Guide to Monaco

Yachts, glamour, and a country smaller than your average airport

Monaco: where luxury cars outnumber locals, champagne flows like tap water, and the yachts look like small villages with better Wi-Fi. Tucked neatly between France and the Mediterranean, this tiny principality proves size really doesn’t matter—especially when you’ve got casinos, royalty, and a Grand Prix.

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Quick Facts

Best time to visit: April–June or September–October (Grand Prix in May if you like speed and crowds).
Currency: Euro (€), but don’t expect “budget-friendly.”
Language: French (but Italian and English are common).
Getting around: Walking is best; the whole country is 2 km². Elevators and escalators connect steep areas.
Vibe: James Bond meets Formula 1, with a dash of old-money elegance.

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Getting to Monaco

By Train

From Nice, it’s a breezy 25-minute train ride. The station is carved into the rock like some Bond villain’s lair—minus the sharks.

By Car

You could drive, but then you’d need to find parking. Spoiler: it will cost more than your hotel in Nice.

By Helicopter

Yes, this is a thing. A seven-minute flight from Nice Airport. Perfect if you want to feel like a movie star and don’t mind the price of a small used car for a round trip.

Pro Tip
Stick to the train—it’s cheap, scenic, and doesn’t require a bank loan.

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Where to Stay

• Luxury: Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo—a legend in itself. Marble, chandeliers, and prices that make you question your life choices.
• Mid-range: Monaco doesn’t really do mid-range, but nearby Beausoleil (France) has more affordable hotels just steps from the border.
• Budget: Day trip it from Nice unless you’ve mastered alchemy.

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Things to Do

• Prince’s Palace (Palais Princier): Watch the changing of the guard or just imagine yourself as Monegasque royalty.
• Casino de Monte-Carlo: Dress up, try your luck, and don’t forget your passport—you’ll need it to get inside.
• Oceanographic Museum (Musée Océanographique): A gorgeous maritime museum perched on a cliff, founded in 1910. Inside: aquariums, marine exhibits, and skeletons of sea creatures that may haunt your dreams.
• Monaco Cathedral: Where Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III are buried—beautiful, serene, and free to enter.
• Formula 1 Circuit: Walk the streets where cars zoom past at 200 mph. Bonus: it’s free when there isn’t a race.

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Quick Fact: The Oceanographic Museum

• Founded by Prince Albert I, a sailor-scientist.
• Jacques Cousteau was once its director.
• Exhibits range from sharks to Mediterranean seahorses.
• The rooftop terrace has some of the best views in Monaco.

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Eating & Drinking

• Fine Dining: Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse (3 Michelin stars) at Hotel de Paris. Bring your black card.
• Casual Bites: Café de Paris for people-watching and croque-monsieurs that cost as much as dinner elsewhere.
• Budget-Friendly: Honestly? Head back to Nice.

Pro Tip
In Monaco, even “casual” dining can set your wallet on fire. Treat yourself to one nice meal, then retreat to France for survival.

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Nightlife

• Casino Bars: Sip champagne and pretend you’re James Bond.
• Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo: Legendary nightclub with DJs, celebrities, and cocktails that require a second mortgage.
• Harbor Lounges: A quieter way to admire yachts with a glass of rosé in hand.

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Easy Day Trips

• Nice: Just 25 minutes away by train—more affordable food and beds.
• Èze Village: On the way back to Nice, stop for medieval charm and views that will make your camera weep.
• Menton: France’s “Pearl of the Riviera,” perfect for a quieter, pastel-colored escape.

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Quick Fact: Monaco in Numbers

• Area: 2 km² (about the size of New York’s Central Park).
• Population: 39,000 (but only about 9,000 are true Monegasque citizens).
• Luxury cars per square meter: statistically unverified, but trust us—it’s a lot.

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A 2-Day Monaco Itinerary

Day 1 – Royal Glamour & Ocean Views

• Morning: Tour the Prince’s Palace and watch the changing of the guard.
• Afternoon: Visit the Oceanographic Museum and its rooftop terrace.
• Evening: Try your luck at the Monte-Carlo Casino, or at least have a martini and look smug.

Day 2 – Fast Cars & Fine Dining

• Morning: Walk the Formula 1 track and snap a photo at the famous hairpin bend.
• Afternoon: Stroll the harbor to yacht-spot (bonus points if you invent backstories for the owners).
• Evening: Splurge on a Michelin-starred dinner—because when in Monaco…

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Final Word Monaco is tiny but dazzling, a playground for the wealthy that’s surprisingly fun for the rest of us, too. Whether you’re here to gawk at yachts, wander through world-class museums, or just pretend you belong in a Bond film, it’s an unforgettable stop on the Riviera