What to do in Monaco?
Discussion
Planning a long weekend trip to Monaco in late September as I’ve never been and would like to see the place.
Not even decided where to stay yet! Probably will look for a more budget end of the scale, don’t need anything flash, just modern and clean will do.
What to do? Obviously I’m planning some car and yacht spotting but beyond that any and all suggestions received.
Not even decided where to stay yet! Probably will look for a more budget end of the scale, don’t need anything flash, just modern and clean will do.
What to do? Obviously I’m planning some car and yacht spotting but beyond that any and all suggestions received.
MrBig said:
Planning a long weekend trip to Monaco in late September as I’ve never been and would like to see the place.
Not even decided where to stay yet! Probably will look for a more budget end of the scale, don’t need anything flash, just modern and clean will do.
What to do? Obviously I’m planning some car and yacht spotting but beyond that any and all suggestions received.
Leave.Not even decided where to stay yet! Probably will look for a more budget end of the scale, don’t need anything flash, just modern and clean will do.
What to do? Obviously I’m planning some car and yacht spotting but beyond that any and all suggestions received.
If you want to see beautiful people looking utterly miserable, catch the train into Monaco from France at 7am as the army of shop workers carry out their daily commute into hell.
Take a drive over the old Monte Carlo rally stages such as the Col de Turini.
I'd agree with other posters in that it's disappointing having spent the evening of my 40th there. Nobody seemed happy, the traffic was static and the architecture seemed to look either like a wedding cake or benidorm.
I'd be tempted to head along the coast to Nice or into the hills, Col de Turini is a good shout. I quite liked Menton in an old fashioned way and San Remo was interesting if not overly pretty.
I'd be tempted to head along the coast to Nice or into the hills, Col de Turini is a good shout. I quite liked Menton in an old fashioned way and San Remo was interesting if not overly pretty.
Monaco hotels must be steep, I liked it as others did for a day trip.
Going back to CDZ in April and will go back to Monaco to the Monte Carlo side as we had our then 2 year old whinging, plus it was quite hot tbh.
The drive from Nice up the back of Boron and along the coast to Monaco is a great drive, but so is the drive up the back way past the Allianz stadium etc for some Tunnel noise!
I'll be doing Col de Turini this time as we only ventured up the back of Eze before for some mountain views/walks, unless it still has Snow in April time up there?
Going back to CDZ in April and will go back to Monaco to the Monte Carlo side as we had our then 2 year old whinging, plus it was quite hot tbh.
The drive from Nice up the back of Boron and along the coast to Monaco is a great drive, but so is the drive up the back way past the Allianz stadium etc for some Tunnel noise!
I'll be doing Col de Turini this time as we only ventured up the back of Eze before for some mountain views/walks, unless it still has Snow in April time up there?
I have been a few times to Monaco and love it. Went last June and it was perfect. My experience:
1- Last time we stayed in a super nice AirBnB in Cap D’Ail that was literally 50 metes from the border. If you are used to long walks, you can reach all Monaco from there.
2- From Cap D’Ail to Monaco there is a long staircase that in the end there is the Ferrari service dealer:
3- Close to Cap D’Ail is the most western Monaco neighborhood called Fontville, where most F1 drivers live (Verstappen, Ricciardo, Massa, etc.). The reason that they prefer to live there is because they can walk from their apartments to the Monaco Heliport. There is the beautiful “Princess Grace Kelly” rosarium there too.
4- From the Heliport, you can walk through the platform partially over the sea where the F1 drivers exercise with their trainers. By the end of this platform you will reach the Port of Fontville, where Leclerc’s mom has her hair salon.
5- From there you have multiple routes: you can reach the Prince car collection, the Monaco Zoo, the Rock, etc.
6- Dedicate a few hours to The Rock neighborhood: you have the old town, the Palace, the Town Hall, the Oceanographic Musem, etc. In the Palace square there is an amazing view of Monaco as a whole and the Port Hercule.
7- You can walk or drive on most of the F1 circuit. I drove l it twice during the Monday night after the GP.
8- The Casino and the famous Fairmont hairpin is a must for any F1 fan.
9- Lavortto beach: a few years ago they completely revamped the Lavortto promenade with incredible facilities. You have even free public locker rooms that you can use to shower after enjoying the beach. Highly recommended.
10- Last time I wasn’t able to go to the “Quai de la Nouvelle Digue”, it’s a the most outer dike on the Port Hercule, allowing some amazing views.
11- I forgot to mention on 1-: do not stay in Nice, Cap D’Ail is the best choice. Talking from experience.
If you want to know where Leclerc, Hamilton, and Toto Wolff live, let me know :-D
1- Last time we stayed in a super nice AirBnB in Cap D’Ail that was literally 50 metes from the border. If you are used to long walks, you can reach all Monaco from there.
2- From Cap D’Ail to Monaco there is a long staircase that in the end there is the Ferrari service dealer:
3- Close to Cap D’Ail is the most western Monaco neighborhood called Fontville, where most F1 drivers live (Verstappen, Ricciardo, Massa, etc.). The reason that they prefer to live there is because they can walk from their apartments to the Monaco Heliport. There is the beautiful “Princess Grace Kelly” rosarium there too.
4- From the Heliport, you can walk through the platform partially over the sea where the F1 drivers exercise with their trainers. By the end of this platform you will reach the Port of Fontville, where Leclerc’s mom has her hair salon.
5- From there you have multiple routes: you can reach the Prince car collection, the Monaco Zoo, the Rock, etc.
6- Dedicate a few hours to The Rock neighborhood: you have the old town, the Palace, the Town Hall, the Oceanographic Musem, etc. In the Palace square there is an amazing view of Monaco as a whole and the Port Hercule.
