The Best Things to do in Monaco

One of the best things to do in Monaco is to simply explore the life of the rich and famous; visit the Monte Carlo Casino, dine at Buddha Bar or walk the Formula One grand prix track. The best thing about Monaco is since it’s so small, everything is walking distance. So park your car in an underground carpark and explore Monaco on foot.

Sitting on the French Riviera between Nice and Italy, Monaco is one of the smallest countries in the world. A one stop shop for billionaires and their riches, and a country worth ticking off a travelers bucket list. Monaco is known for being a haven for celebrities to live out their summers on the bow of their boats, the famous Monte Carlo Casino and the Monaco Grand Prix circuit.

Easily accessible via a short train ride from Nice; Monaco is 2km squared in size and is popular for budget travellers, tourists and the wealthy. Small enough that you can experience the country in a single day trip, but beautiful enough that you could be quite content for a number of days.

It’s hard to not walk around with your mouth wide open, in awe of the million dollar boats that line the viaduct, the extensive architecture which lined the streets, or walking along the one and only Monaco Grand Prix racetrack. Every few minutes the revving of an engine would fill the streets and a supercar would come charging past. It was difficult refraining from looking inside the vehicle in an attempt to spot a celebrity on Holiday.

My Monacan Experience

Living life among the rich and filthy rich for a week was enough for this budget traveller. I have never felt more inadequate entering a European country in denim shorts and a singlet.
The streets were cleaner than the sole of a Louboutin licked clean by a faithful servant. No graffiti, no homeless, and the only ‘litter’ spotted were half smoked cigars sitting in public ash trays.

The advantages to being in such a small country is that everything is so close by, you don’t really need a car unless you’re travelling to your neighbours in France or Italy. The shopping mall was a 5 minute walk from our apartment, the wharf was a conservative length of a morning or evening stroll. And all the bars and pubs on the waterfront were a swift saunter made evening shorter after a few beverages. And our usual breakfast bakery was over the border in France, so it was quite cool to say I was “popping to France for breakfast”.

However the downside in Monaco occurs mainly at night. The sounds of V8 engines and supercars don’t really stop, especially on the weekends. What would usually be worth running out to the balcony for a view becomes the effort into suffocating yourself with your pillow. Not to mention the restaurant/bar at the bottom of the complex didn’t know what closing hours were.

Monte Carlo Casino

First impressions are everything and Monaco ticked every box, theoretically. The wharf was lined with multi-million-dollar boats. Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s and Porsche’s scattered the streets and the mall stocked shoes for no less than €2,000 a pair.
The Monte Carlo Casino, made famous in countless James Bond movies, sits pride and place on the Monte Carlo suburb of Monaco. A select few of patrons supercars would be valet parked directly outside the establishment and then cycled out to the basement everytime a newer, or more expensive vehicle came along.

The casino itself however had the atmosphere of a seasoned, elderly prostitute; worth the visit but you probably wouldn’t do it again. After paying €20 each to enter I was expecting to walk into a scene from James Bond; tuxedos, gowns, cigars hand delivered by cookie cutter models and top shelf spirits poured down the throats of jackpot winners. Instead there were a couple of poker tables, about 30 people in casual attire and my attention span was nowhere to be seen.

Hollywood movies had my expectations set up for disaster.

However, the vibe in this Monaco casino may have been a bit dim but the building and experience was well worth it. The building itself is incredible, with gold detailing, grand entrances, luxurious furniture and crystal chandeliers. The bathrooms had grand mirrors with gold frames, and the staff wore suits more expensive than my whole wardrobe. Spending an hour in the casino might not have been the highlight of my time in Monaco, but it was definitely a memorable one.

Buddha Bar

Buddha-Bar is a luxurious bar at the center of Monte Carlo, favoured by guests staying at Hotel De Paris or patrons at the Monte Carlo casino. Walking up the marble staircase and into the bar, you will be welcomed by the interior design which is inspired by the Garnier Opera House in Paris, with oriental designs, wood carvings and a large Buddha statue that adorns the back wall. This bar in Monaco is the place to be if you want to be seen.

However if you find that Buddha-Bar is too full and you’re struggling to find a table, venture down to the Monaco waterfront where you will find the sea front bars and restaurants pumping with lively music and attentive staff.

Monaco Palace

Much like Buckingham Palace in England, The Palace of Monaco is the residence of the reigning Prince of Monaco and one which you can visit. Built in 1191, the Palace sits on the Monaco Roack between Port de Fontvieille and La Condamine. Bask in the glorious Italian Renaissance murals covering a total of 600m2 of wall space and learn about the history of Monaco and the reigning Monarchs. The views from Monaco Palace offers spectacular views over the micro-country and far beyond the French Riviera.

