Top 15 Things to Do in Monaco
The tiny country of Monaco is a hot spot for the rich and famous as well as a
fantastic tourist location. For those looking to get away on a nice, long
vacation or even just a fun weekend abroad, Monaco’s potential to keep visitors
entertained for quite some time; provided you have the money to spend. From one
of the best-known casinos in the world to a luxurious opera house and elite
racing track, you’ll find something for everyone in Monaco. Whether it’s driving
along the surrounding roadways in a convertible with a scarf tied around your
neck and big sunglasses to protect your awestruck eyes, all the way to trying to
get noticed by the rich and famous who call Monaco home.
There’s a little something
for everyone in Monaco as long as you know where to look. When you go, plan your
trip with this list of fifteen opportunities you just can’t pass up.
15) Eat at the Brasserie du Café de Paris
The Café de Paris is the place to see and be seen in Monaco. This Art-Nouveau
inspired café has the most-frequented terrace in all of Monaco. So if you’re
looking to rub elbows with the rich and famous, finding a table at this café to
look out over the entirety of Monaco and the beautiful ocean is definitely for
you. Decorated in a style reminiscent of Parisian bistros, enjoy authentic,
delicious food while you stare out at the cityscape and delicious cocktails
while you wait to be noticed by all the right people.
Courtesy of Tripadvisor.com
When you’re done eating
here head on over to the casino and see if luck is on your side.
14) Gamble at the Monte Carlo Casino
Featured in a recent Bond flick, Monte Carlo Casino has been known for over a
century as a lavish, swanky place to have fun. Dress to the nines and test your
favor with Lady Luck as you kick back with Monaco’s most beautiful people. The
casino is host to a great many gambling games such as multiple kinds of
roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and of course a medley of the traditional slot
machines.
Relax and enjoy the seaside view from the casino as you sip on a glass
of fine champagne, and take note of the beautiful architecture. The casino was
built in 1863, and the beautiful structure lends itself to the perfect
environment for a fun night of gambling with friends, or even by yourself – if
you’re feeling down on your luck and alone, your night might be improved by a
night of winnings at the casino.
By sam garza from Los Angeles, USA (Monte-Carlo Casino) [CC-BY-2.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
On top of a great many salons for gaming, the
casino also includes a beautiful concert hall as well as an attached opera
house.
Aerial View of Casino and Opera Grounds
13) See a Show at the Opéra de Monte Carlo (Monte Carlo Opera)
The Opéra de Monte Carlo is located inside the Monte Carlo Casino. It was
built at the same time as the rest of the casino due to the lack of cultural
divisions at the time of its construction, and its seaside façade will leave you
breathless with its circular and vaulted windows and its sea-foam green roof.
The Opéra was and is still run by the Grimaldi family, who control a lot of the
attractions in Monaco. Enter the Salle Garnier and be completely floored by the
decorate elegance that showers the entire room in brilliance. The ornamentation
is Baroque inspired with a Romantic flair, with lavish scroll detail and flowery
fixtures. This room is named for its architect, Charles Garnier, who also
oversaw the construction of the famous Palais Garnier and opera house in Paris.
There are always new and exciting events at the Opéra, and it has been host to
countless famous opera singers. These days it sees more modern performers, not
to mention its fair share of plays that are unique to the opera house.
Entrance to the Monte Carlo Opera
If you’re looking for a bit of culture in your vacation, the Opéra de Monte
Carlo is the place for you.
12) See an Exhibit or Performance at the Grimaldi Forum
A conference center located near the eastern beach quarter of Monaco, the
Grimaldi Forum is a multi-purpose center that houses the performing arts as well
as a variety of conferences. Both the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Les
Ballets de Monte Carlo regularly perform here and they both have very
professional reputations. The orchestra was formed in 1856, and the ballet company was
formed in 1985 at the wishes of Princess Caroline in memoriam of her mother,
Grace Kelly.
Interior of the Grimaldi Forum
By GraceKelly (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
In addition to the performing arts, this conference center is the
venue for the EVER Monaco exhibition, which is held each year in March. The EVER
exhibition focuses on ecologic vehicles and renewable designs. The world’s
first-ever two-seat electric sports car, the Venturi Fétish, was built in Monaco
and was the star player in the first EVER convention to be held. The building,
in addition to the Oceanographic Museum, is great if you’re a fan of
architecture.
Exterior of the Grimaldi Forum
By V&A Dudush (Panoramio) [CC-BY-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
It juts out into the bay and features tons of clear panels that
make it look beautiful during the day or all lit up at night as well.
