Access to Monaco

   By road

The Principality of Monaco is an independent state which is easily accessible by all of its land borders. Monaco is linked to France and other European nations by a network of highways

Amsterdam 1480 kms Genève 510 kms Barcelone 750 kms Milan 300 kms Bonn 1180 kms Munich 890 kms Bruxelles 1270 kms Paris 950 kms Francfort 1050 kms Rome 680 kms Madrid 1300 kms London 1 037 Kms

By train All international trains stop at the train station in Monaco-Monte-Carlo : the Ligure which links Marseille and Milan, the "train bleu" which links Paris and Ventimiglia, the T.G.V. (high-speed train) between Nice and Paris, or have at least a connecting train from the Principality.

By ship Large cruise ships can dock in Monaco. The Principality's two ports are equipped to greet pleasure-boats : the Port Hercule, is 39.52 square acres. This legendary port offers mooring and anchoring possibilities for five hundred vessels some of which are extremely large. With the growing development of maritime tourism, Monaco is today the starting point or terminus for many Mediterranean cruises. Monaco's shores, in summer, are fantastic viewpoints for its international fire-work competitions. The Port of Fontvieille integrated into the new district, can receive in its 19.76 acres of water as many as 60 vessels of at least 30 meters in length. At close proximity, the Port of Cap d'Ail is also a choice destination for pleasure-boats.

    By plane

The Nice-Côte-d'Azur International Airport , located 22 kilometers from Monaco, links the Principality to the major cities of the world. Confortable and rapid travel is ensured by numerous direct flights.

Amsterdam 1h40 Geneva 0h50 Moscow 7h00 Athena 3h00 Hong-Kong 16h00 New York 9h00 Brussels 1h40 London 2h00 Paris 1h15 Copenhague 2h00 Los Angeles 15h00 Rome 1h00 Dusseldorf 1h30 Madrid 1h45 Tokyo 18h00 Francfort 1h25 Milan 0h45 Zurich 1h00

    En helicoptère

The Principality is only 7 minutes away from the airport if you take one of the numerous daily helicopter flights. During the flight, you will discover the most beautiful shores of the Côte d'Azur. Upon arrival, a shuttle will take you to your desired destination.

    Car rental or taxi

If you are in a hurry, we suggest taking the highway (autoroute). The existence of a specific and direct exit for Monaco will allow for arrival in approximately 20 minutes. If you prefer a scenic drive, take the low or middle coastal roads (known as the Basse and Moyenne Corniche). You will discover unforgettable panoramic views.     By bus Regular bus service links the airport to the Principality in 45 minutes.

Tourism in Monaco Monte-Carlo

Once in your life you have to go for a trip in Monaco. This mythic place, between the Alpes and the Mediterranean sea will offer you dreams and reality.

Alone, both or with your family, for romantic holidays, simple tourism or a business trip, the Principality of Monaco will offer you a univers of many facets.

Monaco Monte-Carlo provides you many discoveries, a highly cultured place with its many museums, nice welcome with its nicest hotels in the world, sumptuous gastronomy with his wellknown restaurants.

Everything is done for your satisfaction !
Take the advantage of what the Principality has to offer by planning your stay in advance.

The Prince's Palace

At heart of the Principality, on the site of a fortress constructed by the Genovese in 1215 stands the Prince's Palace. It harbours splendours tracing out seven centuries of uninterrupted sovereignty. Touring the Palace is synonymous with journeying through the centuries – from the Renaissance to the Napoleonic period. The Palace Courtuard’s impressive double staircase leads the State Apartments, where sumptuous frescoes from the 16th enctury adorn the Mazarin Salon, the York Room and the imposing Throne Room. Every day at 11.55am precisely, on the square in front of the Palace, the traditional ritual of the Changing of the Guard – the Carabiniers du Prince – attracts and delights thousands of spectators..

