Getting to Monaco for the football

Monaco has no airport of its own, so the route in is to fly direct to Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE), then take a TER train the last stretch across the border to Monaco-Monte Carlo, about 20-25 minutes (Trainline). The Stade Louis II is a 15-minute walk from that station (AS Monaco). Away fans sit behind the southern goal in the Populaires Stand, allocation around 1,000 (Football Ground Guide).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Monaco has no airport, so the route in is to fly to the nearest hub and finish overland across the border. Nice is that hub, direct from both Manchester and London, so the quickest options are near identical and only differ by the shorter London flight. The one genuinely different play is the cheap Genoa gateway from London, which trades the easy Nice hop for a longer coastal train. On the last leg you can also swap the TER train for the Airport Express bus 80, which runs straight into Monaco with no change. Costs are estimates and swing with how far ahead you book.

Getting into Monaco: airport and station

The nearest airport is Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE), about 22 km away. There is no commercial airport in Monaco, only a heliport in Fontvieille (AS Monaco).

From the airport the options are:

• Rail via the airport tram: take tram line 2 from the terminals to a Nice station, then an SNCF TER train to Monaco-Monte Carlo. Around 45-60 minutes total, roughly 7 euros, with up to four trains an hour (European Traveler).
• Express bus: line 110 (now often numbered 80) runs from the airport direct to Monaco, about 21 euros one way, roughly an hour, departing about every 45 minutes (European Traveler).
• Zou! regional bus 600, or the faster 603, links Nice and Monaco cheaply once you are in the city (Best of Nice).
• Taxi from around 100 euros, or a shared helicopter transfer at about 200 euros a head for a 7-minute flight into Monaco Heliport (European Traveler).

The direct TER from Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte Carlo is the fastest and cheapest way across, about 20-25 minutes and from roughly 5 euros with frequent departures (Trainline). The station sits centrally and underground on the Cannes-Nice-Ventimiglia line, and the whole principality is walkable from there (AS Monaco).

Getting to the ground (Stade Louis II)

From Gare de Monaco-Monte Carlo the stadium is about a 15-minute walk, and Monaco is small enough that walking is realistic for most fans (AS Monaco).

If you would rather ride, local Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) lines 4 and 6 serve the Stade Louis II. Football Ground Guide also lists buses 4, 6 and 100 as serving the stadium directly (Football Ground Guide).

By car, take the A8 motorway (exit 56 for Monaco). Matchday parking near the ground is a reduced flat rate of about 6 euros, though spaces are limited (AS Monaco).

Inside the stadium and the away end

Away fans are seated behind the southern goal on the left-hand side of the Populaires Stand, under the stadium's distinctive nine arches. Views can be affected by the athletics running track around the pitch (Football Ground Guide).

The away allocation is typically around 1,000 seats. Manchester City's recent Champions League allocation was 998 and sold out (Football Ground Guide). The Stade Louis II was inaugurated on 25 January 1985 by Prince Rainier III and holds about 18,500 (Wikipedia).

Where visiting fans stay

Monaco itself is very expensive, so many visiting fans base themselves in Nice, about 20 minutes by train, or in Beausoleil, the French town directly above Monaco, and travel in on matchday (Football Ground Guide). Frequent trains and buses run along the coast, with the last services back on the Cannes-Nice-Ventimiglia line, so a Nice base is practical (AS Monaco).

Where to drink

Everything in Monaco is pricey, and beer is no exception: expect around 6-7 euros at a casual bar and up to 12 euros in the Old Town (Expatistan).

• La Rascasse, 1 Quai Antoine 1er. On the port beside the F1 circuit, the best-known fan bar, lively but not cheap (Football Ground Guide).
• Slammer's, 6 Rue Suffren Reymond. A more budget-friendly option near the port, popular with visiting fans (Football Ground Guide).
• Monte Carlo Bar, 1 Av. Prince Pierre. Named among the more affordable spots, handy for the station end (Football Ground Guide).
• Brasserie de Monaco, on the port. Monaco's own microbrewery, its own lagers on tap, a solid pre-match base if you want something better than mass-market beer (Expatistan).
• Fontvieille bars near the ground tend to be a touch cheaper than the Casino Square area, worth heading there if you are watching the pennies (Monaco News Daily).

Nothing in Monaco is rough, but the Casino Square and Monte Carlo terraces are where you will pay the most for a drink, so avoid them if budget matters.

Where to eat

The local dish to try is barbagiuan, deep-fried pastry pockets filled with chard or spinach and ricotta, effectively Monaco's national snack, alongside socca, a chickpea pancake shared with neighbouring Nice (Travel with Hello).

