Traveling to Monaco and want to expand trip to visit 2 other countries
 

Hello there!
My husband and I are traveling to Monaco mid April and would like to visit at leat 2 other countries while in Europe. Any recommendations for destinations that are not too far and worth seeing over a span of 10 days total? I was hoping to find a short cruiseship or train route.

At the risk of being too sarcastic, have you looked at a map?

Go one way and it's Provence, go the other and it's the Cinque Terre. Hard to beat these destinations as being "close" to Monaco.

Obviously France and Italy are the best choices because they border Monaco. If this were my trip, I would confine my travels to just Monaco and France. Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are close, as are the French Alps.

Ten days isn't much time. Does that include travel time also, or is that time on the ground?

North Italy a few miles away and a train to Austria would be my idea.

Great train ride from Nice to Turin and then the choice of Switzerland or Austria by rail if you wanted to.

I dont fly so use trains all the time.

<< would like to visit at leat 2 other countries >>

Are you looking to keep a count of countries visited or do you want to see places that interest you. If the latter, I would suggest some time in northern Italy - Venice and perhaps the area around Bologna would be interesting.

If you just want to visit countries and have no interest in seeing particular sights then Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia are the closest.

I agree that you need to take a look at a map and also do some reading so you can learn what interests you rather than what interests other people.

You need only a half day to see Monte Carlo (which makes up most of Monaco). The you could head west and spend a week in and around Nice. If you think that's too much (I'd like a year there!) divide the time between Nice and northern Italy.

You risk more than sarcasm you are rude. I realize the distance I was inquiring about alternative routes.

Monaco IMHO is good for one day. It's extremely expensive and best when the yachts of the uber wealthy are in the harbor - April may be too early in the year. Be prepared for very high cost of hotel, restaurants and casino - and appropriate clothing is required for the latter - esp if yuo want to go to the inside rooms with table games. Open only in late afternoon and evening (this is not Vegas).

I agree with the limited time you have to pick one other destination from which you can do day trips. I would probably do Nice and rent a car to tour the Riviera and as fas a ARles and Avignon.

It's kind of early in the year for the Alps (not skiing any longer - but can still be very cold and muddy for hiking - and that's another place that's very expensive).

You might also consider Italy - but again - early for the lakes - but you could head to Venice and Florence with a couple of days into the Tuscan countryside.

We drove from Nice to the Piemonte last year. Easy drive. From there you could explore the Italian Lakes, or head to the Dolomites. Lots of choices.
Or drive to Santa Margherita Ligure or Camogli, then the Cinque Terre, Portovenere.
All autostradas for main access to local roads near destinations.

To add another country, from the lakes, enter Switzerland, beautiful Lake Lugano, or from Dolomites, drive into Austria.

Thank you very much, your comments are greatly appreciated and very helpful. I would like not spend so much time in Monaco but we will be there on business. Looking to extend the trip to enhance our travel experience. Thanks for the great information!