11) Stay in a Resort on the French Riviera
Although Monaco is located on what is collectively called the French Riviera,
staying in a beachside resort will be a definite highlight of your trip.
Alternatively called the Côte d’Azur, or the azure coast, this location is an
absolute must-see for the person looking to get the most out of a trip to
Monaco. This glistening coast is home to a wide variety of luxury resorts that
overlook the Mediterranean coastline, and has been functioning as such since the
1800’s. It was originally a getaway playground for rich British men involved
with the railway, and used primarily as a winter resort.
View of Monaco City and Resorts
It’s only continued to thrive
over the past few centuries, adding a great many new structures to its repeteur.
Whether you’re strolling along the beach alone or with that special someone,
this scenic stretch is sure to be the highlight of your vacation. If you have
the funds for it, stay in a resort to get the rest and relaxation that you
deserve after a hard day. Most resorts have spa services and well-equipped
suites for their guests, not to mention the gorgeous view and private beaches.
Enjoy a cold drink while you watch the waves roll in and soak up some sun, or
stay cool in a nearby cabana. If you’re interested in celebrity hunting, the
French Riviera is a prime spot to site some stars, as many such as Elton John
have made their homes among these beautiful, beachfront properties.
10) See the Monaco Grand Prix
For those interested in sports, betting, and high-adrenaline fun, the Monaco
Grand-Prix is definitely among your places to visit. This elite race is held
annually at the Circuit de Monaco, and features Formula One racers from all over
the world. It’s prestigious enough to be ranked alongside the Indy 500, not to
mention the circuit is much more lavish than the track of the Indy 500. What
makes this race a truly unforgettable event is the track itself. The Circuit de
Monaco cuts along the streets of this luxurious, beautiful city. This allows for
a much
more interesting race track that incorporates natural elevation changes, a tunnel, and sharp, exciting
turns. For these reasons, it is largely considered to be the most difficult
racetrack to drive on. it isn’t going around the same circular track over and over,
but rather it
requires drivers to be sharp and attentive at all times. Drivers need to be prepared for
anything.
The track is also much more scenic than your normal run-of-the-mill
racetrack. Rather than the usual oval-shaped track with bleachers surrounding
it, the circuit cuts around a beautiful harbor and the glamorous main streets of
Monaco. There is ever a dull moment if you are lucky enough to be a spectator
one day. On a few rare
occasions drivers have even ended up in the harbor, so you never know what you
might see! The Grand-Prix is conveniently held over Memorial Day weekend, so
those of you in the United States will have a vacation day to plan their trip to
the Monaco Grand Prix around.
9) Visit the Prince’s Palace of Monaco
For a great historical experience, look no further than the Prince’s Palace
of Monaco. The Palace itself is a mishmash of time periods and cultures, from
ancient times to the late Baroque. The palace has an odd lack of symmetry for a
structure in a high-class country like Monaco. It was originally constructed in
the early 12th century as a fortress, and a need for security at that time
overpowered the desire to make it more decorative like other palaces were at the
time.
By Zbigniew Bosek (donated by author) [CC-BY-SA-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
It has been added onto over the centuries to shape it into a palace
without changing the main structure, making it a very interesting building to
look at as you are easily able to distinguish between the time periods
represented in the architecture. It is currently the home of Prince Albert II,
but he’s not stingy. Certain rooms are available to the public in the summer and
open-air concerts are held often. The palace also functions as a museum for
tourists, making it a great educational tool for visiting families as well as
history and architecture enthusiasts. Tours are held in the palace, and an
elaborate ball is thrown every Christmas for the children of Monaco.
By Qypchak See: //www.panoramio.com/photo/49680066 (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
Even after
all these years, the Prince’s Palace is still the political center of this small
country.
8) View the Collection of Antique Cars
This collection of cars is on display are from the privation collection of
His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III. The museum features 100 vehicles and
these vehicles are categorized according to class or period. Among the
collection are vintage Rolls Royce, Cadillac and Chrysler models from the
1950’s, and a Ford Model T 1924 which has been named the world’s most
influential car of the 20th century.
A Look Inside the Museum
Courtesy of Utrip.com
It also has extremely rare classics like
the 1093 De Dion Bouton, a 1928 Spanish Hispano Suiza and a 1929 Bugatti. Those
fond of older cars will enjoy the 1935 Packard, the 1953 Cadillac and the 1956
Chrysler Imperial. Those interested in a little more speed and luxury will
marvel at the Alpine Renault, Lamborghini Countach and a Grand Prix Ferrari.
