Three French Riviera towns in one day from Monaco

Monaco's compact size makes it an ideal base for exploring the French Riviera — Nice, Menton, Eze, and Antibes are all within an hour, and with some planning you can even combine three of them in a single day.

How far is Nice, and is it worth the trip?

Yes — Nice is just 25-30 minutes away by TER Regional train, with departures every 15 minutes and fares around €6. Trains arrive right in Nice's city centre, making it the easiest and most frequent connection from Monaco. If you prefer scenery over speed, bus route #600 covers the same route in about an hour along the coast for as little as €2.10 each way (contactless fare), running every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on Sundays and holidays.

What about Menton?

Menton, the easternmost French city on the Riviera bordering Italy, is only 9 km from Monaco. By car it's 12 minutes via the A8 motorway, or 25 minutes if you take the scenic Basse Corniche instead. It's a good pick if you want an easy, low-effort morning trip before heading elsewhere.

Is Eze village worth the detour?

Eze is a strong choice for anyone wanting a classic hilltop-village experience. Perched at 429 metres above sea level, it's reached via the Moyenne Corniche (D6007) in around 13 minutes from Monaco. Its medieval cobblestone lanes and restaurants — including the two-Michelin-starred Château Eza — make it worth lingering over lunch rather than rushing through.

Can I fit Antibes into the same day?

Antibes is about 30 minutes away via the A8 motorway and offers a different flavour of Riviera life: an old town, the Musée Picasso housed in the Château Grimaldi, the Marché Provençal covered market, and the Cap d'Antibes peninsula for a coastal walk. It pairs well with Menton and Eze if you want to cover ground efficiently — a well-composed day hitting all three takes roughly 8-9 hours, following a rhythm like: Menton market in the morning (9:00-11:00), Eze village and lunch (12:30-15:00), then Antibes old town and the Musée Picasso (15:30-17:30), getting you back to Monaco by around 19:00.

Is Cannes worth the longer ride?

Cannes is reachable by train in roughly 60-90 minutes depending on the service, with one-way adult fares typically €8-€15. It's the furthest of these options, so it suits travellers happy to dedicate most of a day to a single destination rather than combining it with others.

Getting a local data plan or eSIM before island- or Riviera-hopping can make navigating timetables and maps simpler; see /destinations/monaco for more on staying connected.

FAQ

Which day trip is closest to Monaco? Menton, at just 9 km away and 12 minutes by car via the A8.

What's the cheapest way to reach Nice? The train costs around €6 and takes 25-30 minutes; the #600 bus is even cheaper at €2.10 with contactless payment, though it takes about an hour.

Can I see multiple towns in one day? Yes — Menton, Eze, and Antibes together fit into an 8-9 hour day using the suggested morning-to-evening itinerary above.

Sources

• https://www.ffgrmonaco.com/blog/menton-eze-antibes-vip
• https://ambassade-en-australie.gouv.mc/en/information-and-services/visiting-monaco
• https://sheislostaroundtheworld.com/day-trip-nice-to-monaco/
• https://travelfrancebucketlist.com/day-trip-to-monaco-from-nice/
• https://www.nomadotravel.app/en/guides/cannes-to-monaco-day-trip