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Monaco is well known that most visitors do not realize that the entire
principality is approximately 2/3 the size of New York City's Central Park.
Packed into a narrow expanse of coastal plain that has enlarged
slightly by landfill and a new sea wall, the city rapidly climbs upwards
from the shore to the surrounding hills.
This delightful town is nested along a curve of a very scenic shoreline and
the town is imbued with an interesting history, as it has been ruled by
the Grimaldi family for over 700 years.
The Grimaldi monarchy has provided the country with an attractive, storybook-like cachet
including the romance and storybook marriage between Prince Rainier III and
the American film star Grace Kelly. Although both are now dead, their
children have managed to keep many eyes focused on Monaco.
 When you see
the map symbol, click for a detailed street map identify the location of
interest. In addition, the map includes as "satellite" button that
will let you explore Monaco using a highly detailed satellite image.
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Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze Private Tour
From Viator Tours
Small-Group Evening Tour and Dinner in Monte Carlo from Nice
From Viator Tours |
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Names shown in Teal are districts of
Monaco.
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Monte-Carlo
The Casino (Le Casino de Monte Carlo)
- Just so you know, Monte Carlo is an administrative unit of the
Principality of Monaco that is at the "heart" includes the world-famous
Casino.
- The Casino includes the gambling area, as well as The Grand Theater
(La Salle Garnier -a beautiful building designed
by Charles Garnier, whose creations include the Paris Opera House
(Opera Garnier).
- The main attractions of the Casino are the building and its sense of opulence, as well as its exclusiveness, high-stakes gambling and the "beautiful"
people who sometimes make an appearance in the evening.
- The Casino is open to those 18 and older. Suitable attire is
required. No shorts, flip-flops or sports
shoes allowed and a jacket is required after 8 P.M. In addition,
neither military nor religious uniforms are allowed.
- The Casino is connected to the Salle Garnier, the beautiful auditorium of the
Opera House.
- See this
site
for more information about
visiting the
Casino.
- The Place du Casino is the "place to be" in Monte
Carlo, but you might enjoy visiting the elegant
and internationally renowned Hôtel
de Paris, which, like the Casino, dates from the mid-19th century.
- If you are looking for exceptional dining, this is the place - but is it
quite pricey.
- Another famous "eatery" is the Cafe de Paris, just across the street,
which offers indoor and outdoor dining, as well as featuring fabulous
seafood and incredible desserts.
- Next, you will find the Sun
Casino, a Las Vegas type of gambling hall that provides a more relaxed
environment than "the Casino". You can, also find
gambling at the Casino Cafe de Paris, the Monte-Carlo Bay Casino
and the gaming area of La Rascasse.
- By the way, the Casino is located in an administrative areas of Monaco that
is called Monte Carlo. This area is, also, where the famous Grand
Prix De Monaco, the Formula One
Grand Prix, takes place. The 2012 dates for the race are as follows:
May 24 - 27
- The race is held on the city's roads that skirt the harbor and
circuit the Casino returning along the shoreline.
- The Monaco Grand
Prix is the slowest and generally regarded as the most difficult of the
Gran Prix races, as the winding streets of Monaco require precise
driving.
- If you are not interested in attending the
Grand Prix,
we recommend that you arrange your visit at some other time since prices
skyrocket and traversing the city can be difficult due to road closures
during the race and trials.
- For those of you interested in shopping, the area around the
Casino (known as the Carré d'Or Boutiques
or, sometimes called Designers' Row) overflows with fine shopping
featuring some of the most exclusive names in fashion, jewelry,
antiques and art.
Monaco-Ville (the Old Town)
The Prince's Palace and Palace Square
- Originally built in the Thirteenth century, the Palace was
updated in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries. Parts of the
Palace are open for tours (usually only from April through October) and you can find more information
here.
Wheelchair access is not available.
- If you decide to visit the Prince's Palace, you might be
interested in seeing the Museum of Napoleon Souvenirs that
includes over a thousand objects related to Napoleon's reign.
Click "museums" on the homepage of the website above for more
information.
- The Private Collection of Antique Cars once owned by
Prince Rainier III is also on display at the Palace. The
collection contains around 100 vehicles and more information can
be found at the Palace website listed above.
- The
Palace Square (at the front of the Palace) hosts the changing of the
guard for the Prince's Palace at 11:55am, seven days a week.
The Old Town
- Though small in size, the Old Town is a pleasant place to walk and
see the sights. You will discover numerous shops and pleasant
places to eat or gather food for a picnic.
- You might want to spend some time at the Condamine Market
and the Rue Princess Caroline pedestrian mall.
- The Monaco Cathedral is worth a quick visit. It houses the
remains of most of the former Princes of Monaco (including those of
Prince Rainier), as well as those of his wife, Princess Grace (the
former actress Grace Kelly - with whom the Prince had a famous and
fairytale-like romance). The Cathedral is approximately 100
years old and its interior is quite striking.
The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium
- Made famous by its past curators, including Jacques Cousteau, the
building houses a museum, an exceptional aquarium, and an
internationally famous research institute.
- Consider stopping at the restaurant "La Terrasse" on
the top floor of the building for lunch and a fantastic
view of Monaco and the coast neighboring Italy.
- See this
official website (in
French, so use Google Translator) for more information
- Monaco has numerous restaurants and discos, which are frequently
crowded and fun places to party. Action usually starts later
in the evening as the crowd filters in from the Casino.
- A great way to get an overview of Monaco and its attractions is to take a ride on the Azur Express: a small tourist train
(tram), running every thirty minutes.
- The route starts at the Oceanographic Museum, passes the leading
attractions, then returns to the Oceanographic Museum.
- The Azur
Express features multi-language electronic consoles that describe the
sights of interest, all for a modest price.
Visit Monaco is the official tourism website of the Principality of Monaco. The site includes additional details on our recommended best
places to visit in Monaco, as well as information on locations and
attractions that did not make our list.
For country facts on Monaco, as well as travel information related to visas,
driving rules, safety, medical conditions, visas and other travel-related
information, see this page on
Monaco Travel from the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. State
Department. Regardless of your home country, we think you will find the
information provided to be useful when planning a trip to Monaco.
If you need information about planning a trip to another travel destination,
look for it in our
Destination Guide Index
or by Googling ThereArePlaces. |
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