Being always connected is the reality of the modern world.
Monaco has become the first state in the world where 23 5G antennas completely cover the entire territory of the principality. The fifth generation network allows you to use the Internet, the speed of which exceeds 4G by 20, and in some cases, 100 times.
Despite the fact that the country is a leader in Europe in the field of communications, due to the high cost of services, tourists here should be prepared.
It is possible to find free Wi-Fi in Monaco, although it is not common. But, as they say, there is no need to worry – “Forewarned is forearmed.” We will tell you in more detail how best to make calls and what tariffs to use.
Option 1. Buy a SIM card from a local operator
Buying a local SIM card is only suitable if you plan to stay in the principality for a long time; in other cases it is better not to do this. There is only one mobile operator in Monaco – Monaco Telecom, on whose official website you can find information on the options and prices offered. By the way, not so long ago, the site was developed in English, but some pages remained in French.
There are these types of tariffs:
Live connected – unlimited calls 24/7, unlimited SMS, while the user receives 50 GB of Internet (price 29.99/month).
Live traveler – unlimited calls 24/7, unlimited SMS, the user receives 100 GB of Internet (price 69.99/month).
LaBox Mini offers residents of the Principality Internet with a speed of 100 Mbit/s, a television package and an unlimited number of calls to landline numbers. France and Monaco for €39.99 per month.
LaBox Maxi – offers calls to 44 European countries, as well as landline and mobile numbers in the USA and Canada, 100 GB of data storage in the cloud and free broadcast of a number of TV channels.
You can buy a SIM card with a prepaid tariff at any kiosk that sells tobacco products, at post offices, or in newspaper stores.
How to save traffic?
- Download offline maps before your trip
- Disable access to those programs that you can do without while traveling
- If you can use Wi-Fi, don’t forget to turn off your mobile Internet
- If you decide to visit France or another country, and you have a local Monaco SIM card, in order to avoid additional costs, it is better to disable automatic data reception
Important to note: Monaco country code is +377. But, you need to write down the number by adding 3, like this +3377 – then the phone itself. Then your friends from Ukraine and Russia can send you a message that you will definitely receive.
Option 2. Travel SIM card / tourist SIM card
Tourist cards have both pros and cons, but in a number of situations their use is considered by experienced travelers to be the most profitable and appropriate.
In particular, buying a tourist SIM card is effective if you travel abroad quite often and need affordable mobile communications. For rare or one-time trips, it will be most convenient to use the roaming service, and for permanent residence in another country, a local SIM card is also suitable.
So, a tourist card is a SIM card for travel, the features of which are:
- no need to activate the card and a fairly long validity period
- practicality – communication services are provided without any daily or mandatory payments
- availability of a service for forwarding calls made to your permanent number, although it is paid
- accepting two dialing options – starting with “+” or “00”
- replenish your account using a bank card on the operator’s website
- the opportunity to get reliable communication abroad at uniform rates, which will definitely be more affordable than roaming and any national rates
Another type of tourist SIM card is a monocard. The principle of its operation is no different from the universal one, except that a mono SIM card is valid only in a certain country. Therefore, it is profitable to buy it if you constantly travel to a certain state.
Pros:
- Convenient application – immediately shows how much a megabyte costs
- No need to buy any packages
- Payment is per megabyte, which means you don’t overpay for traffic in advance
- You can activate automatic replenishment of the balance from the card, but we do not recommend it
Minuses:
- Everything is configured only through the application on the phone
- Minimum top-up amount 25 €
- If the SIM card is not used for a whole year, they start charging 0.5 € per month
Option 3: Free Wi-Fi and other communication methods
Most phone booths in Monaco can only make calls using telephone cards, which are sold at post offices, newsagents or tobacco shops. Card price from 8 €.
Automatic international telephone communication is possible from any street pay phone and is carried out according to the scheme: 19 (outgoing code of Monaco) – country code – city code – subscriber number.
The “incoming” code for Monaco is 33; when calling from France, you do not need to dial it. A call from a hotel is much more expensive than a call from a street phone. On weekdays from 22.30 to 8.00, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays from 14.00, negotiation rates are half as much. Telephone call centers and telegraph offices are open from 08.00 to 21.00 daily.
In order not to search for a long time, these places definitely have them. Passwords, if required, in 90% of cases match the names of the establishments.
- La Note Bleue . Address: Avenue Princesse Grace, 98000, Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Opening hours: Mon – Thu, Sun from 8:30 to 2:00, Fri – Sat from 8:30 to 05:00
- Starbucks on Lot Rainier III, Rue de la Colle (Rue de la Colle), 98000 Monaco, Monaco
- McDonald’s – Boulevard Louis II, Monte Carlo 98000 Monaco, closes at 00:00
- McDonald’s at 29 Avenue du Prince Héréditaire Albert Center Commercial de Fontvielle, 98000 Monaco, France, open until 00:30
For Monaco Telecom customers who subscribe to the fixed internet offer, thanks to the MC Nomade account, there is free access for free surfing.
The new Monaco Telecom portal is available in 6 languages: French, English, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. 23 public hotspots are spread across the area. Free 2-hour Discovery Pass for all new users, 3 offers with unlimited access: 1 day – 4.99 €, 7 days – 14.99 €, 30 days – 29.99 €.