By Enzo
Larvotto beach
Larvotto is the public beach of Monaco, free to enter. Showers and supervised swimming areas are provided in high season. It is about a twenty minute walk from Casino Square. Outside summer, it is mostly a place for a walk.
Table of contents(12 sections)
Things to do in Monaco
The 10 best things
to do in Monaco
I ranked them in the order of a walking visit, from the Rock to Monte-Carlo. Prices come from the official sites in October 2026. Monaco is one of the most compact places in my guide to the French Riviera, which makes the visit easy to plan.
- 01Old town
The Rock and Palace Square
Monaco-Ville sits on a fortified promontory above the port. You enter through narrow lanes, with views over the sea and the buildings of Monte-Carlo. Palace Square is the meeting point for the changing of the guard, and you can easily stroll for an hour or two.
- Price
- Free
- Open
- Year round
- Time
- 2 hours
- 02Ceremony
The changing of the guard
The ceremony takes place every day at 11:55 am on Palace Square and lasts about seven minutes. The Prince's carabinieri perform it in front of the palace. Arrive early if you want a front row spot: it draws a crowd.
- Price
- Free
- Hours
- Daily at 11:55 am
- Time
- About 7 minutes
- 03Palace
The Prince's Palace
The official residence of the Grimaldi family for more than seven centuries, the palace opens its State Apartments to the public in season. In 2026 the season ran from March 30 to October 15, so it is closed now, and the 2027 dates have not been announced. The square stays open all year.
- Price
- €13 adult, €11 student, €8 ages 6 to 17, free under 6
- Hours
- 10 am to 6 pm (7 pm in July and August)
- Closed
- Grand Prix weekend
- 04Landmark · Gardens
Notre-Dame-Immaculée Cathedral and the Saint-Martin Gardens
The cathedral, in Romanesque-Byzantine style, holds the tombs of the princes of Monaco, including Princess Grace. Right next to it, the Saint-Martin Gardens run along the cliff between the cathedral and the oceanographic museum, with views over the Mediterranean.
- Price
- Free
- Time
- 45 minutes
- 05Museum
The Oceanographic Museum
Clinging to the cliff above the sea, the museum has aquariums, exhibitions and a panoramic terrace. It also houses a care center for sea turtles. Allow two hours, more with children.
- Price
- €20.50 adult, €13 ages 4 to 17 and students, free under 4
- Hours
- 10 am to 6 pm January to March and October to December, 10 am to 7 pm April to June and September, 9:30 am to 8 pm July and August
- Closed
- December 25 and Grand Prix weekend
- 06Port · Market
Port Hercule and the Condamine market
The port is the classic backdrop of Monaco, with its yachts and the old Grand Prix corners. Next to it, the Condamine market remains the local place to have lunch. The covered hall has been closed for renovation since January 15, 2026, for about 13 months: the traders are set up on Place d'Armes in the meantime.
- Price
- Free
- Market
- Open air, on Place d'Armes, during the works
- 07Landmark · Monte-Carlo
Casino Square and the Monte-Carlo Casino
The casino is a Belle Époque landmark, and the cultural visit takes place in the morning. The Atrium and the shop are open to everyone from 10 am. The gaming rooms open at 2 pm to guests over 18 with valid ID (photocopies are refused). Smart dress is required, and from 7 pm T-shirts and sweatshirts are not allowed.
- Morning visit
- €20 adult, €15 ages 13 to 17, free ages 6 to 12, 10 am to 1 pm (last entry 12:15 pm)
- Gaming rooms from 2 pm
- €20, including €10 to spend on site
- 08Brasserie
Café de Paris Monte-Carlo
On Casino Square, this brasserie, open for more than a century and a half, is still the meeting place of Monte-Carlo. A stop for a coffee or lunch, with the square as the show.
- Type
- Brasserie
- Booking
- Not needed for a coffee
- 09Garden
The Exotic Garden
The garden, up on the hill, lines up cacti and succulents on a slope facing the Rock and the sea. A thousand-year-old cave opens at the foot of the site, visited in a group with a guide every hour from 10 am (allow 40 to 45 minutes).
