Monaco
Top sights and places to visit in Monaco pack glamour and history into a tiny Mediterranean principality. Highlights include the Monte Carlo Casino, the Prince's Palace, the Oceanographic Museum, and the harbour of Port Hercule, all set along the sparkling French Riviera coastline famous for its Formula 1 Grand Prix.
General information
Monaco is a tiny sovereign city-state on the Mediterranean coast of the French Riviera, bordered on three sides by France and close to the Italian frontier. After the Vatican it is the second-smallest country in the world, ruled by the Grimaldi dynasty, with French as its official language. Monaco is not part of the European Union but uses the euro (EUR). Synonymous with glamour, it is famous for its casino, its Formula 1 Grand Prix, luxury yachts and a mild, sunny climate that makes it a year-round destination.
Transport and how to get there
Monaco has no airport of its own; the nearest is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), about 30 km to the west in France, linked by bus, by train to the Monaco-Monte Carlo station, or by a scenic seven-minute helicopter transfer. Frequent trains connect Monaco with Nice, Menton and the Italian Riviera. The principality is small enough to explore on foot, helped by a network of public lifts and escalators up its steep hillsides, with local buses covering the rest.
Prices
The currency is the euro (EUR) and Monaco is one of the most expensive places in Europe. Budget accommodation is scarce, so many visitors stay in nearby Nice or Menton; hotels within Monaco often start around €200 and climb well beyond €500. A modest meal costs about €20–35, a three-course dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant €80–150, and a coffee €4–6. Entry to the Oceanographic Museum is around €19 and a local bus ticket about €2. Prices are approximate and rise sharply during the Grand Prix and Yacht Show.
Main attractions
The glittering heart of Monaco is Monte Carlo, with its Belle Époque Casino and opera house. In the old town of Monaco-Ville stand the Prince's Palace, with its changing of the guard, and the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried, while the cliffside Oceanographic Museum and the Jardin Exotique offer sweeping sea views. Add the superyacht-filled Port Hercule, Larvotto beach and the legendary Formula 1 street circuit, and this pocket-sized principality delivers far more than its map suggests.