Monaco and Monte Carlo
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The Principality of Monaco is located near the Italian border. Its capital of the same name is situated on a hill close to the sparkling city of Monte Carlo, where the monuments certainly don’t escape the attention of tourists! The journey from the Cinque Terre will take approximately 5 hours by train to the underground station of Monte Carlo. But if you’d rather go by car, it’s much quicker.
If you set off directly from the Cinque Terre, stop in the city of Nice Nice (France) as well: you will find several options of inexpensive accommodation there, and that way you can stay overnight in Nice and make a day trip to the Principality of Monaco. Doing that, you can visit 3 different countries in just 3 days!
Places of interest in Monaco and Monte Carlo
Open this page from your mobile phone and you can start the navigator for any point of interest or monument described here.
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco (Musée Océanographique de Monaco)
Just the sight of the building that houses the museum, perched on the rocks, will exhilarate you! Looking at it, you would never dream that a monumental palace like that could house an authentic underwater world and all its inhabitants. Visitors to the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco have the chance to get to know the Mediterranean Sea: the aquarium occupies the first two floors and the museum is laid out on the other three. The main attraction of the museum is a 6-meter (20 ft) lagoon in which sharks and other marine predators swim, separated by a barrier reef, alongside the colorful tropical fish. It is a wonderful museum, where you are even allowed to caress the small sharks! Price: 14 euro (you can buy a combined ticket for the visit to Place du Palais as well, for 19 euro).
The Palace Square (Place du Palais)
In addition to being the current residence of the Prince of Monaco, it’s also an example of the ancient traditional architecture of the royal family. It is built in a unique location on the site of a fortress dating back to 1215. Tourists who have already been able to admire the architectural grandeur of the city will be more interested in the changing of the guard at the entrance of the palace. The spectacle is solemn and worthy of note, but we suggest you do a little more and visit the interior of the building as well: there are frescoes dating back to the XV century, the Throne Room, a collection of ancient weapons and much more.
The Monte Carlo Port
The port of Monte Carlo shows off the city at its best. It is the perfect place for a quiet walk, as you admire the sumptuous yachts anchored in the harbor, the open sea behind it, and the numerous identical residential skyscrapers and the tops of the mountains as their backdrop. We recommend an extensive visit to the port in Monte Carlo: you will find some unique scenery to photograph!
The Monte Carlo Casino and the square (Casino di Monte Carlo e la Piazza)
A visit to this monumental casino, where unbridled luxury rules the roost, will be to experience the pompous and grandiose atmosphere that James Bond fans will remember from his films. You will see the immense crystal chandeliers, the stucco walls and gold with emerald tonalities. In addition to the marvelous interiors of the Monte Carlo casino, you will obviously also find card games, slot-machines, roulette and more: it’s an unforgettable experience for those who enjoy gambling! There is an entry fee to the Casino of Monte Carlo (10 euro), and of course the bouncers will not allow access to anyone inappropriately dressed.
The Japanese Garden
A simplified replica of a Japanese garden is located in the center of Monte Carlo. This mini garden was designed to re-create a corner of paradise in the midst of streams flowing between the stones, flowering plants, wooden bridges and pagodas. The park is an authentic work of art, created respecting the architectural principles of the Zen philosophy. It is an ideal place to enjoy a moment of quiet concentration and meditation.
Larvotto Beach
This is most famous sand beach of Monte Carlo. What can you do here? Whatever you choose! You can cool off beneath the palm trees of Larvotto beach or in the private area on deck chairs, while you enjoy the marine and urban landscapes. Cruise liners and sail boats pass by at sea and dry land is surrounded by tall apartment buildings. Apartments here are among the most expensive in the world (approximately 70 000 euro per sq. mt or 7200 USD per sq. ft). What’s more, you can eat well and cheaply in the cafes on Larvotto beach.
Map of the places to visit in Monaco and Monte Carlo
Recommended hotels in Monaco and Monte Carlo
The price of tourist accommodation will hurt the wallet. We suggest staying in the nearby town of Nice, because not many will be able to afford the hotels in Monte Carlo. But it is up to you to judge. Check the prices for the cheaper rooms in Monaco.
On this page you can read visitor comments on all the hotels and compare them. In addition, you should consult:
Low-cost hotels in Monte Carlo.
Romantic hotels in Monte Carlo.
Luxury hotels in Monte Carlo.
Use a filter to search for a hotel in Monte Carlo.
Parking in Monaco and Monte Carlo
There are many underground parking garages in the city, and you can go tranquilly into the center and park as soon as you find something available; there is no need to decide in advance where to park. There are signs everywhere indicating the number of available spaces, as can be seen in the photo. Prices are all much the same. One day’s parking in Monte Carlo will cost a maximum of 20 euro (keep in mind that the first hour is always free of charge).
