If you had the luck to visit the dwarf state of Monaco, it would be inexcusable not to go at least a day to the French Riviera. The largest city of Cote d'Azur closest to Monte Carlo is Nice. The state of Monaco, which, despite the efforts of Charles de Gaulle, defended its independence from France, was small, only a little more than two square kilometers. This is the size of a small urban area. Therefore, a day for sightseeing of the capital and its environs is enough for you. To diversify your vacation and replenish it with new experiences, go to the flowering cities of Provence.
In this article we will tell you how to get from Monaco to Nice. We will consider all the possibilities: a sightseeing tour and an independent trip, as well as all types of transport: car, train, bus. If desired, from one point to another can be reached even on foot. For this, the Ministry of Tourism of France laid marked trails running through picturesque landscapes.
Excursion
If you are not constrained by money, then you can completely entrust the organization of your trip to professionals. You can book excursions both in Monte Carlo and on the Cote d'Azur. Their program is very diverse. You can book a sightseeing tour, and drive along the entire coast of Provence, right up to Cannes. You will be accompanied by a Russian-speaking guide. If you wish, the tour can be done already geographically (limited to Nice, Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mery Cap Ferrat), but more intense and in depth in content.
It should be remembered that Monte Carlo has a large port. Therefore, a tour of Nice - Monaco can be made on board the ocean liner. Of course, this will be just a small fragment of a Mediterranean cruise. There is another option: a bus tour from Ukraine. So you look not only Monaco and the Cote d'Azur, but also Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary and Italy.
Nice - Monaco: how to get there by express bus
Many routes pass through the capital of the dwarf state of Monte Carlo. They all make a stop at Place des Moulins. But you should not jump into the first bus that appears on which will be written "Nice." Indeed, between the cities laid many roads. Some go along the coast, others climb into the mountains. Therefore, overcoming 26 kilometers can turn into a tiring half-day trip.
If you want to be in Nice as soon as possible (or, conversely, return to Monaco), take the route number 100X. This express bus travels on a toll road and makes just one stopover in the mountain village of La Turbie. She deserves a separate independent tour. After all, the Alpine Trophy is stored there - a monument from the time of Ancient Rome. The express bus runs only on weekdays. The ticket purchased from the driver costs 4.5 euros (337 rubles).
On a regular bus
Other routes do not use the paid A-8 autobahn, and therefore travel in them will cost three times cheaper (only one and a half euros, or 113 rubles). The bus number 100 from Nice to Monaco is especially popular. This route runs all days of the week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. with an interval of 10 minutes on weekdays and half an hour on weekends. Travel time is a little less than an hour. But the route runs through very picturesque places. Without any excursion, you can see the Villefranche-sur-Mer bay, the “cape of millionaires” Cap Ferrat, the beautiful characteristic villages of Eze and Beaulieu.
Bus 101 passes through Monaco from Nice to San Lorent de Ez and Carnole. But the interval between flights is two hours. You can get directly to Nice Airport on route 110. Buses run every hour from six in the morning until seven in the evening. Route 112 travels from Nice to Monte Carlo, climbing mountains. At night, you can also travel along the Cote d'Azur. From 22.00 to 2.30 from Menton to Nice through Monaco goes “Notambus”. Travel there also costs one and a half euros.
Nice to Monaco by train
French rail transport will surprise you with punctuality, speed and comfort. In Monte Carlo, the station is located under a cliff on which the capital rises. Several types of trains pass through the city. The fastest, but also the most expensive is Intercity. You won’t lose anything if you choose another type of train - TER. A ticket to Nice on it costs only 4 euros (300 rubles). This, of course, is more than on a regular bus, but less than on an express train.
There are several reasons to choose a train between Monaco and Nice. The first is speed. You will reach your destination in just 20 minutes. Secondly, railways, unlike a highway, are laid along the very shore of the sea. So the train ride will turn into an interesting and exciting journey.
In Nice, the train makes several stops. To see the city, you need to get off at Nice Ville main station. In the summer, trains can be crowded. To take a seat, it’s wiser to catch a train at Nice Riquier station. Especially popular is the train from Ventimiglia (Italy) to Mandelieu (France). It passes through Monte Carlo and Nice.
Practical Tips for Purchasing Tickets
The dwarf state of Monaco does not have its own railway transport. Most trains passing through Monte Carlo are French. Therefore, you can get acquainted with the current discounts on the state website of SCNF. The schedule of trains Nice - Monaco may vary depending on the season of the year, time of school holidays, day of the week. But in general, you can count on the first flight at five in the morning. In summer, you can return at 23.30, but in other seasons the last train leaves much earlier.
