Welcome to Monaco! Known for casinos, millionaires, and the US-born Princess Grace, it’s one of the most unique countries you can visit. With dramatic cliffside coastlines overlooking the Mediterranean, a palace, and a real prince ruling it all, this tiny country is practically the stuff of fairytales. Here’s your sneak peek and everything you need to know before you visit the Principality of Monaco.
You’re going to witness the lifestyle of the rich and famous!
There are a lot of millionaire and billionaires who call Monaco home, and even more come to visit. It’s just normal to see helicopters flying in all times of day, and you’ll get used to seeing luxury yachts, exotic cars, and high-end clothing and jewelry brands you’ve never heard of (if you’re like me!). The opulence of Monaco’s Opera House, casinos, hotels, etc., is a spectacle in itself. The bling is out of control, but it’s practically part of the culture. Don’t be jealous; just enjoy being there!
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How to get there:
You have lots of options to get yourself to Monaco. You could take your helicopter. You could sail there in your yacht. You could road trip in your Ferrari. If you’re like us, though, you’ll want to fly into Nice (NCE) and take an Uber, taxi, train or the bus! It’s about a 35- or 40-minute drive, or about an hour by train or bus.
To take the train, you’ll catch the B Tram from the airport to Grand Arénas, then board the TER train toward Ventimiglia. Click here for more details.
To take the bus, you’ll simply board the 80 Bus from the airport toward Casino, and exit at Pl D Armes. Click here for more details.
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Monaco is a Principality, not a Kingdom.
What’s the difference? It’s very simple: A Principality is ruled by a Prince or Princess, while a Kingdom is ruled by a King or Queen. Smaller countries are often Principalities, such as Liechtenstein, which is also ruled by a Prince at the moment. The Principality of Monaco has been ruled by the Grimaldi family since 1297, making them one of the longest- and continuously-ruling families in Europe!
More here: What to Do in Monaco with a Baby
It’s quite hilly, and there are a lot of stairs everywhere you go.
Monaco is set on a beautiful, dramatic cliffside. It’s epic for photos, but those steep inclines are never ending. There is always a ramp option, or an escalator, or even an elevator, so stroller users, don’t worry! It will cause you some frustration if you’re not expecting it, though, so be ready to look for other options when you come to a set of stairs. You can choose to have an epic workout all day long and check your floors on your phone or fitness tracker, or you can take a taxi anywhere you want to go and utilize the elevators as needed. It’s nice to have options.
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The Palace Tour is well worth your time.
This is one of the best palace tours I’ve taken, anywhere in the world! It was easy to get tickets online, easy to get to, and the audio guide was actually interesting. (I usually find audio guides to be exceptionally boring and way too long.) As of 2025, adult tickets are only €10, which is quite the deal for a royal home tour in Europe. The full walk-through, with the audio guide, was only about an hour, so in my opinion, it’s well worth the time to visit.
More here: Tips for Taking the Prince’s Palace Tour in Monaco
It’s one of the smallest countries in the world.
When I told people I’d be visiting Monaco, I can’t tell you how many people thought it was in France, or had no idea it was a country at all! But I assure you, it is a small, but mighty, sovereign nation, and has been for over 700 years. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, right behind Vatican City. It is surrounded on three sides by France, and on the other by the Côte d’Azur, but it’s not a city in France (much like DC is surrounded by Maryland and the Potomac River, but it’s not a city in Maryland, it’s a district all its own). Monaco may take up less than one square mile, but it is a country in its own right!
The smallest country in the world: Vatican City
Monaco is an easy day trip to or from Nice.
Day trippers, rejoice! There is plenty to keep you occupied in Monaco, but there are also so many charming towns and cities to visit within a quick drive, bus ride, or train trip. We chose to spend half our trip in Monaco, and the rest of the trip in Nice, and it was great. Many people visit one and then the other on a trip to the region, so don’t miss it while you’re there.
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Want more? Check out my dedicated Monaco Page!
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