Some of the best things to do in Monaco
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Monte Carlo is famed for its glitz and glamour. It is the region of Monaco that packs the most financial might. The rich and famous here aren’t afraid to show off. Visitors will find a seemingly endless collection of exotic automobiles and Michelin-starred restaurants in the area.
Opened in 1865, Casino de Monte-Carlo is claimed to be the most beautiful casino in the world. The casino has featured in many blockbuster movies, including James Bond films like "GoldenEye," its fame has made it very popular among visitors to the principality. Even if you have no interest in regular casino activities, you should stop by to take in the gorgeous Belle Époque architecture of the building, visit the Atrium, or enjoy cocktails at Café de la Rotonde. Hypercar fans will be happy to know that a collection of rare exotic hypercars are regularly parked in front of the casino for your viewing pleasure. If you're in town with your exotic car, you'll be glad to know that the valet service is as good as they come, so you won't need to worry about making that scenic drive after your visit to the casino.
The building also houses Monaco's famed opera house, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, so if you're an opera fan, be sure to check out the performance calendar.
Casino Square
One of the most iconic locations in Monaco is Casino Square (Place du Casino). 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 like Hotel de Paris, and high-profile casinos, including the world-famous Casino de Monte Carlo and Casino Café de Paris. Of course, the road cutting through Casino Square is also part of the street circuit used during the Monaco GP, making it a must-visit spot for any formula1 fan.
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 vacation that satisfies most of your desires. 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 right by the Mediterranean Sea, offering a glorious view even before you step into a helicopter.
Two main helicopter tour providers here include Monacair and Heli Air Monaco. Both offer a variety of shared and private rides with different helicopters. Tours range from short explorations of the principality to extended Riviera tours. We certainly recommend the private tours, which offer more flexibility, and if you can spare the time, consider one of the long tours or transfers to other parts of the French Riviera.
If you’re arriving in Monaco from Nice, an excellent option to think about is the transfer from Nice airport. It’s a great way to arrive in Monaco in style. To get a good 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 Comdamine 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 have stated that there’s a silent competition here on who has the largest megayacht, so the super-rich keep building them larger and better. Time your trip carefully, and you may see megayachts that appear as large as some cruise ships.
Beyond the yachts, Av. J.F. Kennedy Street, which passes through Port Hercule, is lined with local stores and restaurants you can visit while taking a break from your superyacht spotting adventure. If you’re so inclined, you can visit some of the yacht builders with offices nearby to get your yacht built to your specifications. Don’t forget to make an appointment before your visit.
Monaco Top Cars Collection
Situated in the Fontvieille district of Monaco, the Monaco Top Cars Collection is a museum housing the personal collection of cars that belonged to Prince Rainier III. The Prince, who passed away in 2005, was famed for marrying Hollywood actress Grace Kelly in 1956. Rainier acquired the automobiles over a thirty year period. The collection was re-organized in 2012 when some of the original cars in the museum 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.
Palais du Prince
The 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. Not only is the palace beautiful, but it also offers a view of Monaco’s past. The palace’s changing of the guard is one of the unique activities to witness when visiting the royal home and it takes place every day at 11:55 a.m.
Monaco Grand Prix
Even travelers who are not Formula One fans have heard about the Monaco Grand Prix. It is one of the most popular races of the F1 season and also one of the three pillars of the Motorsports Triple Crown. Travelers visiting Monaco should plan their trips around the Grand Prix to see the principality come alive. The race day atmosphere cannot be beaten by any other motorsport event. The event goes beyond the race, so make sure to look out for the best official tickets to enjoy everything the race weekend has to offer. If you prefer to watch from one of the docked yachts, there are tickets available for that too.
Musee Oceanagraphique
There isn't a better home for a museum that studies marine life than the cliffs of Monaco overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Sandwiched between Jardins Saint-Martin and Jardins Suspendus in Le Rocher, Musee Oceanagraphique (Oceanographic Museum) prioritizes conservation and research to help tackle some of the biggest issues affecting our planet.
The museum is home to a vast array of marine life in impressive large tanks. A popular part of this amazing museum is the "Shark Lagoon," which has 240,000 liters of seawater and hosts various shark species, including nurse sharks, blacktip, guitar ray, and hawksbill turtles. Other popular fish in the aquarium section of the museum include the venomous blue-spotted stingray native to the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to the marine life, the museum also has a wide array of artifacts and historic ocean-related displays, including a reproduction of a real giant squid and a reconstruction of David Bushnell's turtle submarine.
