Thinking of visiting Monaco in winter? A good idea, as the atmosphere is quite different from that of summer. You’ll escape the tourist crowds of the high season and enjoy international events (Monte Carlo Rally, International Circus Festival…). Lavishly decorated for the festive season, and as chic and unusual as in summer, you’ll discover Monaco in a very special way.
Here are our tips for visiting Monaco in winter: activities, weather, temperatures…
Plus information on how to spend Christmas and New Year’s Eve on site.
This review is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
Visiting Monaco in winter: is it worth it? Our review
Our review
In our opinion, visiting Monaco in winter is well worth it, especially if you don’t like crowds. You’ll even be able to enjoy more of the monuments and museums, which remain open during the winter period, with the exception of the Prince’s Palace. You can still watch the changing of the guard, which takes place every day at 11:55. The Prince’s Carabinieri, a military corps created in 1817, took turns ensuring the safety of the Palace and the princely family. Lined up in a row, they cross the Place du Palais, handling their weapons to the sound of drums.
And while the colors of the landscape may not be as vibrant as in the summer sunshine, you can still enjoy the splendid Christmas decorations and entertainment. In Monaco, January is a particularly busy month, with the International Circus Festival, the Monte Carlo Rally and the less famous Sainte-Dévote festival on the 27th. The latter consists in setting fire to a boat in front of the Princely family, on Port-Hercule, in honor of the Principality’s patron saint.
At the end of winter, especially in February, the rest of the south is festive: Carnaval de Nice, Fête du Citron in Menton, Carnaval Provençal in Saint-Tropez, Fête du Mimosa in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, there’s something for everyone!
Benefits
- the number of visitors is lower (except during events),
- it’s easier to park and get around,
- temperatures are more bearable than in summer,
- almost everything remains open,
- there are fewer yachts,
- in January, there are lots of festivities,
- hotels are less expensive (outside event periods).
Disadvantages
- It’s getting colder,
- the risk of rain is low, but still higher than in summer,
- some activities(helicopter flights, scuba diving…) are unavailable,
- the princely palace is closed to the public,
- it is no longer possible to reach Nice by ferry,
- sea water is colder.
WHERE TO STAY IN Monaco
Option 1: In Monte Carlo
Discover luxury palaces in Monaco’s most sought-after district:
- Hotel de Paris – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hermitage Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Métropole – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2: Larvotto
Close to Larvotto beach, you’ll find some splendid resort hotels.
We recommend..:
- Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – view prices, pictures and availability
- Le Méridien Beach Plaza – view prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: At Port-Hercule
Boutique hotels, with superb views of the port and the Rock.
- Hotel Miramar – prices, pictures and availability
- Port Palace – see prices, photos and availability
Weather, temperatures and conditions
Monaco enjoys a mild Mediterranean climate. Winters are pleasant, with minimum temperatures of 5°, but averaging 14°. Sunshine remains abundant despite more frequent rainfall than the rest of the year.
The water temperature never falls below 12° and averages around 13°, with a maximum of 15° in December. Even though sunbathing is no longer in season, it’s still possible to swim in a wetsuit (even if the bravest do it in a bathing suit!).
As the days are shorter in winter, you’ll be able to admire superb sunsets even before dinner.
It can snow, but Monaco being by the sea, the snow never lasts long.
A LITTLE MORE patience
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Things to do in Monaco in winter
In winter, activities are pretty much the same as in summer, apart from swimming, sunbathing and water or air sports.
You can:
- Visit the Principality’s museums (Musée Océanographique, Musée National Villa Sauber and Villa Paloma during exhibition periods, Prince Rainier III Automobile Collection, Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique, Musée des Timbres et Monnaies),
- Explore Monaco’s heritage (cathedral, churches…),
- Watch the changing of the guard,
- Stroll through the Rocher district to admire its colorful streets and facades and its beautiful panoramas,
- Visit the Marché de la Condamine for fresh seasonal produce,
- Enjoy the gardens (Saint-Martin Gardens, Princess Grace Rose Garden, Japanese Garden) – see our list,
- Discover the deserted Larvotto beach,
- Keeping the animals in the Jardin Animalier company,
- Play at the Casino de Monte-Carlo or just visit,
- Participate in an event (International Circus Festival, Monte-Carlo Rally).
To find out more, take a look at our article on the best things to do in Monaco.
You can, close to Monaco:
- Visit Nice and its many museums,
- Discover Cannes and its Croisette in the calm of winter,
- Let Antibes surprise you,
- Let yourself be charmed by the Provencal hinterland,
- Take an excursion to discover the French Riviera or Italy.
See our article on the best excursions from Monaco.
What you can’t do in winter in Monaco:
- Sunbathe for several hours on the beach,
- Water and air activities,
- Visit the Prince’s Palace (open only from early April to mid-October).
How to get to Monaco
To get to Monaco, you can choose the train option. TGV high-speed trains make the journey from here:
- Paris (6:30 a.m.), with a TER connection in Nice.
- Lyon (5h30), with a TER connection at Nice.
- Marseille (3h30), with a TER connection at Nice.
We advise you to take several trains in advance for your connections, especially for your return journey.
See the available schedules and book your train tickets now.
If you’re traveling by car from another part of France, you can reach Monaco via the A6, A8, Autoroute du Soleil, or the national and departmental roads.
If you’re coming to Monaco from Italy, you can take the A10 freeway or the A8 freeway from Ventimiglia.
Finally, if you’re traveling by car from other European countries, you’ll need to plan your itinerary around your point of departure, using European freeways like the A8 or the Italian A10 (or Autoroute des Fleurs).
You can also fly to Nice, which is served by major European cities. You can then opt to rent a car on arrival in Nice at the train station or airport, and drive to Monaco.
Please note that traffic can be heavy, especially during peak and vacation periods. We recommend that you check traffic conditions and plan your route in advance. In addition, make sure you have a motorway sticker in the countries concerned, if necessary, and that you respect the Highway Code of the countries you will be crossing.
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.
Christmas in Monaco
The Principality is an ideal destination for the festive season. Every year, the Place du Casino in the Monte-Carlo district hosts a wide range of events, including a meeting with Santa Claus, choirs, chalets and a Christmas carousel set up in front of the Casino, serving crêpes, churros and hot drinks. Monaco is, of course, associated with luxury, and for Christmas the Christmas Promenade Monte-Carlo Shopping, a trail next to the Place du Casino, features luxury boutiques decorated for the occasion. The Port-Hercule is home to Monaco’s Christmas Village, with its traditional chalets, Ferris wheel, children’s entertainment and, in some cases, an ice rink. Hotels are sumptuously decorated, and gourmet restaurants welcome gourmets for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve in Monaco
Monaco is famous for its nightlife, making it the perfect place to celebrate the New Year. Whether in clubs like Buddha Bar, or gourmet restaurants, New Year’s Eve menus are the order of the day. This is also the case in some of the Principality’s most popular bars, such as the Bar Américain, a jazz club that has been housed in the Hôtel de Paris since the 1920s. You’ll see live music, just like in the Casino. In addition, many bars offer a more festive DJ atmosphere, such as the Blue Gin in the Monte-Carlo Bay Hôtel & Resort.
