Some of the best things to do in Monaco
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Monte Carlo, famed for its glitz and glamour, is the most prominent part of Monaco. Visitors will find a seemingly endless collection of exotic automobiles and Michelin-starred restaurants in the area. Casino de Monte-Carlo is the most famous building in Monte Carlo. It was opened in 1865 and is claimed to be the most beautiful casino in the world. The casino has featured in many blockbuster movies, including James Bond films "GoldenEye," and "Never Say Never Again".
If you're not interested in casino activities, you should stop by to take in the gorgeous Belle Époque architecture. Other interesting parts of the building include the Atrium and Café de la Rotonde.
Exotic car fans will be happy to know that rare hypercars are regularly parked in front of the casino for your viewing pleasure. If you're in town with your exotic car, note that the valet service is as good as they come. You won't need to worry about missing your planned scenic drive after visiting the casino.
The building also houses Monaco's famed opera house, Opéra de Monte-Carlo. If you're an opera fan, be sure to browse through the performance calendar.
Casino Square
Casino Square (Place du Casino) is one of the most iconic locations in Monaco. You can’t really claim to have visited Monaco without stepping into the square. It is surrounded by several high-end restaurants, shops, luxury hotels, and high-profile casinos. These include the world-famous Casino de Monte Carlo, Casino Café de Paris, and Hotel de Paris. In addition, you can enjoy great views of the superyachts in Port Hercule from Av. de Monte-Carlo, which is just a few meters away from the square.
The road cutting through Casino Square is also part of the street circuit used during the Monaco Grand Prix. This makes it a must-visit spot for any Formula One fan. While it's easy to visit most of Monaco's great attractions in a short period, Place du Casino should be at the top of your list if you have limited time.
Explore Monaco by Air
The French Riviera is an incredibly beautiful corner of the planet. From the countless scenic driving routes to exquisite beaches, islands, and remarkable rock formations, this location has everything to provide a satisfying vacation. Unless you plan to be here for weeks, relatively speaking, you can’t cover much ground. The next best thing? A helicopter tour. Manoco has a helipad by the Mediterranean Sea, offering a glorious view.
Two main helicopter tour providers here include Monacair and Heli Air Monaco. Both offer a variety of shared and private rides with a variety of helicopters. Tours range from short explorations of the principality to extended Riviera tours. Consider the private tours, which offer more flexibility. Also, if you can spare the time, plan for long tours or transfers to other parts of the French Riviera.
If you’re arriving in Monaco from Nice, an excellent option is the transfer from Nice airport. To get an idea of what’s in store for you on one of these tours, check out the video of our Monaco tour above or our Nice video, which shows an available helicopter tour in Cannes.
Port Hercule
Looking down the hill from Casino Square, you’ll find one of the spots Monaco is famous for. In Port Hercule, located in the La Condamine district of Monaco, you’ll find yachts of various sizes docked ready to go on a Mediterranean cruise. If you’re lucky, you’ll find one or more of the famous megayachts that often dock here.
Some yacht brokers insist there’s a silent competition here on who has the largest megayacht. Time your trip carefully, and you may see megayachts that appear as large as cruise ships.
Beyond the yachts, Av. J.F. Kennedy Street, which passes through Port Hercule, is lined with local stores and restaurants you can explore. If you’re so inclined, you can visit some yacht builders with offices nearby to get a yacht built to your specifications. Don’t forget to make an appointment before your visit.
Monaco Top Cars Collection
The Monaco Top Cars Collection is a museum housing the personal collection of cars that belonged to Prince Rainier III. The prince acquired the automobiles over a thirty year period. The museum was originally situated in the Fontvieille district of Monaco. It moved to Port Hercule close to the Automobile Club de Monaco on the route of the Monaco Grand Prix street circuit in 2023.
The collection was re-organized in 2012 when some of the original cars were auctioned off. However, there are still plenty of amazing cars to see including the Bugatti Type 35 which was driven to victory in the first ever Monaco Grand Prix in 1929.
