Where is Monaco and How to Get There?

Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, and yet is among the most famous. Well it’s not really a surprise. Despite being barely seen in the map, the Principality of Monaco is packed with sights and entertainment – truly, there’s just a lot of things a visitor can do to make the most of the Principality.

What Brings Folks to Monaco?

Entertainment is the primary reason that drives people to Monaco, fueling the country’s tourist driven economy. Visitors get their dose of recreation by visiting attractions like the Rock and the marina, seeing the Monaco Grand Prix if they happen to come at the right time of the year, or enjoying in Monte Carlo’s entertainment complex. Meanwhile, many people – especially wealthy individuals – come and never leave, owing to the fact that Monaco does not levy income tax from its residents.

You as well might want to travel to Monaco for leisure or to stay there for good. However, if you’re no European or is simply not into world political geography, you’ll inevitably ask the question, “Where is Monaco?”

Exactly Where is Monaco?

If you are looking for Monaco in any world map, you’re guaranteed to have a hard time if you have no idea where on Europe it is. Even if you do find it, you won’t be certain of its exact location. That said, the Principality’s coordinates are 43°43′N 7°25′E.
Not that good with geographic coordinates and is still asking where is Monaco? Well Monaco is simply located somewhere along France’s southeastern coasts, 16 km east of Italy. The region on which Monaco is located is called the French Riviera, which is a geographic division denoting the Mediterranean shoreline along and near southeastern France.

Getting to Monaco

Monaco is very accessible for a small country with no room for sea- and airports. There are several ways to get to Monaco, some of which does not necessarily have to drop you straight into the city state.

  • By road. Western Europe has an excellent road network which you can use to get to Monaco. Purchasing a local road map helps if you plan to go by car, as well as knowledge on which routes to travel cheapest or quickest.
  • By rail. You can hop into Eurostar or National trains from any major European city to Paris, from which you take a TGV train to Nice, France. From Nice, you can ride a local train that heads straight to Monaco.
  • By plane. The Nice Cote d’Azur is the closest airport to the Principality. If you’re planning to fly to Monaco, this should be your drop off point, from which you can ride a taxi, bus, train or chopper to the city state.
  • By ship. You can get to Monaco by sea if you have your own vessel or can afford cruise ships operating around Monaco. Otherwise, you can always sail via a commercial ferry to major ports in southern France, then head to the Principality by road or rail.

Monaco is small and locked in by surrounding terrain, but isn’t that hard to find if you have the right idea of its location. The independent city state is also very accessible, thanks to Europe’s efficient transport system.