A backpacker in Monaco
To visit Monaco, I travelled to the city of Nice, 15 kilometres west of this country. If you buy a ticket at the right time, you can get to Nice by train and bus from various European cities such as Milan, Italy (between 20 and 30 euros) and Paris, France (between 25 and 45 euros). There are also flights to Nice from various Schengen countries, operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet, which are sometimes cheaper than buses and trains (because of the flexibility you have in choosing your time and route). The train from Nice airport and the Intercity bus station (next to Terminal 1 of the same airport) to the city centre costs less than 2 euros.
As it is much cheaper to stay in Nice than in Monaco, it makes sense to stay in Nice. When I saw that booking a room at the Hotel de Berne for two people was cheaper than the cost of two beds in a hostel (the total cost for two people is 45 euros per night), we chose this hotel to stay (as opposed to my usual practice of staying in a hostel). It should be noted that the published statistics and costs refer to 27 January 2023, and these costs may change (be more or less) in different seasons or in the coming years.
At sunrise we went to the Nice-Ville station, just 150 metres from our accommodation, to catch the train to Monaco. A one-way ticket from Nice to Monaco and vice versa costs 4 euros each and departures are from around 6am to 11pm (every half hour). We arrived at Monte Carlo station in about 15 minutes and the sightseeing of Monaco began.
Although Monaco was not a common destination for backpackers like us, we did not feel out of place at all.
Best places to visit:
Monte Carlo Casino, Un Jardin d'acclimatation, Port of Monte Carlo, The Prince's Palace of Monaco, Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Oceanography Museum
#backpacker #backpacking #budget_travel #monaco #montecarlo