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Eight day trips from Nice to Monaco and Èze cost from €55 to €437.50 per adult (based on 2 travelers), for departures from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027. All of them can be cancelled free of charge, and seven confirm instantly. Without a car, the half-day small-group tour remains the simplest choice.
Verified on through the Viator partner API (prices, ratings, availability).
Starting from Nice, one question comes first: how do you see Monaco, Èze and the Côte d’Azur without losing the day in a queue or at the wheel of an unfamiliar car? In late autumn the choice is wider than you might think, but the season changes the rules. Some options run only a few days in the period, others run almost without a break.
I kept eight experiences that combine a rating of at least 4.7 and at least 100 reviews. For one of the cards, Viator and TripAdvisor reviews are added together, and the card says so. Each price is per adult for two travelers, checked on October 22, 2026 through the Viator partner API for the period from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027. No figure is estimated.
Budget comes first. The half-day small-group tour starts at €65, the e-bike ride at €55, and the private car day at €437.50 per person. Driving is the second filter: two options keep you at the wheel, the electric Fiat and the electric bike, and one takes you up into the hills by train. Transport is the third. Three options include pickup at your Nice hotel, which matters if you don’t want to hunt for a bus on the day or carry your bags to the station.
If you only have room for one excursion, I would start with the half-day small-group tour to Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Èze. It is the simplest way to discover the principality without driving, with a 4.82 rating from more than 1,800 reviews. The train between Nice and Monaco remains the other option: about twenty minutes on the TER, with no guide and no program.
This guide is built for quick decisions. It shows what costs money, what needs booking ahead and what doesn’t work in November. It also flags the points I could not confirm: monument fees, bus times to Èze and some details on supplier pages.
Why start from Nice: one base, three ways to get around
Nice is the most convenient base for Monaco, Èze and the hinterland. Nice-Ville station is in the heart of the city, and seven of the eight experiences in this selection leave from Nice. The eighth is a walking tour that starts in Monaco. Starting from Nice means you don’t have to move your luggage from one city to another, which matters more than people expect when you spend two or three nights on the coast.
There are three ways to get around, depending on time and budget. First, the train. Between Nice and Monaco, the TER takes about 20 to 25 minutes according to published timetables and journey planners. It is the fastest option for a half-day in Monaco, with no guide. Next, the bus to Èze. The Lignes d’Azur and Zou networks serve the village from Nice, but the sources I found on routes and fares date from 2024, so I point to their websites rather than publish figures. Finally, the organized excursion, which covers transport, the guide and sometimes lunch.
The real question is therefore not « do I need an excursion? » but « how many places do I want to see in one day? » Half a day is enough for Monaco and Èze, but the stop in the village stays brief. A full day adds Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Beyond that, day formats become marathons, and two short outings are better than one very long one.
The season matters too. The window from November 5 to January 3 is late autumn. Long-term averages give a little under 10 °C in Nice in November and about 6 °C in December. The eight options hold up through winter, but with closed days: the number of open days is given for each one, and it is worth checking the date you choose before booking.
The 8 experiences compared
| Experience | Duration | Price per adult (based on 2) | Rating (reviews) | Free cancellation | Available days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Half-day Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Èze | 5 hours | €65 to €79 | 4.82 (1,852) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 2. Full day Côte d’Azur | 10 hours | €95 to €129 | 4.81 (1,459) | Yes | 59 of 60 |
| 3. Minibus Monaco, Èze, La Turbie | 7 hours | €92 | 4.73 (1,027) | Yes | 57 of 60 |
| 4. Mountain train from Nice | 11 hours | €189 | 4.79 (790) | Yes | 47 of 60 |
| 5. Electric Fiat, Nice to Villefranche | 4 hours | €85 | 4.91 (514) | Yes | 57 of 60 |
| 6. Electric bike, Nice to Villefranche | about 3 hours | €55 | 4.84 (214) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
| 7. Monaco on foot, F1 and Princess Grace | 3 to 4 hours | €133 | 4.99 (177) | Yes | 29 of 60 |
| 8. Private car day | 9 hours | €437.50 | 4.81 (107, combined reviews) | Yes | 60 of 60 |
Prices and availability checked on the Viator partner API on October 22, 2026 for the period from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027; they may change. The rating in the eighth row combines Viator and TripAdvisor reviews.
