How to visit Monaco and Èze from Nice

Staying 3 days in Nice but don't want to give up a getaway? An organised excursion to Monaco and Èze is the solution you're looking for. You will travel in comfort, enjoy the explanations of an expert guide and have free time to explore the cities on your own.

The Côte d'Azur is a world-famous tourist destination. Monaco and Èze are two of its pearls, and a minivan tour is one of the best things to see and do in Nice.

The tour leaves Nice in the morning and takes the road towards the Principality. Before arriving in the city-state, the minibus stops in the old town of Èze, a medieval village overlooking the Mediterranean from the top of a hill. The stroll through the cobbled streets ends at the exotic garden built on the ruins of an ancient castle.

Routes usually include a stop at the historic Fragonard perfume factory. The visit usually lasts just over an hour. Once finished, after a short drive, you will arrive in Monaco where you will see the following attractions:

• Place du Palais, the official residence of the Prince of Monaco. Every day, shortly before noon (11.55 am), the changing of the guard ceremony takes place. Tickets can be purchased on the official website
• Vieux Monaco, the oldest quarter of the Principality. It sits atop a hill and is a delightful maze of pastel-coloured houses. Here you'll find some cute gift shops such as Le 19-21 (19 Rue Comte Félix Gastaldi) or Les 5 Saveurs (6b rue Basse).
• Notre-Dame-Inmaculée Cathedral, a Romanesque-Byzantine building in white limestone. Inside are the tombs of Princess Grace and Rainier III. Admission is free.
• Oceanographic Museum, the Aquarium of Monte Carlo. It was commissioned by Prince Albert I (1848-1922) and is known for its coral reef and the exhibition dedicated to the birth of oceanography. You can find all the information about opening hours and tickets on the official website (Avenue Saint-Martin).
• Casino, a symbol of luxury and the setting for countless films. This elegant baroque building bears the signature of Charles Garnier, the French architect known for having designed the Opéra Garnier in Paris.
• Duration: about 7 hours
• Price: around 120 €.
• Means of transport: bus or minivan
• Please note: this tour does not normally include entrance fees to the attractions. If you want to visit the aquarium or the car collection of Princes Rainier III and Albert II, you will have to pay for them on your own.

Have you booked a weekend on the Côte d'Azur but don't want to forgo an excursion? In that case, you should consider this route which takes little more than a morning.

A vehicle will pick you up in the morning and accompany you to Èze where you will have the opportunity to visit both the medieval village and the laboratory of the famous Fragonard perfumery. The stop lasts about an hour, after which you will get back in the car and drive along the Grande Corniche, one of the most beautiful scenic roads of the French Riviera.

Before arriving in Monaco, you will pass through La Turbie, a village perched in the mountains overlooking the Principality. Its icon is the Trophée des Alpes, a huge Roman monument towering over the rooftops.

Finally, the vehicle will drop you off in Monaco where you will have about 3 hours to enjoy the tour. Normally, the guide will focus on the main sights of the Principality - the Casino, the elegant Hotel de Paris and the splendid gardens of Monaco - but you will have plenty of time to visit the famous city-state at your leisure.

If you have chosen Monaco because you have a passion for cars, I recommend you visit the following attractions and sights:

• Prince Rainier III Car Collection, an exhibition space that brings together models used by both Rainier and his son, Prince Albert II. The highlight is the 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL with its typical gull-wing doors. Admission is about 10 € (Route de la Piscine 54).
• Statue of Juan Manuel Fangio. The Argentinian driver was one of the best of his time and won two Grands Prix here in 1950 and 1957. The sculpture depicts him next to his single-seater and is located at the famous Rascasse corner.
• Automobile Club de Monaco, the club that manages the Principality's automobile world. Here you can buy posters and other souvenirs linked to the famous Monte Carlo Rally as well as Formula 1.
• Tobacconist or Loewscorner, the slowest corner in F1. At this point, drivers slow down to 50 km/h and must be careful not to hit their rivals.
• Chicane, the harbour corner and one of the few places where you can try to overtake someone.

All in all, a drive is enough to see both the most extreme and the most elegant sports cars. At the end, you will return to Nice with fond memories, Monaco leaves no one indifferent.

• Duration: between 4 and 5 hours
• Price: around €120
• Means of transport: bus or minivan

Nice and the Principality of Monaco are connected by a breathtaking scenic road. Take a seat in the minivan and enjoy the view before arriving in Èze. Here you will find the Fragonard Laboratory Factory, an Art Nouveau perfumery that produces creams and fragrances in the traditional way.

