Need cash when I land, best place in Monaco? Airport or places in the city?
When I went to Monaco, I landed in Nice and was tempted to change cash at the airport. Luckily, I waited and used a BNP ATM in town, saving myself a chunk. In Monaco itself, I barely touched cash - even the smallest cafés accepted cards. I only used euros for taxi fares and tipping hotel staff. If you’re heading there, just withdraw euros in Nice or Monaco. Airport counters in Nice are overpriced and really unnecessary if you’ve got a debit card.
Monaco doesn’t have its own airport, so your entry point will be Nice Airport. Airport counters there offer weak rates, so the smarter option is to use ATMs - Société Générale, BNP Paribas, or Crédit Agricole. Monaco uses the euro, and ATMs are everywhere in Monte Carlo. Unless you’re carrying a lot of USD or GBP to exchange, just withdraw euros directly. Cards are widely accepted, but keep €50-100 for taxis, tips, or small purchases.
Flying into Nice for Monaco, I avoid the exchange desks in the airport because of poor rates. Instead, I use BNP Paribas or Société Générale ATMs in the city. Once in Monaco, I’ve never had an issue with card payments - even cafés and taxis accept them. I keep around €100 in cash for tips and small snacks, but that’s it. If you’re carrying USD or GBP, you’ll get a better deal exchanging in Nice city than at the airport.
There’s no airport in Monaco, so you’ll likely arrive via Nice Airport in France. Exchange counters there are expensive. I always withdraw euros from ATMs - Société Générale, BNP Paribas, and Crédit Agricole are common in Nice and Monaco. Monaco uses the euro, so no exchange hassle. I usually take out €50-100 in Nice before heading into Monaco, since cards work almost everywhere once you arrive. Airport counters are really just for emergencies.