Is Monaco a Schengen country?

Satunnainen

Monaco is not a Schengen country, but it has a special relationship with the Schengen area. Monaco is a small principality located on the coast of France by the Mediterranean Sea. Although Monaco is not officially part of the Schengen area, in practice it has open borders with France, which is a Schengen country. This means that traveling to and from Monaco is done under the same conditions as traveling within the Schengen area.

Relation between Monaco and the Schengen area

Monaco is not a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, but has a special arrangement with France that allows free movement. This means that passengers arriving and departing from Monaco will not face border checks when traveling through France. In practice, the border between Monaco and France is open, and Monaco is easily accessible from, for example, Nice or other French cities.

Traveling to Monaco

If you are a citizen of the Schengen area, you can travel to Monaco without a visa or border checks, as long as you arrive via France. This also applies to other travelers from outside the Schengen area who have a valid Schengen visa. However, it is important to note that even though Monaco is not a Schengen country, its border controls and entry requirements are practically the same as in France.

Special features of Monaco

  • No own airport: Monaco does not have its own international airport, so the nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur Airport in France.
  • Rail connections: Monaco has good rail connections with France, and the train journey from Nice to Monaco takes only about 20 minutes.
  • Sea connections: Monaco is also accessible by sea and is a popular destination for luxury yachts and cruise ships.

Summary

Although Monaco is not officially a Schengen country, its special relationship with France allows free movement for citizens of the Schengen area and travelers with a valid Schengen visa. This makes Monaco an easily accessible destination, especially for those traveling through France.

You can find more information about the Schengen area and Monaco’s travel arrangements from, for example, the following sources:
European Commission – Schengen Area
Visit Monaco – Official Tourism Site

, ,