5 Days in Monaco: The First-Timer Itinerary

Days 1-4 of this plan match our 4-day itinerary : Monaco, then Eze, then Menton. Day 5 crosses an actual border into Italy for the Ventimiglia market, which changes one thing about how you should plan this trip: read the Friday note below before you assign your days. Need a longer trip still? The 6-day version adds Cannes and Antibes.

Book these before you go

Day 1: Le Rocher and the old town

Arrive on the 22-minute train from Nice, roughly EUR 5-7, into Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, underground since 1999. Morning on Le Rocher: the Palace exterior, the free Changing of the Guard at 11:55am, and the Cathedral, home to Princess Grace’s tomb. Between 30 March and 15 October 2026, add the State Apartments for EUR 13. Afternoon at the Oceanographic Museum , founded 1910, EUR 22.50, 90 minutes to two hours. Evening: Port Hercule and the Marche de la Condamine’s Halle gourmande, EUR 10-12.

Day 2: Monte-Carlo and the free stuff that isn’t actually free

The Casino de Monte-Carlo ’s free Atrium, then the EUR 20 morning heritage visit (10am to 1pm) into the gaming rooms. Casino Square outside is a real corner of the Grand Prix circuit. The Jardin Exotique , reopened 30 March 2026, EUR 12, the best clifftop views in Monaco. Round out the day at Larvotto Beach or the gaming rooms themselves (18+, from 2pm, EUR 20).

Day 3: Eze, the perched village next door

The train reaches Eze-sur-Mer in about 7 minutes, but the clifftop village sits well above it and the connecting bus runs infrequently, so budget 20-30 minutes total or hike the steep Chemin de Nietzsche trail. Up top: cobbled lanes, sea views, and a free 30-minute Fragonard perfumery tour. The Moyenne Corniche runs right past the village on the way back.

Day 4: Menton, the easier old town

A direct 11-12 minute train, roughly EUR 3-4, with 46-66 trains a day, the most frequent of any Monaco day trip. The old town is flatter than Eze’s climb, fronted by a gentle Belle Epoque seafront and built around a genuine lemon obsession celebrated every February at the Fete du Citron. Morning in the old town, afternoon on the beach, back to Monaco by evening.

Day 5: Ventimiglia, across the border into Italy

Do you need a passport to visit Ventimiglia from Monaco? No new paperwork in practice, both sides sit inside the Schengen zone, but you are genuinely leaving France-adjacent Monaco and entering Italy, a different country that happens to share the euro, so no currency swap either.

The direct train takes 25-30 minutes, fastest services around 27 minutes, roughly EUR 4-7, with about 29 trains a day. The entire reason to go on a specific day: Ventimiglia’s market runs Fridays only, one of the largest open-air markets in Italy, drawing shoppers from Monaco and Nice alike. If Day 5 of your actual trip doesn’t land on a Friday, swap this day with Day 3 or Day 4 so the market lines up, this is the one day trip in this whole itinerary that isn’t flexible. Arrive on an early train, well before 8am if you can manage it, to beat the crowds; the stalls are a 10-minute walk from the station.

Getting here, getting around, staying nearby

Every arrival routes through Nice Cote d’Azur airport, then the train, the Zou Express bus 80 (45-60 minutes, EUR 20-22), or a 7-minute helicopter transfer around EUR 160-195. Inside Monaco, free public lifts and escalators handle the steep terrain. Monaco hotels run EUR 550-650+/night; Nice or Beausoleil are the honest budget base for a trip this heavy on day trips.

For the full sight-by-sight rundown, see our Monaco places guide ; for the complete logistics picture, our Monaco travel guide .