Monaco
A pocket-sized principality on the French Riviera, where the Prince's Palace, the Monte-Carlo Casino and the F1 street circuit meet yacht-filled harbors and a clifftop old town.
The Principality of Monaco lies on the eastern stretch of the French Riviera, about 10 km from the Italian border. At around 2 km², it is the second-smallest country in the world. The city rises in tiers along a steep coastline and has four main districts: Monaco-Ville, on a rocky headland (the Prince's Palace, the Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum); Monte-Carlo, centered on the Casino and the Hôtel de Paris; Fontvieille, built on reclaimed land; and La Condamine, around the port. The climate is Mediterranean, and May–Oct is the best time to visit, with lively beaches in summer; during the Monaco Grand Prix in late May, roads are closed and hotel prices skyrocket, and the Yacht Show is held in late September. Getting there: take a TER train from Nice (about 20–25 minutes), a bus, or a taxi from Nice airport. Within Monaco you'll mostly walk; public elevators, escalators and buses save you some climbing, and a solar-powered ferry crosses the harbor. A day trip covers the main sights, but 1–2 days lets you add the Exotic Garden, the Tête de Chien viewpoint and the coastal paths. The currency is the euro and there are no border checks, but prices are very high; the palace and the casino have dress codes, and you must bring your passport to enter the casino.
Top sights
- Casino de Monte-Carlo – This palatial Belle Époque casino opened in 1863 with design input from Charles Garnier, and is the most dazzling landmark in Monte Carlo.
- Prince's Palace of Monaco – The palace where the Grimaldi family has lived for more than 700 years. A changing-of-the-guard ceremony takes place in the palace square e…
- Oceanographic Museum of Monaco – A century-old oceanographic museum standing on a cliff. Its underground aquarium features a shark lagoon and Mediterranean corals, and the…
- Monaco-Ville (Le Rocher) – An old town perched on a headland of towering rock, with narrow lanes linking the Prince's Palace, the cathedral and the Oceanographic Muse…
- Port Hercules – A deep-water harbour packed with superyachts, with the F1 circuit running along it. Stroll the quayside to admire the yachts, or take a sol…
- Circuit de Monaco – The most famous street circuit on the F1 calendar. On ordinary days you can walk past the Sainte Dévote corner, the Fairmont hairpin and th…
- Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate – A white church in Roman-Byzantine style completed in 1875, where Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are laid to rest.
- Jardin Exotique de Monaco – A succulent garden on a cliff face, reopened on 30 March 2026 after six years of renovation. It offers views over the whole city and includ…
- Japanese Garden Monaco – A Zen-style garden beside the seafront boulevard, with koi ponds, a tea house and a dry landscape garden. It is a rare quiet corner in Mont…
- Monaco Top Cars Collection – A car collection founded by Prince Rainier III, with over a hundred vintage cars, royal limousines and F1 racing cars. A must-see for car e…
- Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo – A legendary luxury hotel that opened in 1864 and faces the casino across a square. It is known for its lobby and its three-Michelin-star re…
- Larvotto Beach – Monaco's only public beach. It was renovated in 2021 and has a breakwater that keeps the water calm, making it good for swimming and sunbat…
- Fontvieille Park and Princess Grace Rose Garden – A seaside park in a reclaimed new district, with a rose garden of thousands of plants honouring Princess Grace. Entry is free.
- Saint-Martin Gardens – A tree-lined cliffside garden on the southern side of the Rock old town, with Mediterranean plants and sculptures. It offers wide sea views…
- Tête de Chien – A clifftop viewpoint about 550 metres above sea level behind Monaco, offering a panorama over the entire principality and the Côte d'Azur…
- Church of Saint Devota – A small chapel dedicated to Monaco's patron saint, beside the first corner of the F1 circuit. Each January a boat is burned in a traditiona…
- Mareterra – An eco-friendly reclaimed district completed in 2024, linking a seafront promenade, parks and a marina. It represents Monaco's newest face.
- Fort Antoine – A small 18th-century fortress at the eastern tip of the Rock old town, now an open-air theatre where plays and concerts are staged in summe…
- Nouveau Musée National de Monaco – Villa Paloma – A contemporary art museum in a Belle Époque villa beside the Jardin Exotique. It rotates modern and contemporary art exhibitions, and the g…
- Grimaldi Forum – A glass-fronted seafront convention and cultural centre. Its summer blockbuster art exhibitions and ballet performances are the highlights.
Where to eat
- Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse – A three-star Michelin restaurant inside the Hôtel de Paris and Alain Ducasse's flagship. In 1990 it became the first ho…
- Castelroc – A family restaurant beside Prince's Palace Square, now in its fourth generation, known for stocafi, the traditional Mon…
- U Cavagnetu – A three-generation family restaurant tucked into the old town's alleys, open since 1967, offering good-value meals and…
- Brasserie de Monaco – Monaco's only on-site craft brewery, on the Port Hercule waterfront, serving local snacks such as barbajuan at affordab…
Itineraries
- Monaco: The Rock & Monte Carlo – Explore Monaco in two distinct areas: one day on the historic Rock, and another visiting gardens, the harbor, the casin…
- French Riviera East Coast from Nice – Stay in Nice without switching hotels, using trains and buses to connect Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Monaco, and Menton.
- Riviera Coastal Railway: Nice to Cinque Terre – Follow the coastal railway from Nice through Monaco, Sanremo, and Genoa all the way to Cinque Terre.