7- You can walk or drive on most of the F1 circuit. I drove l it twice during the Monday night after the GP.
8- The Casino and the famous Fairmont hairpin is a must for any F1 fan.
9- Lavortto beach: a few years ago they completely revamped the Lavortto promenade with incredible facilities. You have even free public locker rooms that you can use to shower after enjoying the beach. Highly recommended.
10- Last time I wasn’t able to go to the “Quai de la Nouvelle Digue”, it’s a the most outer dike on the Port Hercule, allowing some amazing views.
11- I forgot to mention on 1-: do not stay in Nice, Cap D’Ail is the best choice. Talking from experience.
If you want to know where Leclerc, Hamilton, and Toto Wolff live, let me know :-D
Edited by Kart16 on Tuesday 30th January 10:59
Edited by Kart16 on Tuesday 30th January 11:01
Edited by Kart16 on Tuesday 30th January 11:08
Edited by Kart16 on Tuesday 30th January 11:10
Hi i have been here coming up to two decades for my sins, far too many to mention!
However i would agree that unless your made of Money, take a hotel in Cap Dai, Beaulier sur Mare or Cap Ferrat. Villfrance is now like little Croatia so if that's your thing help yourself. Menton has some nice old drafty hotels but not much of modern design and construction.
If driving down with your own car its essential to make sure your hotel has its own parking otherwise you will be stuck on the local streets or public car parks, mostly constructed when cars were a lot smaller, although there are some nice exceptions like in Antibes. Look on any street in France and try and see a car that does not look like its been in a smash up derby.
As others have advised come to Monaco by train and the local bus service can take you everywhere you want to go to. If you must bring your car don't come between 07:00 and 10:30 in the morning or between 16:00 and 19:30 in the evening unless your prepared to be camped out in traffic for long periods of time. i.e. when i leave my office in next to the railway station port entrance it can take me 45 mins to travel to my apartment in Roquebrune 4 km away. When the weather is right and i walk it its quicker. In the morning if i come in by car, just after 06:00 it takes me 6 mins! Monaco now has lots of parking available look for the newer ones and bear in mind the width and length of your car, as often the spaces within them will be fine but getting up and down the curved entrance ramps can be a bit tricky for the uninitiated. Oh and be prepared for London parking prices!
The highlights i always take arrivals too are: the aquarium, the princes auto collection, Casino Square for some car and talent spotting during the day. Then at night it purely depends on your company i.e. with family or mistress etc you just have to remember that everything worth having if your making a event of it is expensive. There is non expensive for ordinary people tucked behind the main streets and in the markets where you can eat and drink well for a much more digestible sum.
Do your homework on where and when you would like to eat day and night time and book well in advance if you want to get a table in more popular times of the year. That goes for anywhere along the Cote de Azur for busy times but for all the more exclusive restaurants.
Remember 15th of July to 15th of August Monaco is just full of tourists and the locals have cleared out to cooler places, as the humidity and temperature is usually highest in this period. Ensure your hotel has a modern quiet air conditioning system between May and October, otherwise it's not really required.
However i would agree that unless your made of Money, take a hotel in Cap Dai, Beaulier sur Mare or Cap Ferrat. Villfrance is now like little Croatia so if that's your thing help yourself. Menton has some nice old drafty hotels but not much of modern design and construction.
If driving down with your own car its essential to make sure your hotel has its own parking otherwise you will be stuck on the local streets or public car parks, mostly constructed when cars were a lot smaller, although there are some nice exceptions like in Antibes. Look on any street in France and try and see a car that does not look like its been in a smash up derby.
As others have advised come to Monaco by train and the local bus service can take you everywhere you want to go to. If you must bring your car don't come between 07:00 and 10:30 in the morning or between 16:00 and 19:30 in the evening unless your prepared to be camped out in traffic for long periods of time. i.e. when i leave my office in next to the railway station port entrance it can take me 45 mins to travel to my apartment in Roquebrune 4 km away. When the weather is right and i walk it its quicker. In the morning if i come in by car, just after 06:00 it takes me 6 mins! Monaco now has lots of parking available look for the newer ones and bear in mind the width and length of your car, as often the spaces within them will be fine but getting up and down the curved entrance ramps can be a bit tricky for the uninitiated. Oh and be prepared for London parking prices!
The highlights i always take arrivals too are: the aquarium, the princes auto collection, Casino Square for some car and talent spotting during the day. Then at night it purely depends on your company i.e. with family or mistress etc you just have to remember that everything worth having if your making a event of it is expensive. There is non expensive for ordinary people tucked behind the main streets and in the markets where you can eat and drink well for a much more digestible sum.
Do your homework on where and when you would like to eat day and night time and book well in advance if you want to get a table in more popular times of the year. That goes for anywhere along the Cote de Azur for busy times but for all the more exclusive restaurants.
Remember 15th of July to 15th of August Monaco is just full of tourists and the locals have cleared out to cooler places, as the humidity and temperature is usually highest in this period. Ensure your hotel has a modern quiet air conditioning system between May and October, otherwise it's not really required.
DaveTheRave87 said:
I've been once. Maybe it was my budget but I'd struggle to find 2 days worth of things to see.
If it was me, I'd stay in Nice and take half a day in St Tropez, Cannes and Monaco each.
Couldn't disagree. We stayed in Nice & got a half day trip from Nice stopping in a couple of places along the way then into Monaco. I think that was more than enough. If it was me, I'd stay in Nice and take half a day in St Tropez, Cannes and Monaco each.
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