How to get from Nice to Monaco – step by step instructions
One of the most comfortable aristocratic resorts on the Cote d'Azur has known many famous visitors in the person of famous writers, poets, artists and simply the powers that be. It has its own special charm, contained in the unique beauty of the natural landscape, combined with the urban charm of city streets and buildings. A wonderful holiday in the French Riviera, a huge selection of entertainment, an interesting society attract thousands of tourists here. But Nice is also a convenient starting point to other equally fascinating places, such as the Principality of Monaco. You can get to it in different ways.
Bus
It is quite convenient and inexpensive to come to Monaco from Nice by buses that run every day until 20.00.
On the Cote d'Azur:
Line 100 – Nice – Monaco – Menton: start from 5.50 to 20.00; on Sunday and holidays – from 07.00; every 10-30 minutes.
101 lines – Saint-Laurent de Eze – Monaco – Carnoles; with an interval of 2 hours.
Line 110 – Nice Airport – Monaco – Menton; from 06.15 to 19.15, with an interval of 1 hour.
112 line – Nice (Nice) – Monaco: every 2 hours, from 06.00 to 20.00.
On Thursday-Saturday and pre-holiday days, you can get to Monaco by night flights of Notambus buses, running from 22.00 to 02.30 through Monaco to Menton. Of the day trips, the most popular route is the bus N 100, traveling through very picturesque places, the contemplation of which makes the hour-long trip a real pleasure: a beautiful view of the bay of Villefranche-sur-mer; Cap Ferrat – cape of millionaires; amazing beauties of Beaulieu and Eze. A ticket for all buses can be purchased from the driver for 1.5 euros.
The express bus N 100 X from Nice to Monaco runs along the A-8 motorway with a stop in the pretty village of La Turbie, nestled in the mountains. It houses the famous monument of the era of the Roman Empire – the Alpine Trophy, there are restaurants with excellent cuisine. Express runs: Monday-Friday, the ticket costs 4.5 euros. The ticket price from La Turbie is 1.5 euros.
electric train
The TER trains from the main station are an excellent means of transport to Monaco. They start moving from 05 am to 23.30, ticket offices are open from 06.10 to 21.00, on Sunday. – from 07.00 to 20.00. You can order electronic tickets, the cost is 3.9 euros. The electric train from Mandelieu through Nice to Italian Ventimiglia is very popular, because it makes many stops and goes along a convenient tourist route.
Taxi
Tourists can also order a taxi that will take them from Nice to Monaco. You will be delivered to the place in a comfortable economy, comfort or premium class car. The cost of the trip is 80 euros. Also in the fleet there are vehicles for large companies.
Helicopter
For those who are not used to saving money and have long planned to make an exciting helicopter flight, such a transfer is also provided. Helicopter flight (7 min) from Nice airport to Monaco will cost 115 euros (per 1 passenger).
What to see in Monaco
A trip by bus, train, helicopter to Monaco is a joyful prelude to a meeting with unique sights, with ancient historical and cultural monuments, with the European center for holding international festivals of various directions and incredibly beautiful views.
Symbol of Wealth – Monte Carlo Casino
The capital of a small principality is known throughout the world for its Casino, where millionaires and billionaires come to test their capital and the mercy of Fortune. To immediately be at the casino building, you need to get off the bus at the bus stop of the same name. A few steps – and here it is, the famous place where in one night some are lost to smithereens, while others become richer. From the first glance at the environment, aristocracy is noticeable in everything: in the classical architecture of the building, in the ideal layout of the adjacent territory, in the lush greenery of floral ornaments, in the huge fountain.
The presence of a luxury car in the parking lot indicates an active process inside the establishment. The entrance to the “temple of gambling and fortune” costs 10 euros, which you will never regret when you see the stunning interiors, whose splendor and brilliance delight and amaze with unprecedented luxury. Mahogany, gilding, velvet, Persian carpets, massive crystal chandeliers and lamps of exclusive samples, art paintings on the walls – everything amazes and delights. It is worth visiting here not as a gambling establishment, but as a museum of applied arts, where you can see masterpieces of woodcarving, metal and glass jewelry, and antique furniture.
Old town of Monaco-Ville
This is the name of the former capital of Monaco, located on the rocky Cape Saint-Antoine. Its architectural embodiment is the ancient cultural and historical buildings, embodying the past and present of the European principality.