It’s open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. So if cars are your interest,
hobby, or dream put this impressive collection on your list of places to visit.
7) Look Around the Museum of Napoleon Souvenirs
More than a thousand objects relating to the First Empire are housed in this
collection. Objects belonging to the emperor Napoleon I, garments worn by the
King of Rome, who was Napoleon’s son, and souvenirs from Napoleon’s time he
spent imprisoned at Saint Helena are all included in this vast collection. The Charter of Independence of Monaco, which
was signed by King Louis XII of France, resides in this collection, as well as a
letter written by Louis XIV to Prince Antoine I. Visitors can see past uniforms
of the Prince’s Guards, a collection of Monaco coins and a complete stamp
collection.
Inside the Museum of Napoleon Souvenirs
Courtesy of Visitmonaco.com
It’s closed from November 12th to December 16th of each year, so if
you’re planning to visit Monaco and its history is of interest to you. Make sure
to plan your
visit for a time outside of these dates. Compared to the price of everything
else in Monaco, this museum is fairly inexpensive. This is a definite must-see
if history is something you like studying.
6) Take a Ferrari City Tour
If visiting the car collection has you wishing for one of your own, then a
Ferrari-driven tour should be on your list of things to do. This will let you
feel rich and famous without setting you back thousands of dollars. This popular
tourist attraction lets you drive a cherry red Ferrari up and around the roads
surrounding Monaco, allowing you an exceptional view of Monaco’s neighborhoods
and the beautiful clear blue of the water; all while turning heads. Both 30
minute and one hour tours are available, and it’s up to you which one you
choose. Just know that the one hour tour, of course, includes not only more
driving time, but the ability to drive on a few different roads to get the best
possible view of the exquisite shine of the water and the incredible buildings.
Tour Participants Getting Ready for Their Ride
Courtesy of Frenchriveraprivilegecard.com
In addition to the time options, you can also choose if you want to experience
the tour being chauffeured around in the passenger seat of this famous sports
car, or if you want to drive it yourself with an instructor in the passenger
seat. Driving is more expensive of course, but for the experience of driving a
car you might never get behind the wheel of again outside of your dreams it may
be worth it for car enthusiasts. When you’re done with your tour,
they even offer the option of purchasing a video of your ride or drive for a
thrilling, unique souvenir.
5) Shop in the Golden Circle
Most likely, you’re in Monaco to treat yourself. That means that if you’re
going to live like the rich and famous for the amount of time you’re in Monaco,
you should shop like the rich and famous. With Monaco so close to Paris which is known
as a fashion hotspot, it’s understandable that this
craving for high-end, designer fashions would spill over into Monaco. Shops
include Chanel, Christian Dior, Lous Vuitton and Yves St-Laurent all line the avenue des
Beaux Arts, which is located on the southern side of the casino’s gardens. Items
from the fashion design of Italian fame, Prada, can even be found here, along
with Gucci, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Hermès.
Courtesy of Tripadvisor.com
While you’re here, treat
yourself to some designer shopping that you don’t have to order off a website
and feel like royalty when you walk out of the store with it tucked safely in a
shopping bag.
4) Visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Home to the Mediterranean Science Commission, an organization that has
professed to undertake deep investigation into the life within the Mediterranean
Sea, this museum is one of the great places to visit in Monaco. It boasts a
large collection of all kinds of sea creatures both in stuffed exhibit form and
skeletal form. Rays, sharks, seahorses, and turtles are there for your viewing
pleasure as well as starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. In addition to the
exhibits on creatures themselves, there are exhibits concerning model ships,
tools, and weapons used at sea. The real joy is in the basement of this popular
museum – an aquarium, with four thousand different species of fish and two
hundred different families of invertebrates. One of the prized specialized
aquariums is a shark aquarium with blacktip reef sharks, a nurse shark, moray
eels, a hawksbill sea turtle, and a guitarfish all living side by side. If you
want to do a little more than look, there are activities offered ranging from
getting up close and personal to touching a shark.
Here you will get the opportunity to touch creatures that you would find in a tide pool.
In addition to being a great center for scientific education, the building
itself is beautiful. It is built on a cliff overlooking the ocean, and the museum juts
out of the rock as a pristine white contrasted to the lush green of nearby trees
and clear blue of the water.
