Travel to monaco. One day in the Principality of Monaco. Coming back from Monaco in the early evening

“It is better to go to Monaco not in the hot summer season, but a little earlier or a little later, for example, in May or September,” says Valery Kukharchuk, a fan of European resorts. — At this time, there is no large influx of tourists, and the prices are much lower. It is not necessary to live in Monte Carlo. There are many interesting places in the principality where you will spend less money, but have a great rest. Hotels in Monaco are very expensive, so it is better to live outside the country - in the same Italy. We always stop in the Italian port town of Ventimiglia, we live in a campsite right in a tent. For two, the pleasure costs 26 euros per night. However, it is not at all necessary to spend the night in such hiking conditions, there are hotels for every budget. We also take a daily dry ration with us, and we get to the principality by train, which takes half an hour, while a ticket to Monacost is only 4 euros. By the way, trains to Monaco run very often, every 30 minutes.

Walking around Monaco

What to see in Monaco in one day? If you have already visited Monaco-Ville and went on a tour of the casino, be sure to relax on the beach, swim and enjoy the beauty of the Côte d'Azur. The sea in Monaco is very salty, and if water accidentally enters the mouth, it will tickle in the throat. They say it's not very pleasant. From the beach you can admire expensive yachts, old modernized sailboats and elegant sports boats. Still, Monaco is a romantic city!

Visit the exotic garden - it is located at the final stop of all buses. More than 1000 species of cacti grow here, which are constantly blooming, many plants are over a hundred years old. The park has picturesque bridges, stairs, terraces and a beautiful cave 90 meters deep. From the observation deck of the garden, you can see the modern district of Fontvieille, built on an artificial embankment. The area has a playground and a rose garden planted by Princess Grace. The museum of the history of princes with wax figures of all the rulers of the principality is interesting to visit.

It’s nice to just walk around Monaco, marveling at the narrow well-groomed streets, the variety of architectural styles, and the beauty of nature. Monaco seems to be pierced with light. It is light, joyful and spacious. It is very clean and safe, there are no thieves and other violators of the law, which, of course, is impressive.

Where to eat in Monaco

If you think that Monaco is a bunch of show-offs, I have to disappoint you: it's not! It is so pleasant to be here that the desire of the rich to have their own corner here is quite understandable. And no show-offs: everything is for real!

Sea, mountains, sun, silence, perfect cleanliness, fresh air; beautiful streets, houses, trees. Free lifts will take you to any height to any sight (lifts through the rock so as not to go uphill on foot). There are free equipped and non-equipped beaches where you can safely plunge into the Mediterranean Sea and so on. and so on. Would you like to live in such a place? Especially considering it's one of the safest places on earth? I think everyone would like to) Is it possible to come here on a budget? Yes, if you plan your trip a little.

So let's go:

Eating in Monaco is not necessary in restaurants. As in many tourist cities, street food is sold here, at prices like everywhere else. A half-liter bottle of water - 1 euro (standard price for European cities). There are regular cheap vending machines at the station. Well, or you can buy groceries in a regular supermarket at the train station in Ventimiglia.

4) You can swim and for this it is not at all necessary to go to the city beach: right at the foot of Monaco-ville, there is a small pebble beach that is not equipped. I did not like the very salty water of the Mediterranean Sea in Monaco. In Capri, for example, the water is not so salty. (By the way, we also went there on a budget, which I will definitely tell you about in due time).

Well, we are heading to the Monaco station carved inside the rock to continue our journey. After cheap Monaco (this is not sarcasm!) expensive Florence awaits us. But more on that another time.)

Do you think that Monaco only for wealthy people? Keep thinking like this. I have a completely different opinion on this.

This is a small principality located on the Mediterranean coast, known worldwide as a place for the rich and famous. Think of Monaco and pictures immediately come to mind: the Formula 1 Grand Prix, fast expensive cars, super yachts, luxury hotels and the famous Casino Monte Carlo. Monaco is undoubtedly the sexiest and most luxurious city in every way.

I have always admired the chic and glamour of Monaco, especially after watching the film about 007 Never Say Never. Therefore, when I first came to the south of France, I was determined to see this small country, no matter what. Even if this trip was over my budget.

If you decide to stay in Monte Carlo and still want to live like James Bond for a day (well, or like a super sexy Bond girl), then read on.

When I finally made it to Nice after a long overnight drive from Venice, all I wanted to do was check into a pre-booked hostel, freshen up, and sleep on the beach. Monaco can wait until tomorrow... well, at least that's what I planned for myself.

