What are Some Things to Do in Monaco?

Feel like you’ve stepped into a filming of the 80’s show “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.

Gamble your life savings away like James Bond in the Grand Casino (20 Euro entry).

Watch luxury cars drive by.  Or better yet, drive one yourself!  For $180, you can get behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Gallardo or a Ferrari for an hour.

Watch the Formula One Grand Prix.

Ride the Azur Express tourist rain (6.00E).

Walk through the harbor and check out the mega-yachts.

Take a harbor ferry to the excellent Oceanographic Museum $18 for adults, $12 kids.

View Prince Rainier’s Antique car collection (6.50E).

Our Experience:

Our visit to Monaco began in nearby Nice, France.  We piled the whole family into our tiny Citroen rental car, and drove the winding, narrow and stunning mountainside drive.

In just thirty minutes we reached Monte Carlo and began searching for parking.  After another half hour of frustration, we settled upon a massive parking garage on a cliff by the sea.  It was then a short walk to the harbor, where we marveled at super yachts.

Above the harbor you can climb steps to reach the Grand Casino, a must stop for all James Bond fans.  Rather than pay the entry fee to go inside, we circumnavigated the building, which allowed for viewing of the Bentleys, Lamborghinis, and Maseratis parked outside.   Many people just stand outside the casino entrance to see if any celebrities will come out.

We ended up in a shopping mall that could easily be confused for a five star hotel lobby.  After a few hours, we had seen enough, and headed back to Nice before sunset.

Things you Should Know about Monaco:

Backpacker Daily Budget:

$130.  It is very, very expensive in Monaco.  The Gross Annual National Income per capita is $168,000!

Cheap Beer index:

$5.04 (4.20 euro) in a harbor restaurant.

When to visit Monaco: 

June through September have highs in the 70’s.  Avoid winter, December through March dips into the 40’s.

What languages are spoken in Monaco?  

Officially French, Monagasque, Italian and English also widely spoken.

Do you need a Monaco visa?  

Visas are not required for nationals of USA, UK, AUS, and CAN.  There are no border controls with France.

Getting to Monaco:  

There is no airport.  The country is surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea.   The nearest airport is Nice.

You can arrive overland from France via train, bus, or private car.

You can also arrive by boat or cruise ship.

A fun and easy way to arrive is by Ferry from Nice.  For $46, you can get a round-trip ticket on this 45 minute ride. Departure from Nice: 9:30 AM, arrive 10:15am.
Departure from Monaco: 5:00 PM, Arrival in Nice: 6:00 PM

How to Get Around Monte Carlo

The best way to get around is on foot.  You’d be crazy to try to drive around Monte Carlo, there is absolutely nowhere to park other than the centrally located, enormous parking garage.

The city is very hilly, and filled with stairs.  An easier option is the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.  For $26 you can ride it on a loop to all the sites of the city, along with an audioguide.

Local currency and how to get it:

Euro (0.86=$1 as of 2018) from numerous ATMs.  For more info on your cash-versus-credit card options when travelling, check out my post on How to Access your Money in Foreign Countries.

Stay Connected: 

Be aware that Monaco is NOT part of the EU, nor the EEA, where international roaming rules at domestic prices have been enforced. Roaming rates on most European SIM cards are NOT capped or regulated in the Monaco and therefore can be much higher than within the EU. Some providers from the EU voluntarily apply EU roaming regulations in Monaco, but most do not, and apply high surcharges. 

You should DISABLE ROAMING on your phone before entering Monaco, this will force your phone to connect only to a nearby French antenna.  For more info on your telecom options, check out my post on How to Get Cheap Mobile Phone Service Worldwide.

Where to stay in Monaco:  

There are no hostels.  Apartments Monaco is the cheapest hotel at $56.  Consider staying in Nice, France and taking the train in for the day.

Where to eat:

Some cheap eats include:

• Maison des Pates
• Son of a Bun
• Very Italian Pizza
• Grubers
• Sexy Tacos

Monaco Nightlife: 

Whoo boy, expect to break the bank on a night out in Monaco.

• Brasserie de Monaco $9 a drink
• The Living Room – $18 a drink
• Jimmyz – $35 per drink

Get a guidebook:

  Monaco Travel Guide (Quick Trips Series): Sights, Culture, Food, Shopping & Fun  

What to Pack: 

You can wear whatever you normally wear in Europe.  To learn how to pack light and be prepared for anything, check out my post The Worldwide Travel Packing List.

Is Monaco safe?

It is the “safest square mile” in Europe.  With 515 police officers for 32,000 people in a country that covers less than 2 square kilometers, Monaco has the largest police force and police presence in the world on both a per-capita and per-area basis. Cameras everywhere.

Beware of counterfeit Euros being circulated.

It is illegal to walk around barefoot, in swimwear, or shirtless.

When you are ready to book your trip, be sure to use the best booking sites:

Book Your Flight:

Find your flight using Momondo.com. It is the best airfare search engine, as it finds the cheapest flights, and will find ALL the flights. (Here’s the proof.)

Book Your Accommodation:

Choose your lodging using Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Get Travel Insurance:

You can’t afford to travel without travel insurance.  Car accidents, illnesses, and theft do happen. It could save your life. I never travel without it. I use World Nomads.

Need Some Gear?

Check out my Worldwide Travel Packing List for the best travel gear for your adventures.  I’ve already read all the online reviews, and tested it all out, so you can just click and buy the best stuff.

THANKS FOR READING

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The post Things to Do in Monaco: Home of the Rich and Famous first appeared on Worldwide Wilbur.