Principality of Monaco

An independent sovereign state located between the foot of the Southern Alps and the Mediterranean, the Principality of Monaco borders on several French villages : La Turbie, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Cap d'Ail et Beausoleil.

In ancient history, the Rock of Monaco was a shelter for primitive populations. history of Monaco itself really started in the 13th Century. On 10th June 1215, the Genoan family of the Gibelins laid the first stone of the castle, which is still today the Prince's Palace. To attract new inhabitants, the initial masters of the Rock offered advantageous conditions to newcomers : territorial concessions, tax exemption. For 700 years, the history of Monaco has been linked to that of the Grimaldi Dynasty which has celebrated in 1997, the anniversary of its accession to the Principality of Monaco.

The official language is French, although Italian and English are widely spoken.The traditional Monegasque language, "le Monegù", is spoken amongst elders and is taught in all local schools. The currency is Euro. Monegasque coins are used.
"Deo Juvante" (With God's Help) is the motto of Monaco and its Princes. Catholicism is the state religion. However, freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution and several religions are represented in Monaco.The National Holiday is celebrated on 19th November every year. The national telephone code for Monaco is '377' and telecommunications are very efficient. Monaco prints its own stamps.

    An international environment
Based on the latest official census, there are 35,646 inhabitants in the Principality of Monaco of which 7,634 are Monegasque, 10,029 are French and 6,596 are Italian. Over 125 nationalities are represented. Monaco and the neighbouring French areas represent approximately 95,515 people.

    An exceptional lifestyle
Benefiting from an ideal geographical location, the Principality of Monaco enjoys very mild winters and remarkably sunny summers, which tend not to be exceedingly hot. In fact, the results of a 60-year study show that the average temperature is 16° C, rain falls on less than 87 days per year and the sun shines 7 hours a day on average. Sea temperatures vary from 11° C in the winter to over 26° C in the middle of summer. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, Monaco is a pleasant place to live all year round. In addition, it is worth noting that ski resorts in the Alps are only an hour's drive away. For further information, refer to the Key Figures page.

History of Grimaldi Family

he Rock of Monaco was a shelter for primitive populations. Traces of their occupation were discovered in a cave in the Saint-Martin Gardens. The first sedentary inhabitants of the region, the Ligures, are described as a mountain people, accustomed to hard work and an exemplary frugality.

The coast and the port of Monaco were probably the sea access for the interior Ligurian population, the Oratelli of Peille.

The origin of the name "Monaco" has been subject to several hypotheses. For some, the name comes from the Ligurian tribe, the Monoïkos, who inhabited the Rock in the 6th century B.C. For others, the origin comes from the Greek. In antiquity, the port of Monaco was associated with the cult of the hero Herakles (Hercules for the Romans), and his name was often linked to the expression "Herakles Monoïkos," which means Herakles alone. This version seems to bear out, as the modern name for Monaco's main port is the Port of Hercules.

At the end of the 12th century B.C., the Romans occupied the region. Monaco is part of the Province of the Maritime Alps. During their occupation, the Romans erected at La Turbie, the Trophy of Augustus, which celebrates the triumph of their military campaigns. During this same period, Phoenecian and Carthaginian sailors brought prosperity to the region. After the fall of the Roman Empire (5th century A.D.), the region was regularly sacked by different barbarian populations. It was only at the end of the X century, after the expulsion of the Sarrasins by the Count of Provence, that the coast slowly became repopulated.

Monaco's TOP3

 

Planning a Trip

Getting There

Monaco has rail, bus, and highway connections from other coastal cities, especially Nice. Trains arrive every 30 minutes from Cannes, Nice, Menton, and Antibes. For rail information, call tel. 36-35, or visit www.voyages-sncf.com. Monaco's railway station (Gare SNCF) is on avenue Prince Pierre. It's a long walk uphill from the train station to Monte Carlo. If you'd rather take a taxi but can't find one at the station, call tel. 377-93-15-01-01. You will face no border formalities when entering Monaco from mainland France.

