HOW TO EXPERIENCE MONACO ON A BUDGET
Monaco has the title of one of the most expensive countries in the world for a reason. It’s the playground of the rich and famous with 30% of it’s residents being millionaires.
As soon as you arrive in Monaco you’ll be surrounded by luxourious yachts, super cars galore, grand casinos and opulant buildings. Despite this you may be surprised that a visit to Monaco doesn’t have to cost the earth. In fact, it’s pretty possible to do it on a shoestring budget.
There are many beautiful free parks, markets and trails that allow you to appreciate Monaco on a budget. There are discount passes for attractions, cheap public transport (although no transport is needed once you’re in Monaco as it’s all pretty walkable for the average person) and many free activities you can enjoy.
Keep all these tips in mind when planning your trip to this luxurious part of the French Riveria.
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When to visit
The first thing to consider when planning your Monaco trip is the time of year. Peak season in Monaco is July and August which means plently of sunshine, crowds and hotel prices skyrocketing. The Monaco F1 Grand Prix is around the end of May each year which is also a time to avoid as the whole country shuts down, prices are crazy and unless you’re going for the Grand Prix I’d give it a miss.
The best times to visit Monaco is April or June (avoid May due to the Grand Prix) and September/October. During this time the weather is glorious, sunny but not too hot for sight seeing and soaking up the atmosphere, the crowds have dwindled and the prices aren’t quite as ‘break the bank.’
Accomodation
You have a few options when it comes to your showstring budget accomodation. The cheapest option is to stay in a town a little drive away from Monaco. There are various towns around 15 - 30 minutes drive from Monaco. One of these in Menton where you can get a room for 2 adults for around £60/70 per night depending on the time of year. You would then have to factor transport in to your costs though. How will you get from this town into Monaco? Probably m=not the cheapest overall soltution by the time you take everything in to account.
Some good choice hotels in surrounding areas are:
Hotel Narve
There are also plently of hotels in France a few minutes walk from Monaco. There is no issue just walking across the border in to Monaco and these hotels or apartments could be a good option if you don’t want to have to use transport to get in to Monaco.
Some excellent hotels or apartments just outside Monaco are:
If you really want to stay in Monaco itself (and I don’t blame you) some more budget friendly hotels in the country are
Getting around
The best budget friendly option is to simply walk. Monaco is only 2.02 km² so getting around on foot is perfectly doable for most average fitness people. Depending on the areas you’re visiting though it can be quite hilly and that’s not a ton of fun particularly in the heat of summer.
Fortunately there is an extensive public transport system which couldn’t be easier particularly around Monte Carlo. Bus routes cover virtually every street. Timetables are available in English and almost all buses run in 10 minute intervals on weekdays and 15/20 minutes on weekends. Single trips are priced around €1 which will take you anywhere in Monaco and you can buy a daily tourist pass for €3 or a 10 trip travel card for €6.
This pricing also applies to the wonderful ‘Bateau Bus,’ an electric boat that crosses the harbour from one side to the other every 20 minutes, so is perfect to get from Monte-Carlo to the Old Town and it’s a great (I mean cheap) way to take a relaxing cruise amongst the yachts in the world-famous Monaco harbour.
You could combine transport with sightseeing by getting a 1 or 2 day pass on the Monaco Hop On Hop Off Bus which has 12 stops around all the main tourist areas of Monaco.
If you plan to enjoy a few drinks on a Friday or Saturday, you’ll be glad to know that night buses run until 4am. From Sunday to Thursday buses stop running at 12.30am.
MonaBike is an excellent way to get around if you fancy an electric bike. It costs €1 per trip or €3 per day to hire a bike.
I wouldn’t recommend taxis. The minimum cost for any trip within Monaco is €15 – go outside of Monaco and it will almost double. If you’re considering it a taxi fare to Nice is around €80 and a trip to Nice airport will set you back €100 (the same as a helicopter ride and personally if I’m splashing the cash I’d do it on a helicopter ride instead!)
