How Long Should You Spend in Monaco? Half a Day is Enough to Explore This Tiny Country!

“In all the dreams that have been dreamed

find a place that belongs to you

without hesitation

without any benefits

to love and be loved unconditionally

this is my fairy tale”

——《Grace of Monaco》

This is the last line of Grace Kelly, the heroine of the movie “Grace of Monaco”, telling the longing and certainty of a woman’s pure life and heroic dream after going through a major transformation of her life role.

The film mainly tells the story of Grace Kelly, an Oscar-winning actress who married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. When a political crisis broke out between Monaco and France, Grace, as Princess of Monaco, was torn between returning to Hollywood and saving the country. Wise, strong, and responsible – she showed us the ultimate charm of women, and the storyline with a real historical background also made me full of infinite imagination and curiosity about this tiny country.

Monaco

A “country within a country” on the Mediterranean coast

One of the three principalities in Europe (the other two are Liechtenstein and Luxembourg)

The second smallest country in the world (the smallest is Vatican City) The area is equivalent to two-thirds of the Summer Palace in Beijing

Has the most luxurious configuration in the world

Palace Casino Beach Yacht Michelin

Dazzling and addictive

I once saw someone ask on Zhihu: Are there poor people in Monaco? What is it like to live in Monaco?

The answer is: There are no poor people in Monaco, it is one of the few cities in the world without slums, with a per capita GDP higher than Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Qatar and other common rich countries. The housing price is the highest in the world, between 50,000 and 100,000 euros per square meter, which means that a house in a remote area of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou can only be exchanged for one square meter. Most of the people who live in Monaco come from France and Italy. They work here during the day and go back to their home countries at night. Those rich people who live in Monaco don’t talk about whether they own yachts anymore, but compare how many meters long their yachts are… Here, you might bump into celebrities or nobles just by going to a good coffee shop!

Monaco is like a “world of great harmony”, because the only residents here are the rich. It is more like the future world, with only two classes: those who own jet planes and those who take the bus. French and Italian workers take the bus through Monaco to serve the rich.

History

In 1861, Monaco signed an agreement with France, France recognized Monaco’s independence, and at the same time, Monaco gave up its ownership of the two municipalities of Menton and Roquebrune (now belonging to France), and its territory was reduced from 20 square kilometers to 1.98 square kilometers. Later, Monaco promulgated a constitution and became a constitutional monarchy. France is responsible for ensuring Monaco’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; the Prince of Monaco promised to exercise sovereignty on the premise of fully respecting France’s political, economic, maritime and military interests. In 1956, the 27th Oscar winner Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III, the head of state, making Monaco famous all over the world.

Local Currency and Consumption

Euro (It is recommended to exchange it in China before you go. If you really don’t have time, don’t worry, you can exchange it at the airport, and there are many currency exchange points in tourist cities. You can also apply for a global communication card in China. You can pay in foreign currency and then repay in RMB when you return home~)

Local consumption in Monaco… very high! (You can bring some dry food from Nice…)

Local Language

The official language is French, commonly spoken Italian, English and Monegasque. (Foreigners account for a large proportion of Monaco’s population. There are also many French and Italians, because of the geographical advantage, they work in Monaco during the day and go back to their own countries after work. Because the salary in Monaco is high, but the housing is unaffordable!)

Best Time to Travel

All year round, but summer is peak season! Most tourists come to Monaco because of the “French Riviera” in southern France, and the French Riviera is the best choice for summer holidays, so going there in summer you can not only feel the sunshine and enthusiasm of the seaside city, but also understand the mystery and luxury of this tiny country!

Monaco Attractions

Prince’s Palace

Palais du Prince

If you want to catch a glimpse of Monaco’s luxury, the first thing to do is to visit the Prince’s Palace. This is where the Monaco royal family lives. The luxurious decorations and furnishings, a large number of outstanding works by art masters from the 16th to 19th centuries, and the marble staircase dating back to the 13th century are all highlights of this Louis XIV-style palace. And here, you can also visit the hundreds of antique cars collected by Prince Rainier III, the husband of Grace Kelly. At 11:55 a.m., there is a guard changing ceremony in front of the palace square. Remember to go early!

Next to the palace is the old town of Monaco

Strolling through the alleys of the old town is a real treat. The houses on both sides of the street have different styles, with a warm yellow tone, colorful houses, one next to the other. The narrow streets are often connected by even narrower alleys. Walking through the streets and alleys, you will sometimes unconsciously walk under the archway… This old town still retains its mysterious medieval charm.

(Photography: Winter Sunshine)

Monte Carlo Casino

The Casino de Monte Carlo

(Photography: Winter Sunshine)

This is the landmark of the gambling city of Monte Carlo, with a high-profile and luxurious architectural appearance, a golden gambling palace, and a collection of luxury cars at the entrance of the casino, which is definitely something you have never seen before. If you want to enter the gambling room, you need to show your passport and a ticket for 10 euros. Even if you don’t want to try your luck, you can watch the gamblers concentrate on betting inside, which is very interesting. There are crazy people at every table who bet a lot of money. Every night, a play of getting rich overnight or losing everything is staged here.

