The 7 Best Things You Need To Do In Monaco

If you’re thinking about going to the second smallest country in the world, make sure to keep scrolling and read this travel guide that goes over the best things you need to do in Monaco.

OVERVIEW

Okay I’m going to be honest, Monaco is one of those places that is beautiful, unique & fun to visit for a day, but I wouldn’t go back and stay there unless it was for the Monaco Grand Prix or we were passing through while on a yacht. Because Monaco is such a small country, less than 4 miles long, you can see and do everything easily during a day trip. Joe and I did a day trip to Monaco while staying in Nice, then later took the train to Milan. It was perfect. Highly recommend.

THE VIBE

The overall vibe of Monaco is definitely rich, but it doesn’t really have it’s own “culture” per se. I saw a lot of new money, old money, escorts, flashy cars, dazzling diamonds, designer shops, beautiful architecture, and dated buildings in the distance. It was really fun to see and experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it friends as a “destination.” If you’re looking for rich & some culture, go to San Tropez or Antibes.

The 7 Best Things You Need To Do In Monaco

There are a few things I will do differently next time we go to Monaco which I go over at the end of the post, but here are the 7 best things you need to do in Monaco.

MONTE CARLO CASINO

The Monte Carlo Casino is one of the most famous Monaco landmarks. If you’re into gambling, this is the place to go, but make sure you dress appropriately because they have a strict dress code. You can check out the lobby for free, but to enter the actual casino there’s a €10 Euro fee. You must be 18 or older to enter so make sure to take your passport.

This place feels very James Bond (there’s been lots of movies filmed here) and would be a great place for a birthday or some type of fancy celebration. If you’re doing a day trip, my recommendation is to just go see it from the outside, take some photos, and keep walking.

LE METROPOLE SHOPPING CENTRE

Right next to the casino is the Le Metropole Shopping Centre and it is GLAM. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, you should walk around this area for the architecture, design, and window displays. Every major designer is here but my personal favorite stores that were extra unique here are Balenciaga and Versace.

NIKKI BEACH AT FAIRMONT MONTE CARLO

Since it was Joe’s birthday I wanted to take him somewhere hip with a view and good food so we went to Nikki Beach on the rooftop at the Fairmont. There’s a pool, restaurant, and one of the best views of Monaco.

LARVOTTO BEACH

We went to Monaco July 29, 2019 and there was major construction going on because they are in the process of extending their coastline by 15 acres into the Mediterranean. The project to extend Monaco’s coastline is costing $2.3 billion. (insert bulging eye emoji) While looking into this I found that 1/3 of Monaco’s population are millionaires! I’m guessing the rest are either family members or escorts. (Kidding, but also kinda not hah).

Anyways, Larvotto beach is great and still accessible. The nice thing about Larvotto is that it’s free to use, has imported gravel so it’s a bit nicer than the beaches in Nice, and it was way less crowded. You can also rent a chair and umbrella at one of the private sections of the beach if you prefer a more secluded vibe.

OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM / AQUARIUM

This is the oldest aquarium in the world and it’s right on the water – so cool. The architecture is beautiful and the museum isn’t as crowded as museums usually are which is nice.

Some fun facts about the Oceanographic Museum:

The aquarium opened in March 1910
There’s more than 6,000 specimen on display
You can pet sharks

Buy your tickets in advance here.

MONACO HARBOUR & YACHT CLUB

If you love boats and yachts, take a stroll through the harbour. Here you will find some of the most luxurious yachts in the world.

THE PRINCE’S PALACE

You can go view the Prince’s Palace from outside, and then take a tour of the State Apartments house inside. The surrounding area is old town which you should walk around too. Picturesque cobble stone streets lined with restaurants, gift shops, etc.

Some more best things you need to do in Monaco…

If you have more time I recommend checking out these places below.

The Exotic Gardens home thousands of rare plants, as well as grotto. The Princess Grace Rose Garden is located within Fontvielle Park. There are 8,000 rose bushes and 300 different varieties.
The Japanese Garden has ponds, little waterfalls, a plethora of plants, and zen vibes.
Monaco-Ville – Monaco’s Old Town – which is located right by the aquarium and Saint Nicholas Cathedral.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral – where many members of the royal family, including Grace Kelley, are buried. It’s also where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married.
It would be cool to experience Formula One in Monaco. The Automobile Club de Monaco recently celebrated 125 years of racing passion.
HSH The Prince Of Monaco’s Vintage Car Collection which has almost 100 classic and Formula One race cars.
Dali Museum.
Les Révoires – the highest point in Monaco with a spectacular view.

Best Things You Need To Do In Monaco

WHERE TO EAT & STAY

EAT: Nikki Beach, Cafe de Paris, Coya, Sass Cafe, Le Bar Americain at L’Hotel de Paris

STAY: Hotel Metropole, Hotel de Paris, Hôtel Hermitage, Villa Egerton

Fun fact: Hotel de Paris has been in several films including James Bond’s Never Say Never, Golden Eye and in Iron Man 2.

GETTING TO MONACO

Plane – Monaco doesn’t have it’s own airport, but you can fly into Nice International Airport which is only 14 miles from Monaco.
Helicopter – They do have a heliport on the seafront, which you can arrive at.
Train – There are daily trains to Monaco.
Car – It’s a 30 minute drive from the Nice International Airport.

GETTING AROUND MONACO

Honestly, since Monaco is such a small country, you can get everywhere by walking. There are other options though such as renting a car, taking the bus, or calling an Uber.

Something we didn’t do this time but I want to do next time is rent a luxury car like this Lamborghini for only $178:)

Another couple things I want to do next time is a helicopter ride like this one, and of course a boat experience.

MORE INFO

Climate in Monaco: the Principality of Monaco enjoys over 300 days of sunshine every year. The average weather in Monaco is around 26-29ºC or 80-84ºF in Summer and 8-14ºC or 48-58ºF in Winter.
Currency in Monaco: Euros.
Language in Monaco: French, but many also speak English.