An interesting car in the collection is the 2019 Ferrari F1 car driven to victory at the Italian Grand Prix by Monaco native Charles Leclerc. Others include the Gruppo Bertone-designed 1967 Lamborghini Miura and a replica of the 1954 Sunbeam Alpine MK1 featured in Alfred Hitchcock's movie To Catch a Thief.
Palais du Prince
Palais du Prince is the official home of the Prince of Monaco. The gorgeous palace overlooks the Mediterranean Sea from its perch high atop a hill on the Le Rocher Peninsula. The palace’s private apartments are open to the public to view. However, they are only available at specific times during the year. The palace’s changing of the guard is one of the unique activities to witness when visiting the royal home. It takes place every day at 11:55 a.m.
Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most popular races on the F1 calendar. It also has plenty of fans outside the F1 crowd due to the prestige associated with Monaco. If you’re interested in watching the Grand Prix live, plan accordingly. Note that hotel prices are at their highest during the Grand Prix weekend and are difficult to come by. Even the cost of mooring a yacht at Port Hercules increases during the weekend.
Only few F1 venues can match the chic of Monaco’s race weekend. The race day atmosphere is electric, with exclusive parties and celebrity appearances. Official premium hospitality tickets are available for the entire weekend. These include the recently introduced tickets offering race viewing from a yacht.
They say the paddock is a great place to close business deals in a casual setting. If you’re looking to host business partners at a race, Monaco is the place to do it.
Musee Oceanagraphique
Sandwiched between Jardins Saint-Martin and Jardins Suspendus in Le Rocher, Musee Oceanagraphique (Oceanographic Museum) prioritizes conservation and research to help tackle environmental issues.
The museum has a large aquarium with marine life in impressive large tanks. A popular part is the "Shark Lagoon," which has 240,000 liters of seawater. It hosts various shark species, including nurse sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and hawksbill turtles. Other popular fish in the aquarium include the venomous blue-spotted stingray native to the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to the marine life, the museum also has various artifacts and historic ocean-related displays. These include a reproduction of a giant squid and a reconstruction of David Bushnell's turtle submarine.
Le Jardin Saint Martin
One of the exotic green spaces in the principality, Le Jardin Saint Martin (Saint Martin Garden) is located close to Cathédrale de Monaco in the heart of Monaco's Old Town. This beautiful garden is a perfect place to take a break while you explore Le Rocher. Featuring stunning views down through Monaco to the Mediterranean Sea, the peaceful atmosphere will make Monte Carlo's tourist-filled streets seem miles away.
The park contains some intriguing Mediterranean plant species including yellow agaves and Aleppo pine trees. Other interesting things to look out for in the garden include Fontaine du Gouverneur, a statue of Princess Grace, and one of Prince Albert I by French sculptor François Cogné.
One Monte-Carlo
Unlike most other popular attractions in Monaco, One Monte-Carlo hasn't been around long. It was only opened in 2019 and doesn't boast of the Belle Époque architecture of the buildings around it. Instead, the seven buildings have a unique modern architecture that can't go unnoticed. Renowned architect Sir Richard Rogers' firm is responsible for this work of art. If you're unfamiliar with the name, he also worked on the Pompidou Center in Paris and London's Millennium Dome.
Considered one of Monaco's most coveted addresses, One Monte-Carlo houses residential apartments and top luxury brands, including Gucci, Prada, and Hermès. Its location close to Hotel de Paris and Hotel Hermitage makes it the ideal place to shop for guests staying at these SBM properties.
Shopping on Av. de Monte-Carlo
There's plenty to see when walking down Av. de Monte-Carlo from Casino Square towards La Condamine. There's the heavenly Thermes Marins Monte Carlo fitness center and the superyachts and megayachts moored at Port Hercules. However, looking to the right, where Hotel de Paris is located, you'll notice many high-end shops lining the street. You'll find brands including Hermes, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino.
If you don't find what you're looking for, try the stores at Hotel Hermitage, a two-minute walk up Av. Princesse Alice. There are also options on the other side of Hotel de Paris. You'll find designer stores like Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, and Cartier.
