How to Get From Nice to Monaco

Monaco, the independent country located within France and known for its glitz and glamour, is the most popular day trip from nearby Nice, France. But how do you actually get there?

Despite being its own country, it’s actually very easy to travel from Nice to Monaco. You don’t have to get on a plane or go through customs. You don’t even need your passport!

I first visited Monaco in 2012 on my very first trip to Europe. I couldn’t resist the temptation to cross this tiny European nation off my bucket list.

While shopping and gambling in Monte Carlo was well outside my budget, I had a great time exploring Monaco. So great that when my husband, Colin, and I were in the South of France in 2024, we planned another Monaco day trip!

Whether you’re heading to Monaco for the fast cars at the Monaco Grand Prix, to bet it all at the Monte Carlo Casino, for luxury shopping, in honour of Princess Grace or just to take in the epic views, it’s an awesome day trip.

Below, I’ll share five different ways to get to Monaco from Nice, plus the pros and cons of each option so you can choose the best one for your trip.

All times, fares and info below are current as of January 2025.

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Option 1: Monaco from Nice by train

Most people will tell you to take the bus from Nice to Monaco (more on that below), but when we visited in 2024, the regular Nice-Monaco bus route was actually being diverted.

While the bus is back up and running in 2025, I actually think taking the train from Nice to Monaco like we did has quite a few advantages.

It’s affordable, fast and easy. I found the train to be super comfortable – we had no problem getting seats and it was an easy ride into Monaco.

We bought our tickets at the train station for $4 USD one-way each. Trains leave every 10-20 minutes, depending on the season and time of day.

From Nice-Ville, it’s 20-25 minutes on the train to Monaco-Monte-Carlo station. Once at Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, it’s about a 5-10 minute walk into central Monaco.

PROS:

• Affordable (apx $4/person/way)
• Comfortable seats and journey
• Easy to book (in advance online or at the station at ticket machines)
• The fastest way to get to Monaco (25 min train ride)
• Good if you get motion sick, as the ride is quick and not winding

CONS:

• Not as scenic as the bus/driving routes
• More expensive than the bus ($4 vs $2.50)
• Requires you to get to Nice-Ville train station (apx 25 min walk from Vieux Nice)
• May be farther from your final destination in Monaco

Option 2: Nice to Monaco by bus

The most popular way to travel from Nice to Monaco is by bus. As I mentioned above, when we visited in 2024, the bus route was diverted. But when I originally visited Monaco in 2012, I did take the bus.

Back then, it was the legendary bus #100 from Nice to Monaco. And I think bus fare was just $1!

But a lot has changed since 2012. Namely, the #100 bus from Nice to Monaco is no longer running.

It has been rebranded and renumbered, causing quite a bit of confusion for locals and tourists alike. There are now a few different bus routes connecting Nice and Monaco, but I’ll walk you through the most convenient option.

The easiest way to bus from Nice to Monaco is on bus #600, which leaves from the Nice Port area (apx 20 minute walk from Vieux Nice). Buses leave every 10-20 minutes.

From Arson Fodéré bus stop, the #600 takes apx one hour to travel to Monaco, dropping off at the Tourist Info Office (which is conveniently near the casino).

Bus fare costs $2.50 USD per person, per way. You can purchase tickets in advance or from the driver (though apparently on the way back, you can only purchase your tickets from the driver).

It’s recommended to sit on the right-hand side on the way to Monaco to get the best views. And you’ll want to snag a seat, since you’ll be on the bus for an hour!

PROS:

• Cheapest way to get to Monaco ($2.50/person/way)
• One of the most scenic routes along the French Riviera

CONS:

• Long journey (1+ hour)
• Can get crowded which may mean standing the entire time or missing the view
• Not ideal if you get motion sick as the route is quite winding
• Requires you to get to the Nice Port area (20 minute walk from Vieux Nice)

PS: Need more info on the bus route? I found this very thorough blog post which should answer all of your questions!

Option 3: Day trip to Monaco from Nice by tour

Another option for getting from Nice to Monaco is to take an organized day tour. While we didn’t take one in Nice, I’ve taken many before and definitely see the appeal.

With a day tour, you don’t have to do any of the planning. You don’t have to worry about train or bus schedules and you don’t even have to plan out how to spend your day in Monaco.

