A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Monaco vs. Turin (Torino) for Nightlife, Couples, Food, and Families

Should you visit Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

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 Turin (Torino) can help you decide which place is right for you.

Monaco

Monaco is a thrilling, posh, and glitzy 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 shopping, nightlife, and food.

Turin (Torino)

Turin (Torino) is a beautiful, authentic, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Monaco and Turin (Torino): Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Monaco. Although Monaco and Turin (Torino) are both popular with visitors, Monaco has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Monaco is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Turin (Torino) is known for its museums. Monaco is more touristy than Turin (Torino) and is known for its grand hotels, luxurious casinos, opulent malls, and popularity with celebrities. It is also home to Monte Carlo. Turin (Torino) is popular for its grand squares, beautiful palaces, and easy access to the Alps.

How is Monaco different from Turin (Torino)?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino)?

Turin (Torino) is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Turin (Torino) specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city boasts a number of museums including The Egyptian Museum, Museo Nazionale del Cinema, and Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile. Other landmarks include the Royal Armory, The Cathedral and the Holy Shroud, and Palazzo Madama.

Monaco does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Monaco or Turin (Torino)? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Monaco and Turin (Torino) can be difficult as they are each excellent in their own way.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Monaco. 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.

Turin (Torino) has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The region has been credited with being the birthplace of the Slow Food Movement. The dishes often use locally made ingredients and there are very diverse flavors and recipes. Local favorites include antipasto misto, risotto ai funghi (mushroom risotto), and carne cruda (beef tartare).

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Nightlife?

Monaco is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Monaco is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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 Turin (Torino). There's a good nightlife scene that includes everything from bars to dance clubs. Via Po is one of the city's main bar hopping streets. For a more relaxed night out head to Via Garibaldi which has a number of restaurants and cocktail bars.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Resorts?

Monaco is renowned for its resorts. However, Turin (Torino) is not a resort destination.

Monaco offers an unforgettable resort vacation. 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.

Turin (Torino) is not a resort destination.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Monaco is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Turin (Torino) is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Monaco has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Turin (Torino) is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Beaches?

Monaco is a nice place to visit for the beach. However, Turin (Torino) is not a beach destination.

Monaco has a beach worth visiting. 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.

Turin (Torino) is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Monaco is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city 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 Turin (Torino). The city has everything from high end shopping to local boutiques. For the best luxury shopping head to Via Roma. Via Garibaldi is another popular pedestrian street that has many shops and restaurants.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Families?

Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino). If the kids need to stretch their legs, head to Valentino Park. For kid-friendly museums, check out The Cinema Museum The Egyptian Museum, or the Museum of Car. It's also fun to take a ride of the historic tram.

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 Turin (Torino) Better for Couples?

Monaco is renowned for couples. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Monaco has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Turin (Torino) makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With grand squares, beautiful architecture, and excellent cuisine, couples will enjoy every minute of their trip to Turin. The city is also near the Alps, so outdoor adventure isn't far away.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Turin (Torino) is well known for backpackers. However, Monaco is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Turin (Torino) is a great city to visit for backpackers. You'll find hostels around town and easy access to outdoor activities. The city also has great food and a lively atmosphere.

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 Turin (Torino) Better for Students?

Turin (Torino) is well known for students. However, Monaco is not popular with students.

Turin (Torino) is very popular with students. It's relatively easy to find study abroad opportunities to the area. The city's atmosphere is diverse and fun with many activities that the student population can enjoy.

Monaco is not popular with students.

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Turin (Torino) is well known 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 Turin (Torino) can get you to some places easily. The public transit system is operated by Gruppo Torinese Trasporti (GTT) and includes one metro line, nine tram lines, and a number of bus lines.

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

Is Monaco or Turin (Torino) a more walkable city?

Monaco is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Turin (Torino) is not as famous, but is still a good city 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.

Turin (Torino) is somewhat walkable. While the city is large, the city center is generally compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Monaco Worth Visiting? and Is Turin (Torino) Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Turin (Torino) or Monaco?

How long in Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Monaco and Turin (Torino). In our opinion, Monaco has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Monaco than Turin (Torino). In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Monaco, and 2-3 days is enough time in Turin (Torino).

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

Couples should spend more time in Monaco than Turin (Torino). 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 Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino).

One day in Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Because Monaco is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Turin (Torino). But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Monaco is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino)?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Monaco. It's also a relaxing resort destination. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Turin (Torino). 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 Turin (Torino)?

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the coastal resort area of Monaco. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Turin (Torino). This city 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Monaco and Turin (Torino), we can see that Monaco is more expensive. And not only is Turin (Torino) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Turin (Torino) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Turin (Torino) 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 Turin (Torino).

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

Which is Bigger, Monaco or Turin (Torino)?

Turin (Torino) has a larger population, and is about 850 times larger than the population of Monaco. When comparing the sizes of Monaco and Turin (Torino), 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.