I admit I was a bit intimidated to visit Monaco. It has always exuded wealth and glamour. After all, almost one in three people who live here is a millionaire.
But, when my daughter and I were in the French Riviera last March, we knew we had to visit Monaco and explore another country. It may be small but was quite impressive. These are the things to do in Monaco on a day trip from Nice.
History of Monaco
Located along the French Riviera and the Mediterranean. It is just 0.8 square miles long which is about the size of New York City’s Central park.
Monaco is the world’s 2nd smallest state after Vatican City. Its mild climate, gambling facilities, attractions have made Monaco a wonderful destination for tourists and a haven for millionaires.
The Principality of Monaco has a rich history dating back to around 300,000 years ago. The Liguarians were the first settlers which were an ancient Indo-European tribe who founded a colony called Monoikos in the 6th century BC.
It became part of the Roman Empire until 476 AD when it collapsed. Its coastal, strategic location on a path between Spain and southern France made it a popular area for various invaders.
In 1215, the country’s recorded history started when Genoa, Italy colonized and ruled Monaco after it was given sovereignty. The Genoese built a walled city and a fortress known as the Rock of Monaco and it became an attractive city to live with land and tax exemptions.
In 1297, Francois Grimaldi, also known as Il Malizia or the Cunning, and a part of powerful Genoa family took over the fortress while disguised as a Franciscan monk.
This was the start of the House of Grimaldi’s reign over Monaco for centuries. Though, between 1793-1814, Monaco was temporarily part of France and known as Fort-Hercule. Monaco was granted sovereignty in 1861. It became a United Nations member in 1993.
Getting to Monaco frome Nice, Franc
Located on the Mediterranean Sea, France surrounds Monaco on three sides. Nice, France, is the nearest large city at a distance of 11 miles (18 kilometers). Monaco is rocky and situated on steep hills that drop off into the Mediterranean.
Touring Monaco for one day
We took the Regional TER train from the Nice Ville Station to Gare de Monaco-Monte Carlo Station which took less than 25 minutes. It was a beautiful and scenic ride along the coast that passed through beautiful towns like Villefrenche-Sur-Mer. By the way, Monaco’s train station was so clean and modern.
We felt the best way to see Monaco in our short amount of time was the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus tour. This is also very popular with cruise ship passengers who dock here for the day. The HOHO Monaco Le Grand Tour has 11 stops around the country and covers the main and popular attractions.
The double decker, open roof bus does the full loop with stops in about an hour. Eight languages are available for visitors to hear the commentary of sights and stops along the tour. Stop #1 was actually by where cruise passengers disembark.
You can board and get off the bus at any of the stops. The first bus leaves at 10AM and the last bus is at 5:45 PM. Buses come every 30 minutes. Buy your HOHO tour here.
We caught the HOHO bus at Stop No. 6, Grimaldi-SNCFS, Place Sainte Devote since we came via the main railways station. It is across from a marina and to the right of the small Chapelle Sainte Devote church if you’re looking at the marina. On a side note, this small Roman Catholic chapel is dedicated to the patron saint of Monaco and celebrations are held here every year on January 26 and 27.
You do need to take the elevator/lift down to the street level from the train station. There is an information desk inside the train station and they were very helpful in directing us to get to Stop #6.
Old Town Monaco
The first stop we got off was at #7 at Place du Palais . This was right by the palace grounds. You can’t miss it.
There was a lookout there with beautiful views of the newer and densely populated area filled with various buildings and many yachts. We really didn’t expect Monaco to have to so many buildings so close to each other. Surprisingly, the streets weren’t overly crowded.
When in the palace area, do not miss exploring Monaco-Ville which is the country’s oldest district and located on a cliff known as “Le Rocher” or the rock. This area was once a fortress that eventually became the palace and now the home of the royal family.
The old town was my favorite area. Colorful, historic buildings, including a couple of churches, lined the pedestrianized and narrow alleys .
It was such a treat to walk around here. Filled with many souvenir shops and restaurants, you never know what you’ll see around the corner. This is the best place to buy souvenirs since we didn’t see shops in other places.
Lookout Areas
There are a variety of restaurants but we didn’t do a sit down meal. We wanted to keep sightseeing so we opted for pizza, crepes and gelato for quick meals. I’m sure there are some really good places to eat here including some local favorite dishes which we found included seafood and plenty of vegetables and very similar to the French Riviera dishes.
Before heading back to the palace, go to the other lookout closer to the courtyard on the other side of the palace. This panorama shows the beautiful Port de Fontvieille area with a marina and more boats and yachts.
The government reclaimed this whole area starting in 1966 and added 22 hectares to the country. We didn’t really get to explore this area but it looked like a more relaxed part of Monaco compared to the hustle and bustle of Monte-Carlo.
The Prince’s Palace in Monaco
Located on a prominent position on top of the rock, we enjoyed walking around the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. This is the monarch’s private residence but the state apartments are open to the public during some dates of the year.
