Looking for the top day trips from Monaco? We wrote this blog post just for you!
Monaco is a small city-state on the French Riviera that packs big experiences. From its glamorous casinos to its awe-inspiring coastline, there’s something for everyone in this Mediterranean paradise. But there’s even more, to explore beyond Monaco’s borders!
From charming hillside villages and iconic landmarks to pristine beaches and rugged nature trails, day trips from Monaco are an easy way to make the most of your time on the Cote D’Azur. Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture, or a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of Monaco life, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Get ready to discover some of the hidden gems within easy reach of the principality!
Discover idyllic villages in the hills with narrow lanes lined with sun-drenched cafes, thriving markets, and breathtaking views across vineyards and olive groves. Explore iconic coastal towns such as Antibes and Juan-les-Pins, which offer a fascinating blend of history, art galleries, lively nightlife, and traditional restaurants serving freshly caught seafood specialties.
Delight in some of Europe’s best beaches – from soft white sand backed by mountains over Cap Ferrat to secluded pebble bays near St Tropez – or take a boat trip around Iles de Lérins basks in blissful sunshine while admiring stunning cliffside vistas. If you have an adventurous streak, why not tackle one of the many hiking trails that wind through national parks filled with rare plants and wildlife? Or enjoy a wine-tasting session at one of Côte d’Azur’s renowned wineries: there’s no tastier way to sample local delicacies!
There’s so much to see beyond Monaco’s limits – so why not escape the hustle and bustle for an unforgettable day trip? Let us show you all that this beautiful region has to offer: from golden beaches lapped by crystal clear waters under azure skies to quaint hilltop villages shrouded in ancient history; get ready for an adventure with plenty of sunshine along the way!
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Top 10 Day Trips from Monaco
Nice, France
Facing the exotic azure waters of the Baie des Anges, Nice has inspired artists and visitors since the 19th century. It is worth having a day trip from Monaco to experience the vibrant culture, serene environment, and old-world charm of the Mediterranean Sea. You will embrace the tranquil, paved walkways of the Vielle Ville, its quaint buildings, and its lively ambiance.
The palm-fringed Promenade des Anglais is yet another must-see destination where tourists and locals can soak up the sunshine of the French Riviera and its scenery.
Nice also houses world-class art museums, along with Musee Chagall, Musee Matisse, and Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain. You can comfortably cover all the beautiful attractions here with a day trip from Monaco to Nice.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Top 10 Places to Visit in France
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
The Roquebrune-Cap-Martin station is only 4 minutes away from Monaco by train, making it the world’s most leisurely day trip. Two elements can comfortably fit into your boat trips from Monaco to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
The first part of the day trip includes a historic village perched atop the cliffs facing the Mediterranean, where you can start your trips to Monaco.
The next section is Cape Martin, a Mediterranean peninsula where you will spot pebble beaches and turquoise waters. Chemin des Douaniers is the coastal walkway that hugs the sea across the peninsula to provide a spectacular view. Then, you can hop on the train from Gare de Carnoles, around 7 minutes to Monaco.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: European Fashion: Top 10 Fashion Capitals of the World
Menton, France
The next stop after Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is Menton, which is easy to reach from Monaco by taking a fast train in 12 minutes. For a day trip, it is an ideal destination and an idyllic old town with well-known gardens and a beach.
When getting to Menton, Jardin Botanique Exotique is a famous botanical garden, a must-see tourist destination. It is open in the mornings and afternoons daily except Tuesday. The Basilica is another famous attraction.
On a day trip, you can get through the vivid streets; keep your camera ready for exotic views of the mountains, frame-ready red roofs, and the Mediterranean; and splash your toes along the sea.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Top 8 Warmest Places in Europe in December
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is located towards the west of Monaco and near Nice. You can easily access this serene peninsula, a paradise for hikers. If you are an avid nature lover, catch the spectacular views of Cap-Ferrat after the humdrum of Monaco.
Chemin des Douaniers is the smooth pathway that passes through the cape, which takes you to several beach cafes and bars to finish your day off. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is a genuinely worthwhile chick landmark. You will feel fresh at the start of your trip before a hike if you hop here.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Top 15 The Most Expensive Cities in Europe That Are Still Worth the Visit
Mercantour National Park, France
Mercantour National Park is located towards the north of Monaco. It is recommended to book a car and leave behind the glamour and glitz of the Mediterranean coast and drive up the mountains to capture the panoramic scene. Stop by the idyllic villages like Moulinet and Sospel to glimpse another Monaco side in the south of real, rugged, and unspoiled France.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Top Tourist Attractions and Thing to do in Monaco
Antibes, France
It is one of the most beautiful and exotic landmarks in France. It is well regarded to have an old town stretched by its ramparts dating back to the 16th century, with its serene and snow-capped Alps serving as its backdrop.
