How much time do we need to see Monte Carlo?

[Therese2014]

My partner is very keen to visit Monte Carlo when we stop in Villefranche and I have booked a private car with CE

 

I note that it is a 4 hour trip in total so allowing journey time to/back Im assuming we will have 2 hours in Monte Carlo to explore

 

Is that enough time do you think?

 

thank you for any help

 

Rebecca

[cberge]

My partner is very keen to visit Monte Carlo when we stop in Villefranche and I have booked a private car with CE

 

I note that it is a 4 hour trip in total so allowing journey time to/back Im assuming we will have 2 hours in Monte Carlo to explore

 

Is that enough time do you think?

 

thank you for any help

 

Rebecca

 

I assume you want to do Monaco as well as Monte Carlo to see the palace,great little streets,gardens etc. that Monaco has to offer as well as the Casino etc. on the Monaco side. You should have enough time within a two hour time frame,but I think you will have a tad more than that if traffic is in your favor.Soem people will say forget it,but I love this area. Enjoy.

[Hlitner]

Is 2 hours enough? Well, DW would say that its 2 hours too much :). But yes, it is enough if you just want to make a quick visit up to the Palace area (try to time it so you can see the Changing of the Guard at 11:55) and spend some time walking around the lower part of town (not too far from the port).

 

Hank

[KirkNC]

You could easily spend a whole day or two. Two hours for a four hour ride doesn't make sense for me but if you want to just be able to say you went to Monaco it would accomplish that much.

[Keith1010]

Personally I like Monaco and ideally two hours is not enough time and a day or close to a day would be ideal. However, I would visit the Palace area and the Cathedral and then walk for a little while around these areas to enjoy the views.

 

Keith

[CintiPam]

Four hours in a car to spend two hours anywhere seems an odd use of time IMO. I think that you need at least four hours to see Monaco, particularly if you wish to tour the Palace and visit the casino as well.

 

However, in two hours, you could tour the Palace, see the Changing of the Guard and tour the Cathedral. If that is enough for you, go for it! :)

Edited June 23, 2014 by CintiPam

[Therese2014]

I agree and that was my query and CE are selling it as a private tour, yet its total duration is only 4 hours

 

YOUR CRUISING EXCURSIONS VOUCHER

Tour: Private Tour - Monaco, Montecarlo and Eze

Port: Villefranche (Nice) Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour Date: 30 Jun 2014

Tour Meet Time (Local Shore Time Not Ship Time): 9:00 am

Contact Telephone Number: 0044 1543 547110

Emergency Contact Telephone Number: 0044 1543 547110

[Hlitner]

I agree and that was my query and CE are selling it as a private tour, yet its total duration is only 4 hours

 

YOUR CRUISING EXCURSIONS VOUCHER

Tour: Private Tour - Monaco, Montecarlo and Eze

Port: Villefranche (Nice) Tour Duration: 4 hours

Tour Date: 30 Jun 2014

Tour Meet Time (Local Shore Time Not Ship Time): 9:00 am

Contact Telephone Number: 0044 1543 547110

Emergency Contact Telephone Number: 0044 1543 547110

 

About 1 hour of your tour will be spent dealing with transportation. So that leaves you about 3 hours to see a large city plus a small picturesque village with its share of cute galleries and boutiques. If you think that is reasonable then you will have a great day :).

 

Hank

Edited June 23, 2014 by Hlitner

[Therese2014]

As it's a private tour I'm going to ask him to leave the Eze tour and just concentrate on Monte Carlo.

 

I didn't read the duration of the tour and assumed it to be longer when I booked it.

 

So now I'm just hoping we get enough time in Monte Carlo

 

Thanks

Rebecca

[griffy116]

We had a private driver and guide and it was plenty of time. We saw the cathedral, where Princess Caroline lives, the palace (but no tour), the casino (but didn't go inside). We visited a couple of shops and saw some of the little cafes. The prices for even an appetizer and drink were ridiculous so we weren't sorry that we didn't have time for that. We were glad we went to see it. It's tiny and easy to see and our driver got us there in GREAT time. He also talked to us on the way about what we would see. Where he parked us was one of the most amazing parking garages I've ever seen...I know that's odd, but you have to see it to believe it. It's basically a giant spiral 7 stories straight down and he had a great time showing us how fast he could make the trip. The return to ground was just as exciting. He also showed us where the race is held and the markers still on the sides of the streets. It was a totally different day from our tour of Pompeii or Pisa and Florence, but just as enjoyable to see how the rich and famous live. The expensive cars parked outside the casino were amazing to see too. Decadence at its best. It was fun and for us, we had one person who would have been disappointed had they not gone. Turns out we were all glad we went.

[headedout1]

If it takes 4 hours to drive somewhere, I would prefer to visit for at least 4 hours. However, you can see the major sites in 2 hours - the Palace, Changing of the guard (not sure if you need to stay for the entire thing), then Cathedral and time at the Casino. Formula track as well. On the Casino, just check the time you are allowed to enter, since they only allow tourists to enter at certain times. I think at 2 or 3pm, you need to be in proper attire to enter.

[buggins0402]

If it takes 4 hours to drive somewhere, I would prefer to visit for at least 4 hours. However, you can see the major sites in 2 hours - the Palace, Changing of the guard (not sure if you need to stay for the entire thing), then Cathedral and time at the Casino. Formula track as well. On the Casino, just check the time you are allowed to enter, since they only allow tourists to enter at certain times. I think at 2 or 3pm, you need to be in proper attire to enter.

 

My recollection is Villefrance is only about a half hour from Monaco. There will be plenty of time to see the area sites, now that OP has decided to drop Eze. Personally, I'm in Hank's wife camp and would do the reverse, drop Monte Carlo and spend my time in Eze and something else ( or lunch in Eze overlooking the water).

Edited July 12, 2014 by buggins0402

[marazul]

The trip from Villefranche to Monaco is barely a half hour. I would ask the driver to go via the Moyenne Corniche and stop in Eze before arriving in Monaco. After seeing M/MC, ask him to return by way of the Basse Corniche along the water.

 

Do visit the Palace and the Catherdral and then do a drive-by of Montecarlo before returning to the ship. The Formula track are the city roads. You'll be on it at least some of the time you are in M/MC. Just ask the driver to tell you when you are on it.

[marazul]

BTW - the ride to Monaco along the Corniche is one of the most beautiful and iconic of the Riviera. It is part of your tour, not just transportation. There is a lookout along the Moyenne Corniche (about 5 minutes before Eze) that is a great photo stop with superb views of the Mediterranean and Cap Ferrat. Worth a couple of minutes stop.

[Langoustine]

If you're planning to go inside the casino, no shorts or flipflops were allowed several years ago, and we had to show a passport. I assume this is still the case.

[Therese2014]

It only took 20 minutes to drive to Monaco and it was a beautiful drive with stunning scenery whilst our driver gave us the most interesting history of the area.

 

After looking at Monaco and Monte Carlo we managed to see Eze on the way back too and 4 hours was the perfect amount of time

[CintiPam]

It only took 20 minutes to drive to Monaco and it was a beautiful drive with stunning scenery whilst our driver gave us the most interesting history of the area.

 

After looking at Monaco and Monte Carlo we managed to see Eze on the way back too and 4 hours was the perfect amount of time

 

I am so glad to hear it all worked out for you! Thanks for getting back to us with such good news.