They built the palace in 1215 and has been expanded and renovated over the years. Though, we were a bit surprised that the exterior did not look as extravagant as other European palaces we’ve visited.
I guess I was expecting a palace with turrets, exquisite outdoor gardens and ornate exterior decorations. It also looked a lot smaller than we expected.
We didn’t get to tour the palace interior which I now regret. But, visitors are welcome to enjoy the main courtyard, the Hercule Gallery with 15th century frescoes, the York bedroom, red and Yellow rooms, chapel and the Throne Room among other palace splendors during the group tours. The tours of the interior and its state rooms usually occur from March through October.
Changing of the Guards
One of the highlights at the Place du Palais is the changing of the guard. Walk around the Old Town area or visit the palace interior but get out to the courtyard around 11:45 AM. Though, some people do secure positions early here. Get a good spot towards the front of the palace guard station.
Everyday at 11:55 AM, the ceremonial changing of the guard takes place in front of the palace and was a great event to watch. It started with a military band. We’ve seen our fair share of changing of the guard ceremonies around Europe and this was one of the longer ceremonies with a bit of pomp and circumstance.
The government created the Palace Guards or The Company of the Prince’s Carabinieri in 1817 to protect the palace and the royal family as well as their other properties and to maintain public order. Their motto is “Honour, Loyalty and Devotion to Duty”. 106 soldiers made up this troop that also includes officers and 88 regular soldiers.
The Cathedral of Monaco
Within the old Town area and by the Palace of Justice is the magnificent Cathedral of Monaco. Built in 1875 using white stone from La Turbie (a French Riviera village).
It was very regal with the Roman-Byzantine style and consecrated in 1911. The cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception with Saint Nicholas and Saint Benedict as its secondary patrons.
It is free to enter the cathedral from 9 AM to 6 PM everyday except when there are religious services happening inside. The cathedral was the site of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly’s wedding. We were lucky enough to walk around inside and it was incredible.
There were several tombs of the previous Princes of Monaco around the cathedral. The very impressive high altar and the throne was made from white Carrara marble. I loved the arches lining the side areas.
The cathedral also preserves many valuable artworks that were once in the old church built here previously. People use theset artworks frequently for mass services, particularly during feasts of saints. They also host spiritual concerts in the cathedral.
Please remember this is a sacred place and visitors should dress appropriately when entering. Visitors should cover their shoulders and mini skirts and shorts are not allowed.
The Oceanographic Museum/Aquarium
Our next stop was the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco or the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco. This is one of HOHO stops but we decided to take the short and scenic walk with ocean views from the cathedral to the museum along Avenue St. Martin.
This was possibly the most beautiful oceanographic museum/aquarium building we’ve ever visited. Located on the edge of a cliff, it is an impressive building.
Prince Albert I built the museum/institute in 1910 and founded it. Jacques-Yves Cousteau managed it for about 30 years.
The first thing that grabbed our attention upon entering were the beautiful architectural details of the building, the windows and the chandeliers that made this look like a royal home or art museum. We were blown away by the massive wall at the great hall that was filled with so many displays of various memorabilia, stuffed sea creatures, photos, books, gear and artifacts that were part of the underwater world.
Cabinets of Curiosity
Known as the “old cabinets of curiosity”, this was arranged by Mark Dion who is an American artist. Oceanomania is the marine world’s largest cabinet of curiosities with over 1,000 objects. It was very impressive and a bit overwhelming.
Marine Exhibits
Much of the exhibits in the aquarium were marine creatures from the Mediterranean as well as from around the world. They have over 6,000 specimens on display here. We enjoyed their collection of sea horses and the shark lagoon that included some stingrays, a coral reef and a lot of tropical fish.
The aquarium area wasn’t very big but it kept us entertained and based on many of the children’s reactions there, they were fascinated too. It was interesting to see some fish types we’ve never seen before .
One of our favorite areas here was the outdoor section which housed an aquarium with a large sea turtle. It was so playful and so fun to watch. This area was also like a balcony with beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
Marine History Exhibit
There was also a large room with a ship skeleton that traced over a hundred years of marine history. The Monaco princes have led expeditions and were major supporters of exploring and preserving the ocean. This was a wonderful walk through of Prince Albert’s history with oceanography.
We also enjoyed the large room with projections of the the underwater world. It almost felt like we were at the bottom of the ocean too surrounded by all marine life. What sets this apart from other aquariums we’ve seen is the historical aspect of it mixed with science, oceanography and the architectural gem of a building with killer views.
They were doing some expansion and renovations during our visit so I’m sure more improvements are coming. This very family-friendly museum and aquarium is open every day except Christmas Day and during the Grand Prix weekend. We’ve visited our fair share of aquariums around the world over the years and this was definitely one of the best.
The little train
For a fun ride, especially for kids, hop on the small “Azur Express” tourist train on Avenue St. Martin. We saw this parked outside the Oceanographic museum.
This covers some of the tourist attractions like the palace, casino, gardens and the port with commentary. The ride takes about 30 minutes. It’s a great alternative if you didn’t take the Hop-On/Hop-Off bus here and want to do a short tour.
