48 Hours in Nice & Monaco

One of the great things about living in Milan is how easy it is to travel to other places from here because public transportation is so easily accessible. This weekend, I took a 48-hour trip to Nice, France, and the Principality of Monaco, which was all-in-all a three-and-a-half-hour trip from Milan by train and bus. 

What to Know Before You Go

First, you will need to book your train ticket. You can either do this at the station the day of, or online. I like to utilize the Trainline app because it makes it easier to see all of the train times and prices that are available for your selected trip, and also you can pay with ApplePay. Using this app will also allow you to pay for both connections at once because you will get off of the main train in Ventimiglia, Italy, and make a transfer to the Grasse or the Cannes local train and get off at the Nice Ville stop. There are two train stations in Nice, so make sure that you select Nice Ville as the station because Nice Riquier will be further away from the main points of the city. The full price of the one-way ticket can range anywhere between €23 to €74. If you pay in the app, it will also automatically switch the fare costs to whichever form of currency you traditionally pay with. The price of your train will be determined by what time of day you book the ticket, as well as what day of the week. Typically, weekends and evenings are more expensive. Prices also change depending on how long your trip is. Although your ticket might seem less expensive than other days and times, check to see how long the trip is. You may have 5 changes and an 11-hour trip that can be done in 3 and a half hours with one change.

The train ride from Milan to Nice goes by very quickly on the way there, but come equipped with something to keep you occupied – especially if you are traveling alone. Fair warning, a good portion of the train ride is going through tunnels, so you likely won’t have an internet/phone signal most of the time. Bring a book or download some movies and music to your phone just to be safe.

Now, as for hotels, there are a LOT of options for hotels in Nice – pretty much one on every corner. I recommend going on Booking.com and reading the reviews before you select one. You do not have to stay in an expensive hotel to still feel like you are having a luxurious experience. I stayed at Arome Hotel, which was about €60 per night, and they provided me with breakfast in the morning, as well as sitting down with me and helping me map out what to do in Nice and Monaco to make the most of my time. It was a block away from the beach, and it was perfect. Booking.com is also helpful because it gives the hotel owners the opportunity to let customers know what languages they speak, so if you don’t speak French, it can be easier for you to navigate. 

Day 1: Exploring Nice, France

The first day of the trip will be to Nice, France, because this is where most people choose to stay when they are planning on visiting both Nice and Monaco. Nice is on the coast in the south of France, but it is less expensive to stay in Nice if you are visiting Monaco because Monaco is small, so the options for hotels are more limited than in the surrounding towns. Also, I planned this trip during the off-season (the winter), so things were a bit more inexpensive during that time. 

The first stop when you get to Nice should be going to the Promenade des Anglais to see the sea. The area is absolutely beautiful with people riding bikes, roller skating, walking their dogs, and lying on the beach having picnics. Although it was the beginning of February when I went, the temperature was 19 degrees Celsius (65 degrees Fahrenheit) the whole weekend, which was amazing. However, because you are on the water, the nights do tend to be a little chilly, so this is something to think about when you are packing. 

While you are walking along the water, make note of the places you might want to eat. Although there are many touristy places near the Promenade, there are also some hole-in-the-wall restaurants with great food that are not extremely expensive. It is nice to have a meal on a patio overlooking the water, enjoy an aperitif, and take in the beautiful weather if you are able to. 

Next, the Old Town of Nice is full of history and architectural beauty. Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate, or the Cathedral of Saint Reparata, is a cathedral dedicated to the patron saint of Nice. The inside and the outside are equally as beautiful, and the art and architecture that fill the building are worth the trip. There is also a popular flower market in the Old Town called the Cours Saleya market, which has fresh produce, flowers, and other goods. This market is held every day but Monday and goes until about 14.00. On Mondays, there is an antique market that takes the place of the flower market. 

There are also many museums that you can visit during your time in Nice, such as Musée d’Art Moderne Et d’Art Contemporain, Palais Lascaris, Musée Matisse, and much more. There is definitely something for everyone.

For your final stop on your tour of Nice, the Château de Nice is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and to see an overlook of the entire city. What once was a castle is now an overlook, park, and garden. There is a great deal of French history surrounding the historic landmark, but it is known as a place where tourists and locals alike go to enjoy the beautiful views and scenery. If you look for it, you can see the top of the Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate from the lookout. 

Day 2: Exploring Monaco

Next, you will be taking the 20-minute train over to the Principality of Monaco. Get on at the Nice Ville station once again, and your ticket should be about €4,40. You will get off at the Monaco Monte Carlo station, and then you are free to go exploring. When you come out of the station, you will first pass Église de Sainte-Dévote (a beautiful church), and then the pathway will take you directly to Port Hercule, where you can walk along the water and take in the picturesque views and the beautiful yachts docked at the marina.

While you are on this side of the city, you can also visit La Collection Automobiles de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco, which is the private car collection of the Prince of Monaco. You can then head to the Théâtre du Fort Antoine, which is an 18th-century fort with beautiful views of the sea from above. Since you are still on that side of town, take a trip to the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, which is a museum founded by Prince Albert I dedicated to oceanography with a huge aquarium inside. Next, you can head to Le Palais Princier de Monaco, which is the Prince’s Palace. Finally, end this portion of your day by going to Jardins Saint-Martin, which is a park that overlooks the sea.

At this point, you are likely pretty hungry for some lunch. There are plenty of restaurants along the port if you walk back in the direction of the train station, but there are also many restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from amongst the streets of Monaco.

The second half of the day will be spent on the opposite side of Monaco, starting with the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Whether or not you choose to enter is up to you, however, the outside views are enough for most people to take in. The architecture of the building itself is beautiful, and if you position yourself between the Casino and the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, it is the perfect spot for car-watching. The casino gardens are also a beautiful place to enjoy the scenery and take some amazing photos. If you are into shopping, you are now in the perfect area to do so. There are many luxury shops around this area to either browse or window shop – whichever you prefer. 

If you are a Formula One fan, it is also free to walk along the entirety of the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. There are many different statues and landmarks around Monte Carlo commemorating the country’s racing history.

Although some sit-down dinner restaurants around the casino can tend to be a bit pricey, there are many different hidden culinary gems to choose from depending on what style of food you are looking for. 

Tips For Your Trip

The biggest tip that I can give you is to wear comfortable shoes. I went on my weekend trip thinking that my shoes were going to be comfortable enough because I wanted to dress nice. However, I wish that I had just worn sneakers because there is so much walking involved in both of these cities. Although you can utilize public transportation like buses in each of the cities, if you really want to immerse yourself in it, walking is the best way to see everything. 

Be prepared to spend a lot of money on food. Although you can find many places in Nice that are inexpensive for lunch and dinner, in Monaco it is not as easy. 

Article by Savannah Dawson for Easy Milano

Featured image by Dominik Pearce