Just a half a day in Nice or Monaco?

I'd spend a half day in Nice before I would Monaco. We've wandered around Monaco but nothing really grabbed me other than walking past the casino. In Nice, wandering the Old Town is really nice, and going up Castle Hill gives some amazing views...all walkable from each other. And wandering the Promenade Anglais is fun as well.

Chagall museum in Nice -- wonderful! (Full disclosure, I love Chagall and the museum was my main reason for going to Nice.)

Laurie, you are on your trip......

Should we rent a car in Nice and then drive up the coast, or use a bus? We will likely stay near the airport.

The short ride on the train from Nice to Monaco is spectacular. Sit on the right hand side of the train going, preferably upstairs.

There are a few hotels near the airport, mostly in the Accor group. They don't have much of a view.

The old town end of the Promenade des Anglais has so much atmosphere and the hotels there have so much better of a view, and walking into the market is special, and they are so close to the airport - I'd do that if I could rather than stay at a soulless airport Ibis.

You neither need nor want a car in Nice, better to get it when you leave. The cars parked in the road in Nice tend to have more dents in them than the ones in Rome or Naples.

Agree with Nigel that rather than walk around one of the cities, just enjoy the train ride along the coast to Monaco and back. If you take the train to Avignon, you'll get to see the rest of the coastline. It's spectacular. If there's a left luggage at the train station, you could leave it while you go to Monaco and pick it up and catch a train to Avignon.

Ok, that sounds like a much better plan to stay in Nice for the night in a better location. I really hadn't though about seeing Nice. Now I'm excited! Can you recommend a hotel, and do you think there is a shuttle from the airport to a hotel at 10 pm or later?

Nigel, can you offer more information about the train up to Monaco? Then would we return to Nice before heading to Avignon to rent a car?

Thank you for the help!

edit: Looks like prices are so high in old town! We need a triple room, so now I really wonder if it matters since we will get in so late anyway?

Susan & Monte,

With a very limited time, I'd focus on NIce as there's lots to see. You could look at Hotel Suisse as it has gorgeous views along the Promenade des Anglias (from some rooms).

I don't know if there's a Shuttle from the airport, but it's fairly close to town so at that time of night a Cab shouldn't cost too much.

As I recall, you the Bus to Monaco is only €1 each way from Nice. It stops at the bottom of the hill and you'd have to walk up to the town from there (or take another Bus). There's a fantastic Oceanographic Museum there as well as the Royal Palace and some great views.

Thanks so much for the help!

Nice is IN Provence. I agree with getting a hotel in the city and would suggest that you spend at least a day there before renting a car to drive to western Provence. You can drive along the coast when leaving Nice.

I thought Monaco was interesting, but with such a limited amount of time I might just stay in Nice. It's nice to walk along the water after dark, the market is fun and there are lots of great restaurants. The view from Monaco was beautiful, and if that is the goal, then definitely go. I was there at night and it was gorgeous. You definitely do not want the car in either place, but are you going to Avignon to rent the car? You can get your car in Nice and enjoy a beautiful drive from Nice to the small village of Provence. There are lots of wonderful places to stop along that drive.

Thanks again for the feed back.

We fly to Nice because we can get cheap airfare. Our goal is Provence and the Dordogne.

We arrive at 9 pm and had planned to stay near the airport, get up, rent a car and take off straight for Provence. Or, take a train Nice to Avignon, rent a car and drive to B&B.

Then I was thinking, why not enjoy a morning to early afternoon seeing Nice or Monaco? So, a stroll or train/ bus ride would be fine. We wouldn't plan to see museums or any real sites, just 3,4, 5 hours, then we would leave for the Luberon.

We could spend a second night in Nice, which would just be one evening, but we would have to take a night from Provence or Dordogne. Not sure if it would be worth that?

Without hesitating, NICE! Monaco is pretty, but I didn't find it that interesting. I probably won't go back unless I'm going with someone who has never seen it before. Nice, however, is just lovely and there are so many great things to see. Stay somewhere near the Gare de Nice and stay there the night before you go to wherever you're going in Provence. It's not far.

Well, if you are taking time away from Provence villages and towns to stay in Nice, I would not make that choice unless you really like big cities. No matter how much time I have in the Provence countryside it is never enough:) Are you flying out of Nice? If so you could spend you last night there and see the city in the evening when I think it is the most beautiful.