In late 1999, Monaco opened an enormous train station .4km (1/4 mile) east of the old station. This station has three exits on three levels, and if you don't know which exit to use, you might have trouble finding your hotel. Monaco is a confusing place to navigate, so you might want to pick up a free map at the station's tourist office (daily June-Sept 8:30am-7:30pm). Arriving at the Monaco train station after 9pm is like arriving on Wall Street after 9pm-it's desolate, without a soul on the street. On the bright side, Monaco restaurants serve dinner late, so you can usually get a full meal at least until 11pm.

Frequent bus service (every 15 min.) runs to Nice, Beaulieu, and Menton on line no. 100 of the French bus company Rapides Côte d'Azur (tel. 04-93-85-64-44; www.rca.tm.fr). The trip from Nice to Monaco by bus takes a half-hour and costs 2.60€ round-trip or 1.30€ one-way. The times and prices are the same to Menton. The easiest place to catch a bus is in front of the gardens that face the Casino, but it also stops in front of the port (on bd. Albert-1er at the Stade Nautique stop) and at several other spots around town.

If you're driving from Nice to Monaco, take N7 northeast. The 19km (12-mile) drive takes about 35 minutes because of heavy traffic; Cannes to Monaco requires about 55 minutes. If driving from Paris, follow A6 to Lyon. In Lyon, take A7 south to Aix-en-Provence and A6 to Monaco.

Visitor Information

The Direction du Tourisme et des Congrés office is at 2A bd. des Moulins (tel. 377-92-16-61-66; fax 377-92-16-61-16; www.monaco-tourisme.com).

Getting Around

The best way to get around Monaco is by bus (www.cam.mc), and you can buy bus cards, which cost 1.80€ per ride, directly on the bus. Bus stops are set up every few blocks on the main streets in town, including boulevard Albert-1er, avenue St-Martin in Monaco-Ville, and boulevard des Moulins in Monte Carlo. Buses go to all the major tourist sights; just look at the front of the bus to see the destination.

For a taxi, call tel. 377-93-15-01-01. Taxi stands are in front of the Casino on avenue de Monte-Carlo, at place des Moulins in Monte Carlo, at the Port de Monaco on avenue Président J. F. Kennedy, and in front of the Poste de Monte-Carlo on avenue Henry-Dunant. A Hertz car-rental office is at 27 bd. Albert-1er (tel. 377-93-50-79-60), and an Avis office is at 1 av. des Guelphs (tel. 377-97-97-18-55).

Special Events

Two of the most-watched car-racing events in Europe are in January (Le Rallye) and May (the Grand Prix; www.monacograndprix.info). For more information, call tel. 377-99-99-30-00. In June, Monte Carlo is home to a weeklong convention that attracts media moguls from virtually everywhere, Le Festival 

International de la Télévision, Grimaldi Forum, avenue Princesse-Grace (tel. 377-99-99-30-00). Shows from all over the world are broadcast and judged on their merits.

Number, Please: Monaco's Telephone System

Since 1996, Monaco's phone system has been independent of France.

To call Monaco from within France and the European Union, dial 00 (the access code for all international long-distance calls from France), followed by the country code (377), then the eight-digit local phone number. (Don't dial the 33 code; that's the country code for France.)

To call Monaco from North America, dial the international access code, 011, the country code, 377, then the eight-digit Monaco number.

To call any other country from within Monaco, dial 00 (the international access code), then the applicable country code, and the number. For example, to call Cannes, you would dial 00, 33 (France's country code), 4 (the city code, without the zero), and the eight-digit number.

