One of the most comfortable aristocratic resorts of the Cote d'Azur has known many famous visitors in the person of famous writers, poets, artists and simply the mighty of this world. It has its own special charm, contained in the unique beauty of the natural landscape, combined with the urban charm of city streets and buildings. A wonderful vacation in the French Riviera, a huge selection of entertainment, an interesting society attracts thousands of tourists here. But Nice is also a convenient starting point to other, equally fascinating places, for example, the Principality of Monaco. You can get there in different ways.
Bus
It is quite convenient and inexpensive to come to Monaco from Nice by buses that run every day until 20.00.
Along the Cote d'Azur:
Line 100 - Nice - Monaco - Menton: starting from 5.50 to 20.00; on Sunday and holidays - from 07.00; every 10-30 minutes.
101 line - Saint-Laurent de Eze - Monaco - Carnoles; with an interval of 2 hours.
Line 110 - Nice Airport - Monaco - Menton; from 06.15 to 19.15, with an interval of 1 hour.
Line 112 - Nice - Monaco: every 2 hours, from 06.00 to 20.00.
On Thursday-Saturday and holidays in Monaco, you can get there by night buses Notambus, running from 22.00 to 02.30 through Monaco to Menton. Of the daytime, the most popular route is the N 100 bus, traveling through very picturesque places, the contemplation of which makes an hour's trip a real pleasure: a beautiful view of the bay of Villefranche-sur-mer; Cap Ferrat - Cape of Millionaires; the amazing beauties of Beaulieu and Eze. A ticket for all buses can be purchased from the driver for 1.5 euros.
Express bus N 100 X from Nice to Monaco runs on the A-8 Autobahn with a stop in the pretty mountain village of La Turbie. It houses the famous monument of the Roman Empire - the Alpine Trophy, there are restaurants with excellent cuisine. Express travel: Monday-Friday, the ticket costs 4.5 euros. The ticket price from La Turbie is 1.5 euros.
Train
The TER trains from the main station are an excellent form of transport to Monaco. They start moving from 05 am to 23.30, ticket offices are open from 06.10 to 21.00, on Sunday. - from 07.00 to 20.00. You can order e-tickets, the cost is 3.9 euros. The electric train from Mandelieu via Nice to the Italian Ventimiglia is very popular, because it makes many stops and follows a convenient tourist route.
Taxi
Tourists can also book a taxi that will take them from Nice to Monaco. You will be delivered to your destination in a comfortable economy, comfort or premium class car. The cost of the trip is 80 euros. There is also a vehicle in the fleet for large companies.
Helicopter
For those who are not used to saving money and have long planned to make an exciting helicopter flight, such a transfer is also provided. A helicopter flight (7 minutes) from Nice Airport to Monaco will cost 115 euros (per passenger).
What to see in Monaco
A trip by bus, train, helicopter in Monaco is a joyful prelude to a meeting with unique sights, with ancient monuments of history and culture, with the European center for holding international festivals of various directions and incredibly beautiful views.
Wealth Symbol - Casino Monte Carlo
The capital of a small principality is known all over the world for its Casino, where millionaires and billionaires come to test their capital and the mercy of Fortune. To immediately be at the casino building, you need to get off the bus at the bus stop of the same name. A few steps - and here it is, the famous place where in one night some play to smithereens, while others become richer. At first glance at the surroundings, aristocracy is noticeable in everything: in the classical architecture of the building, in the ideal layout of the adjacent territory, in the lush greenery of floral ornaments, in a huge fountain.
The presence of a luxury car in the parking lot indicates an active process inside the institution. The entrance to the “temple of passion and fortune” costs 10 euros, which you will never regret seeing stunning interiors, whose splendor and splendor delight and amaze with unprecedented luxury. Mahogany, gilding, velvet, Persian carpets, massive crystal chandeliers and lamps of exclusive designs, art canvases on the walls - everything amazes and delights. It is worth going here not as a gambling establishment, but as a museum of applied arts, where you can see masterpieces of wood carving, jewelry made of metal and glass, and antique antique furniture.
Old town of Monaco-Ville
This is the name of the former capital of Monaco, located on the rocky Cape Saint-Antoine. Its architectural embodiment is the ancient cultural and historical buildings that embody the past and present of the European principality.
One of the most ancient buildings of the dwarf state cannot be ignored - the Prince's Palace, the majestic building of which was erected back in 1191 by representatives of the noble Genoese family of Grimaldi. It is located on the site of a former Genoese fortress. The palace was rebuilt several times, new owners added extensions, decorations, and now everyone can contemplate the majestic, cream-colored building with a white colonnade. It is the official residence of the ruling princes of Monaco and hosts open-air classical music concerts during the summer months.
