A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Monaco vs. Imperia for Nightlife, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Monaco or Imperia?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Monaco and Imperia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Monaco

Monaco is a glamorous, captivating, and thrilling coastal resort area. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Imperia

Imperia is a charming, undiscovered, and authentic town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Monaco and Imperia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Monaco or Imperia?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Monaco. Although Monaco and Imperia are both popular with visitors, Monaco has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Monaco is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Imperia is known for its museums. Monaco is more touristy than Imperia and is known for its grand hotels, luxurious casinos, opulent malls, and popularity with celebrities. It is also home to Monte Carlo. Imperia is popular for its access to the Ligurian coastline.

How is Monaco different from Imperia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Imperia and Monaco. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Monaco or Imperia?

Imperia is very good for its museums and landmarks. However, Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

Imperia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several interesting buildings of importance around town.

Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Monaco or Imperia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Monaco is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Monaco is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine is heavily influenced by both French and Italian cuisines. You'll find many dishes that take advantage of the coastal location, with seafood being very common. The national dish is Barbagiuan, which is a deep-fried pastry that is filled with ricotta cheese, Swiss chard, and other vegetables.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Imperia. Food ranges from typical Italian dishes to local recipes that use local ingredients. Unique ingredients in the area include trumpet zucchini, flat breads, and anchovies.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Nightlife?

Monaco is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife.

Monaco is a world class party destination. It's where sophistication meets glam, with many luxury nightclubs, cocktail bars, casinos, and even opera houses that you can explore. The city attracts celebrities, wealthy business people, and jetsetters who are looking to socialize, see, and be seen.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Imperia. There are some bars and lively restaurants around town where you can spend an enjoyable evening.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Resorts?

Monaco is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Imperia is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Monaco is a great choice. As the playground for the rich and famous, this city has its share of luxury resorts. Famous hotels include the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, and the Fairmont Monte Carlo.

Imperia is not a resort destination.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Monaco is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Imperia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Monaco has a few good snorkeling spots. There are both beaches that offer walk-in snorkeling spots as well as boat tours that you can book that will take you to some of the best snorkeling and dive sights around Monaco.

Imperia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Beaches?

Monaco is a popular place for the beach. However, Imperia is not a beach destination.

Monaco is a good option for a beach vacation. Located along the French Riviera, the beaches are a mix of pebbles and sand. The only public beach is Plage du Larvotto in Monte Carlo and there are a number of activities available including jet skis and wind-surfing. This is also a very family-friendly beach that kids of all ages can enjoy.

Imperia is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Monaco or Imperia?

Monaco is a must-visit destination for its shopping areas. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Monaco is a world class destination for shoppers. A visit would not be complete without experiencing the city's shopping. There are couture, luxury brands as well as local boutiques that are frequented by the wealthy and famous. Popular shopping areas include Le Metropole Shopping Center, Fontvieille Shopping Centre, and La Condamine Market.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Imperia. There are some shopping streets in town that have a mix of local brands and standard clothing shops.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Families?

Imperia is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Monaco is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Imperia. There's some nice walking trails in the countryside that the kids will enjoy.

For families, Monaco is not always the best place to visit. The city has a few family-friendly activities like an Oceanography Museum, a Zoological Park, and a harbor where kids can explore. You can also check out the Changing of the Guards in the Old Town. The public beach in town, Plage du Larvotto, is very family-friendly as well.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Couples?

Monaco is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

Monaco makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Filled with luxury, a couple can enjoy perusing the yachts in the harbor, dining on fine cuisine at an award winning restaurant, or staying at one of the many fancy hotels in town. You can also explore the area by air, by taking a truly spectacular helicopter tour.

Imperia is a nice destination for couples. It's a beautiful town with a nice atmosphere that offers a nice break from the tourist crowds.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Imperia is very good for backpackers. However, Monaco is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Imperia is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Accommodation tends to be affordable and there's an off-the-beaten-path vibe that some backpackers will appreciate.

Monaco is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. Known for it's luxury accommodation and posh visitors, this coastal area isn't known for its backpacker friendly atmosphere. Most budget travelers skip the glitz and glam of this microstate in order to save a few bucks.

Is Monaco or Imperia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Monaco and Imperia.

You'll find some public transit in Monaco, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a bus system.

While Imperia offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that connect the city to different areas.

Is Monaco or Imperia a more walkable city?

Monaco is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Monaco on foot. It's small and compact size means that it is easy to explore the entire area on foot in a short amount of time.

Imperia is somewhat walkable. Parts of the town are convenient to walk around.

For even more information, also check out Is Monaco Worth Visiting? and Is Imperia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Imperia or Monaco?

How long in Monaco or Imperia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Monaco or Imperia to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Monaco than Imperia because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Monaco, and 1-2 days is enough time in Imperia.

Couples should spend more time in Monaco than Imperia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Monaco that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Monaco than Imperia if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Monaco.

One day in Monaco or Imperia?

Because Monaco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This coastal resort area offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Imperia. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Monaco or Imperia?

Because Monaco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Monaco has to offer.

Imperia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Monaco or Imperia?

Monaco is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Imperia. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Monaco or Imperia?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Monaco. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Monaco. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming destination of Imperia. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Italy, and The Best Luxury Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Monaco and Imperia, we can see that Monaco is more expensive. And not only is Imperia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Imperia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Imperia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Monaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Monaco than you might in Imperia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Monaco Expensive? and Is Imperia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Monaco or Imperia?

Imperia has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Monaco. When comparing the sizes of Monaco and Imperia, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.