Visit Monaco

Tucked between France and Italy, Monaco is a wonderful stop on an overland journey along the French Riviera and beyond, continuing onto the Italian Ligurian coast and the port city of Genoa.

Monaco is a sovereign city-state renowned as a tax-free, ultra-luxurious playground for the wealthy. It’s the second smallest country in the world, and it’s densely packed with high-end casinos and superyachts. It’s the home of the iconic Formula One Grand Prix street circuit. Many people visit for the day, and it’s true you can cover the main areas of Monaco in a day, but if you can stay over, I’d recommend it.

I’ve written about the things I found to do in Monaco, and where I would have spent time if I’d had longer.

Monaco: Useful Information

Language

French is the official language. English is widely spoken too.

Currency

Euro (€). Monaco is not an EU member but uses the euro as its official currency. Currency converter

Time Zone

Central European Time (CET; UTC+01:00). Daylight saving time is observed from the last Sunday in March (02:00 CET) to the last Sunday in October (03:00 CEST)

Dialling Code

+377

Visas

While Monaco is not officially part of Schengen, it is treated as part of France for immigration purposes, due to their customs union with France. UK, EU & US citizens do not need a visa for short stays.

Electricity /& Adapters

Standard European plug types (C/F) with 230V power; no adapter needed for most European devices.

Tourist Information

Visit Monaco

Transport Links

Access via France or Italy by bus, car or train. There is no airport. As a port city, it’s possible to arrive by boat; there are some seasonal tourist ferries along the French Riviera from Nice and Mandelieu. Also possible to arrive by (super)yacht if you have one.

When to Go

Monaco can be visited at any time of the year. The annual street Grand Prix is held in May. Shoulder season is ideal as it is quieter and cooler than the summer.

Stories about Monaco