How to save money in Monaco

Everyone knows that the Principality of Monaco is a heavenly and expensive place. Rich people hang out here, and the number of expensive yachts and cars makes your eyes blur. And even though there are no hostels in the state, there is a way to experience Monaco as cheaply as possible — by visiting for one day. You don’t need more than that! So, in this article, we’ll tell you how to make the most of your day in Monaco.

How to get there

Monaco is a small principality in a corner of France, not far from the Italian border. If you are traveling along the French Riviera and staying in Nice, you can reach Monaco by bus or train.

Bus

You need the Nice Le Port station, and there, look for bus No. 100. For one and a half euros and an hour of travel, it will take you to the Monaco Place Des Moulins station. The bus travels along a beautiful serpentine road, so sit by the window — the view of the coast will capture all your attention, and the journey will pass unnoticed.

Train

At Gare de Nice Ville station, take a train to Monaco Monte Carlo station. The ticket will cost about 4 euros, but the journey is only half an hour.

There is another option — to travel from Menton. This small town is on the other side of Monaco, but it’s closer than Nice. The bus and train journey is shorter and costs one or two euros less.

Ferry

If you want to splurge and approach the small state like a rich person — by water (imagining you’re on your own yacht), then choose a tour on a tourist boat from Nice or Menton. It’s more expensive and takes longer, but it’s very beautiful. You’ll need a little over 15 euros and an hour to an hour and a half of time.

What to see

Although the state is tiny, it has quite a few attractions. You won’t be able to see everything physically. We don’t recommend rushing around the mini-state all day long — you’ll get tired quickly, as the terrain is hilly. We’ll tell you about the most interesting and must-see places, and you can decide what’s worth your attention.

Monaco has four main districts (in reality there are more, but for ease of navigation, we’ll divide them into four):

• Monaco-Ville (The Rock) — the old part of the city;
• La Condamine — the Port Hercule area;
• Monte Carlo — casinos, dominoes, and so on;
• Larvotto — where a huge beach is hidden.

Prince’s Palace

To this day, the Grimaldi family lives in the palace and rules the tiny state. But some parts of the palace are open to tourists: from April to October, you can see the state rooms for 8 euros, and for another 8 euros, you can check out the collection of vintage cars. In summer, classical music concerts are held on the palace grounds, and you can attend those too!

Oceanographic Museum

This will be interesting for those who watched Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s show as children, because he directed this museum for three decades. The museum looks especially beautiful from the sea, as it is located on a sheer cliff. From the outside, you wouldn’t even say it’s a museum; it looks more like an impregnable castle.

Inside, there’s an oceanarium, scientific laboratories, and even lecture halls. And on the roof, there’s a restaurant with a beautiful sea view. The museum ticket isn’t cheap — 16 euros, but it’s worth every cent.

A walk in the port

Love yachts? Then take a stroll in the port and along the embankments; dozens of yachts are moored there, and all of them are someone’s property. You can even stop and dream that one of them is yours. But not for long, we only have one day for walks.

Monte Carlo Casino

Gambling enthusiasts need to be careful here. Anyone can enter the casino foyer: to take photos, grab a bite at a cafe, or simply admire the decor. But to enter the gaming rooms, you’ll need a passport and 10 euros. Interestingly, locals are forbidden from visiting the casino; it’s only for visitors.

Botanical Garden

There are so many exotic plants here that the garden has a unique aroma 365 days a year. The garden also features a natural grotto with stalactites and stalagmites. Since the garden is located on a hill, it offers a beautiful view of the city. Admission costs 7 euros.

Japanese Garden

Another beautiful garden in Monaco is the Japanese Garden. This is in case you suddenly lose yourself in all the luxury of the tiny state. Many of the garden’s elements were brought directly from Japan. Is it necessary to say that a strong sense of unity with nature is felt here, and the atmosphere is perfectly conducive to contemplation?

Food

As everywhere, eating in Monaco is cheapest in supermarkets, not restaurants. A sandwich with coffee will cost about 10 euros, a little more in a cafe. Monaco also has an interesting feature — wine to go. It’s like coffee to go, but instead of coffee, it’s wine. What could be more pleasant than strolling through the land of millionaires with a glass of wine?

As you can see, being a tourist in Monaco isn’t that expensive (if you don’t stay overnight). Even if you don’t have extra euros for museums, it’s still pleasant to explore the principality from within, and walking the streets is a pleasure. On one side are hills and villas, on the other — the sea. And the Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place in Monaco! But F1 tickets are a whole different story.

Not enough? Read articles about Budapest, France, Japan, Dublin, Estonia, India, Portugal.