One Day in Monaco

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Monaco is one of my favorite places and a must-see on the French Riviera.  You will need at least one day to visit all of the main attractions Monaco has to offer.

Palais Princier, Prince’s Palace

This is the official residence of the Prince of Monaco.  The palace was built in 1191 and has been renovated and expanded over the centuries.  It is located atop a hill and close to the famous Monaco cathedral.  You can watch the changing of the guard at 11:55am on most days.  As part of your visit to the palace, you can also see the Museum of Napoleon.  The Museum of Napoleon houses a collection of artifacts and documents dated back to the First Empire. Two other attractions near the palace are The State Apartments, as well as an exhibition of antique cars.

Cathiedrale de I’lmmaculee-Conception, Monaco Cathedral

Walk from the palace to the cathedral to experience the streets of medieval Monaco.  The magnificent cathedral houses the tomb of Princess Grace Kelly, among others in Monaco’s royal family.

Casino

The casino of Monte Carlo is synonymous with wealth, glamour and sophistication, which is one of the reasons why it was featured on James Bond 007 GoldenEye.  The Casino is the main tourist attraction and a must-see in Monte Carlo.  It is located in the city center and is surrounded by restaurants, hotels and a luxurious shopping area.  This is a great place to people watch and most importantly, admire the luxury automobiles.  Driving up to the casino, you will see some of the most expensive and outrageous cars in the world.

If you have time also visit:

Jardin Exotique de Monaco – Exotic Garden of Monaco

The botanical garden is a must see.  It offers some of the most exotic gardens with a wide variety of succulents and cacti.

Musée Océanographique – Oceanographic Museum

A stone’s throw from the cathedral and set on a dramatic cliff-top is the Oceanographic Museum.  The museum offers a collection of different species of sea fauna, as well as its world-famous aquarium.

Oceanographic Museum

Additional Tips

Restaurants

My recommendation for dinner is La Trattoria.  La Trattoria is one of Alain Ducasse’s most famous restaurants in Monte Carlo.  Alain Ducasse is a world-known chef who owns several restaurants around the world.  He owns two other restaurants in Monte Carlo and La Trattoria is the most reasonable out of the three.  The setting of the restaurant is unforgettable.  It has incredible sea views and if you are lucky enough to get there before sunset, you will be able to experience the setting sun over the Monte Carlo harbor.

How to get to Monte Carlo – Monaco?

There are several options for getting to Monaco.   My personal choice was to take the train from Nice.  Trains run frequently and the journey takes about 22 minutes.  If you want to check out the schedule information, please visit the TGV (France’s high-speed rail service) website.  It might not allow you to buy the tickets in advance, depending on your country of residence, but we had no problem buying the tickets at the train station in Nice the day of our trip.

How to navigate the city?

The easiest way to navigate the city is by bus or taxi, but please note that taxis tend to be very pricey.  The buses run regularly and are easy to navigate.