Best Places to Visit in Monaco & the Monte Carlo Casino

Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. The whole place is only about 2 km² in size, so you can walk it in a single day. But do not let the size fool you: this is the country of billionaires, full of superyachts, Formula 1 and the famous Monte Carlo Casino, where I actually walked in and won a little money.

I did Monaco as an easy day trip from Nice. Here is exactly how to get there, what to see, what it costs, and my honest tips, with real prices in euros and rupees.

How to get to Monaco from Nice

Most people stay in Nice (France) and visit Monaco for the day, because Nice is far cheaper to sleep in and the two are very close. There is no airport in Monaco, so you arrive through Nice. Here are your four ways across, from cheapest to fastest.

💡 My pick: the train. It is the cheapest, and the coastal views on the way are gorgeous. If you land late or have heavy bags, the direct express bus is the easy, no-stress choice. (Fares change, so check the current price before you travel.)

Monaco in one day: the route

Monaco is tiny, so you can see the main sights on foot in roughly this order. Start high on The Rock in the morning for the Palace, drop down to the harbour, then finish in Monte-Carlo at the casino in the afternoon (the gaming rooms open at 2pm).

Monaco in one day: start on The Rock (1), down to the harbour (2), along the F1 track (3), and finish at the casino (4). The whole walk is well under an hour.

The best places to visit in Monaco

Here are the best things to do in Monaco, all within walking distance of each other.

1. The Prince’s Palace and the Old Town

High on a rock above the sea sits the Prince's Palace (Palais Princier). This is not an empty museum: Monaco's royal family, the Grimaldis, led by Prince Albert II, actually live here. Soldiers called the Carabiniers guard the gate, and if you time it for around 11:55 in the morning you can watch the changing of the guard, a short ceremony that is completely free. The palace square also gives you one of the best free views over the whole harbour.

Around the palace is Monaco-Ville, the old town, known as "The Rock". These narrow lanes are the oldest and prettiest part of the country: pastel buildings, little squares, the cathedral where Grace Kelly is buried, and the famous Oceanographic Museum. It is all free to wander, and it felt calm and almost village-like compared to the glitzy side of the city.

💡 Most of this is free. Wandering the old town, the palace square view and the guard change all cost nothing. Going inside the Palace state apartments is about €10, and the Oceanographic Museum is about €19, only if you want to go in.

2. Port Hercules, the superyacht harbour

From The Rock you look straight down onto Port Hercules, Monaco’s main harbour, and it is a sight in itself. This is where some of the world’s biggest and most expensive superyachts park side by side. Walk down to the quay and stroll along the water: it is free, and the yacht-spotting is unreal. During the Formula 1 weekend this same harbour fills up with party boats.

3. The Monaco F1 Grand Prix circuit

Here is the fun part. The famous Monaco Grand Prix is raced on the normal city streets, so when you walk around the harbour and up towards the casino, you are literally walking on the Formula 1 track. Look out for the start-finish straight along the harbour, the tight Fairmont Hairpin (the slowest corner in all of Formula 1), and the tunnel that runs under the hotels.

⚠️ About race week: the Grand Prix is in late May. It is thrilling, but the city gets packed and hotels cost a fortune. For a calm, cheaper visit, come any other time of year and enjoy the empty track for your photos.

4. The Monte Carlo Casino

This is the one everyone comes for: the Casino de Monte-Carlo, a 150-year-old palace of marble, gold and chandeliers. Even if you never gamble, the building and the square out front (lined with Ferraris and Lamborghinis) are worth seeing. But you can go inside and play, and that is exactly what I did: I played blackjack and roulette, and between my husband and me we came out €40 ahead.

How to get inside the Monte Carlo Casino and play

Going inside is simpler than it looks. Here is exactly how it works:

1. Carry your passport and be 18+. You must be at least 18 to enter the gaming rooms, and you need your passport to get in. A driving licence is not accepted, so keep your passport with you.

2. Pay the entry fee: €20. Entry to the gaming rooms is €20, and €10 of that comes back to you as credit to play with. The gaming rooms open at 2pm.

3. Leave your bags for free. There is a free counter inside where you can leave your luggage and bags, so you are not carrying them around while you play.

4. Dress smart. No shorts, flip-flops, sportswear or ripped jeans. Smart-casual is fine in the daytime. After 7pm some rooms are stricter, and men may need a jacket.

5. Play small and have fun. The minimum bet is about €5. I started with the €10 playing credit on blackjack, won some money, then put those winnings on roulette. Between us, my husband and I won €40 in total. Treat it as fun money, not a plan to get rich.

💡 Free option: if you do not want to pay or play, the grand Atrium entrance and the square outside are free to see, and the supercar-spotting alone is worth the walk up.

What a day in Monaco costs

These are rough numbers for one person, one day, visiting from Nice and not counting where you stay.

Tips before you go

Watch my Monaco vlog

I filmed the whole day in Monaco. Watch the full vlog here:

Prefer the short version? Watch my Monaco reels:

• Monaco: all the places to visit
• How I got into the Monte Carlo Casino (and won)
• How to reach Monaco from Nice airport

That is Monaco in one easy day: the palace, the superyachts, the Formula 1 track and the famous casino, and most of it free to enjoy. If this helped you plan, come say hi on Instagram @travelerjyoti and tell me, would you try your luck at the Monte Carlo Casino?