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Using public transport trains and buses is the most efficient way to get to the Monaco Grand Prix. But if you insist on driving, there are some parking options too.
Below is a guide that over the different travel and transport options for getting to the Monaco Formula 1.
Monaco Grand Prix Parking
If you are staying outside Monaco for the Grand Prix weekend and heading in to the principality, the best method of getting there is to use the train.
Driving to the event will be chaotic as the small streets of Monte Carlo will become traffic-packed during F1 weekend, especially on the Saturday and Sunday.
But if you do want to drive, there are a few parking options to consider.
Salines Parking
The Salines Parking lot is right on the western edge of Monaco, on the Bd du Jardin Exotique. It’s outside the centre of Monte Carlo which means you avoid the worst of the traffic in the middle of town.
This has around 1800 spaces. You don’t seem to be able to book in advance so it’s definitely worth getting there early to try and get a spot.
As it’s slightly outside the centre of town, it’s also one of the cheapest places to park. Here’s the parking charges for the Salines parking area at the Monaco GP weekend:
- 15 minutes to 4 hours: 7.50 Euros
- 4 hours to 12 hours: 11.00 Euros
- 12 hours to 18 hours: 18.00 Euros
- 18 hours to 24 hours: 24 Euros
To get from the Salines parking lot to the circuit you have two options: walk or take a free shuttle bus.
Walking takes around 15 minutes on a well signposted route.
The shuttle bus departs every 10 minutes from the car park entrance and is free as long as you show the driver a copy of your parking ticket. It runs from 8am to 8pm.
The shuttle bus journey takes around 10 minutes and it drops you off on Avenue Albert II in the Port de Fontvielle area. You’ll then have a 10 minute walk to the track area. You’re closest to La Rocher General Admission zone but some of the other grandstands might take a little longer to walk to.
Stade Louis II parking
The other option for parking at the Monaco GP is to park in the AS Monaco football stadium, Stade Louis II. This is a little closer to the circuit, so prices will be a little higher than in the Salines car park.
There’s no shuttle bus here, you have to walk to the circuit yourself. It’s around 10 minutes.
Other car parks
There are many underground car parks in Monaco but most of the others not listed above will be central, smaller, more expensive and likely to be full on race weekend. Plus it’ll be much harder to get through the traffic to get to them.
If you do want to look at other options, check out Monaco’s interactive car park map here.
Monaco Grand Prix tickets
If you still need tickets to the Monaco Grand Prix I’d recommend buying them on ViaGoGo where there will be tickets available right up until the Sunday of the Grand Prix.
I’ve used ViaGoGo a number of times for Formula 1 tickets and have always had a great experience with them. I purchased my tickets for the Vegas GP through them and managed to get them the day before the event for less than the official price.
They also have a FanProtect guarantee which makes sure your tickets and money are safe, which is good peace of mind!
Trains
If you’re staying outside Monaco for the F1 weekend, you’re probably staying in Nice. If so, getting the train to Monaco is easy, cheap and fast. It’s a direct 23 minute train ride from the Nice-Ville station to the Gare de Monaco underground station.
SNCF are the French train operator and tickets should be booked in advance through the SNCF website or on the SNCF app.
When you buy a ticket it will have a specific train time on it. But during F1 weekend you can jump on any train going to Monaco.
You don’t have to purchase them in advance but I reccommend you do. Otherwise you’ll have to wait even longer at the stations to buy tickets.
- Tickets for Grand Prix weekend are currently 5.90 Euros for each direction.
- First train departs Nice-Ville on Sunday morning at 5:50am
- Last train departs Monaco on Sunday evening at 11:30pm and takes just over an hour to get back to Nice.
- Trains run every 10 / 15 minutes
Usually, getting to Monaco by train from Nice is hassle free. Getting back at the end of the day is chaos. In 2024 at one point the station officials estimated a 3-hour wait in the que to get on the train directly after the F1 race had finished on Sunday.
That’s pretty extreme, but 1 or 2 hour waits are fairly common. That’s just to get in to the station, so even if you’re going in a different direction (Menton for example) it can be a big wait.
And once you’re inside the station you’ll be packed in like sardines which can be very unpleasant, with no easy escape for fresh air or toilets once you’re in the queue.
So don’t plan to leave directly after the F1 action finishes. Spend the evening in Monaco and kill a few hours before heading to the station to let the line die down.
Bus
For a slightly slower but cheaper and more picturesque option for getting from Nice to Monaco you can take the bus.
Bus #600 goes from the Nice Port right in to the heart of Monaco via the beautiful coastal road. The journey time is around an hour and tickets cost just 2.50 Euros each way, and can be bought directly from the bus driver. The last bus departs Monaco at 8.30pm.
Lots more info on this bus journey here.
Taxis
Getting a normal taxi between Nice and Monaco on Grand Prix weekend is expensive. You can pay up to 200 Euros for the journey.
Uber is a much better option and it’s easy to get one from Nice, but you should book one in advance. Costs are around 45 Euros each way.
Uber is actually banned in Monaco but to get one all you have to do is walk out of Monaco in to France, which is easy to do. There’s no border to cross and if you can get to the Monaco Casino Square then you’re only a few minutes walk from being in France and Uber working.
Entrance gates
Check out my guide to the Monaco GP entrance gates for more info on which gate to aim for based on what sort of ticket you have to the F1.
