Monaco Travel Guide:

       Travel Information

 Road Safety and Conditions   Medical Care

Monaco: Add-on Destination (two of four globes)

For most tourists, Monaco requires a few hours to tour the town and an evening in either The Casino or its less elegant competitor. The country's main claim for tourism lies in its fabulous "Casino".  If you plan on attending the inner sanctum of the Casino and are not  well dressed, you will not be admitted. No shorts, tank-tops, or t-shirts allowed. Men need to be wearing at least a sports coat, shirt, tie, slacks, and....shoes. 

1. Unless you like to gamble and rub shoulders with the elite, there is little reason to stay in Monaco.  Monaco is often visited as a day trip by travelers who want to say the have been to Monaco.
2. Monaco is a good place for independent travel.
3. ThereArePlaces recommended travel destination for Monaco are located at Monaco: Best Places To Visit.
4. Information on tourism in Monaco can be found at www.visitmonaco.com .
5. When planning your travel, be sure to review the ThereArePlaces Travel Planning Guides for insights on how  to "travel well" and "travel safe".

Monaco is a safe travel destination for tourists.

1. No official health advisories, travel advisories, or specific terrorism warnings for Monaco have been posted by the U.S. Government at this time.  Before you depart, always check with the Department of State  and CDC to insure that these conditions have not changed.  In addition, you will find that the     Foreign & Commonwealth Office  of the British Government provides excellent travel advisories.
2. The State Department's Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747 can answer general inquiries on safety and security overseas. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-202-501-4444 .
3. When visiting a foreign country, avoid public demonstrations (whatever the cause) and do not broadcast either your public opinions or your nationality.
4. In Monaco, contact numbers for emergencies are as follows: 17 (police emergency), 18 (fire department) and 9375-2525 (medical/paramedic team/ambulance).
5. The U.S. does not maintain an embassy in Monaco.  See our article on France for the location of the nearest U.S. Embassies.

A passport is required for entry to  Monaco . A visa is not required for tourist/business stays up to 90 days in Monaco. 

For further information on entry requirements to Monaco, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco. 2314 Wyoming Avenue, NW Washington, DC  20008, Tel: 202-234-1530, or the Consulate General of Monaco, 565 Fifth Avenue – 23rd floor, New York, NY 10017, tel.: 212-286-0500.  The Consulate General's web site  is http://www.monaco-consulate.com .

If you do not have a passport, see our article on the Ins and Outs of Passports.  Other important travel documents, including visas are covered in our Information Guide on Passport, Visas, Customs.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parents or legal guardian not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure

Dual nationals, who are  Monegasque citizens as well as U.S. citizens, are subject to all  Monegasque laws that affect U.S. citizens. Moreover, dual nationals also may be subject to other laws that impose special obligations on  Monegasque citizens.  In some instances, dual nationality may hamper U.S. Government efforts to provide protection abroad. For additional information, please see the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at for an explanation of Dual Nationality issues.

Before you travel, read our articles on Pickpockets, Con Artists, and ATM safety in the ThereArePlaces Information Guide on Personal Safety for travelers. Although Monaco has a relatively low rate of violent crime, be alert and avoid the situations described below.

• Thieves commonly target vehicles with non-local license plates. Americans in  Monaco should be particularly alert to pickpockets.  Photocopies of travel documents and credit cards should be kept separate from the originals.
• There have been reports of robberies in which thieves on motorcycles reach into a moving car by opening the car door or reaching through an open window to steal purses and other bags visible inside.
• Those traveling by car should remember to keep the windows up and the doors locked.
• There have also been reports of bags stolen from pedestrians by thieves on motorcycles. In some of these cases, victims who did not release their bags were dragged by the motorcyclist and suffered serious injury.
• In hotels, thieves target lobbies and breakfast rooms, and take advantage of a minute of inattention to snatch jackets, purses and backpacks.
  • While many hotels do have safety latches that allow guests to secure their rooms from inside, this feature is not as universal as it is in the United States .
  • If no chain or latch is present, a chair placed up against the door is usually an effective obstacle to surreptitious entry during the night.
  • There are, however, reports of thieves breaking into hotel rooms on lower floors through open windows while the occupants are sleeping. To guard against this, hotel room windows should be kept locked at all times.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of any crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.

If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members of friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution for the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney

While driving in Monaco, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Monaco is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Good

Tourists driving rented vehicles should pay close attention to the provisions of their rental contracts.  Failure to do so could result in fines or confiscation of the car during your travels.  Make sure that you are familiar with the terms, restrictions and costs related to your car rental (see our article on Rental Car Costs).

A holiday in Monaco will likely be focused on one of the surrounding countries.  Be sure to familiarize yourself with the Road and Safety Condition in the ThereArePlaces Travel Information pages for all countries where you will operate a vehicle.

Use of mobile telephones while driving is against the law in most European countries.  The fine for violating laws against the use of mobile phone while driving is significant.  If you need to use your mobile phone while on the road, stop your car in a designated parking area and place your call.

ThereArePlaces recommends that you do not drink and drive.  In most foreign countries, especially in Europe and the UK, the maximum permitted blood alcohol levels are lower than those enforced in the United States. Penalties and punishments are significant. See our article on drinking and driving in foreign countries for more information.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet home page at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html .

Medical care in Monaco, comparable to that found in the United States is widely available.

We strongly urge you to consult your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, you should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing medical service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your departure, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur.

Your existing medical insurance carrier may cover "customary and reasonable" medical care while you are abroad. Usually, if reimbursement is provided, it is paid at a reduced rate (due to the use of an "out of system" provider). Check with your insurance carrier before you depart to determine the type and amount of coverage that may be provided. If coverage is provided, be sure to ask how claims should be filed and ask them to send some claim forms, in case you require any medical treatment while on vacation.

Read our article on  travel insurance to learn the factors that you should consider before you purchase or decline to purchase a travel related insurance policy.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure                         “Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,” available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.  ThereArePlaces Information Guide on Health contains valuable health related advice for the traveler considering a trip abroad.