7 Days in Monaco: The First-Timer Itinerary
Days 1-6 of this plan match our 6-day itinerary : Monaco, Eze, Menton, Ventimiglia, then Cannes and Antibes. Day 7 closes the loop with the one place most Monaco trips only ever see from a train window: Nice itself, properly, for a full day. This is the longest version of this itinerary; the 2-day plan covers just Monaco if a week is more than you need.
Book these before you go
- Check Monaco or Nice hotel rates early, prices triple during the 5-7 June 2026 Grand Prix
- Reserve Oceanographic Museum tickets ahead during any event week
- Book an Eze and Monaco day tour to skip solving Eze’s infrequent connecting bus yourself
- Book a Cannes and Antibes day tour for Day 6 if seven days of DIY train transfers wears thin
Day 1: Le Rocher and the old town
Arrive on the 22-minute train from Nice, roughly EUR 5-7. 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 into the gaming rooms. Casino Square is a real corner of the Grand Prix circuit. The Jardin Exotique , reopened 30 March 2026, EUR 12, the best clifftop views in Monaco. Larvotto Beach or the gaming rooms themselves (18+, from 2pm, EUR 20) round out the day.
Day 3: Eze, the perched village next door
The train reaches Eze-sur-Mer in about 7 minutes, but the village sits well above it and the connecting bus runs infrequently, budget 20-30 minutes total or hike the Chemin de Nietzsche trail. Cobbled lanes, sea views, and a free Fragonard perfumery tour up top. The Moyenne Corniche runs past the village on the way back.
Day 4: Menton, the easier old town
A direct 11-12 minute train, roughly EUR 3-4, the most frequent day trip on this list. Flatter old town than Eze’s climb, a gentle Belle Epoque seafront, and a genuine lemon obsession celebrated every February at the Fete du Citron. Morning in the old town, afternoon on the beach.
Day 5: Ventimiglia, across the border into Italy
The direct train takes 25-30 minutes, roughly EUR 4-7. The market runs Fridays only, so if Day 5 of your actual trip doesn’t land on a Friday, swap it with Day 3 or Day 4, this is the one inflexible day trip in this whole week. Arrive early, well before 8am if possible, the stalls sit a 10-minute walk from the station.
Day 6: Cannes and Antibes, the longer haul
Cannes is a direct 1 hour to 1 hour 3 minute train from Monaco, roughly 64 trains a day, and Antibes is a further 8-10 minutes past Cannes. La Croisette and Le Suquet’s old quarter in Cannes, Antibes’ ramparts and the Picasso Museum beyond it. Start this one earliest, it’s the longest single day trip on the list, and no advance tickets are needed for either town.
Day 7: Nice, the town you’ve been passing through
Why spend a whole day in Nice if you’ve already used its train station six times? Because most Monaco itineraries only ever see Nice’s platforms, not the city itself, and Vieux Nice’s old town, the Promenade des Anglais, and the Cours Saleya market are worth more than a connection. Add the Matisse Museum or the Chagall Museum if you want one indoor stop.
For the return, take the scenic route instead of the direct train: the Grande Corniche, the highest and oldest of the three coastal roads, built along the old Roman Via Augusta over 400 meters up, has the most dramatic viewpoints of the whole trip, the twisting drive is the tradeoff. The Basse Corniche at sea level is the slower, calmer alternative if that sounds like one hairpin too many to end a week on.
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 week built around this many day trips.
For the full sight-by-sight rundown, see our Monaco places guide ; for the complete logistics picture, our Monaco travel guide .