• Le Barbagiuan, 6 Avenue des Papalins, Fontvieille. A Monegasque restaurant near the ground doing the signature dish and good-value lunch specials (Travel with Hello).
• Boulangerie Patisserie Gildo, Fontvieille. Fresh croissants and baguettes from around 2 euros, the cheap-and-cheerful option before kick-off (Monaco News Daily).
• ICI Salad Bar, Fontvieille. Build-your-own salads and fresh plates, quick and affordable near the stadium (Monaco News Daily).
• Market vendors and stalls in La Condamine sell barbagiuan and socca for roughly 5-10 euros, the honest way to eat local without a restaurant bill (Travel with Hello).
• Sit-down restaurants around the port and Casino area run to serious money, so if you want a proper meal book ahead and expect to pay Monaco prices (Monaco News Daily).

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it, Monaco packs a lot into a small space.

• Monte Carlo Casino and Casino Square, worth seeing for the architecture alone even if you never place a bet (Tripadvisor).
• Oceanographic Museum, a cliff-top marine science centre with a shark lagoon and Mediterranean aquariums (Monte-Carlo SBM).
• Prince's Palace of Monaco, the royal residence, with the changing of the guard around 11:55 each morning (Tripadvisor).
• Monaco-Ville old town, narrow lanes and quiet squares up on the rock, with the Cathedrale de Monaco where Grace Kelly is buried (Monte-Carlo SBM).
• The Exotic Garden (Jardin Exotique), terraced cactus gardens with big views over the principality (Tripadvisor).
• Port Hercule and the Grand Prix circuit, walk the famous corners and the tunnel down by the harbour (Monte-Carlo SBM).
• Larvotto beach, the public stretch for a swim or a sit if the weather is on (Monte-Carlo SBM).

Common questions

How do you get to the Stade Louis II from the airport?

Fly into Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE), about 22 km away. From the terminals take tram line 2 to a Nice station, then a TER train to Monaco-Monte Carlo, roughly 45-60 minutes in total for about 7 euros. From that station the ground is a 15-minute walk (European Traveler).

Which airport do you fly to for Monaco?

Monaco has no airport of its own, only a heliport, so you fly to Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE), the nearest airport at about 22 km. There are direct flights from both Manchester and London to Nice, so no hub detour is needed, just the short train across the border at the end (AS Monaco).

Where do away fans sit at the Stade Louis II?

Behind the southern goal, on the left-hand side of the Populaires Stand, under the stadium's distinctive nine arches. The athletics running track that rings the pitch can push the seating back a little and affect sightlines, so it is not the tightest away end you will visit (Football Ground Guide).

How many away tickets are there?

The away allocation is typically around 1,000. For a recent Champions League fixture Manchester City were given 998 and sold out, so treat 1,000 as the working ceiling and expect to need your ticket in good time for a big European night (Football Ground Guide).

What time should you get there?

Aim to be in Monaco by early afternoon for an evening kick-off. Trains from Nice run frequently but fill up on matchday, the walk from the station takes 15 minutes, and Fontvieille bars near the ground are small, so arriving early gives you time to eat, drink and get through the turnstiles without a scramble (AS Monaco).

Can you drink in the ground?

Assume standard French and UEFA rules apply, with alcohol sold in concourses at some fixtures but often restricted or dry for higher-risk European ties. Do your serious drinking beforehand at the port or in Fontvieille rather than banking on a pint inside, and check the club's matchday notes for your specific game (Football Ground Guide).

How much is a beer in Monaco?

Around 6-7 euros for a beer at a casual bar, rising to as much as 12 euros in the Old Town and on the Casino terraces. Monaco is among the priciest places in Europe for a drink, so Fontvieille and the port are your friends if budget matters, and happy hours can knock the price down (Expatistan).

Is Monaco safe for away fans?

Yes. Monaco is one of the safest places in the world, with a very low crime rate, a heavy police presence and round-the-clock surveillance, so you can move around freely day or night. The main thing to watch is your wallet rather than any trouble, because everything is expensive (Travel Safe Abroad).

Which areas are good for away fans?

The port area around Quai Antoine 1er, with La Rascasse and the Brasserie de Monaco, is the natural gathering point, and Fontvieille near the ground is a touch cheaper. There are no no-go zones, but the Casino Square is where you will pay the most, so most travelling fans stick to the harbour and Fontvieille (Football Ground Guide).

Does the match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some European clubs, there is no free-transport scheme tied to the Monaco match ticket, so buses and trains are paid separately. In practice it hardly matters, because the principality is small and the ground is an easy 15-minute walk from Monaco-Monte Carlo station (AS Monaco).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Not far at all. The Stade Louis II sits in the Fontvieille district in the south-west of the principality, about a 15-minute walk from the central Monaco-Monte Carlo station, or a short hop on CAM bus 4 or 6. Monaco is compact enough that the whole place is walkable end to end (AS Monaco).

Where should visiting fans stay?

Most base themselves in Nice, about 20 minutes away by train, where hotels are far cheaper and there is more to do in the evening. Beausoleil, the French town directly above Monaco, is another value option a short walk from the border. Staying in Monaco itself is possible but among the most expensive in Europe (Football Ground Guide).

What currency does Monaco use?

The euro. Monaco mints its own Monegasque euro coins, but standard euros are used everywhere and cards are widely accepted, so there is nothing extra to arrange over any other Eurozone trip (Monte-Carlo SBM).