Marine Science Museum

For any science buffs who are sick of historic architecture and history. The Marine Science Museum is part of the Oceanographic Institute and is committed to sharing knowledge to educate people of the oceans. This Monaco museum is built into the cliff side and sits directly above the waters edge. The path to the Marine museum leads down around the cliff face and close to the water allowing for amazing photo opportunities. A tour of the Marine Science Museum is reasonably affordable, with discounts for students and children.

I didn’t take part in the tour but the walk around and down to the museum was an experience in itself.

The Garden of Monaco

Sitting not far from the Monaco hospital on the north-eastern side of the country is an exotic garden full of succulents opened in 1933. Built on the cliff side, the Monaco Gardens offers breathtaking views of the French Riviera, surround yourself with plants from around the world, some of which were bought back from Mexico in the late 1860’s.

At the bottom of the Exotic Gardens is the Observation Cave, included in your Monaco Garden ticket is a tour through these historic caves, your guide will take you deep into the cave to view the limestone rock; forming stalagmites, stalactites and columns. In 1916 animal bones were found deep within this cave which helped prove the presence of prehistoric men in this region thousands of years ago. Many of these are on display in the museum of natural anthropology.

Free Things to do in Monaco

Considering Monaco is only 2km squared, there are plenty of free things to do in Monaco and you don’t even need a car to get around!

Monaco Grand Prix Racing Track

Even if you’re not the biggest Formula One fan in the world, standing on the Monaco grand prix track is enough to get anyone a little excited about racing. Every year in late May or early June Monaco is flooded with Formula One fans to catch a glimpse of their favourite driver, the ports are flooded with super yachts of the rich and famous, and the bars are pumping.

The track is a narrow course laid out on the streets of Monaco, an everyday road you can drive or walk on every other day of the year. For 3 days a year you can rub shoulders with other crazed Formula One fans, you just have to make sure to book your accommodation early.

If you’re in Monaco at any other time of the year then you can enjoy the Formula One racetrack free of charge. The track is designed from everyday roads curving around Monaco. But don’t worry, since Monaco is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world, you can still experience the roaring engines of supercars flying through Tunnel Larvotto. The Larvotto tunnel is the best place to get photos of the Formula One track or to listen to the hum of cars driving through. The tunnel has multiple pedestrian accesses and a footpath that runs the whole length of the tunnel.

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Cars in Monaco

Monaco is one country in the world where you are guaranteed to see and get within arms length of some of the most expensive cars in the world. Police stand at the Monaco-France border turning away cars they think don’t ‘belong’ in Monaco, so don’t hire out a beaten up Honda Civic and expect it to get passed the border.

The Monte Carlo casino is where you will find the best super cars parked up for the evening, they are valet parked and swapped out to the underground carpark when someone with a better, and more expensive car, turns up for valet parking. Feel free to take pictures of and with the cars but please be respectful and don’t touch them. As mentioned previously, if you love hearing the sound of a roaring engine then take a seat inside tunnel Larvotto and wait a short time for a supercar to come blasting through.

Monaco Beach

Nothing says free entertainment quite like a day at the beach. Monaco beach is calm, blue and beautiful, the gentle waves roll up onto the white sand and lap up on the rocks. Boulders line the edge of the beach creating a picture perfect scene. Sea front bars and restaurants enclose the beach along the coastline. Pack yourself a picnic from nearby Carrerfour or Spar and prepare yourself for a day in the sun.

Shopping in MOnaco

The shopping mall in Monaco has several large crystal chandeliers, marble hand railings and a large curved staircase, what more can I say? Metropole Shopping Mall sits behind the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco and boasts 80 boutiques, 6 restaurants and an interior design keeping on theme with the luxurious Monaco lifestyle.

Metropole shopping mall is perfect if you need to grab any daily essentials, or just want to gawk at the exorbitant prices on some clothing items. Monaco may be known as a location for the rich and famous to holiday, but don’t be fooled into thinking every shop in Monaco will be out of your price range.

Monaco is a fantastic country with a lot to see considering its size. However other than being the epicentre of trophy wives and sugar daddies; you won’t be seeing much else in the way of ‘crumbling ruins’. Some of the richest history lies within the mountains and smaller towns bordering the region. Towns like Roquebrune, Les Baux and Nîmes hold the fondest memories of this section of my trip. Walking along the Pond du Gard and standing within a quarry watching works from Bosch, Brueghel and Arcimboldo dance around me like an acid trip. Monaco was fantastic, and definitely worth the visit. But it is a ‘once and done’ sort of country.