Nice to Monaco in 22 minutes by train: 2026 fares for the TER, bus 600, private drivers and helicopter, where to sit, the three corniches and step-free tips.
The quickest way from Nice to Monaco is the regional TER train from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo: about 22 to 24 minutes along the coast, with around 55 trains a day and one-way fares of roughly €6 to €7 (about $7 to $8) in 2026. The bus is cheaper but slower, a private driver is the most comfortable, and the helicopter from Nice airport takes seven minutes. Our Nice office organizes this trip almost every day of the year, and here is how we choose.
Quick answer
- Fastest on the ground: TER train, Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, 22 to 24 min.
- Price in 2026: train about €6 to €7 one way; bus line 600 €2.10 by contactless card; private driver from about €80 per car; shared helicopter seat up to €195.
- How often: trains roughly every 15 to 30 minutes from early morning to late evening; buses every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays.
- Stations: Nice-Ville (or Nice-Riquier, near the port) to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, an underground station in the center of the principality.
| Option | Time | Price range (2026) | Comfort | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TER train | 22 to 24 min | about €6 to €7 one way | Regional train, often standing in summer | Fine with a small case, awkward with several |
| Bus line 600 (Zou) | about 45 min to over an hour, depending on traffic | €2.10 contactless, €2.50 cash | Coastal views, but crowded in summer | Small bags only |
| Private driver | about 35 min from Nice airport | about €80 for a standard sedan, €125 premium, €230 for a luxury sedan; minivans from about €115 | Door to door, your choice of corniche | Unlimited |
| Helicopter from Nice airport | about 7 min | shared seat capped at €195; private flights from around €700 for up to six | The most dramatic arrival | One bag included on shared flights |
| Express airport bus | about 45 min | about €22 | Coach seat | Hold luggage |
For a day trip, we book the train or a driver. For an arrival from the airport with luggage, the driver or the helicopter. The bus is good value but slow in season, when the coast road fills.
Sit on the right-hand side in the direction of travel. The line hugs the shore, and the views over the bay of Villefranche and the Cap Ferrat peninsula are all on that side. Coming back to Nice, switch to the left.
A private driver gives you a choice of three roads, each about the same distance:
We often go one way and return the other, with a stop in Èze, which is one of our standard day trips from Nice.
Monaco is one of the easiest places on the Riviera for limited mobility: the principality runs free public lifts and escalators between its levels, and its city buses are low-floor. Monaco-Monte-Carlo station has lifts, but the walkways are long, so allow time. Regional trains vary in how level the boarding is, so book SNCF station assistance at least 24 hours ahead for Nice-Ville. For wheelchair users we usually recommend a private adapted vehicle along the Moyenne Corniche, which also reaches Èze. Our accessible French Riviera trip includes Monaco and Èze with step-free arrangements, and our guide to the wheelchair-accessible French Riviera goes into detail.
From our Nice office we arrange Monaco as a half day or a full day: a driver collects you at your hotel, takes the Moyenne Corniche with a stop in Èze, drops you at the Casino square, and returns via the coast road in the evening. On Grand Prix weekend, when roads close, we switch to the train or a helicopter seat and plan the walking route from the station. If you are choosing where to stay on the coast, our guide to where to stay on the French Riviera compares Nice, Villefranche and Monaco itself, and our Paris to Nice by train guide covers getting to the coast. Monaco also features on our French Riviera in 7 Days itinerary, and more ideas are on our France page.
If you would like the day planned around your hotel and your interests, ask one of our designers in Nice.
More guides: Getting around
For most visitors, the TER train: 22 to 24 minutes from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, frequent departures and about €6 to €7 one way in 2026. If you want views and stops in Èze or La Turbie, a private driver along the corniches is better. From the airport with luggage, a driver or the seven-minute helicopter.
Line 600, run by the regional Zou network, costs €2.10 when you tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator, or €2.50 in cash to the driver in 2026. Buses run every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays. The ride is slow in summer traffic, often close to an hour or more.
About seven minutes from Nice Côte d'Azur airport to the Monaco Heliport in Fontvieille. In 2026 the basic shared-flight fare is capped at €195 including tax, and two operators, Monacair and Héli Air Monaco, run scheduled services. Private flights for a group cost more, from roughly €700 per flight.
Not the whole way in comfort: it is about 20 kilometers on roads without continuous footpaths. A popular compromise is the train to Cap-d'Ail and the coastal path into Monaco, or the train to Èze-sur-Mer and the steep Nietzsche Path up to Èze village, then a bus or driver onward.
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