Nice or Monaco: Which Is Better to Visit?

A trip to the French Riviera is on many travellers’ bucket lists. And two of the stand out cities on the French Riviera are Nice (the capital of the region) and Monaco (technically, its own country).

Both cities are known as luxury vacation spots, with beautiful views and above average hours of annual sunshine (coming from rain-soaked Vancouver, that last point was important to me!).

But if you only have time to visit one of these legendary South of France cities, which one should you choose, Nice or Monaco?

I’ve visited both Nice and Monaco twice, most recently last winter with my husband, Colin. It’s hard for me to pick a winner between the two places since it really depends on what you’re looking for.

Nice is larger with city beaches, a charming old town, unique local cuisine, and popular art galleries and museums. Plus, it hosts one of the oldest carnival celebrations in the world!

Monaco is smaller, covered in more hills, and home to a royal palace, mega yachts, Princess Grace Kelly, Formula One and, of course, the famous Monte Carlo Casino.

Both cities offer a lot and you can’t go wrong with either. But if you still can’t decide, keep reading as I break down the differences between Monaco and Nice.

Below, I’ll compare Nice and Monaco in terms of access, cost, views, activities, food and unique-ness to see which locale wins and which one you should visit on your French Riviera trip!

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Access: Which city is easier to get to and navigate once you’re there?

WINNER: Nice

Right away, you’ll see that Nice is much easier to access than Monaco. Not only does it have multiple major train and bus stations, but it also has an international airport (NCE) that’s easily connected to the city by public transport.

We had an early morning flight out of Nice and were able to very easily hop on the tram and take it from the city centre right to our terminal.

That doesn’t mean that Monaco is hard to get to. Monaco does have train stations and bus stations (but no airport, unless you count helicopter landing pads for those that can afford to travel by chopper).

But the easiest way to get to Monaco is from Nice. Nice is the major hub.

Not only is Nice easier to get to, it’s also easier to visit other places from Nice. When Colin and I were in the South of France last winter, we chose Nice as our base because it’s so convenient.

From Nice, we went on multiple day trips to Antibes, Eze, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Menton and, of course, Monaco. You can also go from Nice to Cannes or St. Tropez, if you’re feeling fancy!

And while both cities can be hilly, Nice also has some flat terrain. A nice stroll down the Promenade des Anglais is completely flat – and has a great view!

Whereas most of Monaco is covered in hills. We had to hoof it uphill to get to Monaco’s royal palace and uphill the other way to get to the casino. But to get to the top of Nice Castle Hill? We took the elevator!

If mobility access is a concern, you’ll have a much easier time getting around Nice than you will in Monaco.

So if you want to get off the plane and be in your hotel in 30 minutes, you’re looking for a convenient base for visiting other cities on the French Riviera, or you just don’t want to be out of breath from all the hills, Nice is the clear choice.

Cost: Is Monaco or Nice more affordable to visit?

WINNER: Nice

Unfortunately, both Nice and Monaco are known as pricy destinations for tourists to visit. There’s a reason you’ll see so many mega yachts and luxury retailers in these cities!

But the more expensive place is definitely Monaco. According to Numbeo, “Cost of living in Monaco is, on average, 133.2% higher than in United States. Rent in Monaco is, on average, 580.0% higher than in United States.”

People will go to Monaco just to take photos next to the fancy cars that are always parked out front of the Monte Carlo Casino – that’s how rich this place is!

(And yes, we were those people…)

Luckily, it’s still possible to visit Monaco on a budget. A lot of my favourite parts of Monaco – like the views and the gardens – are actually free! And there are some affordable places to eat too.

But on the whole, Nice is going to be a lot cheaper. There are lots of free things to do in Nice – like museums, churches and viewpoints – plus more affordable transportation, accommodation and restaurants.

When we were planning out our South of France trip, I was actually shocked at how affordable accommodation in Nice was. We paid just $72 USD per night for our hotel room that was walking distance to the old town.

So if you’re trying to save some money, spend more time in Nice. Or at least don’t try to go shopping in Monaco!

Views: Which place has more stunning views?

WINNER: Monaco

This is like comparing an A+ paper with an A++ paper; you are going to be amazed at the views in both Nice and Monaco.

It’s hard to go wrong with coastal views on high hills overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, beaches, boats and colourful homes.

But if I had to pick just one winner, I’m going to go with Monaco. While the views in Nice are beautiful, they’re extra stunning in Monaco.

Monaco, while smaller than Nice, is covered in hills. That means there are views from almost everywhere!

Of course, you’re going to have to work hard to get those views. The hills are no joke and many people find themselves panting and puffing by the time they get to the top.

(Worried about it? Take the city bus instead!)

But it’s worth it. I remember seeing views from the Royal Palace over the Port de Fontvieille when I first visited in 2012 and being completely blown away.

When I revisited with my husband over a decade later, the views were just as impressive.

Activities: Is there more to do in Nice or Monaco?

