Things to do in Monaco: And why it’s not as expensive as you think

Nestled at the eastern edge of the French Riviera, Monaco has a reputation: yachts, casinos, supercars and eye-watering prices. We arrived in February expecting to tread carefully. The plan was simple: see the spectacle, absorb the views, and retreat before our bank account noticed. Instead, we found a city engineered around gravity. Beautiful gardens, a traditional old town that felt welcoming and un-glitzy. Add to that affordable food and a surprisingly reasonable place to stay just minutes from the station.

We stayed one night and explored for a full day. Here’s what we did, what we skipped, what we learned and what we ran out of time for. I’ve added it all to a map I’ve shared with you.

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Here are a few tips to kickstart your trip.

Monaco in One Day – Quick Overview

I’ve listed the things to do in Monaco in the order we visited. Here’s an overview.

Area	Highlights	Cost Level	Time Needed
Upper Monte Carlo	Casino Square, Hôtel de Paris, Metropole shopping centre, F1 Hairpin, Japanese Garden	Mostly free (premium if dining/shopping)	2–3 hours
Larvotto & Avenue Princesse Grace	Public beach, residential Monaco, sea views	Free	30–60 mins (season dependent)
Port Hercule & Harbour	Yachts, Promenade of Champions, waterfront walk	Free (high if eating harbourside)	45–60 mins
Condamine	Market area, food court, local Monaco,	Budget-friendly	30–45 mins
Monaco-Ville (Old Town)	Prince’s Palace, Cathedral, Oceanographic Museum, Saint-Martin Gardens	Mostly free (museum ticketed)	1.5–3 hours

We chose to visit Monaco-Ville at the end of the day to avoid the crowds around the palace waiting for the changing of the guard at 11.55 am. But if you want to see this, I’d suggest reversing the order.

Map of Things to do In Monaco

I’ve pinned all the highlights we found, and I’ll cover them in the article. It’s free for you to save and share.

The Vertical City (And Those Outdoor Lifts)

Monaco is dramatically vertical. That alone isn’t unusual; plenty of Mediterranean towns cling to hillsides. What is unusual is how effortlessly people move around. In Sheffield, where we live, steep hills are tackled with steely determination and sensible shoes. In Monaco, they’re tackled with infrastructure. Expect all manner of lifts: glass lifts, escalators carved into rock, pedestrian shortcuts and tunnels linking levels above and below. It feels as if there’s a second city layered inside the first, with tunnels and lifts.

Nobody told me this when I was researching Monaco, so I’m telling you now: look for the lifts and thank me later.

Monaco station deserves a mention here. It’s a warren; think Bank Underground in London, but more glamorous. You can exit at the harbour level, higher up near residential streets, or at several points in between.

We chose the first exit by the harbour, which was the wrong choice for dropping our bags off at our hotel at the top of Monaco. If we’d picked the station exit at the top, and not at the harbour, we would have been at our hotel in 10 minutes, with no climbing.

Still, the views on the way up were exactly what we’d come for, yachts below, hills filled with swanky pads rising behind, and that sharp Mediterranean light bouncing off everything.

Upper Monte Carlo is the polished, cinematic version we tend to hear about. Casino Square, grand hotels, opera, luxury cars, boutiques and the famous Formula 1 hairpin. It’s a compact area and easy to explore on foot.

1 Place du Casino and Casino de Monte-Carlo

Let’s start with Monaco’s main event, the Place du Casino, and the Monte Carlo Casino itself. During our visit (February 2026), there was significant scaffolding on the exterior, which is expected to remain for about 4 months. It didn’t affect access or events inside, or the ambience in the Place du Casino as a whole.

We did the typical tourist thing: photos outside, including the smart cars, and a visit to the glitzy atrium inside, which is free. Entry to the gaming rooms costs extra, but you can see plenty without paying. Enough to get a sense of the opulence.

There’s a clearly displayed dress code that varies by time of day. We would have ‘passed’ during the day. Evening would have been more of a negotiation. Something else to note: photos are not allowed in the gaming rooms. Worth knowing in case you were planning to pay for access to take pictures.