Monte Carlo Circuit

Circute de Monaco

It is one of the four famous circuits in the world, known as the “pearl on the crown” of F1, with streets as its circuit. It is the shortest F1 circuit, with the slowest corners on the F1 circuit and the famous tunnel. At the same time, because it is a street race, the team’s gas station is also very small and narrow, but because of the strong technicality of the circuit, suspension and tires are very important. Only the best drivers can win on this circuit. They dream of winning the Monaco Grand Prix trophy. Speed and passion are always staged here!

Port of Hercules

Hercules Port

The Port of Hercules is located on the coast of Monte Carlo, the largest city in Monaco, and at the foot of the hill where the Monaco Palace is located. This port is one of the few deep-water ports in Monaco, so it has been used and developed early on as an important port for trade and circulation. The port has excellent conditions. Large luxury cruise ships are docked at the outer harbor, while the inner harbor is packed with yachts of different sizes and shapes. There are many rich people in Monaco, so there are many luxury yachts, which is very spectacular.

Monaco Oceanographic Museum

Oceanographic Museum

Opening hours: 9:30-19:00 from April to June, 9:30-19:30 from July to August, 9:30-9:00 in September, 10:00-18:00 from October to the following March.

Ticket price: 14 euros for full price, 7 euros for 4 to 12 years old, 10 euros for 13 to 18 years old and student tickets, free for children under 4 years old.

This is an awe-inspiring museum. It stands on the coast of Monaco, 85 meters above sea level. It has one of the richest marine collections in the world, as well as top-notch scientific laboratories. Marine life from around the world lives in hundreds of different aquariums. In addition to the rich collection of aquariums, the third floor of the museum also has a large amount of marine knowledge introduction. From biology to ships, as well as marine exploration, everything is available. The entire museum is a treasure trove of knowledge about the ocean, making people browse and forget to return. In addition to seeing all kinds of marine life, you can also go to the roof to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea and overlook Monaco!

Monaco Cathedral

Cathédrale de Monaco

(Photography: dEmOnV_V)

Monaco Cathedral, also known as Saint Nicholas Cathedral, is the church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monaco. It was built in 1875. The architectural style is the popular Roman-Byzantine style at that time. Its value lies particularly in its striking set of pre-Renaissance works by Nice artists. The style of this church is very special. Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco and Oscar-winning actress, is also buried in this hall.

Monaco Transportation

Recommended route:

Nice——Monaco——Eze Village——Nice

Nice——Eze Village——Monaco——Nice

1, Train: Nice——Monaco

(From Nice train station to Monaco, it takes only 31 minutes)

2, Train: Eze Village——Monaco

(From Eze Village to Monaco, it takes only 17 minutes)

Local Cuisine

Stewed Lamb with Prunes

Although Monaco is small, its population is very dense. The small and beautiful country has never lacked the company of delicious food. Stewed lamb with prunes, which is very characteristic of the local area, is a must-try dish for friends who come to Morocco. The method is not very difficult. We fry the onion grains with olive oil until they are cooked, and fry the lamb until it changes color. Then we add saffron, coriander powder, and cinnamon to stew the lamb until it releases water. Then we boil honey and prunes and pour them into the stewed lamb pot, then continue to stew. The black prunes and red lamb are paired together, the color is very beautiful, sweet and sour, and the taste is very delicious!

Crepes

When you come to Morocco, you must try the local snacks – crepes. The thin, fan-shaped crepe skin is wrapped with various rich ingredients, such as beef ham, cheese, tomatoes, etc. Friends can add different ingredients according to their different preferences. The wheat aroma of the noodles and the aroma of various vegetables are mixed together, which is very delicious and also very nutritious. This savory crepe can be eaten as a staple food. Chocolate-flavored or fruit jam-flavored crepes are also very popular, and can be eaten as desserts.

Restaurant Recommendations

Le Café de Paris

Average price: 50 euros

Whether you are sitting in the hall decorated with vintage chandeliers, or on the terrace where you can directly enjoy the street view, you can taste the most Parisian desserts and delicacies. If you happen to catch a concert in the venue, you can also hear musicians playing Parisian-style moving melodies with harmonicas and trumpets.

Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris

Average price: 80 euros

Monaco is one of the countries with the highest density of Michelin restaurants. But in the entire French Riviera, there is only one Michelin three-star restaurant. Its ingredients are extremely strict. The only fishing family in Monaco provides it with the freshest seafood every day. It also retains the tradition of changing the menu according to the fish caught on the day. The vegetables used are also grown and produced in France not far from Monaco. Such strict selection of ingredients will surely bring you a different taste. The restaurant can only accommodate 50 guests at most, and there is a large group of people around you when you enjoy the food! When dining here, ordering a daily updated set menu can ensure that you eat the best food and save some time in choosing dishes.

About Accommodation

First, let’s get a feel for the accommodation prices in Monaco, which are all for one night.

So it is recommended that you stay in Nice! Of course, the rich can ignore it~

Search on Airbnb, there are also some relatively good homestays~

Monaco is world famous for its rare seaside beauty and luxurious atmosphere. Come here! Experience an unforgettable journey in this dream-like wonderland.