Are you planning to visit the Côte d’Azur and wondering whether to go to Nice or Monaco?
We love both destinations. The choice is difficult, but we’re here to help you with our opinions on specific criteria.
Here’s our Nice vs Monaco battle with tips and photos:
- Atmosphere
- Beaches, monuments and museums
- Location
- Hotels and restaurants
- …
This guide is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Nice or Monaco: comparison summary
Short answer
Although geographically close, the two cities are very different.
Nice offers a blend of historic charm and modernity, with numerous top-class art museums and an elegant ambience.
Monaco is an independent principality renowned for its international events, built on a massive cliffside. It impresses and fascinates with its luxury experience.
Depending on what you’re looking for…
- for the most beautiful beaches: Nice
- for young children / families: Nice
- for the finest hotels: Monaco for luxury, Nice for diversity
- for a romantic break: Monaco
- for gastronomy: Nice
- for the charm of the city: Nice
- for nightlife: Monaco
- for the surrounding region: equality
- …
See the top-rated accommodations in Nice.
See the top-rated accommodations in Monaco.
Access + Location to explore the region
Both towns are located on the eastern half of the Côte d’Azur.
They’re both well placed for exploring the region.
Here’s some road map to help you make a better assessment:
- Nice to Monaco = 30 min drive
- Cannes to Nice = 45 min drive
- Monaco to Menton = 25 min drive
- Nice to Saint-Tropez = 1h45 drive
Nice-Côte d’Azur airport is the main international airport serving Nice and Monaco.
Nice airport: 15min drive
Monaco airport: 30min drive
Compare available flights.
Both towns also have railway stations.
Book your trains.
OUR TPS FOR RENTING YOUR CAR IN Provence
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Best hotel offer: Monaco vs Nice
Hotels in Monaco
Monaco offers a wide range of hotels, especially if you’re looking for 5-star accommodation.
We recommend..:
- Luxury Palace: Hotel Hermitage – view prices, pictures and availability
- Resort: Hotel Monte-Carlo Bay – see prices, pictures and availability
- Boutique: Hotel Miramar – see prices, pictures and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Monaco.
Hotels in Nice
The variety and quality of hotels in Nice are undeniable: luxury hotels overlooking the sea, charming Art Deco hotels, quieter Aparthotels close to attractions…
Here are some of our favorite accommodations:
- Luxury: Anantara Plaza Hotel Nice – see photos and availability
- Art Deco: Hôtel Le Riviera Collection Best Western – see photos and availability
- Poetic: Hôtel Apollinaire – see photos and availability
Read our article on where to stay in Nice.
Our review
Nice offers a wider range of hotels and establishments with sea views.
But Monaco’s luxury offer is substantial.
Our winner: Nice
Attractions, museums and monuments
Attractions in Monaco
Monaco’s main attractions are:
- Visit the Prince’s Palace and watch the changing of the guard
- Explore and marvel at its museums: the Oceanographic Museum, Prince Rainier III’s car collection, and art museums.
- Admire the luxurious architecture
- Discover the many different garden styles (exotic, Japanese, rose garden…)
- Enjoy the luxurious ambience
See our article on the best attractions in Monaco.
Nice Attractions
Nice’s main attractions are..:
- The seafront promenade (Promenade des Anglais)
- The old town with its Italian influence
- The ancient heritage
- Numerous museums, especially art-related: MAMAC, Musée Matisse, Musée Chagall…
- Views from Colline du Château
- Belle-Epoque and Art-Déco architecture
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
- …
Find out more in our article on Nice’s top attractions.
Our review
The winner is Nice.
HAVE FUN WITH THESE activities
- Great kayak trips in:
Saint-Tropez to the Ramatuelle reserve
Cassis to the calanques - Helicopter flight from Cannes
- Shuttle service along the coast between Nice and Saint-Tropez
- Bike tours: eBike in Nice – Mountain biking in the Esterel massif
Most beautiful beaches: Monaco or Nice?
Monaco Beaches
The Principality of Monaco is built into a cliffside on the Mediterranean coast. Yet it has only two public, artificial beaches. They are, however, pleasant, lively and boast a wide range of facilities.
There’s also Solarium Beach, an artificial concrete seawall.
See our article on Monaco’s most beautiful beaches.
Beaches of Nice
Nice boasts several magnificent beaches along its coastline. Pebbles, sand, the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea: the choice is yours if you want to swim, stroll or take a break in front of the azure immensity! Restaurants are located near most public and private beaches, but you can also bring your own packed lunch.