2 Hotel de Paris

You can’t really talk about Casino Square without mentioning the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo – arguably the crown jewel of the square and a symbol of Monaco’s reputation for luxury. The building itself is gorgeous, and the terrace overlooking the square and supercar choreography is one of those “destination views” that’s worth photographing whether you stay or not.

Inside, there is top-tier high-end dining, including Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse restaurant (Michelin 3 star) and the rooftop Le Grill, with a retractable roof. We didn’t stay, obviously – that’s a separate financial decision in Monaco. But we did wander past the terrace, admire the scene, and scan the drinks menu for the price of a pint of beer.

Spoiler: the price made our eyes widen almost as much as the cars outside.

3 Opéra de Monte-Carlo

The opera house sits within the same complex as the casino, and the exterior alone is worth a look. I really noticed the building for its ornate exterior.

Whenever possible, we like to attend a concert or event when visiting a place. It gives you a completely different perspective. If you’re organised and book early, this could be a truly memorable Monaco experience.

You can’t just wander in without a ticket for a performance. We couldn’t secure one at a price we were happy with that evening, but starting prices ranged from around €50, depending on the event. Less than you might expect for a world-class performance in such an ornate setting.

4 Metropole Shopping Centre

If you want to see Monaco’s wealth in concentrated form, walk through the Métropole Shopping Centre. I’m not sure I saw a single price, so that told me everything I needed to know!

We loved exploring the marble floors, polished storefronts, and immaculate lighting, and finding Valentine’s presents (joking!), but felt no inclination to participate. It’s a spectacle in its own right.

5 Jardins de la Petite Afrique & Views of the F1 Circuit

Just beyond Casino Square, the Jardins de la Petite Afrique are a beautiful space between the glamour, shopping and traffic. From here, you can start to spot parts of the Formula 1 circuit weaving through the streets below.

We walked the famous Fairmont hairpin near the Fairmont Hotel, one of the slowest and most photographed corners in F1. Without race cars, it’s slightly underwhelming. Just a tight bend in an otherwise ordinary road. And that’s what makes it interesting…

For most of the year, this is just a functioning city. Then, once a year, it becomes the centre of global motorsport. What struck me more was how the circuit weaves directly beneath the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel, its rooftop pool curving above the road like a private balcony over motorsport history.

6 Avenue Princess Grace and Princess Grace Japanese Garden

Tucked between the sea and some of the most expensive real estate in Europe sits the Princess Grace Japanese Garden. It’s a small but beautifully maintained space, created as a gesture of friendship between Monaco and Japan. What struck me just as much, though, was the setting.

The garden runs alongside Avenue Princesse Grace, frequently described as one of the most expensive streets in the world. Behind discreet façades are apartments that sell for eye-watering sums, yet at street level the scene is almost disarmingly normal: parked scooters, joggers, residents walking dogs.

If you have time, walk through the gardens and along the avenue.

7 Larvotto Beach

It’s slightly odd that Monaco’s public beach isn’t mentioned more often, perhaps because it doesn’t fit the yacht-and-casino stereotype? But it’s one of the easiest ways to experience the principality without spending anything at all.

Larvotto Beach lies just beyond the Princess Grace Japanese garden. The sand is largely artificial, the water beautifully clear. This time, we skipped the beach; our stomachs were making it clear we had other lunch plans. February isn’t prime sunbathing season anyway. But if you’re visiting in warmer months, this is an easy add-on, especially if you’re looking for a stop between Upper Monte Carlo and the harbour, or if you’re travelling with children.

I first saw this stretch of coast on a student Interrail trip decades ago and learned the hard way how strong the Mediterranean sun can be. I now embrace being pale and mysterious. While the beach has been redeveloped and modernized since then, it remains one of the easiest ways to experience Monaco without spending anything at all.

Monaco’s harbour, Port Hercule, looks simple on a map. In reality, it’s slightly awkward to access on foot depending on which level you’re on. Coming down from Larvotto and the eastern side, we initially found ourselves blocked by the imposing façade of the Monaco Yacht Club. It feels very private. Very exclusive. Not especially pedestrian-friendly.

