Monaco event weekends: what to do between sessions
Two square kilometres of casinos, yachts and the Prince's Palace. Most visitors base themselves in Nice or along the coast.
Events we cover in Monaco
Arriving
Nice airport (NCE) is 30 km away. Bus 110 express takes about 45 minutes; trains from Nice-Ville take 20 minutes; a helicopter takes 7 minutes.
Where to stay
| Budget | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Nice | Stay by Nice-Ville station and take the train in; much cheaper than Monaco. |
| Mid-range | Beausoleil and Cap-d'Ail | French towns on the Monaco border, walking distance to the circuit. |
| Splurge | Monte-Carlo | Palace hotels on Casino Square; race weekends need multi-night minimums. |
Three hotels we would book
- Budget: Hotel Ibis Nice Centre Gare
- Mid-range: Novotel Monte-Carlo
- Splurge: Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Tours
Where to eat
With kids
- Oceanographic Museum.
- Larvotto beach.
Rainy-day backups
- Oceanographic Museum.
- Car collection of Prince Rainier III.
Free things to do
- Changing of the guard at the Prince's Palace (11:55 am).
- Japanese Garden by the Grimaldi Forum.
- Walk the old town on the Rock.
Getting around
- Public lifts and escalators link the levels of Monaco; buses are frequent.
- On race weekend the port area is closed: plan walking routes in advance.