The Monte Carlo Harbor is one of the most popular places in the city, famous for its beautiful views. One of the things that stands out about this location is its ability to handle some of the world's largest yachts. If you're looking for one of the best panoramic views to be found in Monaco, this harbor is the place to go.

You'll enjoy hiking along the harbor area and seeing some of the gardens along the way, as well as beautiful houses. If you feel like getting something to eat, you don't need to break the bank to find something delicious to enjoy. There are abundant pop-up market stalls selling burgers, hot dogs, and paninis, as well as crepes and churros.

The harbor area is also host to regular events that you won't want to miss if you're here at the right time. Concerts and fireworks shows are always popular, and the holiday season is host to Christmas markets. The Carlo Harbor is one of the most popular places in the city, famous for its beautiful views. One of the things that stands out about this location is its ability to handle some of the world's largest yachts. If you're looking for one of the best panoramic views to be found in Monaco, this harbor is the place to go.

The Monaco Cathedral, but sometimes also called Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate or Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco Cathedral, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monaco, where many of the Monaco royals were buried, including Grace Kelly and more recently, Rainier III.

The cathedral was built in 1875–1903 and consecrated in 1911, and is on the site of the first parish church in Monaco built in 1252 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Of note are the retable (circa 1500) to the right of the transept, the Great Altar and the Episcopal throne in white Carrara marble.

Pontifical services take place on the major religious festivals, such as the Feast of Sainte Dévote (27 January) and the national holiday (19 November). On feast days and during religious music concerts, one can hear the magnificent four-keyboard organ, inaugurated in 1976.

From September through June, the singers of the Cathedral Choir School sing during Mass every Sunday at 10am. Mass is also celebrated here each year on 6 December, when primary children gather for a joyful remembrance of Saint Nicholas' life.

If you're a Princess Grace buff, there's a nice memory of her and Prince Rainier here.
The interior is beautiful and excess-free. The cathedral's organ is an amazing sight to see.

The official residence of the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, this palace was built in 1191 as a Genoese fortress, and during its long and often dramatic history, it has been bombarded and besieged by many foreign powers. Since the end of the 13th century, it has been the stronghold and home of the Grimaldi family who first captured it in 1297. The Grimaldi ruled the area first as feudal lords, and from the 17th century as sovereign princes, but their power was often derived from fragile agreements with their larger and stronger neighbors.

Thus while other European sovereigns were building luxurious, modern Renaissance and Baroque palaces, politics and common sense demanded that the palace of the Monegasque rulers be fortified. This unique requirement, at such a late stage in history, has made the palace at Monaco one of the most unusual in Europe. Indeed, when its fortifications were finally relaxed during the late 18th century, it was seized by the French and stripped of its treasures, and fell into decline, while the Grimaldi were exiled for over 20 years.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the palace and its owners became symbols of the slightly risqué glamour and decadence that were associated with Monte Carlo and the French Riviera. Glamour and theatricality became reality when the American film star Grace Kelly became a chatelaine of the palace in 1956. In the 21st century, the palace remains the residence of the current Prince of Monaco and is open to the public during the summer months.

Why You Should Visit:
Nestled into the oldest part of the city-state, Monaco-Ville's medieval roots are still visible, making it a particularly picturesque spot. Even though only the ceremonial parts are publicly accessible, the tour is worth taking as the groups are small so you can move freely through the gorgeous rooms.

Tip:
Tour tickets can be combined with tickets to view the Prince's car collection or the Oceanographic Museum. If you are in Monaco during summer (July, August), do not miss the wonderful summer concerts in the Palace.

Created in 1984 as a memorial to Grace Kelly, wife of Prince Rainier III, this municipal park was re-dedicated in 2014. Princess Grace is commemorated in a statue by Kees Verkade in the rose garden, which features 4,000 unique and one-of-a-kind species of remarkable rose plants. Further through the park, you can find the herb gardens and other lovely streams and beautiful trees.

It was well known that the Princess, a former American Hollywood film star, had a love for plants and flowers. In 1980, she had published a book titled "My Book About Flowers", which was about flowers and plants from Monaco and the nearby Mediterranean area. The garden is not very big but it has several benches so you can sit down and take a rest-stop while surrounded by amazing smells and views of the coast and harbor. For those who are interested in roses, the garden even has an interactive terminal which can identify the location of each rosebush on a map.

The Exotic Garden of Monaco (Jardin Exotique de Monaco), situated on a cliffside in Monaco, is a botanical garden spanning approximately 15,000 square meters. This unique garden boasts a diverse collection of around a thousand cacti and other succulent plants characterized by water-storing stems or hypertrophic leaves. These plants, originally hailing from semi-arid regions across the planet, continue to flourish with abundant flower displays. Notably, South African succulents like Aloe and Crassula bloom during the winter months (January to February), while cacti, native to the Americas, grace the garden with their blossoms during the spring and summer.

