Just the name Monte Carlo conjures visions of a glamorous bygone era. In modern Monte Carlo, the tax-free principality surrounded by France and the Maritime Alps, that glamour is not lost. Along with European hideaways like Lake Como, Gstaad, and Ibiza, this cliffside Mediterranean port has been a timeless playground for the see-and-be-seen crowd for more than 150 years. But amid all the hubbub, when you visit Monte Carlo it’s still possible to while away the afternoon over a café crème, amble along the harbor among the yachts and experience the slow-paced, yet refined, Monégasque savoir-vivre. More than 1.5 visitors travel to Monte Carlo each year for a taste of its sophisticated charm. Let Travel + Leisure’s Monte Carlo travel guide point you to its winningest attractions.
Things Not to Miss in Monte Carlo
• Playing a hand at the famed Casino de Monte Carlo
• Visiting the 19th-century Romanesque-Byzantine Cathedrale de Monaco, also the final resting place of Princess Grace
• Exploring the colorful Jardin Exotique
• Touring neighboring Monaco Ville, the old town also known as Le Rocher, home to the Grimaldis’ historic royal residence
When to Go to Monte Carlo
Monaco’s Mediterranean climate means there’s never a bad time to visit. However, tourist season peaks in July and August, and can lead to an uncomfortable combination of high temperatures and large crowds. Similarly, when Monaco hosts its annual Formula 1 Grand Prix it becomes packed to the gills. Visitors searching for a little more breathing room can still enjoy warm temperatures and beachside relaxation in the spring and fall.
DON'T MISS
Enjoying a quiet dinner at Sea Lounge, where quiet dinners evolve into all-night parties, with DJs spinning dance music until dawn.
Visting the 19th-century Romanesque-Byzantine Cathedrale de Monaco, also the final resting place of Princess Grace.
Shopping for the best labels from around the globe (think: Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, and Lutz & Patmos) at Espace Mirage.
RECOMMENDED LINKS
- For more restaurants in Monaco, visit NileGuide
-
Great All-inclusive Cruises to Book for Your Next Vacation
On most cruise ships, your accommodations, standard meals, entertainment, and daytime activities are included in your fare. Then the nickel-and-diming... Read More
-
The Best Small Ship Experiences in the Mediterranean
Sailing on an intimate ship has many benefits, from being able to reach harder-to-access ports to smoother disembarkation. These destinations and brands... Read More
-
Bella Hadid Took Two Boxes of Pizza Through Airport Security So She Could Feast on Her Private Jet
We’d like to have a few slices of Bella Hadid‘s carry on.Before boarding a private jet to London following a weekend in Monte Carlo, the model sent two... Read More
-
You Could Have an Underwater Wedding in Monte-Carlo
Weddings can be so much better, down where it’s wetter.If you love sea creatures, scuba diving, or just the movie "The Little Mermaid," one hotel... Read More
-
9 Trips to Take Before Having a Baby
Adventure travel and babies—or even toddlers—don’t exactly go hand in hand. Parents of young children may also find that it’s difficult to fully indulge... Read More
-
A First Look at Oceania's New 'Sirena'
I am sitting next to Jacques Pépin, Oceania’s executive culinary director, eyeing his escargots à la Bourguignonne. The dish is drawing ecstatic murmurs... Read More
-
How to Have the Perfect Monte Carlo Vacation
The French Riviera has no shortage of beautiful, sun-kissed coastal towns: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Antibes, Eze... But one of its... Read More
-
Meet the Paris Bistro Planned for the ‘Most Luxurious’ Cruise Ship
Imagine walking down a cobblestone street in the heart of Paris’ Marais neighborhood, turning a corner, and happening upon a bistro—a yellow-gold light... Read More
-
What To Expect On Regent Seven Seas' New Luxury Ship
For their new $450 million ship, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is pulling out all the stops. The 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, which will begin... Read More
-
July Vacation Deals
Washington, D.C.: 34% off Jeffersonian TourWhere's Tommy package includes:• 2 nights in a king room at the Jefferson, a Beaux-Arts gem near the White... Read More
-
World's Best Cities for Romance
“Everything seems sexier in Paris—the grand buildings, the beautiful Parisians, the language, the food,” muses Alison Drew, a New York-based lawyer who... Read More
-
World's Highest Gas Prices
Next time you pull over to refuel, be grateful you don’t live in Istanbul. While there may be bargains within the city’s Grand Bazaar, haggling won’t... Read More
-
World's Greatest Romantic Cruises
Anyone looking for romance at sea should talk to Irene and Jim Manion, who celebrated their 60th birthdays on a Windstar ship cruising the Greek isles... Read More
-
Reliving Colette's Riviera
In 1991 I spent a vibrant year in Paris researching a book on Colette's life, then eight somber years in my New York study writing it. While I was in... Read More
-
Riviera Roulette
Monte Carlo brings to mind an old-fashioned sort of decadence: playboys and princesses, champagne and chemin de fer, gigolos and grand hotels.... Read More