Le Jardin Saint Martin
Located in the heart of Monaco's Old Town, this beautiful garden is a perfect place to break up your day in Monaco. Featuring stunning views down through Monaco to the Mediterranean, the peaceful atmosphere will make the noise of Monaco's bustling streets seem miles away. The park also contains some stunning plant species and an array of statues.
One Monte-Carlo
Unlike most other popular attractions in Monaco, One Monte-Carlo hasn't been around long. In fact, 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 brand stores, including Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Hermès. Its location right next to Hotel de Paris and Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo makes it the ideal place to go shopping for travelers staying at one of these SBM properties.
Shopping on Av. de Monte-Carlo
Walking down Av. de Monte-Carlo from Casino Square towards La Condamine, there's plenty to see to keep you occupied. There's the heavenly Thermes Marins Monte Carlo fitness center with views of the Mediterranean to die for and the superyachts and Megayachts moored at Port Hercule. However, looking to the right, where Hotel de Paris is located, you'll notice many high-end shops lining the street. Here's where you should do your shopping as you'll find brands including Hermes, Gucci, Prada, and Valentino.
If you don't find what you're looking for here, try the stores at the Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo, a two-minute walk up Av. Princesse Alice. There are also more options on other side of Hotel de Paris. Combined, you'll find designers like Salvatore Ferragamo and Giorgio Armani and jewelers like Cartier. Of course, One Monte Carlo is also a great shopping option too.
If you end up with more shopping bags than you can handle and you're staying at one of the nearby SBM properties, they'll happily help you get your new fashionable items to your room, so don't let the thought stop you from indulging 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. However, there are two additional attractions in this part of Monaco worth visiting. These include 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 made with white stones has a great-looking façade.
On the other hand, 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 (the House of Grimaldi), including Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.
Inside the cathedral, you'll also find two famous organs - the grand organ built by Jean-Loup Boisseaue and the choir organ built by Tamburini. Tourists interested in touring the cathedral should note the dress code.
Moneghetti District
Off the beaten track of central Monaco, the Moneghetti district's narrow streets will give you a whole other experience of Southern France. Filled with quaint charm, the cafes and boutiques that line the streets will allow you to experience all Monaco has to offer away from the popular central attractions.
Le Jardin Japonais
After hiking around Monaco's attractions, Le Jardin Japonais is the perfect place to relax. Located a few minutes walk from the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel tunnel, this Japanese garden-themed park was designed by landscape architect Yasuo Beppu at the request of Prince Rainier III. The park comes complete with stone lanterns, bamboo hedges, impressive wooden bridges, a waterfall, and a pond with colorful koi fish. The garden's tranquility will help you catch your breath and recharge if you're not done with sightseeing.
It's also 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
Monaco's size can easily draw you into hiking a lot longer than you're used to, leaving your body aching, so much so that you'll wonder why you're exerting yourself this way when you're on vacation. If you do end up in this situation, we have some good news. A great way to relax after a day of hiking around town is to visit Thermes Marins Monte Carlo.
This 6600sm top-notch fitness and wellness center offers state-of-the-art equipment and wellness treatments in partnership with Elemis and Cellcosmet to provide the rejuvenation you need. In addition to the fully equipped fitness center, other amenities and services include multiple Elemis treatments, a variety of massage options, a heated seawater pool, cold bath and ice fountain, and an outdoor whirlpool with views of the Mediterranean to make you wonder if you're dreaming.
You can also take advantage of L'Hirondelle, the in-house restaurant offering exquisite Mediterranean dishes and an outdoor dining area with unobstructed views of Le Rocher and the Mediterranean Sea. Guests at Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo have direct access to Thermes Marins Monte Carlo without a need to exit the hotel building.
Cruise the Mediterranean coast
Monaco only has a coastline of 2.38 miles, and there is no better way to explore the coast than in a souped-up supercar. Travelers can head out of the principality and down the French Riviera as the Mediterranean Sea breeze blows through their hair. Drivers can book a Ferrari, Lamborghini, and other dream cars to speed around the French coastline with car rental companies in Monaco.
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.