Monaco, the epitome of wealth in a tiny principality. While exploring the French Riviera, Monaco was a must-visit destination.
From our base in Juan-Les-Pins, the journey to Monaco was about 45 km. We debated whether to take the train or our own car. Eventually, we opted for our car, as it gives us the flexibility to see and stop at interesting places along the way. We checked in advance for parking outside Monaco’s borders since our car insurance didn’t cover Monaco itself. We parked our car in a garage near the border (here you can find the parking garage on the map), just a 500-meter walk to Monte Carlo Casino. And just like in most of Europe, you simply walk across the border. In this case, there wasn’t even a sign marking the border; practically, the city of Beausoleil at the Monaco border is essentially part of Monaco. The border only exists on the map.
We visited Monaco on a Sunday when most shops were closed. This is something to keep in mind if you plan on shopping in Monaco; it’s best to choose another day of the week. However, this didn’t bother us as we came to see the city, fast cars, and landmarks, so shopping wasn’t on our agenda.
Monte Carlo Casino – Boosting the Travel Budget
Of course, when in Monaco, the first stop had to be Monte Carlo Casino! Surrounding the square were beautiful old buildings, and the Casino itself was a magnificent structure, with long lines of luxury cars parked outside, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Bentleys, and Rolls Royces.
Inside, you can freely admire the building itself, but if you want to enter the actual casino, you need to leave your backpack/bag in the free cloakroom. Naturally, we also wanted to try our luck with a few coins because, after all, how often do you find yourself in Monte Carlo Casino? Unfortunately, we didn’t add to our travel budget on this leg of the trip, so we continued on our journey.
Following the Monaco Grand Prix Circuit
With Mika Hรคkkinen’s and Kimi Rรคikkรถnen’s racing lines in mind, we set out to walk the legendary Monaco Grand Prix street circuit. Although we didn’t have a McLaren or Ferrari underneath us, walking allowed us to enjoy the scenery much better. Nonetheless, we had to get an F1 car and take a picture with it on the track.
After the tunnel, we reached the waterfront of the harbor, where we strolled along the promenade, admiring the increasingly magnificent yachts. You can walk almost the entire F1 circuit, except possibly around the harbor basin area.
Towards the Prince’s Palace of Monaco
On the other side of the harbor basin, we headed to Solarium Beach. Here, we found good spots to sit, enjoy the sea views, and soak in the atmosphere. Right nearby is the Fort Antoine Theatre, worth a visit. It’s an old part of the fortress now used as an outdoor theater. There wasn’t a show during our visit, but the place is beautiful, with a historic atmosphere and stunning views.
From there, we headed towards the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. This part of the city is a charming old town with narrow streets and colorful houses housing small intriguing shops. Here, you’ll also find the magnificent Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, built right on the edge of the cliff. The best view of the museum is from the Vista panoramica presso Museo oceanografico viewpoint. There’s also a beautiful park area, Jardins Saint-Martin, worth a visit.
The Monaco Cathedral, or Cathedrale Notre-Dame-Immaculee, is also a must-see attraction in Monaco. The cathedral is located right next to the Prince’s Palace. The building is beautiful, especially when illuminated in the evening.
Through the narrow cobblestone streets, we reached Le Palais Princier de Monaco, the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. The building is impressive, especially in size. Part of the palace, or certain areas, can be visited with tickets priced at 10 โฌ for adults. The palace is guarded by soldiers, and watching their precise movements in front of the palace was quite entertaining.
From the palace square and behind Monaco Cathedral, there are viewpoints offering beautiful views of the other side of Monaco towards Fontvieille Harbor, with the harbor and yachts in the foreground, and the city rising up to the mountainside in the background.
From there, we headed back towards the city center, passing through the Gateway to Rock, which leads to a beautiful street towards the city. It’s a recommended route either uphill or back. After the fortress, you arrive in a beautiful neighborhood with colorful houses and lovely details.
We then headed to the starting grid of the F1 track, where instead of F1 cars, we saw mostly little Fiats. However, the painted starting grids and finish line on the road reminded us that for one weekend a year, faster vehicles dominate this road.
In the evening, we returned to watch the hustle and bustle of people and the magnificent cars on the square outside Monte Carlo Casino. This was the perfect way to end our day trip to Monaco.
