Monaco first timer (ePrix)

[kobefly]

Hi All!

As I already commented in other topic I am going to Europe in May and will take the opportunity to watch some racing live.

On May 13rd will be attending the Formula E Monaco ePrix, I have already booked a place to stay in Nice for 4 nights not too far from the train station that will take me to Monaco the day of the ePrix and probably one day more since I want to visit and walk Monaco.

Probably many people in this forum has already been there so if you have any advice you can share with me, specially motorsports related, I will really appreciate that.

[Thundersports]

Stock up on drinks and snacks from one of the many small supermarkets in Nice. Once you're in Monaco around the Tabac area there are little shops selling filled rolls etc which are very reasonable. If you do need any food etc while at the circuit there is a supermarket by the start finish line bridge.

Eating out in Nice is a delight and very reasonable walk down the main street from the station where the trams run and just before you get to the front turn left and there is a street with a huge range of restaurants.

[bella]

can't help with places to eat and drink, but when you're in nice, take a walk up the steps to here for a great view of the prom des anglais. excellent for the 'gram, but also good if it's a crappy day and the planes are landing manually and banking around the bay : https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/....2798277?hl=en

don't arse about too much with stocking up on snacks and drinks in nice - much easier to do it at the supermarket in monaco. the price difference is pretty minimal. the supermarket thundersports refers to is here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/....4210125?hl=en and depending on where you're walking there's another one here too: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/....4258137?hl=en that one you find if you go to the top exit of the railway station and turn left to walk downhill, and follow the road.

they're currently digging a massive hole at tabac, and building a public car park and motorsport museum, not sure how much of that will be done or how much of a pain it'll be for the grand prix but they were still in foundations laying stage a month ago!

if you walk up the avenue de la porte neuve, down the hill from there is the secteur rocher where the general admission area for the grand prix is. eventually if you carry on walking you find yourself in the old town and there's the palace up there too.

the local food specialities are the salade nicoise, p!ssaladiere (lol, swear filter... it's like a pizza base with onions, anchovies and olives) and basically, italian food. if you enjoy a good pizza or a solid plate of pasta you can find those.

[morninggents]

If you have time to spend sightseeing the general area avoid St Tropez. I was there in October and it's really gone downhill since last there 25 years ago. Frejus and St Maxime are worth a visit as is Menton, a little gem between Monaco and the Italian border.

[bella]

Originally Posted by morninggents

If you have time to spend sightseeing the general area avoid St Tropez. I was there in October and it's really gone downhill since last there 25 years ago. Frejus and St Maxime are worth a visit as is Menton, a little gem between Monaco and the Italian border.

menton is popular for that reason with teams from the support series - it's a short hop on the train from monaco. never been, myself - if i've been round that way i've ended up at the ventimiglia market (very popular with the locals and used to have some remarkable european made fake handbags), or a bit further up the road in bordighera. ventimiglia (called vintimille in french and on the trains) had some issues with refugees and migrants congregating there because the french were checking ids at the border and on the train, but that seems to have passed.

i think morninggents has been away from the cote d'azur for too long unfortunately - st tropez was changed by the massive influx of foreign and parisien money, and changed again by the russian money most recently. my folks enjoy a long walk there during the off-season (october to may really), but generally if you're looking for a more authentic holiday small town without the champagne lot around you're much better off visiting st raphael/frejus (good shout, morninggents!). like many of the coastal towns closer to nice they've merged into one urban mass over the decades. vast parts of frejus were flattened when a large dam broke nearby in the 50s so it's not quite as old as some of the surrounding areas but along the seaside it has a fairly large wide beach (for the mediterranean) and a wide street/promenade behind.

i'd urge the op not to waste too much time on monaco - the train line will take you to some fabulous places that are far more pleasant and less "disneyland" than monaco. from a language perspective you'll be fine with english, but make sure you know what your preferred coffee is called in french

[kobefly]

I am already saving those places in my map for when I get there. Thanks again for all the information. I like to be ready to make the most of it while I am there.

[bella]

the "TER mobile" app by sncf is the official french railway one, and is great for timetabling information. you can also find paper copies at the ticket office, but they're a real problem to get folded up once you've looked at them the staff at both nice ville and monaco stations are really helpful and the staff on the platform will all speak english if you're not comfortable with french.

google maps has only the top monaco-monte carlo station entrace on - there's actually at least 4 ways of accessing it. the best way for the harbour is to use the st devote exit. they're all listed here but for some reason you only get to look at one of them, and the fontvielle/rocher one for the rascasse end of the circuit isn't on streetview because they haven't reimaged for 7 years...

between the top exit of the station (on google maps) and the lower end at st devote is around 25 storeys, so if you're not a triathlete it's worth using the station escalators and lifts (which is all free access, no barriers) to get around a bit there's some public lifts which to be honest are of limited use but can be fun to explore the place with.

[kobefly]

Thanks again. I already know where to pick up my ticket for the ePrix and seems to be close to the main station. The others, as bella mention, I cannot find them anywhere. I will probably go to Monaco the day before the race to walk around the parts of the F1 GP Circuit that Formula E does not use (Avenue Ostende, the casino, the hairpin, the tunnel), pick up my ticket for the next day and also visit some other places there. Then I will have 2 full days to visit Nice and whichever other town close by I can find. I like the idea of those small onces mentioned as Menton. Not sure if I will have the time to go to Cannes too.

[morninggents]

I would be interested to hear about Kobefly's experience in Europe in May. Did the trip live up to expectations?

[kobefly]

Originally Posted by morninggents

I would be interested to hear about Kobefly's experience in Europe in May. Did the trip live up to expectations?

Absolutely! I loved it!

I was able to attend 3 races:
* 6 hours of Spa (WEC)
* Monaco ePrix (Formula E)
* Paris ePrix (Formula E) -> Podium for Pechito
And 3 museums:
* BMW in Munich
* Mercedes Benz in Stuttgart
* Porsche in Stuttgart

That connected to cars and racing which is my passion. Plus many other great cities including Amsterdam, Nice and Barcelona.

Being at Spa and Monaco were moments I will never forget. It is crazy how it feels to be standing at those places you have seen on TV so many times or passed by with some virtual racing game or just dream about. When I got to Eau Rouge, when I got to Fairmont hairpin... amazing!!!

Thanks for all the advice. It was specially useful when I got to Nice, first to get from the airport to the hotel, then to get from Nice to Monaco. Even the supermarkets!