Bli i Nice under Monacos Grand Prix: Smart trekk? (2026)

Most visitors assume you must stay in Monaco for the Grand Prix. You do not. The train from Nice-Ville to Monaco Monte-Carlo takes 25 minutes, runs every 20 minutes through race weekend, and costs around €5. A 4-star room in Nice during GP weekend is 40 to 60 percent cheaper than the same standard in Monaco. Here is the honest case for basing yourself in Nice, plus the Sunday evening logistics nobody warns you about.

Typical saving by staying in Nice

40 to 60%

On accommodation alone, for equivalent room quality. Add restaurant and bar savings on the days you are not in Monaco.

Hopp til en seksjon

The case for Nice

  • You save 40 to 60 percent on accommodation. A €500 Monaco room equates to roughly €200 to €300 in Nice for the same standard.
  • You eat far better outside Monaco. Old Nice has the Riviera’s best concentration of small bistros, socca bars, and proper Nicoise cooking. Monaco restaurants are mostly priced for hospitality budgets.
  • You get the Riviera experience. Old Town, Promenade des Anglais, flower market, beaches, museums. Monaco is a 2km principality. Nice is a real city.
  • You stay close to the airport. Nice Cote d’Azur is 7 minutes from central Nice by tram, vs 25 minutes (or a €170 helicopter) to Monaco.
  • Late-night Nice has its own scene. If you do not want to wait for the late train, Nice’s own nightlife runs to 5am. See our guide to nightclubs in Nice and our rooftop bars guide.

    • The train (and the Sunday catch)

    The TER Sud-Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur line runs Nice-Ville to Monaco Monte-Carlo in approximately 25 minutes, with stops at Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Cap d’Ail. During GP weekend, SNCF typically adds extra services, with departures every 15 to 20 minutes during peak windows and trains running until around midnight.

    The Sunday catch nobody warns you about. After the race finishes around 5pm, every Monaco visitor going to Nice tries to leave at the same time. The 5pm to 7pm trains are packed and slow. The smart moves: leave Monaco before 4pm (have an early dinner in Cap-Ferrat or Villefranche en route) or stay in Monaco for dinner and take a 9pm to 11pm train back.

    Train planner

    Pick your day and time. Get the realistic plan.

    Best neighbourhoods to stay in Nice

    Best overall

    Place Massena and Carre d’Or

    The central plaza, walkable to the Old Town, the Promenade and Nice-Ville train station (12 minutes). Strong restaurant density, tram access, mostly 4-star hotels in the €200 to €450 night range during GP.

    🚆 12 min walk to train · 💰 mid to high · ✅ best general base
    Authentic

    Vieux Nice (gamlebyen)

    The yellow-and-ochre warren of streets between the Promenade and Cours Saleya. The Riviera’s best concentration of small bistros, socca bars and aperitif spots. Boutique hotels and apartments. 15 minutes walk to the train. Loud at night.

    🚆 15 min walk to train · 💰 mid · ✅ best for food and atmosphere
    Convenient

    Around Nice-Ville train station

    The fastest commute to Monaco. 3-star and budget 4-star hotels in the €120 to €280 night range during GP. Less charm but the train platform is literally next door. Good for short stays.

    🚆 Inside the station · 💰 low to mid · ✅ best for budget + maximum commute efficiency
    Premium

    Promenade des Anglais

    Sea-facing hotels including Negresco, Anantara, Hyatt Regency. 5-star territory at €700 to €1,200 night. Longer walk to the train (18 to 25 minutes), but a tram station two blocks back. Worth it if the sea view is non-negotiable.

    🚆 18 to 25 min walk + tram · 💰 high · ✅ best for view and luxury
    Alt

    Mont Boron and Cimiez (calm)

    The quiet, residential hillsides. Better for couples on a Riviera holiday with one GP day. Tram or short taxi to the train station. Not recommended if you are doing all four days in Monaco.

    🚆 Tram + train · 💰 varied · ✅ best for slower trip

    Nice vs Monaco: real price comparison (GP weekend)

    StandardNice (GP weekend, per night)Monaco (GP weekend, per night)Saving in Nice
    3-star€120 to €220€280 to €50050 to 60%
    4-star€200 to €450€500 to €1,20050 to 65%
    5-star€600 to €1,200€1,500 to €4,000+40 to 70%
    Apartment / Airbnb€150 to €400€350 to €90050 to 60%

    Prices are typical ranges based on public-facing booking platforms for GP-weekend dates. Budget hotels in Nice can run as low as €80 to €120 night if booked 6+ months ahead. Premium suites at Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo can exceed €5,000 night during GP, with mandatory multi-night stays.

    When staying in Nice is NOT the right call

    • You have a yacht day pass. The trackside hospitality day starts before 10am and runs late. The commute is exhausting. Stay in Monaco for those nights at least.
    • You are doing 3 or more late-club nights. Taking a midnight train back to Nice four nights running is a punishing schedule. Beausoleil or Cap d’Ail are cheaper Monaco-adjacent backups.
    • You are doing corporate hospitality. The optics and the commute do not match the spend. Stay at Hotel de Paris or Hermitage.
    • You have mobility constraints. Monaco streets are steep. Nice train commute adds platform-to-circuit walking. If walking is hard, stay close to the action.

      • Need help with the whole weekend?

      For groups of 4 to 12 we coordinate Nice hotels, train logistics, Monaco day plans, restaurant reservations and yacht charters. Tell us your dates and we’ll send a structured plan.

      Request a plan

      Vanlige spørsmål

      Can you stay in Nice for the Monaco Grand Prix?
      Yes. The train from Nice-Ville to Monaco Monte-Carlo takes 25 minutes and runs roughly every 20 minutes during GP weekend, with trains until around midnight. Nice has far more accommodation choice than Monaco, with prices typically 40 to 60 percent lower for an equivalent room.
      How much cheaper are hotels in Nice vs Monaco during the Grand Prix?
      Typically 40 to 60 percent less for equivalent quality. A 4-star Nice room during GP weekend runs €200 to €450 per night. The same standard in Monaco runs €500 to €1,200. Premium 5-star is even wider: Hotel de Paris reaches €4,000+ vs Negresco Nice around €700 to €1,200.
      What is the last train from Monaco to Nice during the Grand Prix?
      Typically around midnight (verify the SNCF schedule before traveling). After the last train, a taxi from Monaco to Nice costs approximately €80 to €120 and takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Pre-booked transfers cost roughly the same.
      Where should you stay in Nice for Monaco GP?
      Stay near Place Massena, the Old Town (Vieux Nice) or close to Nice-Ville train station. All are walkable to the train (10 to 15 minutes). The Promenade des Anglais zone is scenic but a longer walk to the train. Avoid the airport-side neighbourhoods (Arenas, Cap 3000) for GP weekend.
      Is it worth staying in Nice instead of Monaco for the Grand Prix?
      Yes for most visitors. You save 40 to 60 percent on accommodation, eat better, have more restaurant and bar choice for the days you are not in Monaco, and get the Riviera experience instead of a 2km principality experience. The only catch: you need to leave Monaco by midnight or pay for a taxi back.

      More Nice and Monaco GP guides

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      Thomas

      Jeg er Thomas, grunnlegger av Nice Party Life. Vi deler de beste tipsene, fra skjulte perler til must-see, for å gjøre oppholdet ditt i Nice uforglemmelig. Enten du er ute etter natteliv eller byeventyr, er vi her for å veilede deg! 🌴✨

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