There’s a pedestrian route via the Larvotto tunnel area that allows you to pass beneath the road and emerge closer to the main harbour promenade. It’s well signposted once you know you’re looking for it, but it’s not intuitive on first approach.

There’s also the Promenade of Champions, complete with Formula 1 driver footprints and statues. That’s roughly the area you’re aiming for if you want to reach the heart of Port Hercule on foot. Once through, the harbour opens up properly.

8 Port Hercule

This is another sport for the wealthy, and you realize you’re in the playground of the millionaires and billionaires. Rows of super yachts, immaculate docks and harbourside restaurants with prices to match the views.

We didn’t feel the need to participate to appreciate the scale. Walking the length of the harbour is enough to understand why Monaco’s reputation persists. But here’s the thing. You can do all of this for free. It costs nothing to walk the promenade. Nothing to admire the boats. Nothing to absorb the spectacle. And as we walked southwards, the feel became less extraordinary and more ordinary. The best views of Port Hercule are honestly from above in the old ville.

While we were hungry, we reserved our lunch stop in the Condamine area for our next stop.

9 The Prince’s Car Collection

Housed in a large exhibition space near Port Hercule, the Prince’s Car Collection displays around 100 historic and modern vehicles owned by the Grimaldi family. Expect classic Rolls-Royces, vintage racing cars and Monaco Grand Prix memorabilia. It’s surprisingly substantial for a small principality and often appears on “top things to do” lists for Monaco, particularly for car enthusiasts.

10 Sainte-Dévote Chapel

Set back from the harbour, Sainte-Dévote Chapel marks one of Monaco’s most important religious sites. Dedicated to Saint Devota, the principality’s patron saint, it’s modest in scale but historically significant. It’s often included in walking itineraries because of its location near the train station and Port Hercule, making it an easy addition if you’re passing through the area.

11 Marché de la Condamine

From the harbour, we climbed towards Condamine, the more everyday side of Monaco. We were headed for Marché de la Condamine, which is currently undergoing renovation. When we arrived, it looked as though the market hall might have been closed entirely. Stalls are currently located outside while work continues inside. It would have been easy to turn back. I’m glad we didn’t.

We found market stalls selling fresh produce and everyday items, along with food stalls and food trucks. While there were a few tourists, the clientele was predominantly office workers, many of whom commute into Monaco on the train from neighbouring Italy and France.

We opted for Maison des Pâtes. This delivered a generous portion of fresh pasta from around €10, from a ‘build your own’ ,menu. Simple and excellent, but entirely at odds with the “Monaco will bankrupt you” narrative. Coffee prices were normal. Beer was normal. Supermarket dinner later that evening was normal.

We actually spent less on food than we had in Italy the day before. Monaco isn’t cheap, but it doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive either.

Perched on “Le Rocher” (the Rock), Monaco-Ville rises above Port Hercule and feels like a different country entirely. From Condamine, it’s a steep but manageable climb on foot. We walked, but there are buses too. They run every few minutes from Place d’Armes up to the hill. The service is quick, frequent and inexpensive.

But one of the best things about walking up the hill is the opportunity to stop and take photos. The views over the harbour from here are excellent, and cost nothing.

12 Prince’s Palace & Palace Square

The last part takes you through a tunnel before arriving in Palace Square, which is one of the most visited attractions in Monaco. The Prince’s Palace dominates the square and is the home of the Grimaldi family, the ruling family of Monaco, since 1297. 

It’s possible to tour the State Apartments during the open season (typically reopening at the end of March). The palace is closed in winter. So for us, visiting in February, we admired it from the outside.

The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11:55 sharp. The soldiers wear white uniforms in summer, darker ones in winter. It’s one of the principality’s rituals and draws a crowd. We skipped the 11:55 changing of the guard and visited later instead. It saved jostling for position in the crowds. But if you’re a completist, reverse the order, start your day in Monaco-Ville and end in Upper Monaco, so you’re at the palace earlier in the day, in time for the daily spectacle.

Opposite the Prince’s Palace, there are more decorative buildings, pastel tones, ornate window and wrought-iron balconies. These are official civic buildings in Monaco, set against the high-rises of Monte Carlo and the mountains in the background.