It is impossible to ignore one of the most ancient buildings of the dwarf state – the Prince's Palace, the majestic building of which was erected back in 1191 by representatives of the noble Genoese family of Grimaldi. It is located on the site of a former Genoese fortress. The palace was repeatedly rebuilt, new owners added extensions, decorations, and now everyone can see the majestic, cream-colored building with a white colonnade. It is the official residence of the reigning princes of Monaco and hosts open-air classical music concerts during the summer months.
The Palace complex is divided into 4 parts: the residence of the princely family; official government offices; ceremonial premises for ceremonial receptions and accommodation of guests; the palace church, in which all the rituals and ceremonies associated with the ruling dynasty of the country are performed. Tourists have the right to visit the inner halls of the front part of the palace only in summer. Here they see white marble stairs, an unusually beautiful stone floor with ornate patterns, and picturesque wall frescoes. Outside, you can admire the main entrance, ancient cannons, the changing of the guard, and the external beauty of the facades.
Address: Monaco-Ville, du Palais.
Open for visits: every day, from 02 04 to 31 10 from 10.00 to 18 pm (July, August – until 19.00), except weekends and days of Formula 1 F 1 and Grand Prix.
Entrance prohibited: from 01.11 to 01.04.
Entrance fees: adult – 8 euros; children (from 8 years to 14 and students – 4 euros. There are options for paired tickets (for example, visiting the Palace and the Rainier car collection), the equipment of which changes periodically, so you need to find out about their cost directly at the box office.
Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
The white-stone Romanesque church was erected on the site of an old temple of the 13th century in 1875. The colossal, majestic building of the cathedral evokes spiritual awe with its solemn beauty: graceful colonnades at the entrance, beautiful sculptures of portals, winged lions on both sides of the pediment. Inside the church is decorated with expressive art paintings, a magnificent altar made of white marble with rich mosaic inlay. Concerts of organ music are held here (the majestic organ was installed in 1976). The cathedral serves as a burial place for members of princely families (here lies the ashes of Grace Kelly, the world-favorite princess who died in a car accident).
Address: Monaco-Ville, Avenue St.-Martin.
To get from the station: buses 1st and 2nd lines.
Open: in winter – every day, from 08.00 to 18.00; in summer – daily, from 08.00 to 19.00. Choir Services: Sat. from 18.00; sunday – from 10.30. The entrance is free.
Chapel of Divine Mercy
Near the Prince's Palace there is a religious monument with a very interesting history – a single-nave church – Chapel
Mercy of God, built in the Baroque style. Its name is not accidental: for many years representatives of the brotherhood preached here, whose members were apologists for kindness and mercy in relation to the sick, to people who have sinned or committed crimes. Since the middle of the 17th century, the Chapel of Mercy has retained its original appearance: a round rose window in the center of the facade, baroque windows, moldings and sculptures. Later, false columns with elaborate capitals were built, giving the chapel grandeur.
The former internal appearance of the church was almost completely lost as a result of the atrocities of the rebels during the French Revolution, who plundered gilded decorations, statues and other decorations. Looking now at the magnificent statues, ceiling and wall frescoes, statues of saints, one is imbued with respect for those who recreated all this and did it all over again. The Chapel of Mercy is a symbol of kindness and compassion.
Address: Monaco-Ville, Place De La Mairie, 5 min. walk from the Prince's Palace.
Open: daily – from 10.00 to 18.00. The entrance is free.
Oceanographic Museum
This is not just a museum, but the scientific support of the Oceanographic Institute, located right there. The museum itself was opened on the initiative of Prince Albert in 1889, and in 1906 it was considered rational to open an institute here, the director of which for several years was the famous explorer of the ocean depths, Jacques Cousteau. The museum building itself is very impressive, as if grown out of the rocks near the water (rear facade).
And the inner content delights with huge sea panoramas with exotic inhabitants (in the aquarium there are almost 6,000 species of fish, 200 subspecies of invertebrates and 100 varieties of corals).
The museum has a lot of items related to the study of the seas and oceans: marine equipment, models and models of ships, stuffed sea animals, skeletons of huge mammals, maps of the seabed, documents-evidence of various expeditions. Only here is the Shark Lagoon – a huge pool under a glass dome (glass thickness – 30 cm, 400 cubic meters of water), which is home to rare species of sharks, outlandish fish, electric rays. With the help of technological innovations, they have learned how to artificially grow corals. Inspection of museum exhibits is an interesting journey that gives a complete picture of the life of the underwater world.
Address: Monaco-Ville, Avenue St-Martin.
Open for visits: daily, except for the days of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Entrance:
Monaco is a principality where a huge country of man-made wonders and beauties has been created on a tiny piece of the coast, which cannot be seen all during a short stay.