Monaco on a budget
Hi, I'm Lola, and I'm here to share how I experienced the glamorous Monaco Grand Prix… on a serious budget! Yup, I spent 6 amazing days in Monaco for just €500 – including flights from the Netherlands, accommodation, and two full days at the circuit.
Sounds impossible? I promise you, it's not.
I'll take you through my budget and how I approached it. It could be done with an even smaller budget, but of course, you can make it as expensive as you want. In this blog, I'll share my tips, and after the Monaco Grand Prix, I will share everything about whether this experience is truly worth it, along with the pros and cons.
My Budget Breakdown (€600 Total)
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✈️ Flights – €246 return from the Amsterdam, Netherlands -> Nice, France
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🏠 Accommodation – €174 for 5 nights in a Airbnb in Nice
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🚆 Transport – €15 for train travel between Nice and Monaco 5,- from Nice to Monte Carlo (3 days)
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🎟️ F1 Tickets – €140 for general admission on Friday & Saturday
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🍝 Food & Extras – €???
Tips to Plan Your Own Budget Grand Prix Trip
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Book early – Flights and hostels get expensive fast.
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Stay in Nice – Way cheaper than Monaco and super accessible.
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General admission is worth it – Bring a portable stool and go early to claim a good spot.
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Supermarket food saves lives – Eat out once or twice, but grab groceries for the rest.
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Travel light – Budget airlines charge for luggage.
1. How to Get to Monaco?
Flying to Nice
Step 1, how do you get to Monaco? Monaco is an incredibly small country located in Europe. It's so small that Monaco doesn’t have its own airport! So, if you’re planning to travel by plane, the nearest airport is in Nice, France.
From Europe, there are plenty of direct flights to Nice. However, if you’re traveling from places like America or Asia, you’ll likely have to connect through another major airport like Paris or London, as direct flights to Nice are less common. Your travel budget will really depend on where you’re flying from. For example, I’m based in the Netherlands and fly from Amsterdam. It’s a quick 2-hour flight, so my travel costs are relatively low. But if you’re coming from America, your flight budget will be significantly higher.
Monaco Can Also Be Reached by Train
Monaco isn't just accessible by plane. If you're already in Europe, there are many international trains that either go directly to Monaco or to nearby Nice. Some trains run directly, while others may require a transfer, depending on your departure location.
Train tickets are generally much cheaper than flights, so it’s worth considering taking the train instead of flying. Trains offer a comfortable, scenic way to travel, and you can often find more affordable fares.
If you're traveling from within Europe, check if there are any direct or connecting trains from your country to Monaco or Nice. It could save you both money and the hassle of flying!
2. Book early & don't sleep in Monaco
One of the most important tips I can give you is to book early – for flights, train tickets, and accommodation. Especially for accommodation, it’s smart to secure your spot as soon as the dates are announced. Hotels and Airbnb prices skyrocket during Grand Prix weekend, so be ahead of the game!
Monaco is known for its luxury and high cost of living. And when it comes to finding budget-friendly accommodation, Monaco itself isn’t the best option. The city is tiny, and with so many people flocking in for the Grand Prix, the demand for hotels and apartments is crazy. Prices get inflated, and it becomes hard to find a reasonable spot.
Stay Outside Monaco – Nice is Your Best Bet!
Luckily, Monaco shares borders with France and Italy. This means that you can easily find affordable accommodation just outside of Monaco – Nice is a popular choice. It’s a beautiful city, only 30 minutes by train from Monaco, and offers much cheaper options for staying. A train ticket costs only €5, and you’ll be dropped off in the heart of Monaco.
So, don't bother looking for accommodations within Monaco itself. Instead, check places just across the border in cities like Nice or other nearby towns.
Airbnbs Are Your Friend
Even in Nice, hotels tend to increase their prices during the Grand Prix weekend. That's why Airbnb is usually the best budget option. Whether it’s someone renting out a room or a fully furnished apartment, Airbnb offers great alternatives. Some are more luxurious than others, but honestly, when you're attending the Grand Prix, you’re likely to spend most of your time at the circuit – so your sleeping place doesn’t need to be too fancy.
Airbnb offers flexibility and often more competitive prices compared to hotels. I highly recommend it!
3. F1 tickets, General admission
I Can Hear You Thinking: “Okay, I’m in Monaco and Have Accommodation, But Aren’t F1 Tickets Super Expensive?”
Well, you're wrong! Have you ever heard of general admission tickets?
These are the most affordable F1 tickets available at almost every circuit. General admission means you don’t have a reserved seat. You won’t be in the grandstands, but you can stand or sit on the grass or in designated areas around the track. The catch is that you’ll need to arrive early if you want to secure a good spot.
Monaco also offers general admission tickets, which are around €70 per day. (This varies per day, Sunday is more expensive than Friday) While these tickets don’t give you the best view, you’ll still be able to see the F1 cars racing through the iconic streets of Monaco! Plus, the Fan Zone is free and doesn't require a ticket. You can buy merchandise, grab some food, and watch the sessions on large screens. So, while the general admission spots aren’t the best, you’ll still experience the amazing atmosphere and energy of the Grand Prix!
Once I’ve been to the Monaco GP, I’ll share more about my personal experience with these spots, along with videos of the views. Don’t forget to follow @racingmediagirls on Instagram to keep up with our live updates from Monaco!
Monaco Ticket prices
Thursday Ticket
General admission: €40,-
Cheapest grandstand ticket: €40,-
Friday Ticket
General admission: €50,-
Cheapest grandstand ticket: €190,-
Saturday Ticket
General admission: €70,-
Cheapest grandstand ticket: €500,-
Sunday Ticket
General admission: SOLD OUT
Cheapest grandstand ticket: €1,065
Mix and match your tickets
If you really want a grandstand seat, that’s of course an option! But be prepared: your budget will definitely go up by a few hundred euros. Grandstand tickets for Monaco can be quite pricey, especially during race weekend.
One way to balance your budget is by choosing one day of grandstand tickets instead of the entire weekend. This way, you can experience the best of both worlds – enjoy the premium view for a day, and then stick to general admission for the rest of the weekend to save money.
As I Mentioned, the Fan Zone is Free to Access
So, we decided to buy tickets for two days – the two cheapest days: Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, we plan to watch the race in the Fan Zone, at a nice café, or maybe we’ll find another spot with a good view of the action.
Think about how many days you actually want tickets for. If you’re aiming for Sunday tickets, your budget will likely increase compared to ours. Sunday tickets are the most expensive, as it’s race day, of course.
But did you know that Saturday might actually be more interesting in Monaco? While qualifying is important for every race, it’s extra important in Monaco. Due to the narrow streets and difficulty of overtaking, the qualifying session essentially determines the starting positions. So, it’s definitely not a loss to attend only on Friday and Saturday!
4. Food and restaurants
If you’re staying in Italy or France, keep in mind that shopping and eating there will be much cheaper than in Monaco itself. While Monaco does have a few budget-friendly restaurants (check out TikTok for some tips), it’s still generally an expensive place to eat out.
For example, there’s even a McDonald's with a pretty great view of the Monaco harbor – it’s cheap, but of course, not the most glamorous option! The smart move is to shop for groceries and eat in the country where you’re staying – whether it’s Italy or France. Monaco's restaurants and food vendors, especially in the Fan Zone, tend to be overpriced, so it’s better to prepare your meals outside the city.
I’ve never been to Monaco before, so I’ll be sure to update you on my experience with the food and dining situation after the Grand Prix!
Monte Carlo - Monaco
Nice - France
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