The garden's mature trees, lining its pathways, offer a glimpse into the collection's history, serving as the foundation for the garden's creation. Opened to the public in February 1933, and further enriched in the 1960s with the addition of a botanical center and a specialized tree nursery, this garden ranks among the most popular tourist attractions in the Principality of Monaco.

Back in 1912, Albert I, Prince of Monaco, acquired a piece of land in Les Moneghetti. He entrusted Louis Notari, Monaco's Chief Engineer, with the task of constructing a new garden featuring footbridges. During the construction process in 1916, an unexpected discovery was made: a grotto beneath the site. Despite this, the garden was completed in 1933. The inaugural director of the garden from 1933 to 1969 was Louis Vatrican, a Monegasque agronomist, who expanded the collection by introducing African succulents alongside the existing South American flora. After his retirement in 1969, Marcel Kroenlein succeeded him.

The grotto was made accessible to the public in 1950 but can only be explored with the assistance of specialized guides. Remarkably, the cave has yielded evidence of prehistoric human habitation, and within the Exotic Garden, a Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, established by Prince Albert I in 1902, proudly exhibits many of these ancient relics.

The Opera de Monte-Carlo, also known as the Salle Garnier, is an opera house, which is part of the Monte Carlo Casino located in the Principality of Monaco. It opened in 1879 by then ruling Prince of Monaco, Charles III, who thus sought to diversify the Principality's cultural life. Initially, it served as the Prince's private theatre and its main entrance was reserved for the royal family.

The opera house took eight months to build and was designed by architect Charles Garnier who was also responsible for the construction of the Palais Garnier in Paris. Hence the resemblance between the Salle Garnier and its Paris sibling, being an exact but smaller copy, with only 524 seats, of the latter. Both buildings reflect a Belle Epoque style.

The inauguration of the Salle Garnier took place on 25 January 1879 with a show featuring Sarah Bernhardt, clad in a nymph costume. Since then, the theatre has hosted 45 world premieres, including Hector Berlioz's “La damnation de Faust” in 1893, Saint-Saëns's “Hélène” (1904), Mascagni's “Amica” (1905), and Puccini's “La Rondine” (1917). It also saw the very first performance, in January 1894, by Italian tenor, Francesco Tamagno, of Verdi's Otello, as well as many other 20th century opera greats, such as Nellie Melba and Enrico Caruso (in “La bohème” and “Rigoletto”, 1902), and Feodor Chaliapin in the opening spectacle of “Don Quichotte”, by Jules Massenet, in 1910.

Today, the Opéra presents five to six operas during a season. It was transformed for the third time on 27 July 2013 to host the Love Ball, a fundraising gala event organised by the Naked Heart Foundation.

Why You Should Visit:
The setting alone is worth a visit, and the facade will already impress any visitor here.
The interior is spectacularly ornate with drapes of red velvet, lots of gold leaf, bronzes, friezes and crystals everywhere.
If you're a fan of architecture & design, this is a must – especially if you get to see it in use!

The Monte Carlo Casino is perhaps the world's most famous gambling venue, owned and operated by the Société des bains de mer de Monaco. At some point, in the 1950s, it was controlled by Aristotle Onassis.

The idea to open a gambling business in Monaco came from Princess Caroline in the late 1840s. She saw this as a chance for the Principality to avoid bankruptcy after the loss of tax proceeds from the breakaway towns of Menton and Roquebrune.

In the 1850s, Monaco was not much of a fancy place. It didn't have sufficient road link to the neighboring Nice and the rest of Europe, no suitable accommodation or any other amenities for visitors. The casino changed several managers before it started to gain profit, in 1859.

In 1863 it was taken over by François Blanc who had used his entrepreneurial skills to raise a required capital for a massive development of the area, launched in 1858. Among those who first invested in the project were Bishop of Monaco and the future Pope Leo XIII. The new casino complex, designed in a distinct Beaux Arts style by architect Charles Garnier, author of the Paris Opéra building, was finished in 1863. The area, previously known as Les Spelugues (The Caves), was renamed to Monte Carlo in honor of Prince Charles, the then ruler of Monaco. In 1879, an opera and ballet theatre, known as the Salle Garnier, was added to the complex.

For many years, the Monte Carlo Casino remained the key source of income for Monaco's economy, yet its own citizens have always been banned from gambling. It is for this reason that all visitors to the casino must present their IDs to ensure that no locals get inside.