The 8 excursions to book from Nice to Monaco, Èze and the Côte d’Azur
1. Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Èze in a half-day, small group
It is the simplest way to discover the principality without driving or worrying about connections. The vehicle picks you up at your Nice hotel between 8:15 and 9:00 a.m. in the morning, or between 1:45 and 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon, depending on the time slots listed on the page. The group stays small, and that changes the visit: the guide leads the group through Monaco and Monte-Carlo, along the Formula 1 circuit. Èze comes at the end of the route, with its medieval village and garden. Fragonard perfumery is on the program. The catch: thinking you will go inside the palace. The State Apartments are only open from March 30 to October 15, 2026, so the visit is from the outside during that period.
- Hotel pickup in Nice
- Small-group visit
- Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Èze in the same half-day
2. The Côte d’Azur in a full day, from Monaco to Antibes
When you want to see several villages without crossing them off one by one, the full day is the most efficient option. The tour leaves Nice with a guide, for eight people at most, and runs through Monaco, Èze, Cannes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Antibes. The price per adult is higher than the 7-hour minibus, but it covers more stops in a single day. Pickup takes place 5 to 30 minutes before departure, at the time shown on the listing. Saint-Paul-de-Vence deserves more than a twenty-minute stop: if the village appeals to you, our guide to Saint-Paul-de-Vence from Nice covers access, opening times and the best stops to make it the heart of a day. The catch: ten hours of driving and walking add up. Bring comfortable shoes for the sloping streets, and something to eat.
- Guide
- Eight people at most
- Taxes included
3. Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Èze and La Turbie by shared minibus
This format bridges guided visits and freedom: a minibus, a guide, and a route through La Turbie, where the Trophy of the Alps overlooks the sea. The trip stops at Èze and La Turbie. The listing gives the changing of the guard at 11:55 a.m., which you watch from outside, since this option does not include a visit inside the palace. For €92 per adult, the package covers four places and a minibus ride, without a private driver. The catch: expecting to get into the palace. The State Apartments are only open until October 15, 2026, so they are closed for the period covered by this article.
- Minibus
- Guide
- Stops at Èze and La Turbie
4. Mountain train and Baroque Royal Route from Nice, lunch included
This is an excursion, not a scheduled service: a day on a mountain train from Nice-Ville station, with lunch included. The meeting point is on the terrace of a bakery on Avenue Thiers, near the station. The route follows the line from Nice to Tende, known as the Train des Merveilles, which reopened in December 2025 after several years of works, according to the regional press. The meeting time is set from 7:55 a.m. depending on the itinerary, while the logistics sheet gives 8:00 a.m.: wait for the confirmation before booking your other trips. Expect 3 to 7 km of walking, according to the description. At €189 per adult, it is the most expensive group day in this selection. The catch: the confirmation is not instant. The operator validates after your booking, so don’t plan the rest of the day until you have received the message.
- Mountain train ride
- Lunch included
- 3 to 7 km of walking
5. Electric Fiat circuit from Nice to Èze, Fort Alban and Villefranche
The highest rating of the driving options in this selection, and the shortest route to drive. You take the wheel of an electric Fiat, with a guide, and tour the coastal sites: Fort Alban and its view, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villefranche-sur-Mer and its bay, then Èze. Departure and arrival are at the NiceCar shop in Nice. The listing mentions a guided visit to Fragonard in Èze, according to the description: check it before you leave. The catch: the drive is yours, you are not a passenger. If you don’t want to drive, choose the minibus or the train.
