How to get to Monaco from Nice Airport.
There are local transfer buses, direct express buses, trains, taxis and helicopters and more. All have cost, time and convenience implications so check each for which suits you and your budget best. Here’s my version of info on how to get to Monaco from Nice Airport.
If you have read my post on Monaco here is a bit more info on getting there from Nice airport. This info is correct as at March 2018.
It is super easy to catch the train, even though the station (Nice Saint Augustin) is not physically in the airport itself. It is about an 10 min walk though, given that the weather is in your favour. If you arrive at Terminal 2 catch the shuttle bus to Terminal 1. From here outside the Terminal 1 building look to the left and you will see a road that enters the area via an underpass under the main highway.
The road goes between the two main car parks. There is a pedestrian route under this bridge so take the left-hand walkway and after the underpass you come to a roundabout. Take the first off the roundabout alongside the big semi-circular modern building. Follow this a short way and turn right at the junction onto Boulevard Rene Cassin. You can actually see the overhead train cables on the other side of the road so if all else fails follow these!
Follow the boulevard for a few mins till you come to a big intersection with a flyover. Go under this flyover via the various pedestrian crossings and turn immediately right and up the inclining Boulevard Edouard Grinda and the station is ahead of you on the right in what looks like a Provencal two storey house. Tickets can be bought at the machines or at the ticket office.
The train station is called Nice Saint Augustin, click here for schedules. Ticket is about 5 Euros and the journey is by modern, comfortable, often double decker fast trains. There are between 2 and 4 trains per hour depending on time of day. It often stops at Nice Ville on the way if you need to get off there but otherwise stay on the train and get off at Monaco – Monte Carlo. Remember that the train invariably continues its journey onwards to coastal destinations further towards Italy and beyond.
There is an Express Bus number 110 between Nice airport (T1) and Monaco. It only goes about twice per hour and costs from 22 Euros each way unless you buy a return. It even charges extra for big luggage. For me, this was more expensive, less frequent and always open to delays due to traffic issues. You can also get to Nice city centre and change for an onward bus to Monaco if you need to stop off at Nice on the way.
Again this ends up a little more expensive than the train but cheaper than the Express bus. It involves a transfer in Nice and takes nearly 2 hours to get there . Not an easy option for me to consider.
So, for the train you are getting off at Gare de Monaco, right near the centre of town …. well Monte Carlo is so small that anywhere is pretty much near the centre ……. easy!
Arrival at the Gare de Monaco is subterranean so you have to take the lift/escalator to get to the exit at road level in the higher part of Monaco.
Our hotel was a short walk away from the upper level so we exited via the glass canopied station entrance on the road above.
Conversely if you want the lower/sea-level area of the city then you take the walkways in the opposite direction downwards along long wide walkways and lifts. You exit by the high, almost car grill designed facade of the lower road station entrance.
Oh, by the way, if you really are in a hurry and have no expense limit there is a regular helicopter shuttle service from the airport to Monaco. It takes 7 minutes costs 160 Euros each way and takes you to the heliport in Fontvieille at the western edge of Monaco and usually includes the cost of onwards travel by taxi to your hotel in Monaco. Out of my price range I’m afraid but hey, if you want to indulge or really want to impress and surprise your loved one, this would be an air trip they would never forget !
That is my explanation of how to get to Monaco from Nice Airport. Hope it has been valuable in aiding your travels!
18 March 2017.
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Thank you for this information! Sometimes transportation in other countries is a bit confusing and I appreciate literal step by step instructions for things. And I also would expect a helicopter shuttle type of thing in Monaco, it seems like an experience to do.
Thanks for your comments. Helicopter may be my next mode of transport if I ever get back to Monaco, just for the (very expensive) experience of it.
Excellent post, Barry. Transport in a different country can often be daunting; there’s some great advice here. I like that you added directions because Google Maps often takes you longer routes!
I’ve already got my Rock N Roll helicopter entrance ready, but unfortunately, I will have to settle with the train for now.
