Monaco is located on the French Rivera (western Europe), on the Mediterranean Sea. From the north, east, and west it’s boarded by France. Its capital city is also called Monaco.
Monaco covers an area of 2.1 km2 (0.81 sq mi) which makes it the second smallest sovereign country in the world (after Vatican City). The country has just under 39,000 people and it has the world’s highest GDP per capita, with an average annual income of $190,512.
The country is officially bilingual, with French and Monégasque (a language closely related to Italian) as its official languages.
Monaco is known for its luxurious hotels, casinos, and Formula One Grand Prix. The country’s most famous landmark is the Monte Carlo Casino which was built in 1863 and has been attracting tourists ever since. The casino offers the chance to win big with games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.
Monaco is a famous destination for tourists and celebrities alike. This list of the top 10 things to do in Monaco will help you plan your trip and make the most of your time in Monaco.
Top 10 things to do in Monaco
1. Stroll down the glamorous Monte Carlo
Monaco consists of four quarters (districts) and the largest of them is Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo is the most populous and wealthiest district in the country. It’s located at the base of the Maritime Alps and overlooks a picturesque bay. This glitzy and glamorous area attracts rich and famous. You will find here a lot of luxurious hotels, restaurants, casinos, expensive boutiques, and other entertainment venues.
Monte Carlo is also famous for its beautiful gardens, which are often used for weddings. The city’s attractions include the Monte Carlo Casino, the Monaco Cathedral, and Oceanographic Museum.
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2. Enjoy the glitz of the Monte Carlo Harbor
When you are in Monte Carlo, you have to get a look at the iconic view of the Monte Carlo Harbor. Surrounded by a vertical city built into the mountains, the harbor is home to hundreds of expensive yachts.
Although the expensive yachts might be overwhelming, there are a lot of affordable places to eat and drink in the area.
3. See the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo
Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the most famous casinos in the world and has been a major landmark of Monaco since its opening in 1856.
The casino was designed to look like a grand Italian palace with statues, fountains, and gardens all around it. The casino was originally only open to men but now it’s open to everyone who can afford it (excluding children under 18).
The casino has been featured in numerous films such as James Bond’s “Casino Royale” and “Ocean’s Twelve”. The casino offers the chance to win big with games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.
4. Visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is an amazing place to visit while in Monaco. It’s a great way to get educated about the ocean and explore the beauty of marine life. The museum is located on the seafront of Monte Carlo and offers a variety of exhibits, including interactive ones.
The museum has three floors with exhibits that include marine life, deep-sea exploration, and marine archaeology. The first floor includes exhibits about the ocean’s depths and its inhabitants as well as a multimedia show about the history of deep-sea exploration. The second floor includes exhibits about marine archaeology while the third floor houses temporary exhibitions.
There is also a “live aquarium” where you can observe fish in their natural environment.
5. See the Monaco Top Cars Collection
(Photo by Victor Grigas – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62691866)
The Monaco Top Cars Collection also called the Private Collection of Antique Cars of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III is a museum that preserves and displays vintage racing and road cars.
The museum is located in Monte Carlo and features an exhibition of more than 200 cars from the late 19th century to the 1970s.
The exhibition includes cars from all over Europe, America, and Japan with a wide variety of brands and models: Rolls Royce, Bentley, Bugatti, Ferrari, Porsche, etc.
The private collection also includes numerous pieces of art as well as photographs depicting Prince Rainier III’s life in Monaco.
6. Relax in the Casino Square
Casino Square is a beautiful square in the heart of Monte Carlo. It is surrounded by beautiful buildings, luxury shops, and casinos with the most famous being the Monte Carlo Casino.
Casino Square is a great place to watch rich people and their super-expensive cars, clothes, and jewelry.
7. See the Prince’s Palace of Monaco
The Prince’s Palace in Monaco is the official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. It’s located on the hill of Monaco-Ville (Monaco’s oldest quarter), also called The Rock (Le Rocher).
The palace was originally built as a fortress atop Le Rocher in the 12th century. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the home of the Grimaldi family.
8. Enjoy the beuty of Jardin Exotique de Monaco
(Photo by Georges Jansoone (JoJan) – Self-photographed, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7817940)
Jardin Exotique de Monaco is a botanical garden located in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It is an urban oasis in the heart of the city.
The garden is home to more than 4,000 plant species from around the world. The plants are classified into four main thematic areas: Mediterranean, tropical, subtropical, and desert plants.
This botanical garden has a very large collection of cacti and succulents that are arranged by geographical origin: Africa, Australia, Central America, South America, etc.
9. Take a walk around the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix circuit
The Monaco Grand Prix is an annual Formula One event that takes place in Monte Carlo, Monaco. It is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious and famous races in the world. It takes place every year on the last weekend of May.
The Monaco Grand Prix is a street circuit, which means it’s held on narrow roads with tight corners and no room for error. The race has been held annually since 1929 and has always been run on public roads that are closed to traffic for the occasion, making it one of the few remaining truly unique events on the Formula One calendar.
10. Princess Grace Rose Garden
(Photo by 唐山健志郎 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2199763)
The Princess Grace Rose Garden is a public garden in Monaco that was created in 1984 as a memorial to Grace Kelly, the wife of Prince Rainier III. The garden is located in the Fontvieille district of Monaco.
The Rose Garden in Monaco is an oasis of peace and tranquility with over 4,000 roses of over 200 different varieties. Walking through the garden you can also see the magnificent views of the sea and the harbor in the background.
Tip: the best time to visit the garden to capture the roses in their best beauty is spring when the roses blossom.
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