But when I arrived at the hostel, I was told that I should wait for my settlement after 14:00. I left my suitcases and went to cook my free breakfast. At breakfast, I started talking to people who, as it turned out, were my neighbors. They were going to Monaco for a day and asked if I wanted to go with them.

My first rule of travel. When you arrive at a new place and people invite you to join them, always say YES. You never know where it will lead you.

I was so tired from the road that I almost fell asleep. But I said yes. Therefore, I quickly took a shower in the communal bathroom, put on a short black dress and comfortable classic shoes. After all, when you go to Monaco, you have to look decent!

I was glad that I had not turned down the invitation of new acquaintances. This day was one of the best days I have ever had!

There were five of us and we thought it would be a normal day for sightseeing Monaco. Everything would be fine if we had not missed the bus, my camera had not been stolen, and we had not ended up spending the night on a billionaire's yacht.

Is it possible to visit Monaco 24 hours and still save a lot? Can.

HOW TO GET TO MONACO

If you cannot afford a helicopter transfer from Nice Airport to Monaco, then the best option is to take the train or take the bus from Nice.

We have opted for bus number 100 from Nice to Monaco which cost only 1 euro! This is the slowest option to get there. But on the way, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of the French Riviera, drive along the Mediterranean coast with stops in various cities. You can find the route and schedule of buses on the Internet.

True, on my second visit to Monaco with children, we drove from Nice by train. The journey takes only 20 minutes. And in Monaco itself, you can get off at 4 stations. On one of them you find yourself in Monaco-Ville, and on the other - in Monte Carlo. The train from Nice to Monaco runs every 30 minutes. It is very convenient, the fare is 3.4 €.

STAY IN NICE

Can't afford to stay at Fairmont, Hotel de Paris or Hermitage? No problem. In Nice you can stay in hostel. I spent the night in a small hostel called Meyerbeer Beach, which was just a few minutes walk from the pebbly beach of Nice. But there are no hostels in Monaco!

FOOD AND DRINKS IN MONACO

Do not drink anything at Cafe De Paris. This place is crowded with tourists and the most expensive. If you do not want to pay bad money for any drink - go to the harbor. Everything is much cheaper there. Visit" Brasserie de Monaco"- the famous pub in Monaco. Here you can eat tasty and inexpensive, especially in "happy hours". Between 5 and 8 p.m. you can drink branded beer at half price, i.e. half a pint of beer will cost you 2 €, and a whole pint - 3.5 €. Hearty lunch - 14-21 €. The pub is open around the clock.

I can also recommend the restaurant" Star "N" Bars", not far from the yacht club. It's a sports cafe filled with celebrity sports memorabilia, or " La Rascasse" is a night bar located on the legendary F1 Grand Prix turn that also has a happy hour with live music from 5 to 11 pm.

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When I think of Monaco, the first thing that comes to my mind is not yachts at sea or luxury cars on the city streets. No... The first thing that pops up before my eyes is the high-rise buildings, which huddled together so closely that it seemed that every square centimeter of the area was built up in the country. After Nice, where we rented accommodation for the duration of the trip, this was somehow very striking. You walk, and on the steep slopes around you rises a whole forest of skyscrapers. Well... Look...

I think even from these shots you can understand what I'm talking about.

However, in terms of travel, the dwarf size of the state is more of a plus than a minus. Even having only 3-4 hours at your disposal, you can see all the most interesting here without any problems. You arrive at Place D "Armes, and then calmly walk towards Monte Carlo, one by one "stringing" local attractions on your route.

I have already written in detail about how to get from Nice to Monaco in the article below. Therefore, no more words about the transport and geography of the principality. Today I will tell you about why it is worth going on such a journey. What to see in Monaco? And what places to add to your personal check-list? Ready for a little walk? Then let's start!

Prince's Palace in Monaco and the observation deck next to it

As I said, we started our walk around the principality from Place D "Armes", from which it was about 500 meters to the residence of the rulers of Monaco. As you start to climb the hill, you will immediately see several observation platforms from which you can see , probably the most famous view of the city. There are always a lot of tourists on the top of the hill. Therefore (as for me) it’s better to start taking pictures already on the way (before reaching the top of the hill). The view there is plus or minus the same. But there are significantly more people less.

In general, the hill and the square near the Prince's Palace is probably one of the busiest points on the map of Monaco. There are people from all sides, souvenir shops, restaurants and other attributes typical of popular tourist locations. However, I personally remember this place not by the surrounding bustle, but by some amazingly lazy guard at the entrance to the prince's residence.

