Treasures of Traveling in Monaco
Monaco is the second smallest county in the world and if you exclude the Vatican City, Monaco is the smallest country in the world! It’s famously known for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, its casinos and tax free status. It’s a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the French Riviera, also known as le Cote d’Azur with many other famous beach towns like Nice and Cannes, located right next door in France. Monaco is a small principality headed by the Prince of Monaco and it’s an extremely affluent spot along the French Riviera. Monaco has a lot of things going for it. From the warm climate to the beautiful blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, along with the natural beauty of the mountains and the multiple gardens located throughout the city, it is a beautiful place to visit! It is tiny because the whole area of Monaco is only two square kilometers. That’s really small, but there’s actually a lot of things to see and do while visiting Monaco. Here are 24 places to visit in Monaco you won’t want to miss!
Monte Carlo Casino
Monte Carlo is home to many rich people, but you don’t have to have lots of money to gamble at the Monte Carlo Casino. The patrons of this Casino are generally tourists from all corners of the planet, since this is one of the most famous Casinos in the world. While you try your luck with the multiple games at the casino you probably won’t see any local citizens of Monaco because local law forbids citizens from gambling. If you are a fan of James Bond, you might enjoy a visit to this casino because it was the setting for the James Bond movie Casino Royale. Besides gambling and seeing the different slot machines and gaming rooms, make sure to look up and view the beautiful artwork and chandeliers overhead that will be hanging over your head as you place your bets. Some people come to visit the casino because of its famous history. Others come to admire the architecture, while many just come to play a few games.
Casino Square – Place du Casino
This is the plaza located right in front of the Casino of Monte Carlo. Besides the casino, this park is surrounded by hotels, shops and restaurants. Since it is such a famous area within the district of Monte Carlo and many tourists visit this area of Monaco you will most likely see live events occurring here throughout the week. This is a great place to sit down, relax while watching all the people visiting the casino and view all the expensive cars the casino patrons arrive in. You can watch the valet move the exotic and expensive cars when the players arrive and leave the casino. This entire area is filled with elegant luxury in every direction you turn.
Opera de Monte Carlo
The Opera de Monte Carlo, also known as Salle Garnier is located in the Monte Carlo district right next to the iconic Casino Square. The opera house was built in 1878 and is decorated in red and gold and has multiple paintings and sculptures all around the inside of the auditorium. The architecture inside and outside of the entire facility is very beautiful and you won’t want to miss the exquisite painting located on the ceiling of the auditorium. If you are a fan of opera, live entertainment like ballet and other live performances and concerts, you will want to experience a show at this opera house. Just so you are aware, it will be an expensive show, so plan ahead.
Auditorium Rainier III – Esplanade Rainier III
The Auditorium Rainier III is a modern theater venue for live plays, music concerts including classical orchestra performances, conferences, talks and other live events. It was built over the Mediterranean ocean so is relatively low from the surrounding buildings so what you are looking at is its colorful roof with views of the port and sea.
Larvotto Beach
Larvotto Beach is a narrow pebble beach with multiple beach clubs and high rise apartment buildings, restaurants and stores that surround it. It is considered the best beach in Monaco because it’s the only beach in Monaco! There is clear blue water of the Mediterranean Sea and fish in the vicinity so snorkelling is possible.
Monaco Yacht Club – Yacht Club de Monaco
The Monaco Yacht Club was started in 1953 by Prince Rainier III and is the place to visit if you want to see some extremely expensive yachts! They are massive and it’s amazing to see so many together in one place. The Monaco Yacht Club has over 2,000 members from over 65 different countries. There are great views of the Rock of Monaco on the opposite side of the harbor. Some people claim this is the number one yacht club in Europe. The facility is also fantastic with a great selection of food, wine and cocktails. Even if you don’t own a yacht you can go here and rent one for the day if you are inclined.
Port Hercule
Port Hercule is a deep water port full of yachts and sailboats of wealthy people from all over the world. Besides having some of the most luxury yachts in the world it is located in a beautiful location with the district of Monte Carlo on one side and the Rock of Monaco on the other. It is home to the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix that occurs every year in Monaco, where the course wraps itself around Port Hercule. If you happen to be cruising around the Mediterranean Sea, this is also the port where cruise ships will dock if you sail into Monaco.