The townhouses are the wealthy Europeans whose tranquility has inspired. It captivated Picasso, who lived here for six months in the 1940s. It is also effortless to get there. Antibes is located on the same coastline as Monaco but only further west. You can quickly get there within an hour. Enjoy the morning in the old town and walk through the star-shaped Fort Carre and harbor.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Top 9 Places to Visit in Monaco
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Bordighera, Italy
Going to Italy is as simple as going to France for a day trip because Monaco is located close to Italy. Bordighera is a little coastal city in Italy. You can effortlessly get here in an hour and 20 minutes of a train journey.
It mostly falls under the radar due to its position around significant resorts and size. It is also an ideal destination to enjoy delicious Italian dishes. You can also hop around the beautiful harbor and enjoy your memorable day trip here.
Stop at Giardini Botanici Hanbury if you get here by car. It lies between Bordighera and Menton. It is a must-visit botanical garden on the University of Genoa campus, and it has so much to see on a day trip.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Read also: Best Cities in Europe to Visit
Gourdon, France
Just getting here is a treat in itself. Have a relaxing breather on hot summer days by stopping at Saut du Loup waterfall if you have time. Or take the trip from Gorges du Loup, which has a 700m high mountain cliff. Later, you will drive through the settlement of Pont du Loup, a hamlet that gets the ideal climate to grow olive trees, orange trees, and perfume plants under Gourdon municipality.
You might walk up to this city by taking a mule track of Chemin du Paradis. You need to climb around 500 meters, but the route is a paradise by the end. If you are a less adventurous traveler, you may stay in your car and drive up to the exotic community, which attracts more visitors than villagers on Riviera.
Sitting as an eagle’s nest at the top of a rocky spur, Gourdon is an epitome of a perched rural community with a breathtaking view of around 80km of coastline from Nice and Theoule-Sur-Mer.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Grasse, France
Grasse is known to have stunning and inspiring views of the Antibes and Cannes coasts and also houses marvelous views above. It has many villages nearby that are equally charming, and the friendly locals welcome tourists.
The area of Grasse is best for enjoying outdoor fun and hiking. It can be the best choice to go mountain biking, horse riding, and playing tennis and golf. The best route to get here is the 4-lane N2285 highway from A8 exit 42. There is no need to go far to visit a few of the perfumeries, which are the major attractions here.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Recommended reads 📖:
- 30 BEST Places to Visit in Europe
- Top 20 Cheapest Countries in Europe to Visit for Budget Travelers
- Top 25 Best Cities in Europe to Visit and Explore!
- 20 BEST Places to Visit in Finland
- 26 Most Romantic Destinations in Europe
- Top 15 of the Most Visited Tourist Attractions in Europe
- 21 Finnish Food and Dishes You Should Try
Eze, France
Located on the Nice-Monaco, the town of Eze-sur-Mer is by the sea, and it is something you shouldn’t confuse with Eze-le-Village, a historic village with breathtaking and sweeping views of the Riviera.
You can quickly get to this peaceful village from the train station via Chemin de la Mer, a steep and long footpath connecting the seaside town. You can take a bus from Monaco, Nice or Villefranche. You may ask a tourist information office or hotel or visit the official website of Lignes d’Azur regarding the bus schedule.
The Eze is a typical monarch in Igbo culture and tradition, which is suggested by the community of elders or chiefs appointed for their good deeds. It is said that “Igbo enwe eze,” which means there is no king in Igbo. Well, it doesn’t mean that Igbo societies aren’t complicated. It has been explained in sociological, anthropological, and political research for centuries.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Valbonne, France
Located halfway along Brague River, Valbonne is a commune situated in a basin with two sites, i.e., the old village in the northwest and Sophia Antipolis in the east around Garbejaire and Haut-Sartoux towns.
The old village has rigorous architecture in all the houses as a street layout. All of them were the same in the past. Now found partly underground because of the rise in street level, the ground floor was famous for deliveries. Above the bedrooms was the living room on the first floor. The stores were hoisted on the attic by using a pulley.
The fountain and tower complement a former town hall on the main street. It was built in the 19th century. Benedictine monks from the Order of Chalais developed a Romanesque abbey church in the 13th century. When the village was established, it became the parish church.
Where to stay in Monaco? Book your stay and find great deals through this link!
Planning to visit Monaco? Check out these posts!
Where to stay in Monaco
Booking.comTours to do in Monaco
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