13 Wandering the Old Town Streets

This was one of the most pleasant surprises. Monaco-Ville doesn’t feel glitzy. It feels Mediterranean. Orange and yellow façades, narrow cobbled streets, small cafés and souvenir stalls, more reminiscent of nearby Menton than the hyper-polished casino district.

We stopped at La Pampa for coffee and a drink. Bruschetta appeared alongside it, unannounced and free, and it didn’t feel especially touristy.

There’s also the Old Monaco Museum here if you’re interested in local history, but on one of the only good-weather days of our trip, sitting outside felt like the right choice.

14 Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate

The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate is a short walk from the palace square and well worth stepping inside.

The Roman-Byzantine façade is striking, but the interior is a little more restrained. It’s also the burial place of Princess Grace (Grace Kelly). Entry is free, and photography is permitted respectfully.

15 Musée Océanographique de Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum is one of Monaco’s most impressive buildings, perched dramatically on the cliff edge overlooking the sea.

Founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I, it combines marine science exhibits with large aquariums and a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views. It’s substantial and not a quick in-and-out museum.

We didn’t go inside on this visit, but even from the exterior, it’s worth walking around for the architecture and for the stunning cliffside setting. If you’re travelling with children or have a strong interest in marine life, this would likely be Monaco’s standout paid attraction.

16 Jardins Saint-Martin & Princess Grace Statue

The Jardins Saint-Martin wrap around the cliff edge and provide some of the best views in Monaco. Palm trees, winding paths and dramatic drops to the sea below. It’s a scenic walk that connects naturally to the Oceanographic Museum. The Princess Grace statue is here, and the viewpoints over the Mediterranean and towards Fontvieille are excellent.

17 Théâtre du Fort Antoine & Panoramic Views

This is the view of the Quai Rainier III, and you can walk to the end for ocean views. Tucked behind, just out of sight, is the open-air Théâtre du Fort Antoine. It’s a restored fortress-turned-performance space, used for summer productions and cultural events.

These are the places our legs didn’t make it to in a day, as they were a little more out of the way.

18 Jardin Exotique de Monaco

It’s slightly removed from the main Casino–Harbour–Old Town triangle, so you need to plan your visit rather than stumble upon it. But if you enjoy gardens with scale and perspective, this is arguably Monaco’s most striking green space. A botanical garden clinging to the steep rock with panoramic views over Monaco and the Mediterranean. The focus here is on succulents and cacti from around the world, many planted directly into the limestone cliffs

A little further south of Monaco Ville, the more residential area of Fontvieille might be a less tourist-heavy neighbourhood, but it still has several visitor attractions

19 Princess Grace Rose Garden

A peaceful public park dedicated to Grace Kelly. Hundreds of rose varieties bloom here in season, laid out in neat geometric beds with views towards the sea and the surrounding hills.

20 Monaco Museum of Stamps and Coins

Monaco has issued its own postage stamps and currency for generations, and this compact museum explores that history. Exhibits include rare stamps, historic coins, and displays that explain how Monaco’s sovereignty is reflected in its postal and monetary systems. It’s niche, but potentially interesting, especially if you arrive in Monaco on a rainy day.

Monaco – Frequently Asked Questions

Monaco is small. That much is obvious. What isn’t obvious, until you walk it, is how much it changes in character within such a compact footprint. In a single day, you can enjoy the polished Casino Square and Formula 1 corners, through yacht-lined harbour promenades, into a working market neighbourhood, and up again to a traditional old town perched above the sea. While it’s wealthy, in places, it felt more normal than the headlines suggest.

We spent one full day exploring and one night staying nearby, and that felt right. You could easily extend your time if you want to tour the State Apartments, spend several hours in the Oceanographic Museum or attend an evening performance at the opera. But you don’t need multiple days to understand or enjoy Monaco. What you do need is a plan and an awareness that this is a vertical city best tackled logically. Use the lifts strategically, and don’t overlook the old town.

Have you been to Monaco or any other European micronations? Are you planning a trip? Let me know in the comments.

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