Your tour may even pick you up at your hotel – how convenient!

Most of the tours that depart from Nice visit more than just Monaco. This is good, if you want to see more of the French Riviera all in one day trip, but bad if you want more time in just Monaco.

PROS:

• You don’t have to worry about any transportation or planning logistics!
• Get to see more of the French Riviera all in one day

CONS:

• More expensive than taking the train or bus
• No flexibility to sightsee on your own schedule
• Less time in Monaco

Option 4: Taxi or Uber from Nice to Monaco

If you don’t want the hassle of figuring out bus and train schedules, but still want to explore Monaco on your own schedule, you could take a taxi or Uber from Nice.

This option is, obviously, convenient. You can leave Nice whenever you want and have the taxi/Uber pick you up right from your front door.

Of course, that convenience comes at a cost. Depending on traffic and demand, this option can cost over $100 per way!

Uber is usually cheaper, but keep in mind that Uber is not allowed in Monaco. You can take an Uber from Nice to Monaco, but you won’t be able to take one back unless you walk back over the French border first.

This is do-able (apparently if you take the stairs up from Casino Square Garden, you’re back in France) but many people just end up taking a more-expensive taxi back to Nice.

You’ll also have to factor in traffic. While the drive from Nice to Monaco can be as quick as 30 minutes, it can also stretch over an hour with bad traffic, meaning your taxi fare just keeps going up!

PROS:

• Convenient, door-to-door transportation
• Can travel on your own schedule
• Can be one of the faster ways to get from Nice to Monaco (30-65 minutes, depending on traffic)
• Don’t have to worry about parking

CONS:

• Much more expensive than taking the train or bus
• Not as fast as the train; can be much slower with bad traffic
• Uber is not allowed in Monaco, which might make getting back to Nice more difficult
• The fastest driving route to Monaco isn’t the scenic route along the water

Option 5: Drive a rental car to Monaco from Nice

You also have the option to drive your own rental car from Nice to Monaco, but I can’t say I recommend this.

You don’t need a rental car on the French Riviera. Most towns are conveniently connected by trains and buses. We did plenty of day trips from Nice all by train and it was so easy and affordable!

Renting a car can be expensive, especially when you factor in gas prices and parking. Parking is notoriously difficult to find on the French Riviera.

You may end up parking far out of town and needing to take a bus, train or taxi anyway!

While a car can be convenient, and might make sense if you’re going to Monaco as part of a larger France road trip, I would still think you’re better off finding parking in Nice and then taking the train/bus to Monaco.

But if you really want to rent a car, at least save yourself some money by comparing the top companies through Discover Cars!

PROS:

• Convenient, door-to-door transportation
• Can travel on your own schedule
• Can be one of the faster ways to get from Nice to Monaco (30-65 minutes, depending on traffic)
• Option to make stops along the way

CONS:

• Much more expensive than taking the train or bus
• Not as fast as the train; can be much slower with bad traffic
• Have to deal with parking (expensive and hard to find!)
• The fastest driving route to Monaco isn’t the scenic route along the water

Where else can you go from Nice, France?

Colin and I spent almost a week in Nice in winter 2024 to best explore the Cote d’Azur. We used Nice as our base and went on some incredible day trips (all by train).

Here are some great places you can go on the French Riviera and how to get there from Nice:

Wrapping up: What’s the best way to get from Nice to Monaco?

Despite the bus being cheaper (but only by $1.50!) and more scenic, I still think the best way to travel from Nice to Monaco is by train.

The train is convenient. It leaves frequently throughout the day, is easy to book and comfortable to ride on.

Train fare is affordable and, best of all, the journey is quick! You’re in Monaco in just over 20 minutes and never have to worry about traffic.

Sure, the train isn’t as scenic as the bus. But trust me, you’re going to have plenty of beautiful views awaiting you in Monaco!

Plus, if you get motion sick like I do, you won’t even be able to enjoy the views from the bus/car anyway…

But that’s just my opinion. I can totally see why people would take the bus to Monaco, opt for a day tour or hail a taxi. (I still can’t get on board with renting a car though.)

So however you choose to get to Monaco, I hope my pros and cons above helped you find the best route for you.

And I hope you have an incredible time in Monaco and the South of France!