The visit is free and I recommend you to do it. You will have enough time to discover the history of this place (the visit lasts half an hour) and take a stroll through the old town of Èze before returning to the road.

The next stop is the most glamorous destination in the Mediterranean: Monaco. During the itinerary you will have plenty of time to explore the city-state. Among other sites, it is worth seeing the Grand Théâtre, the Jardin Exotique (a collection of succulent plants brought from Mexico) or the Larvotto Beach, probably the only public beach designed by Renzo Piano.

After a stroll through the cathedral and the narrow streets of the old town, it is time to continue the itinerary:

• Cannes, the city of cinema. It is world famous for La Croisette, an elegant boulevard that runs along the sea. From here you can easily reach the Suquet, the historic centre and the Vieux Port district. If you want to spend more time here, you can book a day trip to Cannes from Nice.
• Antibes, a picturesque village surrounded by a crystal clear bay. The Vieille Ville (Old Town) is home to a host of charming shops and attractions such as the Cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-la-Plateau d'Antibes (1 Rue du Saint-Esprit) and the Picasso Museum (Place Mariejol).
• Saint Paul de Vence, a medieval village that is home to artists, painters and craftsmen. If there were no tourists, you would say that time has stood still. You'll find art galleries such as Seiller (23 Rem Sud-Ouest Courtine Sainte-Anne), Di Allure (53 Rue Grande) and more.

After a day's journey, the minivan takes you back to Nice.

• Duration: 9 hours or a little more
• Price: around 100 €.
• Means of transport: bus or minivan
• Important: lunch is not normally included in this tour.

A dedicated cruise excursion, a bus or minivan will pick you up at the port of Villefranche-sur-Mer, a pretty seaside town just a few kilometres from Nice. From here you will first travel to Èze and then on to Monaco.

As well as transport, the price includes an expert guide, but you'll have time to visit both towns (especially Monte Carlo) at your leisure.

Please note that, as this is an excursion designed exclusively for cruisers, all times are calculated so that you will be back on the ship before it departs. In the rare event of a delay, the minivan will accompany you to the next stop on the ship and you will not have to pay any extra.

• Duration: about 7 hours
• Price: around 120 €.
• Means of transport: bus or minivan

Of course you can, but it will cost you more in time or money. If you've booked a hire car, you'll get there quickly but you'll have to pay for petrol and tolls.

Public transport, on the other hand, is affordable, but you'll depend on the timetables of the different means of transport. In the case of Monaco, you can choose from:

• Bus, line 100 (Nice - Monaco - Menton) connects the two towns and departs from Le Port. The journey is scenic and the ticket costs around €1.50. You can also opt for the 100X express bus which runs along the motorway. In this case, the ticket costs about €5.
• Train between Nice-Ville and Monaco Monte Carlo stations. There are usually two departures every hour and the journey costs approximately €4. More information is available on the French railways website.

For Èze, the train is the same as Monaco (TER C3), but the bus is different. In this case, you'll need to take bus 82 from Vauban bus station (16 Avenue des Diables Bleus).

The South of France enjoys a Mediterranean climate and there really is no bad season to visit. Therefore, I'm going to turn the question around and give you the dates that are best avoided:

• During the Monaco Grand Prix. It is the Formula 1 world event and the streets are closed to accommodate the single-seaters. A trip to Monte Carlo is not possible on these dates, but in any case I would not recommend it. The city hosts a large number of fans and it is impossible to see the city quietly. It is also difficult to find a place to watch the Formula 1!
• During August. There is no doubt, the Côte d'Azur is splendid in summer but in this month it is particularly crowded. If you want to travel during this season, choose June, July or September.

If you have time for a gastronomic break, it is important to know the best establishments to make the most of your free time.