Must-see places in Monaco

When talking about Monaco many people will confuse it with Monte Carlo, in order to clear that little problem we’re going to start by saying that Monaco is the principality, or country, and Monte Carlo is one of its five districts. The whole confusion stems from the fact that Monaco is a very small place, but despite its size it is packed with many attractions and sights, and we’ll be talking about a couple of the main ones.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is where you can see the daily changing of the guard at 11:55 AM, the exterior of the building doesn’t give off the impression of a palace right from the get-go, it looks more like a big sanatorium, however on the inside it is a grandly Renaissance style, everything from the courtyard’s frescoes and columns to the flamboyantly decorated apartments, clash with the somewhat austere exterior.
The entry ticket will also give you access to the Napoleon Museum, which is next door, where you can see an exhibition combining the memories of the emperor with insights from Monaco’s past.

Oceanographic Museum

This is hands down the best museum in Monaco, truth be told there’s not a lot of competition, however the building looks much grander than the Palace does, with its columns and pediments giving it a distinct Victorian feel.
Main sights of the museum include a ninety foot whale skeleton and a great aquarium which features a shark lagoon pool.

Jardin Exotique

Despite its very small surface area, Monaco packs in a surprisingly high number of gardens, and the Jardin Exotique is arguably the most interesting.
Located very high up at the very entrance to the principality, it has an almost perpendicular drop down the rock face. An interesting setting to say the least, for a world-class collection of cacti and succulents, some of which date from early last century.

The Monte Carlo Casino

This is probably the most characteristic building of the principality, there aren’t very many other places where one can sense such a focus on general fancy and wealth. Both the inside and the outside of the Casino are captivating, the inside is extremely lavish with everything that you might think you should see in such a place, columns, marble, chandeliers, haut-reliefs of nude women, and those are just the start. The outside is like a light opera in horticultural form, with the fountains, flora, lawns and contemporary sculpture creating a great setup to what you’re about to see once within the building.

5 tips to take luxury to the next step on the French Riviera

From the Monte Carlo casino to the five-star hotels on the Croisette, when it comes to luxury, the French Riviera has a lot to offer. Over 10 million tourists visit the Côte d’Azur for a holiday in the sun every year, but very few are lucky enough to experience the grandiose lifestyle that makes it so desirable. Here are five tips that will ensure you make the most of your luxury holiday in the South of France.

Timing is everything
There is one month in the year when everyone on the Riviera steps up their game to welcome the world’s glitterati—May. The Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix are two of the most globally publicised events, making the area the place to be for a couple of weeks. The best restaurants and nightlife venues migrate to short-term locations on the coast, giving visitors the opportunity to taste food prepared by top chefs and dance to mixes by hot DJs. Heaven’s Floor in Cannes and Amber Lounge in Monaco are among the most select clubs, and Alain Ducasse’s Electrolux Agora pop-up restaurant created a huge buzz last year.

Location, location, location
Although quite small, the Côte d’Azur offers a lot of variety when it comes to choosing where to stay, and there is a location for every type of holiday you can wish for. If you enjoy 24-hour activity and don’t feel like driving too much, book a hotel or a penthouse apartment on the Croisette in Cannes, or on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Both the Carlton and the Negresco are registered historic monuments due to their beautiful architecture, and the Palais de la Méditerranée offers a terrace with a great sea view. All three hotels also have a selection of restaurants and bars accessible to the public. If what you’re looking for is a quiet haven away from the crowds, look along the cliff roads between Nice and Monaco. The area is home to some of the prettiest towns, including Villefranche, St Jean Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu and Eze, all full of sumptuous villas, more intimate than a hotel yet close to the beaches and other amenities. And for a real feel of Provence, go further inland; Grasse and its surroundings offer a choice of authentic village houses that will give you a taste of the history and traditions that made the Riviera what it is today.

Maximise the private beach experience
Beaches on the Côte d’Azur can get very crowded, so sometimes there is no better satisfaction than having one all to yourself for a day. A few restaurants in the Cannes area allow you to book private events for special occasions. La Guérite, on the Lérins Islands, offers a shuttle boat service to and from Cannes, and can take care of the whole organisation of your party, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the islands with a panoramic view of Cannes.

