Day 4: NICE - MONACO - VILLAFRANCHE-SUR-MER - NICE
Saturday, September 12, 2009
We have to get up early to start one of the most complete days of this trip on the Côte d'Azur. We will have breakfast in the lounge of the Nice All Season Hotel, a good breakfast, quite complete and that charges us the batteries to visit Monaco in one day and return to Nice at night, since we will stay here again, being the prices of accommodation in Monaco almost prohibitive. We ask about the parking spaces and they tell us that for today there will be a free one. So they reserve it for us and with this closed issue we are on our way to Monaco.
We are going on a “mid-coast” road and we are making several stops at a couple of viewpoints that we find, including one that offers fantastic views of Villefranche-sur-Mer, the well-known point where the cruise ships that pass through this area of France disembark.
Villefranche-sur-Mer, one of the best known points of the French Riviera
It takes us half an hour to get from Nice to Monaco and we are very lucky as we park almost in the center of Monaco, in the middle of the street. We go directly to the port and decide to continue until Oceanographic Museumwhich is our first stop in Monaco.
If you do not have a car, a good option to visit the most interesting points of the city is to book the tourist bus.
Monaco Harbor
The truth is that theOceanographic Museum It disappoints us a little, perhaps because we had too many expectations and we have not seen it as incredible as we had read in some forums and guides.
Oceanographic Museum
Once the visit is done, we take something on the panoramic terrace and from here we go to the area of Monaco Palace and Cathedral.
Monaco views
First we enter the Monaco Cathedral, which surprises us a lot, finding it very cozy, compared to others.
Monaco Cathedral
We are lucky and by addressing Palace of the Prince we see that the changing of the guard, which starts at 11.55, so among the people we can half see some of the scenes.
Palace of the Principies of Monaco
After seeing the changing of the guard, we spent the rest of the morning taking a walk in the area and entering some stores looking for some souvenirs to take from this getaway. When we look at the time we see that it is time to eat, so we go to the port area where we take advantage of eating with good views of the port of Monaco.
We still have all afternoon, so we return by car and go straight to another of the best known areas of the Côte d'Azur: the Monte Carlo Casino.
Monte Carlo Casino
We parked in the parking lot in front of us and as soon as we left, we began to see the “luxury”That we thought we had left yesterday in Cannes.
Monte Carlo Casino
We take a walk around and through the garden and enter the Monte Carlo Casino, where although we have no intention of playing, we want to have a view of the interior.
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish in Monaco by travelers:
- Nice excursion
- Excursion to Cannes, Antibes and Saint Paul de Vence
- Excursion to Saint Tropez
- Monaco tourist bus
- Excursion to Grasse + Wine tasting- Many more excursions and tours here
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish in Monaco by travelers:After this visit we decided that we deserve a soda in the famous Café Paris de Monte-Carlo and there we go. Coca Cola and Water for 18 euros. Of course we are on a terrace facing the Monte Carlo Casino.
Monte Carlo Casino
After spending an hour relaxing here, we are going to take the car to travel a section of the F1 circuit.
This is how we finished visit Monaco in one day, when it is mid-afternoon and we are on our way to Villafranche-sur-Mere, this time along the coast road.
We stop again at the viewpoint and arrive at the village, where we have a good time walking along a most pleasant walk.
Villefranche-sur-Mere
More practical information to prepare your trip to Nice
- 10 essential places to see in Nice
- 10 essential tips for traveling to the French Riviera
After 8 pm we return to our hotel in Nice where we rest a little until dinner time.
Today we choose an Italian from the old port, where we recharge our energy to face tomorrow on the last day of this Costa Azul getaway.
Day 5NICE - GRASSE - LAS GARGANTAS DE VERDON - LLORET DE MAR