WINNER: Nice

Both Nice and Monaco offers things to do, but as evidenced by the fact that I wrote a three day itinerary for Nice and one day itinerary for Monaco, you can tell that there’s more to do in Nice.

Nice is a larger city and, as discussed, the capital of and major hub on the French Riviera. There are more restaurants, more museums, more tours, etc. compared to smaller Monaco.

Nice is also host to Carnaval de Nice, an annual carnival celebration that rivals the parties in Rio and Venice. We had a blast at the carnival parade in 2024.

Plus Nice is the perfect base for day trips, one of my favourite French Riviera activities.

That being said, if you’re looking to gamble or shop at luxury retailers, Monaco is the place to go!

Food: Which city has better food?

WINNER: Nice

While you won’t struggle to find good food in Nice or Monaco (the plus side of always being within walking distance of a French bakery), I have to give Nice the edge here.

C’mon, the city even has food named after it – Nicoise salad, anyone?

Colin and I went on this food tour when we were in Nice and learned all about the city’s gastronomy. As well as tasting a lot of delicious things, we also got introduced to Nice’s unique food culture and the many dishes that are popular only in Nice.

For example, I had no clue I’d be eating (and enjoying!) a sandwich soaked in olive oil, a street food made out of chickpeas and a dessert with Swiss chard.

Not only does Nice have its own cuisine and signature dishes, but it’s also a larger city. That means there are more food options at varying price points.

Monaco, on the other hand, has fewer options. And if you’re trying to eat on a budget, you’ll find it even harder to eat well in Monaco. (That said, we did find a steal of a deal on some fresh pasta.)

So like I said, you won’t go hungry in either city. You’ll actually find a lot of the same dishes on offer since Monaco and Nice are so close to one another.

But if you’re a big foodie or trying to eat on a budget, Nice should be your choice.

Unique-ness: Which city really stands out as a special place?

WINNER: Monaco

Both Nice and Monaco are cool cities but only one is also a country. Obviously, the point here is going to Monaco.

It’s not often that you can visit a brand new country without crossing any official borders. It’s even rarer when that country is also a city and located completely within the borders of a different country.

If you’re a country-counter (no shame, I’m one too), you’ll definitely want to visit Monaco just to add another country to your count. Luckily, there’s so much more to Monaco than just a tick on your bucket list.

Monaco still has a monarch and a royal palace. It has incredible water views and gardens. There are mega-yachts parked a few feet away from luxury cars and designer shops.

Then, of course, there’s the famous Monaco Grand Prix Formula One race track, the burial site of Princess Grace Kelly and the Monte Carlo Casino. That’s a lot of unique things for one place!

Like I said, Nice is wonderful too. And sure, there are things in Nice you won’t find anywhere else, like specific museums, restaurants and view points.

But it’s hard to put your finger on a more general thing that you can only find in Nice. Great viewpoints, city beaches, an old town and art galleries are located all over the French Riviera.

Nice is a wonderful city – but it might feel like any other city on the Cote d’Azur. Whereas when you step off the bus or train in Monaco, you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere different.

Choose both! Visit Monaco from Nice by train, bus or day trip

Is it a cop out answer to say that you don’t have to settle the great Monaco vs Nice debate because you can just choose both? Sure. But it’s also true!

To get to Monaco from Nice by train takes just over 20 minutes (it’s a bit longer by bus or car, but still close – check out all of the transport options from Nice to Monaco here).

So it’s incredibly doable to visit both Nice and Monaco on the same trip. In fact, it would be a shame not to visit both Nice and Monaco.

As long as you have more than two nights in Nice, it’s very easy to fit in a half or full day trip to Monaco. You can plan it yourself or hop on a convenient day trip along the Cote d’Azur.

I do recommend you stay in Nice, however, since it’s more affordable and easier to access the rest of the French Riviera from. I wouldn’t bother staying in Monaco, unless you’ve got an invite on a luxury yacht (in which case, have room for a plus one?).

Conclusion: Who really wins, Nice or Monaco?

When I first started writing this post, I thought Nice was going to be my winner pick.

After all, Nice came out ahead in more of the categories above. There’s more to do, it’s easier to get to and it’s cheaper.

But then I remembered how wowed I was when I first saw the views in Monaco. And all of the unique factors of Monaco – the monarchy, the casino, the fancy cars – really do make for a memorable trip.

So I think Nice is my winner if I’m looking for a place to stay for a few days or maybe a few weeks. It’s the kind of city I want to get to know more. I could see myself trying out different waterfront restaurants and going on trips from Nice.

But Monaco is my winner if I’m looking for one epic day. Monaco packs a big punch and really does have a lot to explore in a single day. I think I’d get bored if I had too much time there – and my wallet would be hurting – but for one day, it’s awesome.

All to say, I’m not sure I can really choose one decisive winner. Luckily, you don’t have to! You can very easily visit both Monaco and Nice on the same French Riviera trip.

So visit both and then come back and tell me, which city has your vote? Are you Team Nice or Team Monaco?