A Day Trip to Monaco From Nice: The 3 Best Things to Do

Last Updated on January 16, 2021 by Nina Ahmedow

Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world after Vatican City. Being such a tiny country, a day trip to Monaco from Nice, France is enough to explore this place.

I didn’t really expect to like it very much, but I did.

And that’s why I’m a big advocate for visiting countries you may feel you won’t like. The only reason I ended up going was that I was in nearby Nice, and a day trip to Monaco from Nice is a popular activity. And while traveling to the most densely populated country in the world might seem stressful I figured I’d take the opportunity.

To be quite honest, as a person who grew up in a disadvantaged neighborhood, the idea of visiting a country whose population is 30% millionaires was a bit strange. Everyone from the lower to lower middle class would probably feel like they don’t belong in the wealthiest and most expensive country in the world. But then I figured I probably wouldn’t have so many chances to see such a wealthy country again. So I decided to go to Monaco.

And that’s also why I only did a day trip to Monaco from Nice. I really didn’t want to have to pay for accommodation in this costly country. Plus, there were so many other things to see in the vicinity of Nice. Monaco seemed like the perfect place to explore on a day trip. And I could always go back if I really liked it. So I hopped on the train from Nice to Monaco. There, I met up with a traveler from New Zealand. Here’s how you can explore Monaco.

Hiking During Your Day Trip to Monaco From Nice

For the most striking views over Monaco, you need to do a bit of hiking. You can either hike along the coast or up Tête de Chien and will be rewarded with scenic views and photo ops. Hiking isn’t one of the most popular things to do in Monaco so you will also have some of those panoramas all to yourself.

Jardins Saint-Martin

The Jardins Saint-Martin are a gorgeous park that offers lovely views. It may not be as impressive as the Jardin Exotique further uphill. But it’s free and a welcome oasis of green in this densely populated country. The park is located at the southern end of Monaco City which I will get to in a minute. I found the park perfect for a stroll.

And in an expensive country like Monaco, any free sight is worth seeing in my opinion. Given that a regular ticket to the Jardin Exotique costs €7.40 you might prefer the smaller Jardins Saint-Martin. I for one was impressed with the beautiful plants in the park.

Monaco City

I also didn’t really know that Monaco had something like an old town. As I really wasn’t interested in the casino, I spent most of my time in Monaco City and its quaint alleys. Here, you can visit the Prince’s Palace, the Cathedral that houses the remains of Grace Kelly, and the pretty architecture. If you want to get to know another side of Monaco you absolutely have to take a stroll through Monaco City.

Make Sure You Plan a Day Trip to Monaco From Nice

I didn’t know that Monaco was more than rich people, fast cars, and the casino. But I’m really glad I gave this tiny country a chance. Too often, we have an image of a place in our minds and think we already know all there is to know. But what you see on tv or online isn’t always the full story.

Monaco was a pleasant surprise for me, and I absolutely recommend a day trip to Monaco from Nice. Have you ever been?