3) Play at Larvotto Beach and See the Fireworks
Larvotto is in the northeastern area of the country, and Larvotto Beach is
Monaco’s only public beach, making it among the top places to visit. If you’re
in Monaco on a vacation to treat yourself and you happened to go all alone,
Larvotto Beach is a great way to show off that beach-ready body. See if you can
pick up anyone to spend the rest of your vacation with. Whether it’s at the casino or seeing any of the other sites,
or maybe just back
in a hotel room spending some alone time together. There is also a wide variety
of parks in Larvotto, making it great for walking around on nice days and
enjoying the sites. If you enjoy watching fireworks shows, Larvotto is home to
the Monaco International Fireworks Competition, which is a great thing to watch
if you enjoy bright colors and impressive pyrotechnic shows.
View of Larvotto Beach From Across the Water
By Pilgab (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
The competition has
been held since 1966 and attracts firework and pyrotechnics enthusiasts from all
around the world. It begins in July and continues through August, culminating in
a return of the champion in November to crate the fireworks display that Monaco
uses on the evening before their national holiday. The event is free to attend
and begins around 9:30 p.m., but can be earlier and later depending on when
darkness falls and the full beauty of the bright colors can be appreciated. The
display has a variety of great places within the city to view the show. Sitting on a
patio at one of many cafés around the port, from viewing platform from within
the palace area, a viewing area in Fort Antoine, or on the terrace of the Monte
Carlo casino are all stupendous places to view this remarkable display of
pyrotechnic engineering.
2) Visit Saint Nicholas Cathedral
Also known as Cathédrale Notre-Dame-Immaculée, or Cathedral of Our Lady of
the Immaculate Heart, Saint Nicholas Cathedral was built in 1252 and
consecrated, or declared sacred, in 1875. The retable behind the altar filled
with religious relics and ornamental pieces is especially incredible, and the
inside of the cathedral is beautiful due to some of its features being made of
Carrara marble, a unique, beautiful, blue-grey marble quarried only in Tuscany,
Italy.
If you are a person who enjoys following the lives of rich and famous
celebrities or royalty and are aware of famous “old Hollywood” actress Grace
Kelly’s marriage into the royal family of Monaco, it will interest you to view
the Saint Nicholas Cathedral and know that the religious ceremony portion of her
wedding to Prince Rainier occurred in this cathedral. If you are lucky enough to
be visiting Monaco on January 27th (the Feast of Sainte Dévote) or November 19th
(the National Holiday) or on feast days and during religious music concerts,
you’ll have the pleasure of hearing this cathedral’s beautiful, four-keyboard
organ.
From September through June, a group of children from the choir school
called Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco sing the mass every Sunday morning at 10
a.m., creating a truly heartwarming atmosphere.
1) Visit the Jardin Exotique de Monaco (The Exotic Garden of Monaco)
Opened in 1933, this botanical garden is a must-see if you enjoy nature,
beauty, or calm walks through lushly-flowering areas. It’s located on a
cliffside of Monaco and has a rich collection of succulent plants, including a
specialty in cacti.
Example of the Collection of Succulent Plants
By Georges Jansoone (JoJan) [CC-BY-3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
At the foot of the cliff that houses the Exotic Garden,
there is a very large, all-natural underground cave with caverns full of
stalactites (formations made by drips of watery material onto the floor of a
cave) and stalagmites (formations rising from the floor made when the drips of
material land and build up over time).
View from Atop The Exotic Garden of Monaco
This cave has been open since 1950, but
at this time can only be visited with specialized guides; it is a must-see for
history enthusiasts as studies have indicated that there is evidence of
prehistoric human inhabitants having used the cave in the past. In fact, within
the Exotic Garden, there is a Prehistoric Anthropology section that was founded
by Prince Albert I in 1902. So if the cave interested you, don’t miss this part
of the museum.
Final Thoughts
With a little something for every taste, Monaco is a fantastic place to visit
whether you’re treating yourself to a once in a lifetime vacation with that
bonus work gave you for getting a promotion or if you’re a regular visit to the
kind of sumptuous ambiance that this country’s living style provides. With
295,000 arrivals in this fabulous city in 2011, it’s clear that many agree that
this famed playground of the rich, royal, famous, and beautiful is a hotspot for
tourism and fun. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for somewhere warm to relax
on the beach all day or looking to sleep the day away and stay up all night
gambling, Monaco is undoubtedly a fantastic place to visit and when selecting
your next vacation spot, consider Monaco as an option – you deserve the best,
after all, and if you visit Monaco and experience its luxurious way of living,
it’s nearly a guarantee you won’t walk away from the vacation unhappy.
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