We continued our HOHO bus tour from the Oceanographic Museum (Stop #8) and didn’t get off the other stops until Stop #5 which was the Monte Carlo casino. Along the way, we passed by several neighborhoods, learned more about the history of Monaco and saw their beach areas. It was a relaxing and scenic way to see Monte-Carlo and the rest of the country.
The Monte-Carlo Casino
The one attraction that seems to be on everyone’s Monaco travel wish list is the Monte Carlo Casino. It’s been featured in several James Bond films which explains its boom in popularity in recent years and why it may look familiar.
The casino was a “beaux-arts design” which are similar to the Belle Epoque buildings in Paris. It was designed by Charles Garnier who is responsible for the Paris Opera building.
This beautiful casino building opened in 1863 and has been a very important source of income for the country ever since. The building complex is also home to Monte Carlo’s opera and ballet.
How the Montecarlo Casino is different from Vegas casinos
Unlike the Las Vegas casinos we’ve frequented, this looked quite a bit smaller and minus all the flashing lights and isn’t open 24 hours. Visitors must be at least 18 years old and have to pay an entrance fee of 17 euros.
It opens at 2 PM and is available for group daily tours between 9 AM and 1 PM everyday. There is also a dress code of “appropriate casual attire” meaning no shorts or ripped jeans.
We didn’t pay the fee to go inside the casino. But, we did enter the lobby area for free. It was very grand and beautiful. Check the Monte-Carlo casino website to see how you can tour the casino.
There is a small courtyard in front of the casino with a fountain. Though, the most popular hang out here is the adjacent Cafe de Paris.
It was quite crowded but you do get to sit in the shadows of the famous casino and definitely a great place to people watch. We also enjoyed watching the parade of luxury cars that were being valet parked at the neighboring Hotel de Paris.
For a relaxing stroll, head to the park beside the casino aptly named Jardin du Casino. It was a lovely green space filled with beautifully maintained shrubs, trees, flowers and even cacti sprinkled with some statues.
There was also another park across from the casino courtyard which was another urban oasis. This one had ponds, a very lush landscape and several benches to enjoy the surroundings.
We were lucky enough to be there when they had various colorful pinwheels among the Spring flowers. I’m not sure if these were temporary exhibitions but they were quite memorable.
Visit the Metropole Mall
If you need free and clean restrooms, free wi-fi, want to cool down and go somewhere to get some coffee and pastries, head to the Metropole Mall. This was located by the garden across from the casino.
It was a wonderful mall to walk around and a fancy looking one that clearly belonged in Monaco. How many malls have you seen have grand crystal chandeliers?
We always enjoy walking in malls overseas as some sort of cultural lesson. It gives an insight into how the locals shop and what fashion items they are wearing or are currently popular. If you have some time, go in here for a stroll.
We ended our day in Monte Carlo by walking through the Avenue Des Beaurx-Arts passageway in between buildings which had all the expensive name brand stores. This led us to the very grand looking Hermitage hotel and we found our way to the train station.
We actually recommend this walk to see some of the beautiful houses and streets up close. Use Google Maps on your phone or ask any of the friendly locals.
The Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco’s other claim to fame and when many tourists descend on this tiny country is during the Grand Prix which is held annually in late May. This is Formula One’s iconic motor race. The first Grand Prix was held in 1929 and it has grown in popularity ever since. The race circuit length is 3.337 km (about 2 miles) and consist of 78 laps.
It is considered one of the most challenging and certainly unique motorsport races in the world. It’s an action-packed weekend full of car racing along the country’s streets and includes many pre and post celebrations.
They were already doing preparations on the viewing stands in early March. The HOHO bus tour did point out the race route and part of our tour included seeing some of the areas where the cars race. It really is amazing to think these cars navigate through some of these narrow and winding streets at high speeds.
We really enjoyed this day trip to Monaco. Despite its small size, there are actually quite a number of attractions.
There were several we didn’t get to do like the Japanese Garden or hanging out at the Larvotto Beach among other things. The weather is great year round and the locals were friendly and helpful. Yes, it was full of glamour and luxury but definitely worth the experience.
Fun Facts about Monaco
I didn’t know too much about Monaco until our visit. So, here are some fun and interesting facts we learned about this small country.
- With an area of only 2,020 square km, Monaco is the world’s second smallest nation after the Vatican City.
- It is smaller than Central Park in NYC but has a population of about 38,000, It is one of the densest countries in the world.
- According to some stats, almost one in three people who live there is a millionaire. We had never seen so many luxury cars in one area.
- Monaco does not allow its citizens (including the royal family) to gamble within the country or enter the Monte Carlo Casino.
- Monaco does not have a military but does have a small police force. Due to its history and proximity, France is responsible for defending Monaco.
- The country’s native Monégasque people, who were born or naturalized in Monaco, are a minority. The biggest group are French nationals who are almost 1/3 of the population.
Check out these tours in and around Monaco!
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