As always with these guides if anyone has any better ideas or opinions about Monte Carlo, feel free to add your comments below. The more information we get, the easier it is for people to plan their cruise excursions.
Monte Carlos's a small city so it’s quite easy to take in in one day. However if you’re a disabled or older customer it’s worth noting a lot of the city is quite steep so you may want to make use of the local taxis, buses, trains etc.
The centre of Monte Carlo is always a good place to start your excursion as it’s packed with shops restaurants and bars and it’s actually sloped quite gently down to the port. So it’s quite easy to reach.
The structure known today as the Prince's Palace and residence of the Prince of Monaco started its life of service as a Genoese fortress around 1191 to 1215. Due to the small size of the country and perhaps lack of buildable land, this is Monaco's sole palace. The Grimaldi Princes have been in residence since 1297 (except for about 20 years) when Francois Grimaldi captured the fortress from the Italians while disguised as a monk.
Today, parts of the Palace and State Apartments are open for tours which give you the opportunity to see the lavish interiors including the Throne Room, Main Courtyard, State Apartments as well as the Napoleonic Museum.
The Grand Casino
The very idea of visiting the Grand Casino brings to mind dozens of movies from all eras, my favourite probably being James Bond. It’s a pity more cruise lines don’t offer an overnight in Monte Carlo to really get the most out of this experience.
This classic casino was built in 1878 and is actually he home of the Monaco Opera and Ballet as well. The architect was Charles Garnier.
The decor in each room is different and extravagant, some rooms with stained-glass windows, sculptures, bronzes, and paintings, marble floors and onyx columns in some areas.
Some rooms are open at noon and others not until 2pm so it is best to check their website for specifics particularly if you are only interested in certain games.
Monaco-Ville
The old part of the town that the Grimaldi family have made both their home and their stronghold lies atop a huge rocky outcrop to the west of the city centre. The steep walk up reveals stunning views of the city and the millionaire yachts in the marina, (so make sure you bring the camera for the views, they’re amazing).
The Private Collection of Antique Cars of Prince Rainier III
The late Prince Rainer III left a legacy of over 100 vehicles in this essential stop for car and history buffs. The collection includes everything from horse-drawn carriages through to Maseratis, Rolls Royces and Mercedes Benz.
Opened in 1933 this stunning collection of flora spreads up a sheer rock face in an explosion of colour. Subtropical vegetation abounds. There is also a museum that houses archaeological finds from the surrounding area.
As always, if any of my readers have ever been to Mont Carlo feel free to add your experiences below with any other recommendations you might have for great excursions.
Happy Cruising
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