Nice and Monaco are two cities along the Mediterranean Sea that are full of history. Though they are in close proximity to each other, they offer very different experiences. Here is the ultimate guide to whether you should visit Nice or Monaco.
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Nice or Monaco Overview
Nice
Nice is the 5th largest city in France and the 2nd largest city in the French Riviera, only behind Marseille. The city is known for its beaches and its beautiful coastline. Many celebrities, like Elton John, Tina Turner, Keith Richards, and Bono have vacation homes here. The Belle Epoque and Baroque-influenced architecture make the city even more mesmerizing. A mix of French, Italian, and English is spoken throughout the city. Every February, Nice holds one of the biggest and oldest Carnival festivals in the world, dating back to 1294.
Monaco
Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, despite only having 38,000 official residents. It is also the second smallest country in the world with an area of less than a square mile. It is often referred to as “billionaires row” because 1/3 of the residents are millionaires. Monaco is known for casinos, expensive cars everywhere, and its beautiful coastline. The most famous part of Monaco is Monte Carlo which has a reputation around the world for lavish spending and careless gambling. It is also famous for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Places to See
Nice
Promenade des Anglais is a long pedestrian walkway that extends the length of the beachfront in Nice.
Place Massena is the main square in Nice.
Nice Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the heart of Nice. It was declared a national monument in 1906.
Cours Saleya is the biggest market in Nice. It is the heart of the Old Town. image source
Monaco
Monte Carlo Casino is one of the most famous casinos in the world. It opened in 1863, making it the 4th oldest-running casino in the world.
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco was built in 1191. Today, it is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco.
The Monte Carlo Opera opened in 1879 when it was decided a theatre should be attached to the existing casino.
The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate was built on the site of one of the first cathedrals in Monaco.
Larvotto Beach is a beautiful beach at the eastern end of Monaco.
Food
Nice
Ratatouille originated in Nice. For those of you who don’t know, Ratatouille is a dish of stewed vegetables, most commonly made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers. Socca is one of the most popular street foods in Nice and also a must-try while in Nice. Socca is a thin pancake-like food made with chickpea flour and cooked in a wood-burning oven. Ravioli is another specialty of the Nicois people.
Monaco
Gnocchi might be the tastiest food you can get in Monaco. It is a dish of potato bites, local fish, and a buttery sauce. Porchetta is a traditional Italian dish that is also quite popular in Monaco. It is a boneless chunk of pork stuffed with liver and greens, most commonly slow-roasted for a large part of the day. Barbagiuan is a fried pastry that is oftentimes called the national dish of Monaco.
Getting Around
Nice
Overall, Nice is a very walkable city. Biking is also an excellent way to explore the city. Velobleu bike rental service with pick and drop-off stations throughout the city making bikes very accessible in the city. The Bus and tram are the forms of public transportation in Nice. You can buy a solo ticket for public transport for 1.50 Euro or a 10-use pass for 10 Euro.
Monaco
Since Monaco is such a small city, you can pretty much walk anywhere within a 30-minute walk. If you want to travel outside of city limits or you’re unable to walk, you can take the bus system. The buses go travel throughout the region making it really convenient to move around the area. One ride on the bus costs 2 Euro otherwise you can buy a daily pass for 6.25 Euro which has no limit on the number of rides you take during the day.
Nightlife
There are many bars that have live music in Nice. Vieux Nice is one of the best parts of the city for nightlife. Most of the nightlife is close to the beach and west of the port. If you want to go clubbing, one of the best nightclubs in Nice is High Club. If you do go to High Club, make sure to dress up a little bit because they won’t let you in if you are wearing street clothes.
Monaco
For such a small city, Monaco has quite a few places to go out at night. The main forms of nightlife are casinos, nightclubs, and strip clubs. Most of the places you go here require you to wear more than street clothes to get in. Another thing to note is Monaco is not going to be a cheap night out unless you pregame before you go out.
Day Trips
Nice
Cannes is a resort town in the French Riviera. The town is best known for its beaches and hosting the Cannes Film Festival.
Monaco is only 25 minutes away from Nice making it an easy destination for a day trip.
Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small beach town only 25 minutes from Monaco.
Monaco
Eze is a town perched on a large hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, giving it an incredible setting.
Menton is a small city on the sea that is known for its beautiful beaches and gardens.
Nice is only 25 minutes from Monaco. If you’re staying in Monaco, you should definitely consider spending a day exploring Nice.
Montpellier, France and Genoa, Italy are within a few hours of both Nice and Monaco so they are worth considering a visit.
Overall
Nice and Monaco are both beautiful coastal cities. Though they are in close proximity to each other and both sit on the Mediterranean, they both offer very different experiences. If you want to see more history, the obvious choice is Nice. If you want to observe the wealthy and go to casinos, then you should head to Monaco. Another draw to Monaco is that it is its own country so if you’re a country hunter you will be drawn to Monaco. When you’re trying to decide between Nice or Monaco, you have to remember that they are 30 minutes from each other so you could see both.
