Monaco Advice - Day Trip
Discussion
Hello all,
Never been to an F1 race ever, and I may have the chance of being able to get to Monaco for day on the Saturday.
This works well as usually qualifying is the most exciting day.
My flight would get into Nice at 0955 and depart Nice 1940.
On a race weekend what’s the best way to get from nice to Monaco? Taxi? Train? Helicopter? Best = quickest.
Then for the race, what ticket should I get? Assuming I don’t get one of the £2k , all food and drink packages type ticket, what grandstand would be the best for a first timer?
Any real, lived experiences from anyone on here? How much time do I need to leave at the airport to get through security etc etc
Never been to an F1 race ever, and I may have the chance of being able to get to Monaco for day on the Saturday.
This works well as usually qualifying is the most exciting day.
My flight would get into Nice at 0955 and depart Nice 1940.
On a race weekend what’s the best way to get from nice to Monaco? Taxi? Train? Helicopter? Best = quickest.
Then for the race, what ticket should I get? Assuming I don’t get one of the £2k , all food and drink packages type ticket, what grandstand would be the best for a first timer?
Any real, lived experiences from anyone on here? How much time do I need to leave at the airport to get through security etc etc
craig511 said:
Hello all,
Never been to an F1 race ever, and I may have the chance of being able to get to Monaco for day on the Saturday.
This works well as usually qualifying is the most exciting day.
My flight would get into Nice at 0955 and depart Nice 1940.
On a race weekend what’s the best way to get from nice to Monaco? Taxi? Train? Helicopter? Best = quickest.
Then for the race, what ticket should I get? Assuming I don’t get one of the £2k , all food and drink packages type ticket, what grandstand would be the best for a first timer?
Any real, lived experiences from anyone on here? How much time do I need to leave at the airport to get through security etc etc
For travel from Nice, I'd avoid the roads, so no taxi or bus - the traffic will be terrible. Helicopter is fantastic, but a lot more expensive than it used to be for some reason.Never been to an F1 race ever, and I may have the chance of being able to get to Monaco for day on the Saturday.
This works well as usually qualifying is the most exciting day.
My flight would get into Nice at 0955 and depart Nice 1940.
On a race weekend what’s the best way to get from nice to Monaco? Taxi? Train? Helicopter? Best = quickest.
Then for the race, what ticket should I get? Assuming I don’t get one of the £2k , all food and drink packages type ticket, what grandstand would be the best for a first timer?
Any real, lived experiences from anyone on here? How much time do I need to leave at the airport to get through security etc etc
People complain about the train being busy but it's low cost and only 20 minutes, decent scenery on the route too. Hard to argue against it being the best all round solution.
I also recommend the train. I did exactly this a few years ago (stayed in Nice and travelled to Monaco by train for the race) and it was completely fine: on time, not crowded at all and even cheap 
. There is a bus as well, but I would avoid the roads, as already mentioned.
As a contrast, I had exactly the opposite experience when visiting Hockenheim a few years ago and travelling from Heidelberg. The train was late, slow, crowded and expensive. Shows that the Germans don't do everything right
. There is a bus as well, but I would avoid the roads, as already mentioned.As a contrast, I had exactly the opposite experience when visiting Hockenheim a few years ago and travelling from Heidelberg. The train was late, slow, crowded and expensive. Shows that the Germans don't do everything right
craig511 said:
Perfect, thanks.
For a first timer what would be the best location to sit assuming I go for a grandstand ticket?
Doubt you'll get a helicopter ticket this late in the day. Train is fine. But of a scrum but no more than a commute into London.For a first timer what would be the best location to sit assuming I go for a grandstand ticket?
Unless you perch yourself on the hill, there's no option for a walkabout ticket.
Grandstands: the ones from Tabac to the Swimming Pool are good. There's a block that looks towards Rascasse which offers a good view of the pitlane as well.
But wherever you sit, don't expect expansive views as you would at Silverstone. It's a very different viewing experience.
They'll keep you in the grandstand for 30 minutes after the session (unless there's a support race afterwards). When the track action is finished for the day, you'll be able to mooch around wherever you like apart from the pits.
Enjoy!
I have been twice to the Monaco Historic. Train to Monaco (watch you valuables!) down to the circuit behind St Devote, under the circuit to stand K (Tabac). I was in K2 with a view up to the chicane and beyond to the tunnel (binoculars!). Tickets to Tabac are still available here
https://www.formula1monaco.com
The barriers are higher than the cars so it can be difficult to see them of you're too near the front and it is hard to believe the speeds. Get to the back (right to the top) of the stand if you can (get there early!) and from K1/ K2 you can see the cars going into St Devote behind the stand.
Food etc is available underneath/ behind the stands and in the streets behind but make sure you can keep your seats.
Don't buy ice cream in cones ( tubs ok but not too many boules) and take them back to your seats. The ice cream will be all over your hands by the time you get there!
Plastic macs will be instantly available if it rains and if it does (surprisingly often), you'll also want to keep your seats dry.