Our review
The winner is Nice.
Excursions around the cities
Excursions from Monaco
From Monaco, you can visit
- Villages La Turbie, Roquebrune, Èze, Sainte-Agnès
- The towns of Menton, Nice, Beaulieu-sur-Mer
- Cap Ferrat and the Villa Ephrussi
- …
- There are few guided excursions from Monaco.
Excursions from Nice
From Nice, you can visit:
- The magnificent village of Èze – see our article
- Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and Menton
- Cap Ferrat and the Villa Ephrussi
- Spend a day in the village of Èze, then stop off in Monaco and Monte-Carlo, the must-sees of the Riviera – see photos, details and availability.
- Visit the fortified town with its 16th-century ramparts, opt for a day trip to discover beautiful Antibes and its Fort Carré, then head inland – see photos, details and availability.
- Explore the Gorges du Verdon, its cliffs and transparent waters, then stroll through the lavender fields. A magical experience – see photos, details and availability.
See our article on the best excursions from Nice (coming soon).
Our review
The winner: Nice. It is more centrally located and offers many guided excursions.
Best gastronomic offer
Restaurants in Monaco
The Principality’s restaurant offer is extensive and highly sought-after, with numerous Michelin-starred and gourmet restaurants. You’ll discover tasty, bold Mediterranean cuisine, as well as a wide choice of world cuisine (Italian, Asian…): there really is something for everyone! Contrary to popular belief, you can also enjoy affordable, healthy dining in Monaco.
Among our favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant Le Pavyllon (1 star): daring cuisine in its restaurant in the 5-star Hôtel Hermitage.
- Restaurant Chez Pierre: excellent gourmet dining
- Restaurant Supernature: a wine bar with a wide range of references, a cosy atmosphere and delicious focaccia.
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Monaco.
Restaurants in Nice
Nice has a wide range of restaurants to suit all tastes. You’ll discover a cuisine of land and sea, based on local Provencal produce, blended with Mediterranean notes and flavours, but that’s not all! Reservations are strongly recommended for all establishments where possible.
Among our favorite restaurants:
- Restaurant JAN (1 star): a sensory and poetic dining experience
- Restaurant Sweet Sisters: a colorful place to enjoy a healthy meal in Nice
- Restaurant Peixes: for seafood lovers
- Restaurant La Storia: for specialties from Nice
Discover our selection of the best restaurants in Nice.
Our review
Equality. But perhaps a more varied choice in Nice, due to the city’s size.
Ease of getting around these cities/regions
Getting around Monaco
It’s easy to explore downtown on foot. Everything is cliffside and the streets are steep. Allow for a cab budget.
Monaco also has a hop-on-hop-off bus to see the main places of interest – save time, buy your ticket.
Getting around Nice
Nice is a fairly large city that you can explore on foot (for the old center), by streetcar or by bus.
We found it quite easy to get around.
Nice also has a hop-on-hop-off bus to see the main places of interest – save time, buy your ticket.
Can we visit Nice and Monaco on the same trip?
The two towns are very close.
By car, 30min drive.
Cabs and Uber, accept rides in between.
If you’re staying in Nice, you can
- visit Monaco with an organized tour – see prices, photos, and availability
- take the ferry to Monaco for the day – see prices, photos and availability
And why not other cities/regions?
On the Côte d’Azur, there are plenty of other great towns to discover. You can read our comparison:
- Nice or Cannes
- Cannes or Antibes
- Cannes or Saint-Tropez
- Cannes or Monaco
- Saint-Tropez or Monaco
- Antibes or Menton
- …
Or see our list of the most beautiful towns on the Côte d’Azur.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO THE Côte d’Azur
- Inspiration
The most beautiful landscapes in 30 photos
Best things to do on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful villages
Best beaches on the Côte d’Azur
Most beautiful gardens
Best boat tours (coming soon)
Most beautiful islands
Secret places
- Practical advice
Successful travel on the Côte d’Azur (coming soon)
Rent a car in Provence – in Nice – in Cannes – in Marseille – in Aix-en-Provence.
Itineraries: 5 days – 1 week – 10 days
Weekend ideas: best-of – romantic – luxury – unusual
- Where to stay
Where to stay on the Côte d’Azur
Best luxury hotels on the Côte d’Azur
Hotels by the sea
Best boutique-hotels