One day I would love to fly in by helicopter and make a grand entrance. That may be a while away with mu budgets, so I’ll take the train in the time being,
Those in europe are so lucky to have trains everywhere. We don’t have that here in Canada. I would be inclined to take the helicopter just for the experience.
I adore train travel and take it whenever possible between locations and French trains are superb especially. The helicopter ride has to be done just for the experience ….. one day I’ll use it!
Very useful info. As fun as taking a helicopter ride can be, trains will always be my favourite mean of transport. We drove all around the riviera but we took the train from Frejus to Nice and it was a very scenic and enjoyable ride. Gare de Monaco looks nice and clean but I wouldn’t expect anything less in such an affluent destination.
Everything in Monaco is well maintained – they certainly have the money to keep it that way. Taking the train is still my favourite method of transport – and you are definitely correct that the routes are scenic. The one from the airport to Monaco by train is among those too, so make sure you sit on the right-hand side of the carriage going towards Monaco.
Cool as it would be to arrive by helicopter, I think it’s a little on the pricey side for our budget, so train or bus it would be! Really helpful post – with lots of detail. Also useful to know that the train does go further along the coastline, it would be interesting for us to investigate whether Monaco could be incorporated into a longer rail trip.
Yep, the helicopter ride is pricey and not to be used on a regular basis! The train actually continues on into Italy so would Monaco would be a great stopover on the way there.
Great tips on how to get to Monaco from Nice Airport. It’s easier to plan a trip. It’s good to know that there are so many choices as local transfer buses, direct express buses, trains, taxis, and helicopters (this one it’s not for my budget, but who knows). I love traveling by train, so this idea sounds perfect for me, and I also love its price.
Glad that you liked the post and its info. Train prices of France are always reasonable. They are also modern and comfy.
Helicopter it is! That would be a great way to get there, or at least try it once, and I’m sure it would be some great views. I took the train from Nice when I visited and found it super easy and really quick. That’s probably the best option for me, I’ll always take the train over the bus if those are the two options. Either way, they’re really close and easy to get to Monaco which is handy and makes it almost impossible not to at least visit
Like you, I will always take the train for travel where feasible. It is usually reliable and comfy – I’ve yet to endure a boring train journey! taking the helicopter- even just once – would be so cool. I’ve never been in one so would be a great experience in itself.
I’ll take the private helicopter please! (Once I win the lottery of course haha). I’m always nervous crossing borders on my own as I’m always afraid I’ll mess something up. It’s nice to see such detail so I wouldn’t have to worry about crossing
The helicopter ride seems very popular with anyone reading this post. I totally understand why, and would love to do it when and if I could ever afford it too. Thanks for your kind comments on the details in the post.
Useful post to have for when travelling from Nice to Monaco. Both places I would love to visit. Practical pointers will undoubtedly save time.
Am glad you found the info helpful and practical. My friends tell me that I also should have stayed a while in Nice as it is a beautiful city …… next time maybe.
This is a pretty straight forward journey. Easy and hassle-free. For a fiver, you can’t do anything wrong indeed. The heli ride is grand, I would potentially do it one way just to experience the prestige once.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
My thoughts on this are the same. I love trains so would always chose the train, but the helicopter ride has to be done for the experience, even if just one way.
POst with extremely useful information, considering that transport and getting around is not always very intuitive when you arrive in a country or when you want to move between cities
Anyways, I would love take the private helicopter ride ahahah
Glad you found the post helpful for its info on how to do this journey. I think the vast majority of readers here agree with you that the helicopter ride would be fabulous of they could afford it.
160 Euros for a 7 minutes helicopter trip seems a bit steep, but it does sound like fun. Maybe if they added a bit more sightseeing around the area! Transport was a bit of a pain during my January day trip from Nice (I ended up hitching a ride with someone to get back!), so thanks for the tips.
Glad you liked the tips. Yes, the helicopter ride is definitely not cheap, but is very fast!