Terrific experience but the Historic (2024) is much better value.
https://www.formula1monaco.com
The barriers are higher than the cars so it can be difficult to see them of you're too near the front and it is hard to believe the speeds. Get to the back (right to the top) of the stand if you can (get there early!) and from K1/ K2 you can see the cars going into St Devote behind the stand.
Food etc is available underneath/ behind the stands and in the streets behind but make sure you can keep your seats.
Don't buy ice cream in cones ( tubs ok but not too many boules) and take them back to your seats. The ice cream will be all over your hands by the time you get there!
Plastic macs will be instantly available if it rains and if it does (surprisingly often), you'll also want to keep your seats dry.
Terrific experience but the Historic (2024) is much better value.
996Targa said:
I have been twice to the Monaco Historic. Train to Monaco (watch you valuables!) down to the circuit behind St Devote, under the circuit to stand K (Tabac). I was in K2 with a view up to the chicane and beyond to the tunnel (binoculars!). Tickets to Tabac are still available here
https://www.formula1monaco.com
The barriers are higher than the cars so it can be difficult to see them of you're too near the front and it is hard to believe the speeds. Get to the back (right to the top) of the stand if you can (get there early!) and from K1/ K2 you can see the cars going into St Devote behind the stand.
Food etc is available underneath/ behind the stands and in the streets behind but make sure you can keep your seats.
Don't buy ice cream in cones ( tubs ok but not too many boules) and take them back to your seats. The ice cream will be all over your hands by the time you get there!
Plastic macs will be instantly available if it rains and if it does (surprisingly often), you'll also want to keep your seats dry.
Terrific experience but the Historic (2024) is much better value.
I'm going next year https://www.formula1monaco.com
The barriers are higher than the cars so it can be difficult to see them of you're too near the front and it is hard to believe the speeds. Get to the back (right to the top) of the stand if you can (get there early!) and from K1/ K2 you can see the cars going into St Devote behind the stand.
Food etc is available underneath/ behind the stands and in the streets behind but make sure you can keep your seats.
Don't buy ice cream in cones ( tubs ok but not too many boules) and take them back to your seats. The ice cream will be all over your hands by the time you get there!
Plastic macs will be instantly available if it rains and if it does (surprisingly often), you'll also want to keep your seats dry.
Terrific experience but the Historic (2024) is much better value.
It's one of those 'must-dos' for anyone with an interest in the sport. Just being there feels special. As a means to watch a F1 race, it's pretty poor, but oddly, that doesn't matter. Think of it more as an opportunity to watch F1 cars.
I did exactly what you're doing in 2005 only for the race. Stand outs for me were finding a flight case for a TV camera under the grandstand, standing on this and watching the cars come round the swimming pool full chat. There is no camera capable of conveying even a sense of the speed and spectacularly beautiful violence of an F1 car at that speed. Proper goose bumps.
And the other was the surreality of it. To get to the grandstand, we had to go through this alley way and alongside it were these small apartments with back gardens where ordinary people and families were sat having their Sunday lunch seemingly oblivious to the thousands of people traipsing by. You'd then find yourself in a queue with Jackie Stewart and Eddie Irvine behind you.
Just a marvellous experience.
I did exactly what you're doing in 2005 only for the race. Stand outs for me were finding a flight case for a TV camera under the grandstand, standing on this and watching the cars come round the swimming pool full chat. There is no camera capable of conveying even a sense of the speed and spectacularly beautiful violence of an F1 car at that speed. Proper goose bumps.
And the other was the surreality of it. To get to the grandstand, we had to go through this alley way and alongside it were these small apartments with back gardens where ordinary people and families were sat having their Sunday lunch seemingly oblivious to the thousands of people traipsing by. You'd then find yourself in a queue with Jackie Stewart and Eddie Irvine behind you.
Just a marvellous experience.
Helicopter in and out would make the event very special.
You can buy a seat or seats in something like an EC130 or EC125 from the main operators - Heli Air Monaco, Monacair, Blade, HeliSecurite.
They will meet you at Nice arrivals and transfer you to the Helipad. Monaco’s Heliport is at Fontvieille.
Can’t advise on availability or costs at this late stage.
It’s the busiest weekend of the year.
You can buy a seat or seats in something like an EC130 or EC125 from the main operators - Heli Air Monaco, Monacair, Blade, HeliSecurite.
They will meet you at Nice arrivals and transfer you to the Helipad. Monaco’s Heliport is at Fontvieille.
Can’t advise on availability or costs at this late stage.
It’s the busiest weekend of the year.
F1GTRUeno said:
Anyone know what the 'grandstand' on the rocks is or how you get up there? Always looks like the best place for me.
It’s called Le Rocher, which means what you think it does, and it used to be free admission there. Now it’s sold as a GA ticket for something quite ridiculous in F1 terms like 90 euros a day. But you’ll need to be there by about 5:30am to get your pitch. At the other end of the scale, there is one ticket type still available for next weekend - the Paddock Club, a snip at 14k euros.
https://tickets.formula1.com/en/f1-3202-monaco
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