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

Should you visit Monaco or Milan?

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 Milan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Monaco

Monaco is a posh, glitzy, and glamorous 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. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Milan

Milan is a trendy, chic, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Monaco and Milan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Monaco or Milan?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Milan. Although Monaco and Milan are both popular with visitors, Milan has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Milan is more popular for its museums, food, music, historical sights, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Monaco is known for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Monaco is more touristy than Milan and is popular for its grand hotels, luxurious casinos, opulent malls, and popularity with celebrities. Milan is popular for its grand squares, dramatic architecture, and its leadership in the fashion world. It is also home to Piazza del Duomo.

How is Monaco different from Milan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Milan 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 Milan?

Milan is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Milan specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The Milan Cathedral is the most famous landmark in the city, but other sights include Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca di Brera, and Sant'Ambrogio.

Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Milan is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Monaco is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Milan has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The city has a mix of traditional dishes combined with modernized, trendy restaurants. You can try a new dish by a groundbreaking chef, or sample a long running favorite like risotto alla Milanese.

Monaco has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Monaco and Milan.

Monaco has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

Milan is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The city has a huge number of students and young professionals, which make it a fun place with an active nightlife. There are cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and relaxed pubs that you can chose from.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Music?

Milan is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Monaco is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Milan The diversity of music ranges from classical concerts to techno raves. Popular venues include Blue Note Milan, Santeria Social Club, and Spirit de Milan.

Monaco is not a live music destination.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Resorts?

Monaco is an amazing coastal resort area to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Milan is not a resort destination.

Monaco is a world class resort vacation destination. 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.

Milan is not a resort destination.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Monaco is a coastal resort area with good options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Milan is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Monaco. 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.

Milan is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Beaches?

Monaco is a coastal resort area with good options for the beach. However, Milan is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Monaco. 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.

Milan is not a beach destination.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for its Old Town?

Milan is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Monaco does not have a historic old town.

Milan offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. Known as the Centro Storic, this area is the most popular with tourists. It's where you'll find the most historic buildings and beautiful sights in the city.

Monaco does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Monaco or Milan?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Milan and Monaco.

The abundance of shops in Monaco make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.

Many people travel to Milan specifically to go shopping. Famous as the fashion capital of Italy, shopping is the thing to do here. There are many streets that are lined with the biggest designers in fashion. Make sure you check out Via Monte Napoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Corso Buenos Aires.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Families?

Milan 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 Milan. The city has a science museum and a children's museum, MuBa, that is great for the kids. There are also a number of parks to explore as well as playgrounds where the kids and get out their energy.

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 Milan Better for Couples?

Monaco is an amazing coastal resort area to visit for couples. Also, Milan is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Monaco is a great coastal resort area for couples, as it has plenty to offer. 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.

Milan is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are many beautiful buildings, excellent shopping, and romantic restaurants that make for a wonderful couple's getaway.

Is Monaco or Milan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Milan is well known for backpackers. However, Monaco is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Milan is a great city to visit for backpackers. While not as popular with backpackers as some Italian city's, there are a number of hostels and great activities that are fun for visitors.

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 Milan Better for Students?

Milan is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Monaco is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Milan. It is one of the more popular city's for international students in Italy. It is very livable with a lot of culture and a fun nightlife, so you're sure to have the experience of a lifetime.

Monaco is not popular with students.

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

Milan is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Monaco is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Milan is top-notch. Options include metro, bus, tram, and train lines.

While Monaco offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a bus system.

Is Monaco or Milan a more walkable city?

Monaco and Milan both are amazing when exploring on foot.

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

Milan is a very easy coastal resort area to get around on foot. In particular, the city center is walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Milan or Monaco?

How long in Monaco or Milan?

In either Monaco or Milan, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Milan than Monaco because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Monaco, and 1-5 days is enough time in Milan.

Families should spend more time in Milan than Monaco. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Milan, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Monaco than Milan. 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 Milan than Monaco 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 Milan.

One day in Monaco or Milan?

Each neighborhood in Monaco has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This coastal resort area offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the big city destination of Milan. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Monaco or Milan?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Monaco. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Milan 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 Milan?

Monaco is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the big city destination of Monaco. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Milan. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Monaco or Milan?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the posh big city of Monaco. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the trendy big city of Milan. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Monaco and Milan, we can see that Monaco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Monaco or Milan?

Milan has a larger population, and is about 1280 times larger than the population of Monaco. When comparing the sizes of Monaco and Milan, 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.