Monaco tours and tickets
Monaco is small, and most of its sights are free to walk. The Oceanographic Museum, the Prince's Palace and the Casino sell tickets, and the museum can fill in summer. The Grand Prix and other big events are a different matter, with seats and rooms sold many months ahead. Nice, Menton and Èze are all short trips.
Book these first
- Anything during the Grand Prix
- many months ahead. Grand Prix week, in late May or early June, takes every room in Monaco and in the villages around it, and prices rise a lot.
- Oceanographic Museum tickets in summer
- a day or two ahead. Timed entry avoids a queue at the busiest time of year.
- Dinner at the better restaurants
- a week or more ahead. The well-known tables fill, especially from Thursday to Saturday and during events.
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Museums and galleries
Oceanographic Museum
An aquarium and museum built into a sea cliff, with a shark lagoon, a touch tank and a rooftop terrace. Entry is by ticket, and timed slots appear in summer. Allow two to three hours.
Which to pick. Book a morning slot in July and August. Go to the rooftop for the view, and choose a weekday if you can.
A day or two ahead in summerVisitor guideTours and tickets on ViatorJardin Exotique
A garden of cacti and succulents on a cliff, with a cave and a view over the harbor. Tickets are sold at the entrance. It is a pleasant morning stop, with a steep walk or a bus up.
Which to pick. Take the bus up and walk down. Go in the morning, before the heat. Bring water for the steep stretch.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Churches and palaces
Prince's Palace
The residence of the ruling family, with state apartments open to visitors in the summer months. Tickets are sold at the palace, and the changing of the guard takes place at midday.
Which to pick. Buy a ticket in the morning and watch the guard at noon. Check the opening dates, since the interiors close part of the year.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorCathedral of Monaco
A white stone cathedral near the palace, where the princes and Grace Kelly are buried. Entry is free, and it closes for services. A short visit takes ten minutes.
Which to pick. Combine it with the palace visit. Dress modestly and avoid service times. It is a short stop, so it needs no planning at all.
Not needed, entry is freeOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Experiences and nights out
Casino de Monte-Carlo
A Belle Époque casino and opera house on a square above the harbor. Visitors can see the atrium for a small fee, and the gaming rooms have a dress code and ID rules. Guided visits are offered.
Which to pick. Visit the atrium in the morning, and bring ID if you want to enter the gaming rooms. Dress smartly for the evening.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGrand Prix circuit
The Formula One street race around the harbor and the casino square, held once a year. Stands and rooms sell out many months ahead. The rest of the year you can walk or drive the circuit.
Which to pick. If you want to attend, book seats and a room as soon as dates are fixed. The rest of the year, a guided walk covers the route.
Many months ahead for the raceOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Nice
The largest city on the coast, about 25 minutes by train, with a promenade, an old town and a market. It is easy as a day trip, and many tours combine it with Èze.
Which to pick. Take the train and walk. Book a guided tour only if you want to combine several villages in one day.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorMenton
A lemon town on the Italian border, with a lemon festival in February, an old town and a garden, about 15 minutes by train. It is quieter than the rest of the coast.
Which to pick. Take the train, walk the old town and the gardens, and eat on the seafront. The festival needs a booking.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorÈze
A medieval village perched above the sea, with a cactus garden and a perfume maker, about 20 minutes by bus. The walk up from the coast is steep and takes an hour.
Which to pick. Take the bus up and walk down. Go early, since the narrow lanes fill by late morning.
On the day is fineOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
Booking tours and tickets in Monaco
Is the Grand Prix worth planning for?
Only if you are a fan. Hotels cost far more, stands sell out, and the principality is crowded. If not, choose a different week and enjoy it quiet.
Is the Casino open to everyone?
Visitors can enter the atrium. The gaming rooms need adult ID and a dress code, and some rooms have an entry fee. Check the official site for current rules.
Do I need to book the Oceanographic Museum?
In July and August, a day or two ahead is wise, since slots fill. Outside the summer, you can buy on the day. Go early to avoid the queue.
Can I see the Prince's Palace inside?
In the summer months, yes. The state apartments open to visitors for part of the year. Outside that, you can watch the guard at noon from the square.
What is free in Monaco?
The cathedral, the harbor, the gardens, the old town, the public lifts and the beaches are free. Walking the whole principality takes a day.
What can wait until I arrive?
The old town, the gardens, the cathedral and the palace square can be done on the day. Book the Grand Prix, the museum in summer and dinner first.