La Condamine – Second Oldest District
La Condamine is a district within Monaco that happens to be the second oldest district in the Principality of Monaco. It is located in the central part of Monaco and includes Port Hercules, the Nautical Stadium and the Princess Antoinette Park. This is definitely one of the districts within Moncao that you will visit because you will be walking through it, taking a boat tour or water taxi across the harbor or viewing the entire district from high up on the Rock of Monaco looking down over La Condamine district.
Moneghetti District
Moneghetti is another one of the districts within Monaco located in the north central part of the Principality of Monaco and starts the climb of buildings into the mountains of Monaco.
Sainte-Dévote Chapel
The Sainte-Dévote Chapel is a renowned 11th-century Catholic chapel dedicated to Saint Devota, the patron saint of Monaco. This is a very small church near the train station so if you are walking down the hill from the station to the port you will see this chapel as it welcomes you to the heart of Monaco.
Princess Antoinette Park – Parc Princesse Antoinette
Princess Antoinette Park is a popular park for locals to visit as it is a nice green space within the city with wonderful views of Monaco including the Rock of Monaco. It’s great for families with young children as it has playgrounds, slides, ping-pong tables, basketball courts and small farm animals. The park is filled with plants and flowers along multiple levels as it is built along the hillside.
Exotic Garden of Monaco – Jardin Exotique de Monaco
The Exotic Garden of Monaco has a very nice display of cacti and other succulent plants that are native to dry zones around the world so it’s very different from the majority of gardens you would find in this part of Europe. The view from this garden is also breathtaking because the garden was built along the cliffside and you have spectacular views of the Principality of Monaco, including the Rock of Monaco and the Mediterranian coastline. There are so many interesting parts of this garden to visit as there are multiple trails that zigzag down the hillside of this park. Wandering through this garden is a must for anyone who visits Monaco.
Stade Louis II and the Fontvieille District of Monaco
The Stade Louis II is a stadium located in the Fontvieille district of Monaco. The stadium is primarily used as a venue for football and is the home of AS Monaco and the Monaco national football team. AS Monaco stands for Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club. They originally played in an older stadium called Stade Louis II starting in 1939, but the newest stadium was built between 1981 and 1984 and was inaugurated on January 25, 1985 by Prince Rainier III. It was named after Louis II, Prince of Monaco, who was the Prince of Monaco when the original stadium was built in the 1930s. The new stadium can hold 16,360 people, which is about 66% of the entire population of this small country.
UNESCO Garden – Jardin de Unesco
UNESCO Garden is a small garden and might not be as impressive as the country’s other parks, but it is still nice to visit for a relaxing afternoon. One of the most interesting things about this park is that it is located above the shopping center near the port of Fontvieille. There are multiple fountains along with a few statues and a great view of the harbor and Rock of Monaco.
Port de Fontvieille
The Port of Fontvieille is an old port surrounded by the district of Fontvieille on one side and the massive rock cliffs called the Rock of Monaco on the other. The port has been redeveloped and has some nice restaurants and shops that surround it. It is much smaller than the larger Port Hercule located on the other side of the Rock of Monaco. Another great place to view this port is from multiple locations on top of the Rock of Monaco where you can see nice views of the Port of Fontvieille and other residential neighbourhoods.
The Rock of Monaco (Monaco-Ville – The Old Village)
One of the places that everyone visits when in Monaco is the Rock of Monaco. It’s located in the middle of the principality, which also happens to be the oldest part of Monaco. It’s called Monaco-Ville and besides being located on top of a rock formation, it’s filled with the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, a cathedral and many small winding streets. Monaco-Ville is the historical quarter of Monaco and it’s charming so you don’t want to miss it. There are some great parks throughout Monaco to take in the view of the Rock of Monaco. There is a lot to see on the Rock of Monaco, including the changing of the guard, so you might want to start your day by visiting it first.
Gateway to the Rock of Monaco – Porte d’entree au Rocher
The quickest way up to the top of the Rock of Monaco is to climb the steps of a path called Rampe de la Major. As you climb the steps make sure to look out and see the sweeping views of the harbour. You will come to the Porte d’entree au Rocher or the Gateway to Rock, which is a gateway from the 15th century. As you continue on your short climb you will arrive at the Prince’s Palace.
