Getting around at the Monaco Grand Prix

For most fans, the trip to the circuit means a short train ride from Nice, then walking in Monaco itself. Roads in Monaco are closed to vehicles for race weekend, except for the Formula 1 cars, so walking is how you get around once you’re there.

Train

Direct trains run between Nice and Monaco up to three times an hour. The journey takes no more than 25 minutes. Arriving at Monaco station puts you in the heart of the action, with easy access to most grandstands.

Nice Station is well organised, but expect queues at peak travel times in both directions.

Booking your train tickets before you arrive in Nice avoids time at the ticket office. If you can’t pre-buy, head to the station ticket office on Thursday or Friday and pick up your tickets for Saturday and Sunday in advance, so you don’t have to queue on race days.

The last train from Monaco to Nice runs around 11pm.

Around Monaco itself

Once you’re in Monaco, you walk. The principality is yours on foot. Most grandstands are accessed from the side of the circuit that the station is on, and some via temporary footbridges.

Shared minibus and private transfers

Some hotels in Nice offer shared minibus transfers to Monaco. Details are usually at reception. Transfer times vary depending on how many pickups the driver makes, and drop-off in Monaco is outside the city centre because of the road closures, so you’ll still have a walk to your vantage point.

You can also book a private transfer with a local taxi or transfer operator. The same caveat applies: drop-off is outside the centre, and finding your driver again after the race can be difficult, since the police generally don’t allow stopping.

For most people, the train gets you closer, faster.

Helicopter transfers

Helicopter transfers from Nice Airport to Monaco take seven minutes, but they make most sense on arrival and departure rather than as a daily race-weekend commute. Using one as a transfer over race weekend means travelling from Nice back to the airport, and the heliport in Monaco is also outside the centre.

One time I’d say a helicopter is genuinely worth the cost: if you’re flying home on race day. I’ve used one from Monaco to Nice immediately after the Grand Prix to make a flight home, and the saving on a night’s accommodation made the helicopter worthwhile.

After the race

Trains back to Nice get busy, and queues at Monaco station can be long. It’s often worth hanging around for a drink or something to eat to let the initial rush thin out before heading back to the station.