Monaco Travel Guide: Monte Carlo, Palace, F1 & Best Views

Monaco. Chaos, hills, luxury, incredible cleanliness, beautiful gardens, and magnificent historic buildings mixed with modern architecture that, in some places, we really didn't like at all. We feel like Monaco is a place you either love or simply don't. But wait until evening, when the entire principality lights up, you suddenly start to understand why this place has such a luxurious reputation. The story of Monaco is really the story of one family, the Grimaldi's, who have ruled here for more than 700 years. According to the story, Francesco Grimaldi approached the fortress on the rock disguised as a monk, and after getting inside, he and his soldiers took control of it. That is why he earned the nickname Malizia, meaning the cunning. His statue now stands in front of the prince's palace, and the story is also reflected in Monaco's coat of arms, which features two monks holding swords. We wanted to get to the palace before noon so we could catch the changing of the guard. Of course, we first dragged ourselves all the way up there with our suitcases and backpacks before realizing that Monaco is connected by elevators and escalators because the city is built mostly vertically. After that, we started looking for them like Pokemon. Once we finally figured out the whole system of elevators and escalators after our first day, we started enjoying Monaco much more. Our advice? Before you come, look up how to get around Monaco efficiently, and that is exactly the kind of app we are working on for you. We agreed that we definitely had to see Monaco at night too, but for now, we headed to where we were staying. On the way back, we stopped for a quick bite and tried barbejoine, a pastry filled with cheese, rice, and spinach, as well as stocafi, fish served in tomato sauce with potatoes. Once we finally dropped off our suitcases, we headed to Monacoville, the old town built on a rocky promontory. On our second attempt, this time using an elevator, we made it to the Oceanographic Museum, which stands directly on the cliffs of Le Rocher and, from some angles, looks as if it has simply been glued to the rock. The museum was created by Albert I, an oceanographer and explorer, and inside, you'll find collections from his expeditions, ship models, enormous skeletons of marine animals, aquariums, and even a shark lagoon. The building itself, however, feels more like a grand palace than a museum. We also took an elevator all the way to the rooftop, where we had a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Following the winding streets of Monacoville, between pastel-colored facades, small squares, and restaurants, we eventually made our way to the Prince's Palace. This entire part of Monaco feels incredibly clean, and you can also visit the inside of the palace. Inside, you'll find the Grand State Apartments, the Courtyard of Honor, the Hercules Gallery, and many other rooms. In our opinion, it's worth seeing. In front of the palace, there are also cannons and cannonballs, and thankfully, there are benches nearby too. After a full day of walking, you can simply sit down and watch Monaco glowing beneath you. Sometimes, it feels like they are trying to build on every available inch of land. After a short walk, the majestic cathedral immediately caught our attention. Inside are the tombs of Monaco's princely family. This is also where the wedding of Grace Kelly and Reynier took place, an event watched by people around the world. Both of them are buried here as well. The oldest part of Monaco sits directly on the rock, and sections of the medieval fortifications can still be seen along its edges. Fort Antoine is named after Prince Antoine, who created an extensive defensive system around the entire rock. He repaired and built fortifications, and also had a large water cistern constructed so that, in the event of a siege, residents would have a place to shelter and enough water. To defend the principality, he was even willing to sacrifice his own property. In the end, the war never came, and part of the area later became a prison that is still operating today. Not a bad location for a prison! The massive stone walls of the fortress, with a small tower right at the edge, are now home to an amphitheater. Along the way, we also came across Jardin Saint-Martin, historic gardens filled with exotic plants, statues, and beautiful views. This was where we were surprised by just how much greenery Monaco actually has. The principality is only around two square kilometers, and it literally fights for every available piece of space, even expanding its territory out into the sea. The newest example is Marais Terrain, with luxury apartments, a park, and green spaces. Through the park, we gradually made our way down to Port Hercule. The harbor is named after Hercules, who, according to legend, once passed through this area. We walked around here too, admiring the yachts and wondering what it would be like to own one of them. We were pulled out of our thoughts by music coming from one of the yachts, while preparations for a concert were already underway on a nearby stage. That's when you realize that Monaco isn't just a polished backdrop. At night, this place really comes alive. And then came Monte Carlo, Monaco's wealthiest and most famous district, and one of the most luxurious places in the world. It's strange to imagine that this was once nothing more than a barren, rocky hill, and that Monaco itself was considered a poor principality. Chas III, after whom Monte Carlo was named, came up with a bold plan. Build a casino and attract wealthy Europeans who would come here and spend their money. And it was gambling that gradually helped create the wealth of modern-day Monaco. We also took a look inside the casino, and rather than a gambling hall, it feels like a royal palace filled with marble, gold, and enormous chandeliers. Around it, an entire world of luxury gradually developed. Hotels, an opera house, and gardens, all in the bête époque style. The ironic part is that Monaco's own citizens are not allowed inside the casino's gaming rooms. The most famous hotel is the Hotel de Paris, and directly across from it is Café de Paris. There, we had a coffee and simply spent some time watching the luxury and sports cars and all the activity in front of the casino. Honestly, even this is an attraction in Monte Carlo. And Formula 1 cars race right between these buildings. The circuit runs directly between buildings, past hotels, and around the harbor. It is one of the most unusual racing circuits in the world, and during the race, the entire principality practically turns into one giant racetrack. Our second day was more relaxing. We wandered through the parks and visited Jardin Exotique. We took a bus high above the city, where, surrounded by succulents, cacti, and other exotic plants, we admired Monaco squeezed between the mountains and the sea. Beneath the garden, however, lies a completely different world, Grotte de l'Observatoire. We descended about 300 steps into the limestone rock beneath Monaco. To finish our trip, we checked out Larvotou beach. It is part of a protected area and also an artificial sandy beach that even has a protective net against jellyfish. We, however, didn't stay very long. It was incredibly crowded. Monaco ultimately felt like a place full of contrasts. On the one hand, you have chaos, hills, modern buildings, and extreme luxury. On the other, historic streets, gardens, beautiful views, and incredible cleanliness. During the day, there were moments when we weren't quite sure what to think of it, but once Monaco lit up at night, the entire place took on a completely different atmosphere. And what about you? Do you love Monaco, or is the chaos a little too much for you? If, after all the luxury of Monaco, you're in the mood for a more relaxed side of the French Riviera, check out Nice, its colorful old town, turquoise sea, and the beautiful evening view from Collines du Château, which was probably the part that impressed us the most.