Along the Riviera between France and Italy, you can find the tiny country of Monaco. The luxurious destination is well-loved by millionaires and luxury travellers alike, but luckily for us backpackers and budget travellers, it’s very easy to explore Monaco on a budget! I have put together the best list of things you can do in Monaco for free, as well as some great tips to find cheap and affordable accommodation around Monaco. You’ll also find some information about affordable public transport in the city.
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Free Things to Do in Monaco
Monaco’s Old Town
The best views in Monaco can be found atop the hill that forms the old town. This old town is the most picturesque part of the city and is easily accessible by foot from Rampe de la Major. Here you can wander the streets around the old town, see the city walls and some beautiful views out to the Mediterranean, and take in the beautiful buildings such as the Prince’s Palace or the town hall. You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring this beautiful part of the city.
Prince’s Palace
When exploring the old town, make sure you dedicated some time to see the Prince’s Palace. This is where Monaco’s royalty live, so of course the building and grounds are exquisite.
It costs money to tour the inside of the palace, but if you are visiting Monaco on
State Apartments Opening Hours: The Prince’s Palace is only open between April and October. April 2nd-June 30th/ Sept 1st-Oct 15th 10am–5:30pm; July 1st-August 31st 10am–6:30pm
State Apartments Ticket Prices: Adult €10; Children and Students €5
Buy tickets online on their website.
Fontvielle Port and Port Hercule
On either side of the Prince’s Palace, Monaco boasts some lovely ports where you can wander around and dream of owning one of the beautiful boats.
If you’re taking the train into Monaco then Port Hercule is one of the first things you’ll come across. It’s a great introduction to the grandeur of the city and it’s so interesting to see all of the boats! There is also a public swimming pool right next to the harbour if you fancy a dip, and in winter it turns into an ice rink.
Fontvielle Port lies on the other side of the Prince’s Palace. You can see the boats up close but I’d recommend staying up on the city walls next to the palace for some spectacular views! You’ll find the best spot on Google Maps as Vue
Fort Antoine Theatre
Just down the hill from the old town, you’ll find the beautiful Fort Antoine. It’s an old fortress that is currently used as an amphitheatre. This spot is perfect if you want somewhere secluded with panoramic views of the city. If you visit in the summer you might even be lucky enough to catch a show!
Crique des Pêcheurs
I actually discovered this little beach by accident but it was one of the most beautiful things I saw in Monaco. Following the Digue de
Japanese Gardens
Another free thing to do in Monaco, the Japanese Gardens are lovely to explore for a little moment of peace. It has all the typical elements of a Japanese garden, such as lanterns and a zen garden, and entry is completely free so you can wander around until your heart is content!
- Opening Hours: 9 am-5:45 pm (open until 6:45 pm in the summer)
- Address: 5 Av. Princesse Grace, 98000 Monaco
- Entry Fee: Free
After you have visited the Japanese Gardens, why not have a little stroll along the Champions Promenade. This walk along the water is a great spot for football fans, as it is like the Hollywood Walk of Fame but for winners of the golden foot!
Monte Carlo Casino
Like the Prince’s Palace, you’ll have to hang outside here if you’re looking for a budget trip- the Monte Carlo Casino is definitely one reserved for the luxury traveller! You can enter the casino in the morning to tour the interior for around €10-20, but I definitely wasn’t dressed for it. I still loved checking out the exterior of this iconic building, and would still recommend that you stick it on your list.
Discover the top tours and attractions in Monaco
Window Shopping
As expected, Monaco is full of some of the most beautiful (and most expensive) shops. There is a really unique shopping street just behind the Monte Carlo Casino, on Allées des Boulingrins. All of the boutiques are in little pods and you can wander between them all and peek in the windows.
I also recommend that you visit the Métropole Shopping Centre – it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen! The chandelier in the middle is a highlight so make a beeline for that if you are pushed for time.
Sunbathe on Larvotto Beach
If you’re visiting Monaco during the summer months, or just on an exceptionally good weather day in February like me, then you’ll want to head to the beach for a spot of Riviera sunbathing. Monaco has quite a few private beach clubs, but Larvotto beach is completely free and a great spot! I expect that it will be pretty packed in the summer, but out of season I was on my own nearly the whole time.
The pebbled beach looks out over the blue seas, and this spot couldn’t get much better!
Walk the Monaco Grand Prix Route
For a budget experience of the Monaco Grand Prix, you can walk around the route. Since the race takes place on the streets of Monaco, it’s very easy to see some iconic spots, such as the Fairmont Hairpin and the tunnel section. See their website for more information on the route.
Rooftop Starbucks
I stopped short of bringing a packed lunch with me to Monaco, knowing how expensive would be, but it was tempting! Instead, I grabbed a quick Mcdonalds near the casino and ended up discovering an awesome rooftop terrace without the exclusive club price. There is a Starbucks at the top of an arcade, with the most beautiful views over the sea.
I headed back to my base in Nice for dinner, but it seems that it isn’t too difficult to find dinner on a budget in Monaco. A lot of places will offer meals for €10-15, and you might even be lucky enough to get a special offer. Have a look on websites such as TripAdvisor or Google maps beforehand to see what cheap eats you can find!