You know ... Usually in such places, soldiers are on parade. They mint a step, hold their back and all that ... And these somehow didn’t tense up at all. They came, they changed, they left… If one of the princely guards took out a cigarette and lit it, at that moment I wouldn’t be surprised at all. I even remembered sadly. Here it is clear why they are drawn on all magnets. And then ... Sun, sea and dinner on schedule. What is the step stamp?

Old Town and Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

About 500 meters from the prince's palace is another important sight of the city - the Catholic Cathedral of St. Nicholas (erected from white stone in 1875).

While walking towards it, take a look at the local historical center. Outwardly, it quite strongly resembles Italian cities (for example, the same one in which I was at the beginning of the year). The only difference is the slight chaos around. It seems that all the tourist attributes were simply thrown into a blender and mixed into some kind of atomic shake. Imagine narrow streets where people walk and there are some tables... You go around the corner - and here is parking for official cars. Or, for example, several souvenir shops huddled together.

Here in this place, I somehow especially clearly felt that I was in a dwarf state. On the one hand, I cannot say that all this was somehow exaggerated. No... But due to the lack of free space, everything that happens around takes on a slight note of madness. You walk down the street - and it seems like there is no one. And then another tourist group appears around the corner - and the street is no longer crowded.

St. Martin's Gardens, Sea Views and the Museum of Oceanography

The atmosphere of bustle began to gradually melt away only at the moment when we ended up in the Gardens of St. Martin. They are located directly opposite the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, so you are unlikely to miss them. By the way, there are free toilets and fountains with drinking water. And the gardens themselves made a good impression on me. They are quite small. But very well-groomed and go directly to the sea. And there ... Just crazy beauty. Cliffs, sea surface and snow-white yachts. Just for the sake of such views, it is already worth going to Monaco.

By the way, it is in the gardens of St. Martin that there is an observation deck where you can take a photo against the background of three countries at once - Monaco, France and Italy. This is the view (well…if the guide I overheard was telling the truth, of course). Finding this place is easy.

The huge building in front is, by the way, the local museum of oceanography. On the scale of Monaco, this is one of the TOP attractions. They say it's very cool inside. But to be honest, I haven't tested it myself. You can buy tickets in advance using this link. Seriously... The queues there are very long. Sometimes it is simply impossible to buy tickets today for tomorrow even via the Internet. Therefore, if you are going to visit the Oceanographic Museum, buy tickets at least 2-3 days before the trip. I think for families with children it will be space in general. There are colorful fish, turtles, and huge ship installations ... If we stayed in Monaco for at least 2-3 days, I myself would visit this place with pleasure.

Elevators, transitions and luxury cars

Remember, back at the beginning of the article, I wrote that Monaco stands on some kind of hills or even rather cliffs? So, so that people do not have to constantly step up and down the slopes, a wide variety of elevators, escalators and passages were built in the principality. As an example, I will show the elevator that is located next to the Museum of Oceanography.

You go down - and there is not a transition, but just some kind of art space. There are light projections on the walls. A little further - a long corridor with photographs of rare species of animals.

By the way, if you go to the very end, you can get to a small platform with a beautiful view of the sea.

Yes, I know… Sea views were pretty good before. But from here, the facade of the very Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, which I showed you a little earlier, is best seen. If you look at it from the side of Martin's gardens, it will constantly be at an angle to you. And here - it almost hangs over your head. Very impressive view.

Having made beautiful photos, we made a circle and again walked towards the city center. We passed some strange concrete beach, similar to steps descending to the sea ...

We admired the views of the local bus parking, when looking at which I again thought how little free space there is in this dwarf country.

And we went to the road, next to which there was such a metal car, as a reminder that somewhere here the legendary Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco regularly takes place.

Of course, we did not get to the races themselves. But cool cars that day I saw some kind of infinite set. There were Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini and Maserati. You look, some ordinary pensioner is standing in the shade and chatting on the phone. And then he puts the phone in his pocket, takes out the keys and leaves home in this car.

At that moment, I began to understand what they mean when they talk about a dignified old age.

Marina, Opera and Casino of Monte-Carlo

Okay… It's time for the vanilla vanilla drizzle. Like it or not, but Monaco, of course, is a very beautiful and impressive country. Here, literally every square centimeter of the area is saturated with luxury and some flashy beauty. You walk, and around you are beautiful people, beautiful houses, beautiful cars ...