- Electric Fiat
- Guide
- Departure and arrival in Nice
6. Electric bike from Nice to Villefranche and Fort du Mont Alban
The least expensive option in the selection, and the only one by bike. The route covers about 20 kilometers: the Promenade des Anglais, the Cap de Nice, a view of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Saint-Elme citadel in Villefranche-sur-Mer, then Fort du Mont Alban, where sea and mountain appear in the same frame. The electric bike helps on the hills, and a rain jacket is provided. The meeting point is on the promenade, behind the Le Méridien hotel and the Ruhl casino. The catch: this is not a walk. Twenty kilometers are covered by bike, with stops, and the announced time is about three hours.
- Electric bike
- Rain jacket provided
- About 20 km route
7. Monaco on foot: Formula 1 circuit, Princess Grace and public lifts
This is the highest rating in the selection, with 177 reviews on Viator, for a walking tour of Monaco lasting 3 to 4 hours. The route follows the Grand Prix circuit, tells the story of Princess Grace and uses the public lifts to go from the sea up to the high districts, with viewpoints along the way. The guide is easy to spot by his black and white umbrella at the meeting point. This tour stands out for its angle: it tells the story of the city, not just of the palace. The window is narrow. The 29 open days out of 60 are November 7, then December 7 to January 3, 2027. The catch: most November dates are closed, and you should check the listing before booking to confirm the group size.
- Walking guide
- Public lifts
- Formula 1 circuit
8. A full day in a private car with driver on the Côte d’Azur
This is the most expensive option in the selection, and the only one where the group is yours alone. A driver picks you up at your Nice hotel, and the route passes through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, Monaco and Monte-Carlo, with Antibes at the end of the day. The price is set for two adults at €875 in total, or €437.50 per person. The 4.81 rating combines Viator and TripAdvisor reviews: it is not a Viator-only score, and I present it as such. The catch: reading the price as a per-person fare on the listing. For a different group size the amount changes, so recalculate it when you book.
- Private driver
- Hotel pickup in Nice
- Private visit
Preparing your trip
Two late-season options need some preparation: the mountain train is confirmed after booking, and the car and bike trips benefit from a connection on site. Two optional tools make the stay easier.
A connection from the moment you land, useful for maps, timetables and mobile tickets.
Get my eSIMCoverage for the trip, to take out online before you leave.
See my insurancePractical tips on the ground
Three points change the day: the opening hours of the sites you want to visit, the closing days and the return trip. Here is what the sources consulted on October 22, 2026 say, with what still needs checking before you leave.
The train between Nice and Monaco. The TER takes about 20 to 25 minutes between the two stations, depending on timetables and journey planners. The sources consulted give tickets from about €5.90, a price to confirm when you buy on the TER website. For a half-day in Monaco it is the most flexible option: you leave when you like and come back the same way, without waiting for a program.
The bus to Èze. The Lignes d’Azur and Zou networks serve Èze from Nice. Timetables and fares change from one season to the next, and the pages I consulted date from 2024: I therefore publish no figures. Check the routes, timetables and price on the network’s website on the day of your trip, and allow a margin for the return.
The Èze exotic garden. The Nice Côte d’Azur tourist office listing gives opening hours from November 1 to December 31, 2026: opening at 9:00 a.m., closing at 4:30 p.m., last entries at 4:00 p.m., exceptional closure on December 25. Full price is €10 and the guided visit is €15. Allow about an hour. The listing notes that the garden is not wheelchair accessible and sits at about 429 meters above sea level. No update date is visible: confirm the hours before you leave.
The Trophy of the Alps at La Turbie. This national monument charges admission, but no official source I consulted confirmed its current price or hours, so I show no amount. Check them on site or on the monument’s website before your visit. The 7-hour minibus option stops here.
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco. The State Apartments are only open from March 30 to October 15, 2026, according to Monaco Tribune: in November and December, the visit is from the outside. The supplier listings give the changing of the guard at 11:55 a.m.; no official site confirms this time, so I present it as supplier information. I show no admission price, since no official source I consulted gave one. The Monte-Carlo Casino entry fee is not published here either: ask on site.