See it from above
Spoiling yourself with a helicopter tour over the French Riviera is something you will never regret. From the azure of the Mediterranean to the majestic peaks of the Alps, the view is absolutely breathtaking. Various providers advertise transfers from Nice to St Tropez in less than half an hour, probably the most worthwhile trip as it would take you over the Esterel Mountains, its pine trees and red rocks— the natural jewel of the Riviera.

You ought to rent a yacht
There is a reason the area between Antibes and Juan les Pins is called Baie des Milliardaires (Billionaires’ Bay). The most luxurious way to enjoy the French Riviera is from the water. There you can appreciate the weather, the sea and the view, all from the quiet intimacy of your boat. To rent a yacht, you will need your passport and a deposit of about 50% of the total amount. There are a variety of sizes and charter durations available but Alexander J. Coles, senior charter broker at Moody Yachts France, recommends booking as far in advance as possible, as most summer charters are booked four to five months ahead. Taking the time to make your selection in advance will prove worth it, because with the perfect yacht, your trip will take on a completely different dimension.

Monaco Travel Guide

From the multi million pound yachts glinting in Monte Carlo harbour, to the endless flow of golden champagne, Monaco oozes privilege. Celebrities flock to this Mediterranean members-only club, with its opulent lifestyle, discreet banking facilities and heavily policed streets.

For visitors wishing to bask in some Monaco glitz, there are big annual events such as the Tennis Masters Series in April and the Formula 1 Grand Prix in May. Other festivals include the Monaco International Non Violent Film Festival, the Monte Carlo Opera and the annual Spring Arts Festival.

Away from the glamour, Monaco's balmy climate and seaside location make it a naturally beautiful place to visit; enjoy scenic walking routes, pretty costal bays and al fresco cafés. For those with a couple of days to spare, Provence, the French Riviera and Italy are in easy reach.

Monaco history, language and culture

The history of Monaco is inseparable from that of the House of Grimaldi who were originally of Genoese extraction and rose to prominence during the 12th century. In the late 13th century however, with the Holy Roman Empire rife with internal strife, the Grimaldi family was forced to take refuge in Provence. François Grimaldi led a group of partisans into the fortress of Monaco in 1297, which has been ruled by his family ever since; the Grimaldis have preserved their independence through a mixture of good luck and cunning diplomacy.

At various times, they were to be found allied with almost every power in the region, particularly during the Italian Wars in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Monaco's geographical position left them ideally placed to either help or hinder the repeated and largely unsuccessful attempts by the kings of France to conquer Italy. This Machiavellian approach paid dividends in 1612 when Honoré II was granted the title of prince by the French crown. He signed a treaty of friendship with France, and the principality remained independent from that time on, despite a brief interruption during the French Revolution.

The family's motto - 'Deo Juvante' (With God's Help) - provides another possible explanation for the survival of this tiny country. Monaco became an independent state under French protection in 1861. The French government maintains a firm grip on the principality, through its ambassador and key appointees in the executive and judiciary. Prince Rainier, the incumbent member of the Grimaldi dynasty who has occupied the position since 1963, has proved unexpectedly determined to resist French pressure at any level.

In 1993, Monaco joined the United Nations, becoming its smallest member. Monaco survives principally by providing tax concessions and discreet banking facilities for wealthy foreigners, and this has recently led to spats with France and difficulties with the wider world.

Following the death of Prince Rainier in 2005, his son Prince Albert II was enthroned, ending a process that began when he was sworn in before his subjects in July.

Monaco culture

Religion: 

95% Roman Catholic (Monaco has a Catholic Bishop), with Anglican minorities.

Social conventions: 

Casual wear is acceptable for daytime and dress is the same as for the rest of the French Riviera. Smart restaurants, dining rooms, clubs and the casino's private rooms require more formal attire. Handshaking and, more familiarly, kissing both cheeks, are accepted forms of greeting.

Language in Monaco

French. Monégasque (a mixture of French Provençal and Italian Ligurian), English and Italian are also spoken. Native Monégasques make up only a minority of Monaco's population.