Opera Monaco

After about an hour or an hour and a half spent here, I no longer wondered at the yachts that swayed measuredly on the water surface. And at that moment, somewhere ahead, a sparkling helicopter landed on a special platform above the sea. And looking at this picture, I realized that I still know how to be surprised.

This feeling of amazement hit me the most near the Monte Carlo casino. Here I really felt like one of the characters in the James Bond films.

As far as I remember, it was in this place that some scenes of the painting "Casino Royale" were filmed. Although this, of course, is far from the only item in the filmography of the principality.

Seriously... Just think: in this tiny state, such movie hits as "Iron Man-2", "12 Ocean's Friends", "Fatal Beauty" with Audrey Tautou and "Princess of Monaco" with Nicole Kidman were filmed. That is why, when you first find yourself in this dwarf principality, you can not leave the feeling that once you have already seen all this. As if you were already here ... It's hard to put into words. I heard that New York evokes similar feelings, where even huge guides are compiled on the filming locations of famous blockbusters and cult series.

A little more about Monte Carlo Casino

Okay ... Now specifically about that same legendary casino.

First: taking a picture with him is unrealistic. People constantly climb into the frame, and cars that park right there constantly strive to knock you down.

Second: the casino is divided into several zones. There is a gaming zone, the entrance to which, as I understand it, is paid (most likely - you need to buy chips for a certain amount). And a common hall for mere mortals.

It is set up like a playing field. You can take pictures with huge chips, wander around a couple of very beautiful and artsy rooms, and visit the free toilet (because the free toilet is a traveler's friend).

As for the minuses, here again it is worth saying a few words about the abundance of tourists. If you want a photo where you will stand thoughtfully in the center of the frame, and there will be no one behind you, master the art of Photoshop. Otherwise, doing something like this is unrealistic.

In a separate line, I will also note the fact that the casino is very seriously guarded. This is neither good nor bad. I'm just stating a fact. At the entrance are pumped-up guys with metal detectors. And inside in the common room there are several more guards on duty. We had a backpack with us, and in order to take photos, I put it for a while next to one of the columns in the common room. About a minute later, guards ran up to him, thinking that there might be explosives.

Japanese garden, beach and road back

If you go down a little from the Monte Carlo casino, right in front of you will be a small but very pretty garden, designed in oriental style. I didn’t see anything special in it (especially considering that some kind of construction was going on right next to it), but it’s not long to walk to it. Suddenly you like it?

Actually, at this place the program of walking around Monaco can already be completed. We went to the Cote d'Azur in the summer when it was swelteringly hot (don't repeat our mistakes!!!), so at the end of our trip we decided to test the local beach.

We swam, ate peaches, lay on the sand (or rather, very small pebbles), and then went back to look for the stop of the same bus number 100, which was supposed to take us back to Nice. Before the trip to Monaco, Tanya read somewhere that next to our beach there should have been the stop we needed. But in fact, in this part of the program there was a local failure, as a result of which we wandered a little more along the streets of the “administrative territory of Monte Carlo”.

To be honest, I wasn't particularly upset about it. We stumbled upon some small church…

We made some beautiful shots on the local streets…

And in the end, the same bus number 100 was "caught" right behind the Monte Carlo casino. The return trip took only an hour. I slept, drooling, and Tanya (as the hope of all mankind) made sure that we did not pass the right stop. This was our last day in Nice. Already for tomorrow we had planned a move to Cannes (which quite unexpectedly ended with a trip to the ballet). But this is a completely different story, which I will tell you about in my next articles. In general... Don't change channels!

How to organize a trip to Monaco?

Directions . We traveled from Nice to Monaco on bus number 100, which leaves from a stop called Le Port. The fare was 1.5 euros. Travel time is about an hour. I wrote more about how to get from one city to another in a separate post. Read it for sure. I shared the link at the very beginning of this story.

Navigation . In order to easily find all those attractions that I talked about here today, I recommend that you download the MAPS.ME application. This is a free offline navigator that I personally use on all my travels. Download the map of Monaco, fill in the desired point (be it a casino, a cathedral or a princely palace) - and just follow the arrows. Everything is very convenient.

Housing . The range of prices on the Côte d'Azur is very large, so I advise you to choose your accommodation option very carefully. Here's a simple example for you: we personally rented apartments in Nice and Cannes for 50 euros per day, while several of my Instagram followers wrote at once that they had to pay twice as much for absolutely average housing. So… How to avoid overpayments? Firstly, look for hotels not on Booking, but on this site. It compares all the offers on different booking sites and shows you which of them has the lowest price for a particular room.

