An easy day trip from Nice that still feels glamorous, without completely destroying your budget.
If you're visiting the French Riviera, chances are you'll want to visit Monaco too. It's only about 30 minutes by train from Nice, and honestly, the "cool factor" of casually hopping over to another country for the day never really wears off. Especially when that country happens to be as beautiful and famous as Monaco.
Monaco has a big reputation: glamorous casino, fancy cars, designer shops, and massive yachts. And yes, all of that exists. But you don't have to spend an absurd amount of money to enjoy Monaco for the day.
There are plenty of ways to see the famous sights, explore Monte Carlo, have a good meal, and still have enough money left to take the train back home.
How to Get to Monaco from Nice
The easiest and most affordable way to get to Monaco from Nice (and many other cities along the French Riviera) is by train. You can buy tickets on the SNCF Connect app, and the journey usually takes around 25 to 30 minutes. Coming from Nice, tickets are typically around €5 - 6 each way.
You can also drive, but between tolls, parking, and the general stress of navigating tiny, expensive, perfectly polished streets, I don't really think it's worth it for a day trip.
And of course, you could take an Uber, taxi, or helicopter, but if you're reading an article about visiting Monaco without spending a fortune, I'm going to assume that's not the plan.
Start Your Morning with Coffee or Breakfast
My first recommendation for a day in Monaco is to start at Seaside Juicery.
This is one of my favorite places for coffee, juices, and healthy breakfast options anywhere on the French Riviera, and it costs basically the same as what you'd pay in Nice or one of the nearby French towns.
It's also a much better use of money than grabbing an overpriced coffee somewhere by the water just because the location looks fancy. Plus, the coffee at Seaside is better anyway.
Another great morning option is Mitron Bakery at the Condamine Market. Mitron is especially known for its lemon tarts made with Menton lemons, but they have other pastries and baked goods too. It's a good option if you want something quick, local-feeling, and not wildly expensive.
Wander Through Monte Carlo
After breakfast, it's time to do the thing you came to Monaco to do: wander around and take in the spectacle.
You don't actually need to go inside anywhere to enjoy Monte Carlo. Some of the best parts of Monaco are completely free: walking through the boutique-filled streets, admiring the architecture, spotting cars you've only seen on Instagram, and making your way to the famous Place du Casino.
The area around the casino is pristine in a way that almost feels fake. Everything is polished, manicured, and slightly over the top. Even if you're not going into the casino or shopping at Chanel, it's still worth seeing.
You can also walk down toward Port Hercule to see the yachts, or head toward Monaco-Ville if you want to explore the old town and the area around the Prince's Palace. Monaco is small, but it's hilly, so bring comfortable shoes, or seek out the city's many hidden elevators.
How to Experience Café de Paris Without Spending a Fortune
Of course, it's very possible you'll still want to go to the famous Café de Paris. It's right by the casino, the people watching is excellent, and it does feel like one of those classic Monaco experiences.
I get it.
My advice is to go for a coffee, a drink, or something small instead of a full meal. Will it still cost more than it should? Yes. This is Monaco. But it's a much cheaper way to experience the terrace, the view, and the whole Monte Carlo scene without committing to an expensive lunch or dinner.
Go to the Beach in Monaco
I'll let you in on one of my little French Riviera secrets: I actually prefer going to the beach in Monaco over going to the beach in Nice.
Nice is beautiful, of course, but the beach is rocky and not always the most comfortable place to spend the whole day. Monaco's Larvotto Beach is easier, more comfortable, and in the summer, they usually put up jellyfish nets, which makes swimming a lot more appealing.
If you want a beach club day, I still think Cannes is the best choice on the Riviera. But if you don't want to go all the way to Cannes, Monaco is a surprisingly good option.
To be clear, renting a beach chair anywhere along the French Riviera is not cheap. But compared to beach clubs in Nice, Cannes, or other Riviera towns, Monaco is not necessarily as outrageous as people might expect.
Basically, if you were already planning to pay for a lounger somewhere along the coast, Monaco is worth considering.
Where to Eat in Monaco Without Overspending
Monaco is full of high-end restaurants, and you can absolutely spend a shocking amount of money on a meal here. But there are still a few good options if you want to eat somewhere nice without fully blowing your budget.
For a meal in a pretty setting that doesn't feel completely unreasonable, I usually go to Giacomo. It's a cute Italian restaurant with a bright, cheerful design and terrace seating that's great on a sunny day.
To be clear, this is not a bargain meal. You are still in Monaco. But the food is good, the portions are decent, and it feels like better value than a lot of other restaurants with a similar setting.
For apéro, happy hour, or an early dinner, Brasserie de Monaco is another good option. From 6pm to 8pm, many of their drinks are 50% off, and they also have reasonably priced pizzas. It's casual, easy, and a good way to have a drink in Monaco without accidentally spending your dinner budget on one round. Plus, around the time of the Grand Prix, their terrace is basically set right on the track.
A Simple One-Day Monaco Itinerary
Here's how I'd structure the day:
Start with coffee or breakfast at Seaside Juicery or Mitron Bakery. Then wander through Monte Carlo, see Place du Casino, walk past the designer shops, and take in the ridiculous but very entertaining luxury of it all.
If you want the Café de Paris experience, stop for a coffee or drink rather than a full meal. After that, walk toward Port Hercule or Monaco-Ville, depending on whether you want yachts or old-town views.
In the afternoon, head to Larvotto Beach if the weather is good. Then finish with dinner or drinks at Giacomo or Brasserie de Monaco before hopping back on the train.
By the end of the day, you'll have seen the famous side of Monaco, had a few good food and drink stops, maybe spent some time at the beach, and hopefully avoided spending too much.