Travelers, start your engines and race over to Monte Carlo for the 2024 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. 

The biggest race in F1 is one of the best times to visit Monaco. The forecast for next spring: sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a 100% chance of Rolls-Royces, Bugattis, and McLarens rolling in.

Is your Formula 1 car in the shop? Take a cheap train ride from Nice to Monte Carlo and find yourself steps away from the iconic Grand Prix starting line.

Image Credit: Getty Images, © Marco Bottigelli. Image Location: Monaco

Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2024: Need to Know

When is the Monaco Grand Prix 2024?

The 81st Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2024 will take place between Thursday, May 23, and Sunday, May 26, 2024. May 24 hosts free practice sessions 1 and 2, and May 25 is free practice 3 and the qualifying session. The official race takes place on May 26. Did we mention that you can buy tickets to the Friday night yacht party? Maybe we’ll see you topside.

Where is the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix located?

The race takes place on the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Monaco Grand Prix is an epic street circuit, but it’s only off-limits during race week. The other 51 weeks of the year? It’s an everyday route that you can walk or drive, whether you have a Ferrari or a Ford Focus.

Is Monaco a country?

Yes, the Principality of Monaco is an independent and sovereign country. It’s the second smallest micronation in the world, behind the Vatican City. Monaco is bordered by France and the Mediterranean Sea. You don’t need to pass through a formal border control station to enter Monaco, though an optional passport stamp from the Monaco Tourist Information Office in Monte Carlo is one of the coolest souvenirs you can snag.

How to get to the Monaco Grand Prix 2024? 

You can get to Monaco by car, by bus, and by train (and technically private helicopter should you have a bag of money in your carry-on). Buses are cheapest and longest. Rental cars are the most expensive option. Trains are more affordable than rental cars/taxis and faster than the bus. FYI: Mobee is the only car-sharing service in the country so no Uber or Lyft.

Image Credit: Getty Images, The One, the Don, the Pedro. Image Location: Monaco

Getting around Monaco & the French Riviera without a car

When you’re in Monaco for the Grand Prix 2024, remember that the track is normally a public roadway. Shutting down this circuit means traffic delays, which is why getting around Monaco by foot or bike is preferable on Grand Prix weekend.

Now, how to get to Monaco for the Grand Prix…

Nice Airport is a popular French Riviera gateway for international travelers. Nice has three train stations: Nice St-Augustin is near the airport, Nice-Ville is the main train station in the city center, and Nice Riquier is near the port. 

Many travelers go from Nice to Monaco via train from Nice Ville station straight into Gare de Monaco-Monte Carlo:

  • The journey takes less than 30 minutes.
  • One-way tickets are as low as $4.75.
  • 44 daily trains run every half-hour between 5:40AM and 9:25PM.

But what if you’re basing yourself in Cannes, Antibes, Menton or another Cote d’Azur city? Don’t worry, getting around the French Riviera without a car is easy no matter which end of the coast you’re on. Here are approximate train times and costs:

Image Credit: Getty Images, John Harper. Image Location: Monaco

Enjoying Monaco & the French Riviera During Grand Prix 2024

If you can snag grandstand tickets to any of the race days, you’ll find a host of events in the Official F1 Race Programme. If you don’t want to splurge on seats and prefer to watch it on the TV screens, you can still enjoy the thrilling atmosphere.

Vendors around the track sell official souvenirs and memorabilia. Much of the track is surrounded by high, chain-link fences obscured by tarps. But, if you’re willing to wake up early and wander the perimeter, it is possible to find small gaps where you can hear, feel, and see (for a split second, at least) rally cars speed by pre-race.

Make sure you don’t miss out on all of Monaco’s awesome attractions, including:

  • See the Prince of Monaco’s insane classic cars collection in the La Collection Automobiles museum.
  • Spin the slots and go all-in on the card tables at the Monte Carlo Casino.
  • Party with other F1 fans in the Amber Lounge.
  • Charter a luxury yacht and watch the famous race from the water.

Day trips from Monaco

Planning on visiting Monte Carlo only for race day? Explore the French Riviera by train with these awesomely affordable day trips:

Catch a flick in Cannes

With the Cannes Film Festival and Marché du Film also slated for May 2024, you can experience multiple world-renowned events when visiting for the Monaco Grand Prix. Besides being the site for the international film festival, Cannes has a duo of islands for you to explore. Plus, some of the best beach clubs in the French Riviera are nearby, making Cannes an easy one-day visit.

Or get a golden shine without actually going to the beach

The South of France is more than just beaches. Take Villefranche-sur-Mer, for example: this hilly town has oodles of opportunities for spying the waves without that sand getting everywhere. Find a quiet bistro terrace and even quieter panoramas away from the sunbathing crowds.

Image Credit: Getty Images, Fraser Hall. Image Location: Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Côte d'Azur, France

Cast a line in Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Who wouldn’t want to spend their weekdays fishing beside the sea? Cast a line on the port’s dock and watch the yachts roll by. Charter a private fishing boat or rent a scuba tank and get a sense of what bait would best lure that which lurks beneath.

Stop and smell the lavender

Trade the smell of burning rubber for a softer scent in Provence’s lavender fields. Peak bloom and flowering occurs in the summertime, but trust us, this region is still a pretty sight in spring. Aix-en-Provence is a perfect basecamp for an overnight or weekend trip to explore a different side of the South of France.

Hike along the coast

The Cote d’Azur isn’t the first place you’d envision hiking in France, but the coastal trails in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin make a strong argument for strolling under the sun. Strap on your hydration pack and hike from this medieval town to Menton for refreshing lemon beer.

Need a place to stay in the French Riviera? We’ve got you covered no matter your thread count, budget, or group size whether you want to stay at one of these exceptional hotels in Marseille or something swankier where the stars sleep. 

Download the Trainline app and book your tickets from the French Riviera to the 2024 F1 Monaco Grand Prix today.

Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Sylvain Sonnet. Image Location: Monte Carlo, Monaco

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