Things to do in Monaco

Monaco covers about two square kilometres and is the second-smallest state in the world. You cross it on foot in under an hour. Things to do in Monaco come down to where to spend the time, and what to leave for the coast.

The districts

• Monaco-Ville. The Rock and its old town: the Prince's Palace, the cathedral where Princess Grace is buried, and the Oceanographic Museum on the cliff. The Grimaldis took the Rock in 1297.
• La Condamine. The port quarter, between the Rock and Monte-Carlo.
• Monte-Carlo. The casino, opened in 1863, and the grand hotels around its square.
• Fontvieille. Land reclaimed from the sea, with a rose garden and the football stadium.
• Larvotto. The public beach on the eastern edge, next to France.

Walking it

The old town takes two hours. A phone-guided scavenger hunt runs through it. A guided half day adds Monte-Carlo, the parks and sculptures, and a crossing of the port on an electric shuttle boat.

Leaving by road

Monaco is also a starting line. Private drives run along the Riviera and into Italy, with optional two-hour stops.

• Riviera. Nice, Antibes and Cannes are each an hour away or less. Saint-Tropez is closer to two.
• The day loop. Nice's seven-kilometre promenade, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, and Le Suquet in Cannes, in about eight and a half hours.
• Italy. Torino, Milan and Pisa are each three hours or more. Genoa and Savona are the usual stops.
• Lyon. A long haul of about five hours, with Nice as the break.

Practical

• Weather. January days reach about 13C and August afternoons about 28C. October and November are the wettest months.
• Grand Prix. In late May or early June the harbour streets close and grandstands go up, so plan around it.
• Getting around. On foot, with public lifts and escalators over the hills. Trains reach Nice in under half an hour.
• Border and money. There is no border post with France, and the euro is the currency.
• Language. French is official, and English is enough in hotels, restaurants and on tours.
• Casino. The gaming rooms ask for photo ID and smart dress.