Monaco

Who said you have to spend an arm and a leg to eat in Monte Carlo? The list below lists some good, nice and cheap restaurants:

• Lo Sfizio, a take away with pizza, stuffed focaccia, supplì (crispy rice balls stuffed with mozzarella) and more. Gluten-free options are also available (14 Avenue Saint-Charles).
• Grubers, if you're in the mood for meat. It only sells Cheesegrubers: burgers with 100% ground beef, creamy sauce, cheese and a soft, bun-like bun. You have 8 delicious toppings to choose from (20 Rue Princesse Caroline).
• Il Terrazzino, Neapolitan cuisine in the principality. The establishment is located near Les Jardins de la Petite Afrique (Rue des Iris).
• U Cavagnetu, a restaurant specialising in Monegasque cuisine. Make the most of your stop to try the Barbagiuan, fried ravioli stuffed with cheese, pumpkin or sliced meat (14 Rue Comte Félix Gastaldi).
• Giacomo, to eat in front of the sea without spending too much. It is very colourful and offers fish-based recipes. Advance booking is recommended (Complexe du Larvotto, Local L27).
• Chez Roger, the ideal destination for socca. A delicious chickpea focaccia, typical of Provençal cuisine (Marche De La Condamine Place D'Armes).

Èze

Èze is not lacking in dining options either. One of the best restaurants is Le Nid d'Aigle, which has a picturesque terrace under a pergola. Specialities include fillet of sea bream with white butter, basil and courgette tatin or the original squid and chorizo wok (1 rue du Château).

Another highly recommended destination is Le Cap Estel on a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean. Be warned, it's not cheap, but it's well worth the money. You can enjoy their best dishes on a cosy terrace, ideal for the hottest days (1312 avenue Raymond Poincare Bord-De-Mer).

Nice is a beautiful city, but so is its region. You only have to stray a few kilometres away to discover simply marvellous destinations. If you like luxury, you can't miss Monaco.

However, the city-state is not only synonymous with luxury cars and penthouses overlooking the Mediterranean. Also worth a visit are the Oceanographic Museum (famous for its Arctic and Antarctic exhibits), the Notre-Dame-Inmaculée Cathedral (where Ranieri III and Grace Kelly were married) and the splendidly preserved old town.

In the case of Èze, you will have the opportunity to stroll through a medieval village with narrow streets and stone houses decorated with colourful flowers. It is also worth going to the viewpoint "Un balcon sur l'Azur" where you can enjoy an incomparable view of the sea.

Spending only a few days in Nice and want to explore the surrounding area? In this case, an organised tour is the best option. The advantages are essentially threefold:

• Savings. Renting a car is certainly more comfortable but also more expensive. Moreover, parking in the principality can be very expensive and some of them are only for residents.
• More destinations in one day. The low price of the tour allows you to see two or more cities, in this case Monaco and Èze.
• A guide is included. It is useful to hear the explanations both inside the bus and outside. If you are travelling on your own, you have to organise everything separately.

If you are short on time, I recommend reading the article on how to plan a three-day holiday in Nice.

Monaco and Èze are not the only destinations worth visiting:

• Cagnes-sur-Mer, a fishing village that has become a popular tourist resort since the 1970s. The town also boasts a castle, the Château Grimaldi, which dates back to the 14th century.
• Saint Tropez, the town of celebrities. In addition to the yachts in the old harbour, the colourful old town nicknamed La Ponche is worth admiring. The coast deserves a separate chapter. Saint Tropez alternates between wild beaches (Plage des Graniers), secluded beaches (Plage de la Moutte) or a long stretch of golden sand, such as Plage des Canoubiers. If you feel like visiting it, I recommend you to read the post about day trips to Saint Tropez from Nice.
• Ramatuelle, a typical Provençal village with stone houses and flower pots adorning the streets in the centre. It lies at the foot of the Massif des Castellas and has a characteristic snail's shape. A short distance away you will find the Moulins de Paillas, five windmills built between the 16th and 19th centuries.
• Tourrettes-sur-Loup, known for two reasons: its location on a rocky spur and its cultivation of violets. Every March there is a festival dedicated to this beautiful flower.
• Mentone, a quiet town a few kilometres from the Italian border. If you're travelling with your partner, you can surprise her by taking her to the Val Rahmeh Botanical Garden. In Persian it means "valley of tranquillity" and is home to several endangered species. For an incredible panorama, I recommend climbing up to the cemetery of the old castle (Cimetière du Vieux Château).

It depends on their age. If your children are very young, these excursions may be too long. That's not a problem, there is no shortage of options in Nice for activities with your children. Here are a few of them:

• Promenade du Paillon, a 12-hectare park in the heart of the city. It is dotted with playgrounds and large structures representing marine animals.
• Le petit train, an electric train that runs through Nice and reaches landmarks such as the château and the old port. Prices range from €10 to €12.
• Parc Phoenix, a large park with a pyramid-shaped greenhouse and numerous animal species. The entrance fee is about €5. Near the airport (405 Promenade des Anglais).