Things to do in Monaco

Stand in the cobbled Place du Palais at 11:55 am to witness the immaculate, centuries‑old ceremony as white‑uniformed carabinieri swap shifts against the backdrop of the Mediterranean.

Descend into a cliffside temple of the sea, where a 6‑metre‑deep shark lagoon and glowing jellyfish tanks meet a stunning Victorian‑era building perched above the water.

Step beneath the Belle Époque chandeliers of the marble‑clad gaming rooms, where James Bond once played baccarat and the world’s elite try their luck at the roulette tables.

Pound the asphalt of the world’s most famous street circuit, weaving from the tight Sainte Dévote corner up to the Casino Square and through the harbour‑side tunnel on foot.

Claim a spot on the fine pebbles of the principality’s main public beach, framed by sleek apartment towers and calm turquoise shallows perfect for a quick swim.

Browse the world’s largest collection of succulents clinging to a sheer cliff, then gaze out from the garden’s terraces for an unbroken panorama from the Rock to the Italian Riviera.

Enter the Romanesque‑Revival marble sanctuary where Princess Grace was married and now rests, and feel the quiet reverence amid the white stone and 15th‑century altarpiece.

Slip into the gilded red‑velvet auditorium of Salle Garnier, hung with sensational frescoes, for an evening of world‑class ballet or bel canto in one of Europe’s most exquisite opera houses.

Walk across arched red bridges over koi‑filled ponds, through bamboo groves and past a Zen tea house in this meticulous miniature landscape tucked between the beach and the Grimaldi Forum.

Slip into the covered Place d’Armes market and grab a paper cone of hot, crispy chickpea pancake – the Riviera’s quintessential street snack – straight from the griddle.

Stroll the quays of the deep‑water harbour where some of the planet’s most extravagant vessels tie up, their towering masts and sun‑deck Jacuzzis glinting in the Mediterranean light.

Celebrate a milestone in the temple of haute cuisine at the Hôtel de Paris, where the legendary three‑Michelin‑starred chef transforms Riviera produce into theatrical, palate‑changing plates.

Examine a spotless lineup of over 100 classic automobiles – from a 1903 De Dion‑Bouton to Princess Grace’s wedding‑gift Mini – displayed in a luminous hall in Fontvieille.

Climb down into a dramatically lit subterranean world of stalactites and flowstones, a prehistoric cave hidden directly beneath the Jardin Exotique’s succulents.

Escape the crowds in this manicured waterfront green space, where palm‑shaded paths frame the Princess Grace Rose Garden and the modern Fontvieille Stadium.

Party in the legendary open‑air club at Sporting Monte‑Carlo, where champagne flows under the stars and world‑renowned DJs keep the dance floor pulsing until dawn.

Lean over the age‑old ramparts of the Old Town as the sky ignites in orange and pink behind the distant Esterel mountains, turning the sea into a sheet of gold.

Leaf through rare volumes of Irish literature and memorabilia in a refined townhouse dedicated to Princess Grace’s Hibernian heritage, complete with a cosy reading room.

Pause in the intimate oval garden where the princess’s favourite blooms – over 300 varieties – release their perfume against a canvas of olive trees and the Fontvieille harbour.

Follow the long‑distance footpath up the highest point in Monaco, where a sweeping vista reveals the entire principality, Cap‑Martin and Italy’s Ligurian coast.

Settle into the stone‑walled 18th‑century fortress beside the ocean for a summer evening of tragedy or comedy under the stars, with the sound of waves as the orchestra.

Feel the thunder of F1 engines reverberate off apartment blocks as cars thread impossibly between barriers, a unique weekend when the principality transforms into a high‑octane street theatre.

Settle into a leather armchair inside the hotel’s legendary wood‑panelled bar, a favourite haunt of princes and movie stars, and let the bartender craft a perfect vintage martini.

Push off from Larvotto’s sheltered bay and glide over glass‑clear water, getting a fish‑eye view of the cliffs and the Rock of Monaco from the sea.

Uncover the principality’s deepest past among the cave‑bear skeletons and Grimaldi Man fossils, displayed in an atmospheric exhibition beside the Observatory Cave.