Where to stay in Monaco on a budget
Like pretty much everything in Monaco, accommodation is very expensive. You’ll find the odd place on Airbnb for around £70-90 a night, which is very expensive in itself for budget travellers. Everything else is upwards of £100 a night. If you sign up to Airbnb here you can save up to £34, and so this might become an affordable option.
The best option for budget accommodation is to stay in one of the surrounding French (or Italian) towns. Personally, I would recommend Nice as it is a good place to base yourself- there is an airport and it is the most central place to explore the Riviera. Even if you want to spend several days in Monaco, this is still the best option- it takes less than half an hour on the train and tickets only cost €4,10 each way. Check out the How to get to Monaco section below to see how easy it is to take the train!
I stayed at Hostel Smith, a wonderful hostel in Nice’s old town, with incredibly good prices (dorms start from €16 and semi-private rooms start from €18). At the time of writing (January 2020) their online booking seems to be out of service so you could also check out their Facebook for prices and booking. Hostel Smith is around 25 minutes walk from
Transport in Monaco
How to get to Monaco
Getting to Monaco from any of the surrounding towns is very easy. It’s best to take the train, as the bus takes longer for not much less money.
You can either take the train from Gare de Nice Ville or Gare de Nice-Riquier. Nice Riquier is handy if you are outside of the city to the east, but otherwise, the main station is best. Throughout the week the trains leave every 20 minutes or so, from 5:30 am-11 pm. You can see the exact departures on the SNCF website, by searching for your date and preferred time. It’s very easy to purchase your tickets at the station, and the train will normally be going towards Vintimille station.
- Train Operating Times: Mon-Sat 5:30 am- 11 pm
- Journey Time: ~25 minutes
- €4,10 each way from Nice Ville
On this line, the train will stop at Villefranche-sur-Mer; Beaulieu-sur-Mer; Eze; and Cap-d’Ail, so you can get on or off easily in any of these towns. This works the same for the other direction, as the train will stop at Vintimille; Menton; Carnoles; and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
If you do want to take the bus, it seems that it departs next to the port, and leaves every 15-20 minutes. It costs €1,50 each way and takes 45 minutes. The slight advantage of taking the bus is that you have more freedom as to where you get off, as there are a few stops throughout Monaco. However, as Monaco is so small, this doesn’t make much of a difference.
Getting around in Monaco
The best way to get around Monaco is by foot, especially if you are visiting Monaco on a budget. Monaco is only around 4km long, so you can easily explore the entire country by just walking.
The city does have a fairly well connected bus system, with tickets costing around €2 for a single. You can see their routes and timetables on their website to work out if the bus will be useful for you. The company offer a bateau bus that is the same price is a regular ticket- this could be a great way to have a budget boat trip!
As with most cities, you can also easily rent bikes to cycle around the city. The easiest way seems to be to download their app to register, and then you can scan a QR code to rent your bike! The prices are pretty reasonable as well – only €2 for a day ticket. Find out more information on their website, as well as a handy map showing all of the bike stations.
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Brit says
This is so great to have handy! I’m a budget traveler too so free things to do are key!!!
Nathalie Bolet says
This is so good!! Thank you for sharing all this info!
Kez says
We loved exploring the old town too – so charming and quiet! Love this post 🙂
Meghan Emcee says
I wish I’d seen this guide before I went there a few weeks ago! I had no idea what to do there, I just walked around aimlessly. Plus I always like money saving tips! Thanks for the guide, I’ll save it for if I ever go back 🙂
Alissa says
Wow, this place honestly looks breathtaking! I love that there are both indoor and outdoor activities on this list for some variety. Definitely saving this for any future trips to Monaco!
Francesca Brooking says
Really nice post, especially the images! I like that you’ve covered including budget travel as Monaco is always perceived as being expensive.
Elīna Kalniņa says
Love the tips! Great information about the prices, will keep this article in mind when going to Monaco
Nicole Claesen says
Such a great guide! I’ve been wanting to go to Monaco since I was a little girl. Thanks for all of the great tips on prices and I’m glad to know we can go to Monaco as a family and not break the bank!
Erica says
Great post! Monaco has a reputation for being a very expensive city, so it is nice to know that there are so many free things to do! I would really like to visit the Prince’s Palace and Monte Carlo Casino. 🙂
Sharyn says
I enjoyed reading this. It’s good to know you can visit on a budget in this millionaires playground. I loved your photos.
Clazz - An Orcadian Abroad says
That casino is spectacular haha. I can’t decide if I’d like to visit Monaco – the number one thing for me would definitely be walking the F1 track.
Gwen says
This is so helpful! I think that, for many, Monaco can seem unattainably expensive, but it’s great to see how many fun things there are to do for free! Thanks for sharing.
Ivana says
Great post! It’s so good to have budget options even in destinations known for luxury. Would love to visit Monaco someday 🙂
Kabei says
Great information.
Love to visit this country
Can you tell about casinos in comparison to Vegas and Reno.
In Vegas and Reno you can go to any casino doesn’t matter if you play or not.is there a minimum limit to play in casino?
🤔
Kirstie says
Thanks for your comment 🙂 I have never entered the casinos in Monte Carlo but from the information I can find online it seems that you’ll pay €15-20 to enter.
Michelle says
For the casino it’s free to enter there!
And for the “white bubble luxury shops” it was only temporary so it’s not there anymore, now it looks really beautiful, there are new stores! Great article!
Rachid says
Thank you for taking your time and provide us with this helpful post