Buy a Cote d’Azur Card
Monaco boasts a wealth of museums, grand buildings, and sculpture gardens, but you have to pay an entrance fee to visit most of them. If you’re planning on visiting a few of these it’s worth looking in to what’s included as you can save some euros by getting a Cote d’Azur Card for around €45, which grants you entrance to over 60 hotspots across the French Riviera, including Nice, Var, and Alpes-Maritimes.
The Cote d’Azur Card provides access to cultural landmarks and activities for either 3 or 5 days, depending on the pass you choose to get. Some of the most notable places in Monaco you can visit using the card include the Musée Océanographique (Oceanographic Museum of Monaco), which houses over 6,000 maritime creatures, and the Prince’s Palace, the official residency of Monaco’s head of state.
Free Things to Do in Monaco
La Rocher and the Princes Palace
Head up on foot or by bus onto La Rocher (The Rock) which is the Old Town of Monaco and soak in the atmosphere and the wonderful views. The best time to do this is early morning or late afternoon to avoid both the heat (in peak season) and the crowds. The streets are narrow and windy and the area has a wonderful atmosphere. If you’re there for 11:55am you can stand in the sunshine on Palace Square to watch the changing of the guard ceremony outside the Princes Palace.
Car hunting
Monaco has no shortage of luxury cars and you can always find many parked in front of the Casino Monte Carlo and the Hotel de Paris on Casino square. You can spend some time wandering the area watching the cars go past or posing for photos in front of the cars. You can also explore the lush casino gardens and wander through the marble alleyways of the Metropole shopping centre.
Walk the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit
Walk around the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit or follow it by bus (a combination of lines 1, 2 or 6), it will take around 1 hour, excluding photo stops and is highlighted on all the tourist maps (available for free virtually anywhere in Monaco).
Gardens of Monaco
Monaco has many beautiful gardens all around and you can have a leisurely stroll through them or grab a baguette and refuel on a bench. They are all wonderful, peaceful havens. My favourite gardens are the Japanese Gardens which are between the casino and the Grimaldi Forum.
The jetty
Walk to the tip of the gigantic semi-floating jetty sticking out of Le Rocher where the cruise terminal is and enjoy the fabulous panoramic views. Unfortunetly if there’s a cruise ship in dock it will be closed though.
Monte Carlo Casino
Go in the atrium of the most famous casino in the world. The Casino Monte Carlo is the casino of all casinos. It’s the home of a few James Bond films and you can enter the grand atrium for free each morning. If you want to have a flutter you will have to pay around €10, bring your passport (or photo ID) and dress smartly but the entrance is free and there you will be able to see how opulent and extravegant the building is.
Views from terraces
You can enjoy some of the best views over Monaco if you wander behind the Casino Monte Carlo towards the Fairmont Hotel you can enjoy some spectacular views from the terraces there. We stayed at the Fairmont Hotel and I would go up there in the mornings (it’s public access) to watch Monaco come to life.
Sunbathe on the beach
Larvotto Beach is the only public beach in Monaco so if you fancy a break from all the walking head down there and lay down for a while. It’s a beautiful beach with clear blue waters and nets that stop the jelly fish getting the swimmers.
Cheap transport
Hop onto the Bateau Bus towards the Monte-Carlo side using your bus pass and enjoy wonderful views of the sea, the mountains and the yachts.
Fontvielle
Head to Fontvielle, the newest area of Monaco which was built on reclaimed land back in the 1960s. It’s on the opposite side of town and features the second port of Monaco with the yachts of the rich and famous. Whilst you’re there you can also take lovely views of the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum and then head to the Princess Grace rose garden.
Monaco Travel Guides
Buy the Rough Guides guide to Monte Carlo, Nice and Cannes
Buy Lonely Planets Guide to Nice and Monaco
Buy A Journey Through Monaco’s Splenders Travel Guide
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