If you're staying at one of the nearby SBM hotels, they'll happily help you get your shopping bags to your room. So feel free to indulge in a lengthy shopping spree.
Stroll through Le Rocher
Le Rocher (The Rock) is the part of Monaco that hosts the Prince's Palace, the Oceanographic Museum, and Jardin Saint Martin. Also referred to as Monaco-Ville, two additional attractions are worth visiting here. These are the Monaco Courthouse and Cathédrale de Monaco (Saint Nicholas Cathedral). While the courthouse isn't open to the public, you should look out for it as you stroll by. The cylindrical building is made of white stones and has a great-looking façade.
The Romanesque Revival architecture cathedral, built in 1875, is open for daily tours, excluding mass time. The cathedral is famous for housing the final resting place of many from Monaco's Royal Family, including Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III.
You'll also find two famous organs - the grand organ built by Jean-Loup Boisseaue and the choir organ built by Tamburini in the church. Tourists interested in visiting the building should note the dress code.
Moneghetti District
The Moneghetti District's narrow streets will give you a different experience of the French Riviera. Also known as Les Moneghetti or Little Monaco, this part of the principality is home to many native Monegasques. Situated in the northern part of Monaco, the streets have steep inclines, so be ready for a workout while you explore the neighborhood.
Interestingly, Les Moneghetti is home to the only train station in the principality. Gare de Monaco Monte-Carlo underground train station was opened in 1999. Most trains passing through the station are part of the Transport Express Régional (TER) regional train service running from Marseille to Ventimiglia, Italy. Visitors can seize the opportunity to go on a day trip to one of many charming towns and villages around Monaco, like Villefranche-sur-Mer, Cap-d'Ail and Èze.
Le Jardin Japonais
After hiking around Monaco's attractions, Le Jardin Japonais is the perfect place to relax. The Japanese garden-themed park is located a few minutes walk from the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel tunnel. It was designed by landscape architect Yasuo Beppu at the request of Prince Rainier III. The park comes complete with stone lanterns, bamboo hedges, a waterfall, and a pond with colorful koi fish.
It's the perfect place to end your exploration of the principality, but if you choose to do that, you should note that the garden closes at 5:45 or 6:45 pm, depending on the season. You certainly don't want to show up there only to encounter closed gates.
Thermes Marins Monte Carlo
Thermes Marins Monte Carlo is a top-notch fitness and wellness center in the heart of Monte Carlo. It is a great place to relax after hiking around town.
The 6600sm center offers state-of-the-art equipment to provide the rejuvenation you need. In addition to the fully equipped fitness center, other amenities and services include multiple Elemis treatments, various massage options, a heated seawater pool, and an outdoor whirlpool.
The center also has an in-house restaurant, L'Hirondelle. It offers healthy Mediterranean dishes and an outdoor dining area with unobstructed views of Le Rocher and the Mediterranean Sea. If you stay at Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo, you can access the center without exiting the building.
Cruise the Mediterranean coast
Monaco only has a coastline of 2.38 miles, and there is no better way to explore it than in a souped-up supercar. Tourists can head out of the principality to other parts of the French Riviera as the Mediterranean Sea breeze blows through their hair. You can rent a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or any other grand tourer to cruise around the scenic coastal roads.
Monaco is an exceptional vacation location, especially for car enthusiasts. But regardless of one’s hobbies, the principality is a brilliant destination for holidaymakers as its unique allure makes it one of the most glamorous vacation spots on the planet.
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Local Favorite: Pan Bagnat
While a sandwich may not sound very interesting when talking about cuisine and delicacies, there’s something rather special about the Pan Bagnat. This sandwich comes stacked high with anchovies or tuna (some varieties come with both), hard-boiled eggs, and raw vegetables, topped off with olive oil, salt, and pepper. All these go into a round french bread, sometimes rubbed with garlic. It’s also worth noting that the bread is essentially drenched in olive oil. Given its ingredients, you can think of the sandwich as a tuna salad wrapped in bread. Also popular in neighboring Nice, the sandwich is usually available in bakeries and markets. On your next visit to Monaco, be sure to try this special "tuna salad".
