Nice to Monaco
 

We will be staying in Nice for several days and want to take a day trip to Monaco.
We will have a car. What is the fastest and safest way to drive there. I am not fond of mountain roads. Where does one parK in Monaco? Or should we take the train or bus?
Is it a long distance from the train or bus station to the sights ( Palace, museums,etc) in Monte Carlo?
Is there any other day trip we should take from NIce? Any other towns that at a MUST see?
Thanks so much for the help.

I'm a big fan of the drive from Nice to Monaco - the Moyenne Corniche (the middle road) gives great views - but if you're not into mountain/winding/cliffside roads, then I'd suggest either driving on the Grand Corniche (Great Coast Road) or taking the train up. It's an easy 45min ride and trains from Nice Gare are frequent (at least every 30mins, sometimes more frequent).

The train station in Monaco (Monte Carlo Station) is new (well, last 5 years) and is pretty much all underground, so you'll arrive "inside" and just follow exit signs depending on where you want to start - Monacoville (aka the Rock! where the Palace is, and the Oceanography Museum, and the Princess Grace exhibit, and the Exotic Garden, and the St NIcholas Cathedral) or Monte Carlo (Casinos, THE corner from the Grand Prix, etc). It's about a 10min stroll from arrival in the station to the Grand Casino. Monaco is easily seen on foot, in fact there's not really a better option (OK, in a Ferrari perhaps!).


Other day trips from Nice will depend on your interests and how much actual time you have there, but look at St Paul de Vence, Eze Village (which you pass through if you drive the Moyenne Corniche.

Parking in Monaco is available, just follow the P signs to your first point of visit (ie to Monacoville or Monte Carlo) but be aware that it's not cheap. Here's a link to help you understand where parking options are - the one under Monacoville may be best for you and first hour used to be free for cars. http://www.visitmonaco.com/us/Plan-y...Getting-Around

Take the bus for 1 €. It hugs the coastline, beautiful ride.

Trains also hug the coast line - actually more than roads do - they are right along the coast - the roads are higher up. Trains go frequently - commuter trains no problem ever getting on. Train station is a short walk from the few major sights.

> Take the bus for 1 €.

I have learned recently that it is €1.50 now. 50 % raise !!. I think €1.00 was too cheap.

http://www.lignesdazur.com/tarif/?ru...=7&thm_id=1014

Other important changes at least for me :
A day card used to be : €4 > now €5. This included airport bus line 98 & 99.
Now the airport bus lines require a separate single ticket that costs €6.00, that's a lot compared to before. Oh well.

You could of course take the A8 autoroute from Nice to Monaco; not very exciting, but fast and easy. Follow the signs to any of the car parks in town, there's a large one next to the Grimaldi Forum.

Nothing in Monaco is cheap. And while looking at the gorgeous yachts in the harbor - in season - is fascinating - it's really a place for the uber rich to spend money - shopping, dining or gambling.

Much better places to visit from Nice are many of the smaller towns in the hills behind the coast - with a number of interesting museums, gorges, ancient villages, etc. Get a guide book and make your choice.

(We love spending an evening in Monte Carlo - nice dinner and the casino - but it is big $.)

Either the bus or the train is best. Driving is a poor 3rd place.

Here's a great way to get to Monaco from Nice - take the train to Cap d'Ail, a small station right on the sea - then go down to the seaside paved footpaths and hang a left - walk on nice flat paths right along the deep azure-hued sea the few miles to Monte Carlo and Monaco - coming in by the Yacht Club.
This path lets you see the signature French Riviera scenery of cypress trees impossibly clinging to a rocky slope hovering over a clear azure-hued water - with none of the gaudi over-development that scars most of today's coast - it is here only you and the sea - isolated swimming holes but if bashful you may see skinny dippers!

http://www.cap-dail.com/index.php?id=6754

Here are some photos from this great GREAT seaside walk from Cap d'Ail to Monte Carlo!

It's the Bas Corniche that's the coastal road; the Grand Corniche is the road way, way up on the top. Not for the faint of heart!

But the coastal road in that part does not hug the coast but is still a bit up - only the footpath and train lines hug the coast, literally if I recall correctly. Better views from the train than buses speeding along on a busy highway. But get off in Eze I guess for the fine views that tourist-trap is known for.