If you search for a Monaco city pass, you will find plenty of websites selling what they call an official tourist card for the principality. There is no such thing. Monaco does not issue a standalone city pass of its own. What actually exists is the French Riviera Pass, a regional card issued by the Nice Côte d'Azur tourism board that covers around 20 sites across the wider coastline, Monaco included. Understanding this distinction will save you from overpaying for bundled packages that simply repackage the same regional product.
- No standalone Monaco city pass exists; the French Riviera Pass is the regional equivalent
- Pass durations: 24h €26, 48h €38, 72h €56 (without public transport add-on)
- Monaco inclusions: Oceanographic Museum (€20.50 standalone), Prince's Car Collection (€15 standalone), and the hop-on hop-off bus (€25 standalone)
- Public transport not included in the standard pass; Monaco's city buses require separate fares
- Free Monaco highlights (Casino Square, Saint-Martin Gardens, harbor, Larvotto Beach) need no pass at all
What Is the French Riviera Pass?
The French Riviera Pass is the official multi-attraction card for the Nice Côte d'Azur region. It covers roughly 20 sites in and around Nice, Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, and Monaco. You buy it in 24h, 48h, or 72h increments, and the clock starts when you first use it.
The pass comes in two versions: standard (attractions only) and all-inclusive (adds unlimited travel on Lignes d'Azur buses and trams in the Nice urban area). The transport add-on does not cover Monaco's own municipal bus network, operated separately by Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco. If you plan to ride local Monaco city buses, you pay those fares separately regardless of which pass version you hold.
For Monaco specifically, the pass covers three paid attractions that genuinely add up. Everything else worth seeing in the principality is either free or excluded from the pass entirely.
Monaco Inclusions: What You Actually Get
Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
At €20.50 per adult, the Oceanographic Museum represents the single biggest cost driver in a Monaco day. Perched on the cliff edge over the sea, the museum combines shark tanks, sea turtle pools, and deep-sea exhibits across several floors. The Prince Albert I research legacy gives it a scientific credibility you do not find at generic aquariums.
Pass holders enter via a digital QR code scanned directly from a phone, which effectively functions as a skip-the-line ticket during peak summer queues.
For a one-day visit that includes this museum, the pass math already starts to look reasonable.
If you are considering visiting the museum independently, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco article covers what each floor contains and how long to budget.
Prince's Car Collection
Located in the Fontvieille industrial district near Port Hercule, this 3,500 square metre exhibition houses around 100 vehicles from Prince Rainier III's personal collection. Standalone admission is €15 per adult. The lineup spans a 1903 De Dion-Bouton through to a 2013 Lotus F1 car, with Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, and Monaco Grand Prix memorabilia scattered throughout.
Closures to plan around: the collection shuts during Grand Prix week in May and on 19 November (National Day). If your visit falls during either window, this inclusion evaporates entirely.
Monaco Le Grand Tour (Hop-On Hop-Off Bus)
The dedicated Monaco sightseeing bus runs a one-hour circuit with 12 stops covering the harbor, Casino Square, Monaco-Ville (the old town), and the Fontvieille district. A standalone day ticket is €25 per adult. Monaco is famously vertical, with altitude differences that make walking between neighborhoods genuinely tiring. The bus earns its place in a packed itinerary not because the distances are long, but because the climbs are steep.
The Critical Math: Does the Pass Save Money?
With all three Monaco attractions combined, the individual ticket total comes to €60.50. The 24-hour pass costs €26. That is a saving of around €34 if you use all three in a single day.
| Attraction | Individual Price | Included in Pass? |
|---|---|---|
| Oceanographic Museum | €20.50 | Yes |
| Prince's Car Collection | €15 | Yes |
| Monaco Le Grand Tour bus | €25 | Yes |
| Total individual cost | €60.50 | |
| 24h Pass | €26 |
The pass wins clearly for visitors who plan to tick all three in one day. It breaks even and then some after just the museum and the bus. The 48-hour and 72-hour options only add value if you are spending multiple days on the wider Riviera and want to add Nice museum access or attractions like the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
If your Monaco itinerary is only one museum plus free sightseeing, buy a standalone ticket. The pass is not justified for a single paid attraction.
Navigating Monaco Without Hidden Costs
Before buying anything, it helps to know what costs nothing. Casino Square, the Saint-Martin Gardens, Port Hercule, and Larvotto Beach all require zero paid entry. The famous supercars parked outside the casino are free to photograph.
The old town of Monaco-Ville is free to walk. The changing of the guard at the Prince's Palace happens daily and is free.
Monaco also runs a network of free public glass lifts, outdoor escalators, and pedestrian tunnels carved into the rock face. These connect the harbor level to Monaco-Ville and the upper residential neighborhoods and are used by residents as everyday infrastructure. No ticket required. The lifts are marked on Google Maps and on physical signage throughout the principality.
For a full accounting of what costs what in the principality, Monaco travel costs breaks down daily budgets by traveler type.
Note also that the Prince's Palace interior is not included in the French Riviera Pass. The State Apartments require a separate seasonal ticket (roughly €10-12 per adult) and close completely in winter, typically reopening in late March. The palace exterior and the guard change are free. The Prince's Palace of Monaco article has the full seasonal access calendar.
Who Should Buy the Pass?
Buy it if: You are spending a full day in Monaco with a firm plan to visit the Oceanographic Museum, the Car Collection, and the hop-on hop-off bus. Three attractions, one day, one payment. The math works clearly.
Skip it if: You want to stroll Casino Square, admire the harbor, and perhaps visit just one museum. In that case, pay per-attraction and save the pass fee. The free things to do in Monaco guide covers how to build a full day without spending much at all.
Consider the 48h or 72h version if: You are basing yourself in Nice and planning day trips to Antibes, Villefranche, and Monaco over several days. The pass's Nice-area inclusions like the Matisse Museum, the Phoenix Floral Park, and the Ephrussi de Rothschild villa can justify the longer duration.
One practical note: you can get from Nice to Monaco by train in around 25 minutes for a few euros each way. The train fare is not covered by the French Riviera Pass's standard transport add-on (that add-on covers Lignes d'Azur buses and trams, not SNCF trains). Budget the train separately.
