🇲🇨 Monaco

10 best places in Monaco

Monaco is a pocket-sized principality perched on a rock above the Mediterranean, where casinos, superyachts and Formula 1 mingle with a medieval old town.

District

Le Rocher (Monaco-Ville)

The rocky headland holding the old town, the Prince's Palace and narrow medieval lanes.

Sight

Prince's Palace

The Grimaldi family residence, with a daily changing of the guard at its gates.

Sight

Casino de Monte-Carlo

A lavish Belle Époque casino with gaming rooms and gardens out front.

Museum

Oceanographic Museum

A grand clifftop building with aquariums and Jacques Cousteau's legacy.

Park

Saint Martin Gardens

Shaded cliffside paths with sweeping views over an endless blue sea.

Sight

Monaco Cathedral

The Neo-Romanesque church where Princess Grace Kelly is laid to rest.

Café

Café de Paris

The legendary terrace on Casino Square for watching the glamorous crowd.

District

Port Hercules

A harbor packed with superyachts and the stage for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Restaurant

Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse

A three-Michelin-star restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris, the pinnacle of French cuisine.

Market

Condamine Market

A lively covered market with Provençal produce and street food.

FAQ

How many days do you need in Monaco?

One day is plenty - the Rock with the palace, the Oceanographic Museum, the casino, the port and the Saint-Martin gardens are a few hours on foot. Many people come for half a day from Nice; the train takes about 20-25 minutes. Skip Grand Prix week in late May if you want room to move.

Is Monaco expensive to visit?

Property here is among the most expensive on earth, and rents and restaurants match or beat the priciest European capitals. A day trip, though, is manageable: museums and buses cost roughly what they do in France, and lunch is cheaper just over the line in Beausoleil. The casino charges admission to the historic rooms and enforces a dress code.

Is Monaco safe?

It is one of the safest places in Europe, with dense CCTV coverage and an unusually high number of police per resident. Walking at any hour is fine. The main risk is pickpockets in the crowds around the casino and the station in high season.

How do you become a resident of Monaco?

The logic is simple and the money is not: you rent or buy a home in the principality and open an account with a Monegasque bank, depositing a substantial sum that each bank sets for itself. Residents other than French nationals pay no income tax, but the permit has to be renewed and you are expected to actually live there. Citizenship is rare and discretionary, granted only after many years, and the requirements do change.