A lot of fictional, as well as factual, peculiar events have been associated with the Monte Carlo Casino over the years. Among them the James Bond movies, partially set in and filmed on the location, and the Monaco Grand Prix (the Circuit de Monaco) Formula-1 race, passing by the casino building each year.

Cafe de Paris and Casino date back to 1868. The most recent renovation in 1988 gave the Cafe a Belle Époque style that mimics many Parisian bistros from the early 1900s. The cafe features two modular terraces with views of the nearby hotel that has impressive antique cars on display.

If you enjoy high-end gambling, Cafe de Paris and Casino is one of the top places to go in Monaco. There are over 140,000 square feet of gaming rooms, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the games that you want. The gaming area's setting has been inspired by the Historic Grand Prix.

When you dine here, you'll be enjoying an exciting brasserie setting. Some of the most popular types of foods include pasta, fresh fish, beef dishes that include steak tartare and veal, and delicious desserts including pastries. There is also a full alcohol menu offering everything from wine to cocktails.

Casino Square, located in the center of Monte Carlo, is one of Monaco's most popular tourist attractions. The square is surrounded by Belle Époque architecture, stylish hotels and glamorous casinos. Gambling in style at one of the casinos nearby is a main attraction that brings tourists to Monte Carlo from world over and is what gives the square its name.

The open space is modern while allowing you to savor the beautiful historical architecture around it. You'll enjoy the beautiful Belle Époque style of the buildings here.

Some of the sights to see are the Casino de Monte-Carlo, Café de Paris and Casino, and Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. These famous buildings appear frequently in Hollywood movies and TV series. Try to identify famous people leaving or entering these places. Don't miss the circular fountain that features the iconic Sky Mirror at its center. You may recognize a row of twenty palm trees that are often seen in the movies.

The Boulingrins Gardens are worth your time as you make your way through Casino Square. You won't want to pass up the high-end shopping opportunities at One Monte-Carlo district. Grab a coffee from a local coffee shop and spend some time people-watching.

The Japanese Garden of Monaco is an oasis of tranquillity amid the bustling Monte Carlo city. The garden was created by Japanese landscape architect Yasuo Beppu at the request of Prince Rainier III. It spans 7,000 square meters and took three years to build. The garden opened in 1994, thus fulfilling the life-long dream of Princess Grace, aka Grace Kelly, a Hollywood star and the mother of the current monarch of Monaco, Prince Albert II.

In accordance with Japanese tradition, the garden is asymmetrical in structure and appears quasi-natural, replete with vegetation, comprising a variety of plant species from different parts of the globe, including the Mediterranean, South America, Australia, Africa and Asia. A centrepiece of the garden is an 1100 square metre artificial lake.

Another notable thing about the garden is location. It is laid out over a concrete roof of a coach car park. Unlike the plants, all the man-made features within the garden, such as the gates, fences, tiles and lanterns, have been brought over from Japan.

The garden offers a peaceful, green retreat from the stone-, steel- and glass clad setting of Monaco. Perhaps the only thing not quite Japanese here is the lack of fog, which is richly compensated for by the Mediterranean sun, casting warm light upon the garden's every minute detail.

Monaco's primary shoreline, Larvotto Beach, is a public beach accessible to everyone and situated just a short distance from Monte Carlo, along Avenue Princesse Grace, known as one of the world's most opulent streets. Larvotto Beach boasts stunning turquoise waters, picturesque coastal views, and an ambiance that's hard to match. Despite its close proximity to the bustling city of Monte Carlo and the rest of Monaco, the beach maintains a peaceful atmosphere and offers excellent swimming conditions.

The Larvotto Beach complex covers an expansive area of more than 14,000 square meters, encompassing both the beach itself and a pine-shaded promenade. It is home to various amenities, including 24-hour cafes, bars, and restaurants. Among these establishments, you can find the well-established ice cream parlor called Mullot, as well as a childcare facility, the Larvotto Gym Centre, and the L'Académie Monégasque de la Mer diving school.

Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on the beach, and locals appreciate the presence of protective jellyfish nets. Travelers often recommend this sandy beach for visitors of all ages and physical abilities because of its shallow, calm waters and wheelchair accessibility. However, families should be aware that, similar to practices in France, some beachgoers here sunbathe topless. Additionally, it's worth noting that Larvotto Beach features pebbles rather than fine sand, so it's advisable to wear sturdy footwear.

Given its popularity, it's advisable to arrive early if you want to secure a spot on the sand. Alternatively, you can rent a lounger at one of the four private beaches nearby: La Rose des Vents, Le Neptune, La Note Bleue, and Le Miami. These private beaches also offer food service for your convenience.