Stade Louis II away guide

Fly direct to Nice Cote d'Azur from Manchester or London, then take the coastal TER train from Nice to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, about 25 minutes, and walk 15 minutes down to Fontvieille. Away fans go behind the south goal in the Populaires stand (Populaires H), a modest allocation of roughly 1,000 in a 16,360-seat ground Wikipedia.

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

The flight leg is the easy part: Nice Cote d'Azur has direct UK flights, so nobody flies to a hub and grinds across on trains. Manchester runs easyJet and Jet2 direct, London has easyJet and British Airways into Gatwick, Heathrow and City FlightsFrom, FlightConnections. The real choice is how you cover the last 22 km from Nice to Monaco: the cheap coastal train, a one-seat airport bus or taxi, or a seven-minute helicopter.

All costs are estimates and swing hard with fixture dates and how early you book.

Getting there from Nice Airport

Nice Cote d'Azur is about 22 km from Monaco, and AS Monaco reckons the road journey is under thirty minutes by car, bus or taxi AS Monaco. The scenic and reliable option is the train. SNCF TER services run along the coast from Nice-Ville, or from Nice St-Augustin next to the airport, to Monaco-Monte-Carlo roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, taking about 20 to 25 minutes for around €5 Omio.

By bus, the Ligne d'Azur line 100 runs the coast road from Nice and from Menton, with stops at Cap d'Ail "Liberte" or Monaco "Cimetiere" near the ground AS Monaco. There is no metro or tram in Monaco, so it is train, bus, taxi or walking.

From Monaco centre and the station

The nearest railway station is Monaco-Monte-Carlo, on the Cannes-Nice-Ventimiglia line, which the club describes as 15 minutes on foot from the stadium AS Monaco. The ground is also about a 15-minute walk from the most central point of the city Football Ground Guide. Note that Monaco is built on cliffs, so expect steps and public lifts rather than a flat stroll.

If you would rather not walk, local Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco lines 4 and 6 serve the stadium directly AS Monaco. Away-fan guides note that buses 4, 6 and 100 drop fans right outside the stadium Football Ground Guide.

Inside the stadium and the away end

Away supporters are placed behind the southern goal, on the left-hand side of the Populaires stand, in the southernmost corner Football Ground Guide. For Tottenham's visit the allocation sat in three blocks of Populaires H, next to the Honneurs stand where the hospitality and VIP areas are, and totalled 1,014 tickets: 998 general admission plus 8 wheelchair and 8 ambulant spaces Football Ground Guide. The wheelchair and ambulant spaces are in the home section rather than the away end, which is awkward for disabled away fans Football Ground Guide.

An athletics running track wraps the pitch, so you sit further back than at a British ground and the view from behind the goal is not ideal. On the plus side there is no Perspex or netting in front of the away end Football Ground Guide. The home end is on the right of the same stand, which can put a bit of edge into it.

AS Monaco runs a free locker service outside the ground, on Rue des Cars and on Avenue des Castelans (Pesages side), for items barred from entry, and publishes a prohibited-items graphic ("Objets Interdits") rather than a text list, so check it before you travel AS Monaco. For European matches no alcohol is served in the concourse to away fans, and both card and cash are accepted inside Football Ground Guide.

Where to stay

Monaco itself is expensive and books out, so many fans stay in Nice and commute in on the same coastal train, or in cheaper Riviera towns along the line such as Menton, Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Ventimiglia just over the Italian border. If you want to wake up in the principality, Fontvieille and La Condamine (around the port) put you within walking distance of the ground. Book early: the calendar clashes with events like the Grand Prix and the tennis send prices through the roof.

Where to drink

Monaco is not a cheap pint. Reckon on €6 to €10 in a normal bar, with premium spots on Casino Square asking far more Expatistan.

• McCarthy's Irish Pub, 7 Rue du Portier: the go-to for away fans, big screens for the football, Guinness on tap, food until late and a happy hour from 6 to 8pm VisitMonaco.
• Brasserie de Monaco, on Port Hercule: brews its own Biere de Monaco on site, waterfront terrace, good but not cheap MonteCarloSBM.
• Stars'N'Bars, Port Hercule: American-style sports bar, screens, burgers, family-friendly and a bit more forgiving on price.
• La Rascasse, on the port at the F1 hairpin: lively bar-club that fills up on matchdays and race weekends.
• Le Tip Top, next to the Casino: laid-back, Belgian beers on tap and more affordable food and drink than its neighbours MonteCarloSBM.
• Monte Carlo Bar, Boulevard des Moulins: casual place with screens showing football and F1.

Avoid Cafe de Paris on Casino Square if you are watching the budget: pints there have been clocked at €17. There is no rough end to worry about, but the pricing itself is the trap.

Where to eat

• Marche de la Condamine (Condamine covered market): the value option, home to Chez Roger for socca and stalls selling barbagiuan for a few euros France.fr.
• U Cavagnetu, Monaco-Ville old town: proper Monegasque cooking at a friendly price near the Palace.
• Castelroc, Place du Palais: Mediterranean and Monegasque dishes, including stocafi, under the pines opposite the Prince's Palace.
• Stars'N'Bars, Port Hercule: burgers, ribs and casual American food with the match on.
• Any pizzeria or pan-bagnat kiosk around the port for a cheap, fast fill before kick-off.