I also recommend that you consider apartments from the AIRBNB website as an alternative to hotels. Personally, I like apartments more than hotel rooms. And yes, they are often cheaper. In addition, I also note that all new users can get an excellent discount from the AIRBNB website in just a few clicks. All you need is to register here at this link. After that, you will immediately receive a bonus of 37 euros for booking accommodation around the world.

Do you imagine the Principality of Monaco as a magical, sun-drenched country, where millionaires throng the streets and traffic jams line up with Ferraris and Porsches? You are absolutely right!

The territory of Monaco is so small that in one day you can see all the main sights and even have time to fall in love with this strange piece of land sandwiched between French villages.

In a sheltered bay on the sunny coast, people have settled since time immemorial. However, the history of the Principality of Monaco is connected with the rule of the Grimaldi dynasty. It all started in the XIII century, when the resourceful ancestor of the current prince, disguised as a monk, tricked into the Genoese fortress, which was considered impregnable.

Since then, the power in the country has not changed - only members of this family remain on the throne. If one day the branch of the Grimaldi family is interrupted, the territory of the principality will go to France. Therefore, it is not surprising that many world celebrities who have settled in this tax haven are looking forward to when the young wife of Prince Albert, former swimming champion Charlene Wittstock, will give birth to his heir. But let's not waste any more time on gossip about the princely family, but let's start our mini-journey. A train departing from Nice, passing by a small village on the Mediterranean coast, dives into a tunnel and finds itself at a giant station flooded with golden light.

Leaving the station building, you realize that in a couple of minutes you have been transported from the rural hinterland to the center of the city built up with skyscrapers.

First of all, you should go to the royal palace standing on a high hill. The royal dynasty graciously lets guests into some of their rooms and even provides audio guides in different languages. But you can’t take pictures inside, so you yourself will have to go and look at the luxurious suite of rooms that remembers several generations of the Grimaldi family.

Try to finish the tour before 11.55 am - at this time, day after day, year after year, the changing of the guard ceremony takes place in front of the palace.

The next point of the program is the Oceanographic Museum. You can walk from the palace to it on foot along a small street with probably a hundred souvenir shops. At the entrance we are met by a strange sculpture.

A giant collection of stuffed animals and skeletons of sea creatures is located on several floors of the museum. For several decades, since 1951, the assembly was headed by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. After his expeditions, new exhibits always appeared in the halls. Most of all, people are usually interested in an aquarium located in the basement with living inhabitants of the depths.

Don't forget to go up to the roof: there you will find an inexpensive restaurant, a playground and, most importantly, a unique view of most of the Principality.

We go down to the foot of the hill and find ourselves in the port. The most luxurious yachts in the world stop in this spacious bay. Looking closely, you can see huge pools and jacuzzis on their decks, and in the holds opened by conceited owners there is a whole fleet of a dozen luxury cars.

The port has a sacred place for any Formula 1 fan: the race track in Monaco runs through the streets of the city, and therefore, in their free time, the starting line is crossed by the most ordinary cars.

Bypassing the port, you will find yourself in Monte Carlo. Yes, this is not the name of the country, and not the name of the city, as some people think, but just the name of one area, known primarily for the oldest casino in Europe. Even if you are not interested in gambling, be sure to go inside and admire the luxurious interiors. For those who can cope with the excitement and do not sit down at the gaming table, such an excursion will not cost a single euro cent.

By the way, if you cross this wonderful green park opposite the casino, you will find yourself at the Monaco tourist office (if you don’t know, then it’s hard to find it the first time). There you can buy tickets for the sightseeing bus, and in general get a lot of useful information.

Not everyone in Monaco drives a Lamborghini and a Maserati; this city-state also has regular public transport. But if you have only one day, you don’t want to waste time and deal with routes. For tourists, the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, which makes 12 stops in the most interesting places in the principality, is an ideal option.

It is better for lovers of the East not to linger in this park for a long time, but to go a little further so that in 10 minutes you will find yourself in the Japanese Garden.

In the center of the city in the midst of skyscrapers, you least expect to see a small piece of Japan.

Just a few hours - and you are already perfectly oriented and seem to have seen everything in this country? It's not exactly like that! Ahead of you is a "deep dive": a rigorous study of the best gastronomic restaurants, testing nightclubs, shopping, relaxing on the beach. Looks like it's worth getting a room in one of the local hotels and staying here for a week or two!

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