The budget for two. Prices checked for two adults give a clear baseline. The electric bike comes to €110, the half-day small-group tour between €130 and €158, the electric Fiat to €170, the 7-hour minibus to €184, the walking tour of Monaco to €266, the full day between €190 and €258, the mountain train to €378 and the private car to €875. To save without giving up the coast, choose a bike or walking option and the train between Nice and Monaco. The trap is the option that looks cheaper but doesn’t cover transport: always check what is included.
The season. These figures cover the late season. Availability from April to October will be different, and prices can shift between periods: check again when you book rather than relying on an old date.
Mistakes to avoid. Don’t book a ten-hour day without checking the return. Don’t count on getting into the palace in November. Don’t block your other trips before the mountain train is confirmed. Finally, don’t choose on rating alone: the best-rated option in the selection, the walking tour of Monaco, is open only 29 days out of 60.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a day trip from Nice to Monaco and Èze cost?
Prices checked on October 22, 2026 for two adults range from €55 per person for the electric bike (about 3 hours) to €437.50 per person for the private car day. The half-day small-group tour costs €65 to €79 per adult, and the full day on the Côte d’Azur €95 to €129. These prices apply to departures from November 5, 2026 to January 3, 2027 and may change. The comparison table gives the full details.
Can you get to Monaco from Nice without a tour?
Yes. The TER links Nice to Monaco in about 20 to 25 minutes, depending on timetables and journey planners. Tickets are bought on the TER or SNCF website, and the price should be confirmed at the time of purchase. A tour mainly brings a guide and a program, without having to coordinate the return times yourself.
Which excursion should you choose for a day without a car?
The half-day small-group tour, 5 hours with hotel pickup in Nice, covers Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Èze for €65 to €79 per adult. To go further, the 10-hour full day adds Cannes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Antibes. The 7-hour minibus, with a stop at La Turbie, is the middle option.
Are the excursions open in November and December?
Yes, but to varying degrees. In the window checked, the options run between 29 and 60 days out of 60. The walking tour of Monaco has only 29, on November 7 and then from December 7 to January 3, and the mountain train has 47. The others run at least 57 days out of 60. Check the date you choose before booking, because a closed day cannot be guessed.
Do you need to book in advance?
Seven of the eight options confirm your booking straight away. All eight can be cancelled free of charge under the conditions checked on Viator. The mountain train is the exception: confirmation is manual, and the operator validates after your booking. Don’t plan your other trips for that day until you have received the confirmation.
Is the Èze exotic garden accessible to everyone?
The Nice Côte d’Azur tourist office listing says the garden is not wheelchair accessible and sits at about 429 meters above sea level. The visit lasts about an hour, last entries are at 4:00 p.m. in November and December, and the garden closes on December 25. The village of Èze is explored on foot, on sloping streets. For an adapted route, contact the tourist office before you leave.
Sources
- Nice Côte d’Azur tourist office, listing for the Èze exotic garden, accessed October 22, 2026
- TER, Monaco-Nice journey, accessed October 22, 2026
- SNCF Connect, Monaco-Nice journey, accessed October 22, 2026
- Everyrail, Monaco-Nice trains, accessed October 22, 2026
- French Riviera Traveller, Nice and Monaco to Èze (May 2024 page, lines and fares not used), accessed October 22, 2026
- Monaco Tribune, the Train des Merveilles reopens between Nice and Tende, accessed October 22, 2026
- Routard, reopening of the Train des Merveilles, accessed October 22, 2026
- Guide Tourisme France, the Trophy of the Alps at La Turbie, accessed October 22, 2026
- French Ministry of Culture, Trophy of Augustus at La Turbie, accessed October 22, 2026
- Monaco Tribune, opening dates of the State Apartments in 2026, accessed October 22, 2026
- Climate-data.org, Nice (long-term averages), accessed October 22, 2026
- Pixidia, Saint-Paul-de-Vence from Nice, accessed October 22, 2026
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