Prince’s Palace of Monaco – Le Palais des Princes de Monaco
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco is a 13th Century Residence of the Royal family and sits high above Monaco on the Rock of Monaco. You can visit and tour the palace as long as the Prince is not there. Check above the main tower of the palace and if you see a flag raised above the tower, you will know that the Prince is in the palace.
Changing of the Guard
If you have seen the changing of the guards ceremony at London’s Buckingham Palace, this will be a very small ceremony compared to that, but it’s still interesting to see. You can see the ceremony each day starting at 11:55 AM in front of the Royal entrance on the Palace Square on top of the Rock of Monaco. You will see the guards in full dress uniform. White is worn in the summer and black in the winter. The ceremony will occur in front of the Palace’s main entrance and it is performed, obviously, by the guards that are called Carabiniers. Besides the Carabiniers performing the changing of the guard, they are also in charge of the Prince’s security.
Monaco Cathedral – Cathedrale de Monaco – Saint Nicholas Cathedral
The Monaco Cathedral was built in 1875 and currently stands on the site of a 13th century church that was built around the same time as the Palace. When it was built it was dedicated to Saint Nicolas so that’s how it got its name Saint Nicholas Cathedral. This cathedral also houses the remains of former Princes including Prince Rainier and his wife, Grace Kelly, a Hollywood leading lady, who became one of Monaco’s leading ladies after marrying the Prince of Monaco in 1956.
Saint-Martin Gardens
Along your visit to the Rock of Monaco, make sure to take some time and relax in this peaceful public garden featuring spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a wonderful park to take in some breathtaking views, but also to get to know some of the local plants and flowers that can grow in this warm Mediterranean climate.
Statue of Prince Albert I
Within the Saint Martin Gardens you will find the statue of Prince Albert I. He was a Prince who sailed the seas and founded the aquarium called the Oceanarium.
The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium of Monaco
The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium of Monaco is dedicated to marine sciences. It’s an aquarium as well, so that’s why it’s also called the Oceanarium! It was built over a 100 years ago, making it one of the oldest aquariums and museums dedicated to science and oceanography in the world. It was founded by Prince Albert I and it’s located along the edge of the cliffs of the Rock of Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea. This museum has great views of the Mediterranean Sea and because it is located within the Mediterranean Sea, there is an aquarium located in the basement that holds thousands of marine specimens.
Maison d’Arret – County Jail
The Maison d’Arret is a type of county jail that holds prisoners awaiting trial or sentencing and being held for less than one year. They say this prison has some of the best views in the world and it makes sense because your view from the cell along the Rock of Monaco is of the Mediterranean Sea.
Short on time? Visit the Rock of Monaco!
Monaco might be one of the smallest countries in the world, but if you are short on time, one location within Monaco that you shouldn’t miss is the Rock of Monaco because there are 10 different places you can visit in a short amount of time! Check out these 10 different places to visit on the top of the rock!
Visiting Neighboring Nice
There are many neighboring cities and small villages to visit that are close to Monaco and very easy to visit as they are accessible by using public transportation. The city of Nice is a great city to visit along the French Riviera as well. It’s just a short train or bus ride away from Monaco. Take a look at the 10 things to experience in Nice.
Visiting Neighboring Cannes
There are many neighboring cities and small villages to visit that are close to Monaco and very easy to visit as they are accessible by using public transportation. The city of Cannes is a great city to visit along the French Riviera as well. It’s just a short train or bus ride away from Monaco. Take a look at the 15 places to visit on a walking tour of Cannes.
Treasures of Traveling in Monaco
There are many treasures of traveling to visit in the tiny country of Monaco, located along the French Riviera. The Rock of Monaco might be the focal point of many tourists’ itineraries, but there is much more to experience throughout this tiny country. Monaco has many things to offer any tourist and is filled with many interesting treasures to explore. There are many other wonderful French cities to discover along the Mediterranean coastline like Nice and Cannes that you also don’t want to miss while exploring the French Riviera.
— Luke Keeler
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