The Palace complex is divided into 4 parts: the residence of the princely family; official government offices; ceremonial premises for ceremonial receptions and accommodation of guests; the palace church, in which all the rituals and ceremonies associated with the ruling dynasty of the country are performed. Tourists have the right to visit the inner halls of the front part of the palace only in summer. Here they see white marble staircases, an unusually beautiful stone floor with ornate patterns, and picturesque wall frescoes. Outside, you can admire the main entrance, old cannons, changing of the guard, the external beauty of the facades.
Address: Monaco-Ville, du Palais.
Open for visits: every day, from 02 04 to 31 10 from 10.00 to 18 pm (July, August - until 19.00), except weekends and days of Formula 1 F1 and the Grand Prix.
No entry: from 01.11 to 01.04.
Entrance tickets: adult - 8 euros; children (from 8 to 14 and students - 4 euros. There are options for paired tickets (for example, visiting the Palace and the Rainier collection of cars), the equipment of which changes periodically, so you need to find out about their cost directly at the ticket office.
Cathedral of Saint Nicholas
A white stone Romanesque church was erected on the site of an old temple from the 13th century in 1875. The colossal, majestic building of the cathedral evokes spiritual awe with its solemn beauty: graceful colonnades at the entrance, beautiful sculptures of portals, winged lions on both sides of the pediment. The inside of the church is decorated with expressive artistic canvases, a magnificent altar made of white marble with rich mosaic inlay. Organ concerts are held here (the majestic organ was installed in 1976). The cathedral serves as the burial place for members of the princely families (the ashes of Grace Kelly, the world-beloved princess who died in a car accident, lie here).
Address: Monaco-Ville, St. Martin Avenue.
To get there from the station: buses of the 1st and 2nd lines.
Open: in winter - every day, from 08.00 to 18.00; in summer - every day, from 08.00 to 19.00. Services with the choir: Saturday. from 18.00; Sunday - from 10.30. The entrance is free.
Chapel of God's Mercy
Next to the Prince's Palace there is a religious monument with a very interesting history - a one-nave church - Chapel
Mercy of God, built in the Baroque style. Its name is not accidental: for many years representatives of the brotherhood preached here, whose members were apologists for kindness and mercy towards the sick, towards people who have sinned or committed crimes.Since the mid-17th century, the Chapel of Mercy has retained its original appearance: a round rosette window in the center of the facade, baroque windows, stucco decorations and sculptures. Later, false columns with elaborate capitals were built, giving the chapel a grandeur.
The previous internal appearance of the church was almost completely lost as a result of the atrocities of the rebels during the French Revolution, who plundered gilded jewelry, statues and other elements of decoration. Looking now at the magnificent statues, ceiling and wall frescoes, statues of saints, you are imbued with respect for those who recreated and did it all over again. The Chapel of Mercy is a symbol of kindness and compassion.
Address: Monaco-Ville, Place De La Mairie, 5 min. walk from the Prince's Palace.
Open: daily - from 10.00 to 18.00. The entrance is free.
Oceanographic Museum
This is not just a museum, but a scientific aid to the oceanographic institute located right there. The museum itself was opened on the initiative of Prince Albert in 1889, and in 1906 it was considered rational to open an institute here, the director of which was the renowned explorer of the ocean depths Jacques Cousteau for several years. The building of the museum itself is very impressive, as if it had grown out of rocks near the water (rear facade).
And the internal content delights with huge sea panoramas with exotic inhabitants (in the aquarium there are almost 6,000 species of fish, 200 subspecies of invertebrates and 100 species of corals).
The museum has many items related to the study of the seas and oceans: marine equipment, models and models of ships, stuffed sea animals, skeletons of huge mammals, maps of the seabed, documents-evidence of various expeditions. Only here there is the Shark Lagoon - a huge pool under a glass dome (glass thickness - 30 cm, 400 cubic meters of water), which is inhabited by rare species of sharks, outlandish fish, electric rays. With the help of technological innovations, they learned how to artificially grow corals here. Inspection of museum exhibits is an interesting journey that gives a complete picture of the life of the underwater world.
Address: Monaco-Ville, Avenue St-Martin.
Open to the public: every day, except on the days of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Opening hours:
- January-March, from 10.00 to 18.00;
- Apr-June, 09.30-19.00;
- July-Aug., from 09.30 to 19.30;
- Sep - from 09.30 to 19.00;
- Oct.-Dec, from 10.00 to 18.00.
Entrance:
- adults - 13 euros;
- children (4-18 years old), students, disabled people of all ages from 4 years old - 6.5 euros. Free - children under 4 years old.
Monaco is a principality where a huge land of man-made wonders and beauties has been created on a tiny piece of the coast, which cannot be seen during a short stay.