- Price
- €12 garden only, €15 with the cave, €6 ages 4 to 17 and students
- Hours
- 9 am to 5 pm from November to January, 6 pm February to April and October, 7 pm May to September
- Closed
- December 25, November 19 and Grand Prix weekend
- 10Museum · Cars
The Prince of Monaco's Car Collection
Near Port Hercule, a modern 3,500 square meter (about 37,700 sq ft) space shows nearly a hundred legendary vehicles, a few meters from the Grand Prix circuit. It is the visit to make if you like cars.
- Price
- To confirm on the official site
- Hours
- 10 am to 6 pm (7 pm in July and August), last entry one hour before closing
Itinerary
Monaco in
one day
One day is enough to see the essentials, as long as you start early and group the sights by area. This order avoids backtracking.
Day 1
Monaco in 1 day
- MorningArrive at Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, walk down to Port Hercule and up to the Rock. Stroll the lanes, watch the changing of the guard at 11:55 am, then the cathedral and the Saint-Martin Gardens.
- LunchAt the Condamine market on Place d'Armes, or on the port.
- Early afternoonThe oceanographic museum, open from 10 am, for two hours.
- Late afternoonUp to Monte-Carlo, Casino Square, Café de Paris, and the casino gaming rooms from 2 pm if you want to see them.
- EveningSunset over the port or at the Japanese Garden, dinner in Monte-Carlo.
- TipIf you want the cultural visit of the casino, it takes place in the morning from 10 am to 1 pm. In that case, do the casino first and the Rock in the afternoon, saving the changing of the guard for the next day.
Day 2
If you have two days
- MorningThe Exotic Garden and its cave.
- AfternoonThe Car Collection, then Fontvieille.
- End of the dayLarvotto beach in season.
By interest
What to do in Monaco
for every kind of trip
For free
The changing of the guard, the cathedral, the Saint-Martin Gardens, the Japanese Garden, Larvotto beach and a walk on the Rock cost nothing. The free public elevators and escalators spare you the climbs. You can fill a day without entering a single paid site.
With kids
The oceanographic museum is the best visit for children, with a reduced price of €13 for ages 4 to 17. The casino's cultural visit is free for ages 6 to 12. The Exotic Garden and its cave suit older kids, at €6 for ages 4 to 17.
At night
Monte-Carlo comes alive around Casino Square, with the Café de Paris and the terraces. The gaming rooms are open from 2 pm to guests over 18, with a dress code. The port, lit up at night, makes a free evening walk.
When it rains
The oceanographic museum, the Car Collection and the casino (on the morning visit) are all indoors. Save the Rock and the gardens for a break in the weather.
Where to base yourself
Monaco's neighborhoods
at a glance
The principality breaks into distinct areas, all within walking distance of each other.
| Neighborhood | Feel | What to see |
|---|---|---|
| Monaco-Ville (the Rock) | Fortified old town, calm outside peak hours | Palace, cathedral, Saint-Martin Gardens, oceanographic museum |
| Monte-Carlo | Luxury, casino, prestige hotels | Casino Square, Café de Paris |
| La Condamine | Port, restaurants, market | Port Hercule, Place d'Armes, Car Collection |
| Fontvieille | Newer area, quieter | Louis II Stadium, Fontvieille port |
| Larvotto | Seafront, beach | Larvotto beach, Japanese Garden |
Where to stay to visit Monaco
Sleeping in Monaco is expensive, and many travelers stay elsewhere and come for the day. Nice is the most practical base: the regional train takes about 25 minutes to reach Monaco-Monte-Carlo station, and you get more choice. To compare neighborhoods and budgets, I gathered my advice on where to stay in Nice. Menton, to the east, is a quieter option, covered in my guide to Menton.
Getting around Monaco
Monaco is a walking city. A network of free public elevators and escalators makes up for the slopes between the port, the Rock and Monte-Carlo. For longer distances, the bus costs €2 on board, €1.50 with the Monapass app or by contactless card, and the 24 hour pass is €5.50. A €5.50 daily cap also applies to contactless payments over a bus service day (6 am to 4 am).
