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Seeking Monaco GP Travel Tips – Any Advice?

Posted by on

Hey Rick Steves community!

Excited to share that my girlfriend and I are heading to Monaco for the Grand Prix this year. We'll be staying in Menton at a friend's place and are looking for some insider tips to make our trip unforgettable. Since it's our first time attending the Monaco GP, we'd love to hear from those who have been there before or locals who know the area well.

Here are a few specific questions:

  1. Best transportation options from Menton to Monaco for the GP weekend?
  2. Any recommendations for prime viewing spots during the race?
  3. Tips on navigating the crowds and making the most of the atmosphere?
  4. Cool events or activities happening around Monaco during the GP weekend?

I have been searching online for the information and have found some useful stuff like the following ones.

1. A general guide about Monaco GP:
https://www.roadtrips.com/luxury-travel-guides/the-ultimate-guide-to-monaco-grand-prix/

2. Tips for choosing the best grandstands at Monaco:
https://www.fanamp.com/tr/best-grandstands-monaco-f1-gp

3. Monaco Grand Prix reviews by some TripAdvisor users:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g190409-d10477080-Reviews-Monaco_Grand_Prix-Monte_Carlo.html

Feel free to share your personal experiences, dos and don'ts, or any other sources with useful information that could enhance our Monaco GP experience. Can't wait to hear from you all and thanks in advance for helping us plan an epic trip!

Posted by
11577 posts

Without realizing it, we booked an apartment in Nice which overlapped the Monaco Gran Prix and the Cannes Film Festival dates!. Trying to get dinner reservations in Nice was almost impossible. So plan ahead and book any and all reservations in Monaco, Nice and Menton as soon as possible.

Posted by
33881 posts

I'm a little concerned that you are asking about grandstands. I would have thought - although Monaco is THE race of the year for me and many, I don't go to Monaco any later than the first week of May, usually Feb or March so haven't checked - I say, I would have thought that all or most of the grandstands have been sold out since last year.

Have you found lots of available tickets (be sure they are genuine) at nominal prices or are you intending to pay high prices for the "secondary market"? Not accusing, just wondering.

Regarding transportation - I would definitely take the train. Menton is just one stop over the border from Italy and the TER trains originate and terminate at Ventimiglia just over the border. If your friends think the train will be too crowded when it reaches Menton - maybe the Tiffosi will be arriving from Milan - you could just pop over the border and be first on the train into France and Monaco. At least you'd probably get a seat.

In Monaco I'd rely on my feet.

Your linked sites have probably said all that.

Posted by
35 posts

Thank you Suki and Nigel for your useful replies. 👍

Posted by
33881 posts

by the way, once you figured out which vantage point you'll be at, it is worth becoming familiar with the layout of the Monaco train station. It has different exits all reachable by stairs, escalators and lifts.

There is an exit by the main station entrance right at the top of the hill above St Devote, and an exit down by the harbour, the bottom of the hill below St Devote, very close to the Royal Box, the Auto Club and the start and finish.

There is also an exit up in the carpark - on something like level 13 or 17 - towards the Jardin Exotique and the gardens above the Casino.

I wish I were there again this year, but probably not Monaco for me this year.

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