stands amid gardens with fountains, and the entrance is guarded by luxury cars.

Inside, you'll find rooms with marble, gilding, velvet, and Persian carpets. The historic gaming rooms are not open to visitors around the clock, and admission is paid (as of 09/2026, Casino de Monte-Carlo). Come here not only to gamble, but also as if visiting a museum of decorative arts.

Getting there is easy: you get off at the "Casino" stop and walk a few steps to the square. The dress code in the gaming rooms is not waived with a ticket purchase, so leave sportswear at home.

• How to get there: buses 1 and 2 go to the Casino stop.
• Cost: admission to the gaming rooms is paid; check the exact amount on the casino's website.
• The catch: on summer evenings there's a crowd at the entrance, and visitors are let into the hall in batches.

Monaco-Ville and the Prince's Palace

© Tobi 87 · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tobi 87, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Monaco-Ville is the old part of the city on the rocky promontory of Saint-Antoine. The principality's main historic buildings stand here, and people come for the view of the port from above.

At the heart of the district stands the Prince's Palace, the residence of the Grimaldi family since the late 13th century. Outside you'll see the ceremonial entrance, old cannons, and the changing of the guard, while inside the state apartments are open in summer.

Opening hours were checked on 09/14/2026 on the official website. The palace welcomes visitors from March 30 to October 15, 2026: from 10:00 to 18:00, and in July and August until 19:00 (as of 09/2026, official palace platform). On Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends, visits are closed.

Tickets cost €13 for an adult, €11 for a student, and €8 for a child aged 6-17 (as of 09/2026, prices on the palace website). Combined tickets with the prince's car collection are available; their composition changes, so ask about the price at the ticket office.

• Location: Monaco-Ville, rue du Palais.
• The catch: from mid-October to late March, the state apartments are closed.
• Who it's for: those who want history and a view of the port.

Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

© trolvag · CC BY-SAPhoto: trolvag, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas was built in the second half of the 19th century on the site of an older church. The white-stone building in Romanesque-Byzantine style stands on avenue Saint-Martin.

Inside you'll see a marble altar with mosaics and an organ that sounds at organ music concerts. The cathedral serves as the burial place of the princely family; actress Grace Kelly is buried here.

The cathedral is open daily, and admission is free. From Monaco train station, buses 1 and 2 take you there.

• How to get there: buses 1 and 2 from Monaco train station.
• Cost: free admission.
• The catch: during services, tourists are asked not to walk around the hall.

Chapelle de la Miséricorde

© Zairon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zairon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Chapelle de la Miséricorde stands next to the Prince's Palace, a five-minute walk away. It's a single-nave Baroque church built in the 17th century by a brotherhood of mercy to care for the sick.

The exterior has survived almost in its original form: a round rose window, Baroque-style windows, stucco decorations, and sculptures. The interior was looted during the French Revolution and later restored from scratch.

The chapel is open daily, and admission is free. Address: Place de la Mairie, next to the town hall.

• Cost: free admission.
• The catch: the space is small, so a group feels cramped inside.

Oceanographic Museum

© Berthold Werner · CC BY-SAPhoto: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Oceanographic Museum rises straight out of the rock by the water, and its rear facade hangs over the sea. Prince Albert I founded the museum in the late 19th century, and later an institute was opened there, headed by explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Inside, you'll find aquariums with thousands of species of fish, invertebrates, and corals. The centerpiece is the Shark Lagoon, a huge pool under a glass dome where rare sharks and electric rays swim. The Mediterranean aquarium is currently under renovation, but the other halls are open (as of 09/2026, official museum website).

The museum is open daily, except December 25 and Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends. Hours depend on the season: January through March 10:00-18:00, April through June 10:00-19:00, July and August 09:30-20:00, September 10:00-19:00, October through December 10:00-18:00 (as of 09/2026, museum hours). Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

An adult ticket costs €20.50, a student and child aged 4-17 ticket costs €13 (as of 09/2026, museum ticket office). A combined "museum and Prince's Palace" ticket costs €31 and is valid from March 30 to October 15 (as of 09/2026, museum ticket office).

• Location: Monaco-Ville, avenue Saint-Martin.
• The catch: a visit takes about two hours, you can't cover everything in 30 minutes.
• Who it's for: families with children and anyone interested in the sea.

Nice to Monaco route on the map

The map below shows the entire road from Nice to Monaco with bus 600 stops and TER stations. Open it to build a route from your hotel and check the timing.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get from Nice to Monaco?

The cheapest option is bus 600: a ticket in the ZOU! app costs €2.20, from the driver €2.60. The TER train costs €6.10 at full fare. A taxi costs several times more than the train, and a Monacair helicopter starts at €195 per person. Prices are as of 09/2026 (as of: ZOU! fares, TER fares, SNCF).

How to get from Nice airport to Monaco?

A separate express bus runs from the airport terminals and drops passengers in the center of the principality. The fastest option is the Monacair helicopter, with daily flights (Monacair flights). Choose based on your budget and time.

What to see in Monaco in one day?

Start with the Old Town: Monaco-Ville, the Prince's Palace, and Chapelle de la Miséricorde are all close together. Then head down to the Oceanographic Museum on the cliff. In the evening, move on to Monte Carlo to the Monte Carlo Casino and the gardens around it.

How much does entry to the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum cost?

A ticket to the palace costs 13 € for an adult and 8 € for a child aged 6-17 (as of 09/2026, palace website). At the Oceanographic Museum, an adult ticket costs 20.50 €, a child ticket 13 €. A combined ticket for both sites costs 31 € and is valid from March 30 to October 15 (as of 09/2026, museum website).

In short: what's worth booking

Monaco is close to Nice, but transportation determines how your day goes. If you're short on time, take the TER train, it runs without traffic (TER SNCF). If you want views of the French Riviera, choose bus 600 along the coast. If budget is not a concern, fly by Monacair helicopter.

Buy tickets to the Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum in advance: in summer, lines grow, and opening hours depend on the season. For walking around the Old Town, wear comfortable shoes, the climbs here are steep.

Tours and tickets in Monaco on GetYourGuide