To get there, Monaco-Monte-Carlo station is about 25 minutes from Nice, with nearly 60 trains a day, the first leaving Nice at 5:49 am and the last at 10:24 pm. The detail of the trip from Nice, with fares and alternatives, is in how to get from Nice to Monaco. By car there is no border post, but parking is paid and the train is simpler.
Calendar
Visiting Monaco
during the Grand Prix
The 2027 Monaco Grand Prix runs from June 3 to 6, the first sprint weekend. Several sites close during race weekend: in 2026, the oceanographic museum, the palace and the Exotic Garden were closed, and 2027 is likely the same. Hotels fill up as soon as tickets go on sale, and ticketing has been open since October 1, 2026. Full details are in my guide to the Monaco Grand Prix.
All events
Where things are
Map
of the must-sees
The ten places in this guide. Hover over a name to find it on the map.
Keep going
More towns in the south to discover
Your questions
Frequently asked
questions about Monaco
Is Monaco worth visiting?
Yes, for a day. Monaco is compact, so you can see the palace, the oceanographic museum and Casino Square in one day on foot, and many sights are free. It is less interesting as a long stay, since hotels cost a lot. Most travelers visit from Nice, about 25 minutes by regional train.
Is Monaco cheap or expensive?
Staying and eating there is expensive, but visiting does not have to be. The cathedral, gardens, changing of the guard and Larvotto beach are free. Paid sights cost €13 for the palace, €20.50 for the oceanographic museum, €12 for the Exotic Garden and €20 for the casino's morning visit. A 24 hour bus pass is €5.50.
What can you do in Monaco in one day?
Start with the Rock, Palace Square and the changing of the guard at 11:55 am, then visit the oceanographic museum. In the afternoon, go up to Monte-Carlo for Casino Square and the Café de Paris. The casino's cultural visit is in the morning, from 10 am to 1 pm, so put it first if it interests you.
What can you see for free in Monaco?
The changing of the guard, the cathedral, the Saint-Martin Gardens, the Japanese Garden, Larvotto beach, Palace Square and the casino Atrium are all free. The public elevators and escalators are free too. You only pay for the museums, the Exotic Garden and the casino visit.
How much does it cost to enter the Monte-Carlo Casino?
The morning visit (10 am to 1 pm) costs €20 for adults and €15 for ages 13 to 17, and it is free for ages 6 to 12. From 2 pm, the gaming rooms cost €20 as well and include €10 to spend on site. You must be 18 and bring photo ID.
Do you need a visa or a passport to enter Monaco?
Monaco has no border controls with France, so you enter the principality as you would enter France. The rules therefore depend on your nationality and on the current entry requirements for France and the Schengen area. Check them before you travel, and carry photo ID for the casino.
Sources
- 01Visit Monaco, "Les 12 incontournables de Monaco"official list, changing of the guard at 11:55, Condamine market · accessed 10/15/2026
- 02Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, practical informationprices, hours · accessed 10/15/2026
- 03Palace of Monaco, State Apartments visitsprices, 2026 season · accessed 10/15/2026
- 04Monaco Exotic Garden, plan your visitprices, hours, closures · accessed 10/15/2026
- 05Monte-Carlo SBM, casino admission prices and conditionsmorning visit, prices, dress code · accessed 10/15/2026
- 06Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco, faresticket, 24 hour pass · accessed 10/15/2026
- 07Visit Monaco, Prince's Car Collectionhours · accessed 10/15/2026
- 08Côte d'Azur France, the Prince's Palacechanging of the guard, duration · accessed 10/15/2026
- 09SNCF Connect, Nice to Monaco trainsduration, frequency · accessed 10/15/2026
- 10Tour Azur, what to see in Monacopublic elevators, Larvotto · accessed 10/15/2026
Guide author
Who writes this guide
Enzo
passionate about the French Riviera
The French Riviera has been my passion for years. I explore its towns, beaches and hotels to bring you the addresses and advice I would like to receive before every trip, from Menton to Saint-Tropez.
- years exploring the Riviera
- 8
- hotels tested
- 14
- stays on the Coast
- 26