Local dishes worth a try: barbagiuan, a fried pastry parcel of chard and ricotta and Monaco's signature snack Wikipedia; socca, a crisp chickpea-flour pancake off the griddle; pissaladiere, an onion, anchovy and olive flatbread; and stocafi, a slow-cooked dried-cod and tomato stew.

What to do

Monaco is tiny and everything is walkable, so a day or two goes a long way.

• Prince's Palace of Monaco (Le Rocher): the Grimaldi royal residence, with the changing of the guard daily at 11:55am.
• Oceanographic Museum: a cliff-top aquarium and marine museum open since 1910, with a shark lagoon and Mediterranean tanks.
• Casino de Monte-Carlo and Casino Square: the Belle Epoque landmark and its gardens are worth seeing even if you never place a chip.
• Monaco Cathedral: the Romanesque-Byzantine church in the old town where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III are buried.
• Jardin Exotique: terraced gardens of succulents and cacti clinging to the cliff, plus a cave, with big views over the principality.
• The Formula 1 circuit on foot: trace the street track past the Sainte-Devote bend, up to the Fairmont hairpin and through the tunnel.
• Port Hercule and Larvotto: wander the superyacht marina, or head to Larvotto beach and the Japanese Garden for a quieter hour.

Common questions

How do I get to Stade Louis II from Nice Airport?

Take the airport tram or a shuttle to Nice-Ville or Nice St-Augustin, then the coastal SNCF TER train to Monaco-Monte-Carlo, about 20 to 25 minutes for around €5, with departures every 20 to 30 minutes Omio. From the station it is a 15-minute walk down to the ground, or CAM bus 4 or 6 AS Monaco.

Which airport do I fly to for AS Monaco, and is there a direct flight?

Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE) is the airport, about 22 km away. You do not need a hub: Nice has direct UK flights, with easyJet and Jet2 from Manchester and easyJet and British Airways from London Gatwick, Heathrow and City FlightsFrom, FlightConnections. From Nice it is a short coastal train into Monaco.

Where do away fans sit at Stade Louis II?

Away supporters are behind the southern goal, on the left-hand side of the Populaires stand, in the southernmost corner, the blocks marked Populaires H next to the Honneurs stand Football Ground Guide. The home end is on the right of the same stand Football Ground Guide.

What is the away allocation?

Around 1,000, small because the whole ground only holds 16,360. Tottenham's away end held 1,014 tickets: 998 general admission plus 8 wheelchair and 8 ambulant spaces Football Ground Guide, Wikipedia. Allocations vary by competition and fixture, so confirm your club's exact number before travelling.

What time should I arrive?

Give yourself time. From Nice the train and walk take a bit over an hour, and Monaco's cliffside layout means steps and lifts rather than a quick stroll to the turnstiles. Aim to be in Monaco by early afternoon for an evening kick-off so you can bag food and a drink, clear the security check and find the away entrance without rushing.

Can I drink beer inside the ground?

Not if you are an away fan at a European match: no alcohol is served in the away concourse for those fixtures Football Ground Guide. Both card and cash are accepted at the kiosks inside Football Ground Guide. Do your drinking in the port bars beforehand.

How much is a beer in Monaco?

Reckon on €6 to €10 for a beer in a normal bar, with the neighbourhood average around €5.60 Expatistan. Premium spots on Casino Square charge far more, with pints reported at €12 to €17. Happy hours, such as McCarthy's from 6 to 8pm, soften the blow.

Is Monaco safe for away fans?

Yes. Monaco is one of the safest places in Europe, heavily policed and monitored, with very little street crime. The main risk to your trip is your wallet rather than your safety. Behave sensibly around the home end inside the ground, keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas, and you will have no trouble.

Which areas are good for away fans?

Port Hercule (La Condamine) is the natural base, with McCarthy's, Brasserie de Monaco, Stars'N'Bars and La Rascasse all around the marina and an easy walk to the ground. The old town on Le Rocher is good for food and sights. There is no area to actively avoid, though Casino Square is best treated as a look rather than a session.

Does my match ticket include free local transport?

No. Unlike some clubs, AS Monaco does not bundle free travel with a match ticket, so buy your TER train and CAM bus fares separately AS Monaco. Local fares are cheap: the train from Nice is about €5 and CAM buses a couple of euros, so budget a handful of coins on top of everything else.

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

Very close. The ground sits in Fontvieille, about a 15-minute walk from both Monaco-Monte-Carlo station and the most central point of the city AS Monaco, Football Ground Guide. Monaco is tiny, so nowhere is far, but the terrain is steep and you will use public lifts and staircases between levels.

Where should I stay?

Monaco is pricey and books out, so many fans stay in Nice and ride the same coastal train in, or in cheaper Riviera towns down the line such as Menton, Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Ventimiglia over the Italian border. For walking distance to the ground, look at Fontvieille or La Condamine around the port. Book well ahead, especially near big events.

Is there parking if I drive?

From the A8 motorway use Exit 56-Monaco, about 8 km from the centre AS Monaco. The Saint-Antoine car park offers free parking for coach-travelling clubs presenting the right documentation, though passenger drop-off inside the car park is barred AS Monaco. More than eighty-five taxis run around the clock if you would rather not drive.