Ticket offices at Monte Carlo train station are open from 6 am to nine in the evening, and on Sunday from 7 to 20. But there are ticket vending machines in the hall. Most of them accept only credit cards. Cashiers sell tickets to second-class cars. The fact that you want to travel in the first, you need to inform in advance. The pleasure of riding in cream seats, not blue ones, costs twice as much.
Tourists are advised to purchase tickets online. So they will cost less. Unlike other countries, buying round-trip tickets will not bring any savings. But there are flights on which there is a discount. If you have come to France for a long time and plan to travel by train actively, purchase a registered package “Freedom Package” at the box office. She gives a 25% discount on weekdays for one person, and on weekends and school holidays - 50% for two.
By air
For wealthy tourists who are thinking about how to get from Nice to Monaco in the fastest and most extravagant way, helicopter service is provided. It is convenient for those travelers who arrive in the pearl of the Cote d'Azur by air. Helicopters fly to Monte Carlo directly from Nice International Airport. Helicopters take a small platform in a dwarf state, which is entirely located on one rock.
Traveling by air is very exciting, but lasts only seven minutes. But such a flight costs 115 euros, or 8,623 rubles (per passenger). Schedule Nice - Monaco for helicopters is very simple: in the daytime every half hour. Wealthy tourists recommend choosing the air way of communication. A taxi will cost you a little cheaper, and time traveling by helicopter will save.
On the ship
Another extravagant way to cover the distance between Nice and Monte Carlo is by sea. There are many companies that offer to make this a pleasant but leisurely journey. It can be both ordinary motor boats, and tourist boats and ferries. Travelers claim that the path itself is more like an excursion, because the views from the side are breathtaking.
But do not expect to arrive at your destination quickly. The fastest boat is on the road for about 45 minutes. Pleasure boats sail even longer. The ticket price starts from 16 euros or 1200 rubles (on an open deck). This type of trip is suitable only for those who want to combine business with pleasure: there is no need to purchase a sea excursion. Stock up with binoculars, tourists recommend, because from the side of the boat you can see in detail the villas of millionaires that you will not see from the shore.
By car
The distance from Nice to Monaco in a straight line is less than 20 kilometers. The pearl of the French Cote d'Azur with a dwarf state is connected by several roads. You should not choose the shortest if you are an inexperienced driver. Road D 6007 runs along the coast and is full of dangerous bends. In addition, many drivers choose it because of the beautiful views, which is why traffic jams form on the highway.
There is also a very convenient A8 speedway. To get to Monaco, you need to move north from Nice. There are paid sections on A8. You need to exit this Autobahn following the sign for Cap d'Ail. So you get on the A 500 highway leading to the town. When you reach Cap d'Ail, turn north-east and follow D 6007 along the coast to Monte Carlo.
There is a third option that helps to avoid paid fragments on the A8. You need to turn off the autobahn near La Trinité. If you avoid traffic congestion, you will arrive at your destination in 20 minutes - half an hour. For a car, to overcome the distance between Nice and Monte Carlo, you need two liters of gasoline.
Taxi
If you do not want to fool yourself with the question of how to get from Monaco to Nice, book a transfer. In the fleet of French taxi services there are premium cars, comfort and economy class. For large companies, the company can fit a minibus. A taxi ride, however, will cost a pretty penny. Rates depend on the class of the car. It’s best to order a taxi online, especially if you are arriving at a Nice airport. The driver will meet you in the arrival hall with a sign on which your last name will be displayed, helping to bring luggage to the car. Such a service costs from 80 to 100 euros (6000-7500 rubles). A8 fare is not included in this price.
Hitch-hiking
Budget tourists may be interested in how to get from Nice to Monaco for free. Generally in France, hitchhiking is easy to get between cities. But in rich Provence, where everyone has a car, or even two, this is problematic. You can try your luck by standing on D 6007. Waving your hand on the A8 does not make sense, since you can not stop on the autobahns without urgent need.
On foot
Only 21 kilometers in a breathtakingly beautiful area! Why not walk all the way? This will be a great walk that will take about five to six hours. How to get from Monaco to Nice on foot? There are two marked routes. Fans of mountain scenery can walk along the equipped trail Route de Laghet / M2204A, which runs above the A8 Autobahn. And if you want a sea breeze to fly over your face during the trip, do not go far from D 6007. But the roughness of the coastline will significantly extend your route.