Monaco

My Monaco travel summary:

Visited: July 1992, July 2023

Duration of visit: 2 days

Capital city: Monte Carlo

Population: 37.000 (2023)

Monaco travel blog reading time: 5 minutes

• Luxury, glamour and top end cars all around the city.
• Free parking for the first hour, but the second hour costs 7.00 EUR.
• Superyachts anchored in the marina.
• Casino de Monte Carlo transformed a poor agricultural country to a tax heaven retreat for the reach and famous.
• Reasonable prices in supermarkets.

An incredible array of gorgeous bistros, elegant buildings, stunning beach and harborside give Monaco a unique energy and ambience.

With close to 40,000 residents, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world and the second most densely populated.

What gave Monte Carlo so much publicity?

Maybe one of the oldest and the most prestigious Formula One racing events of the year – Monaco Grand Prix. It is also known for super-luxury apartments, James Bond’s casino visit in movie Never Say Never Again, and the upscale Port Hercule harbor. Monaco’s image reflects a tax haven where wealthy people avoid taxes and spend money among other affluent individuals.

I visited Monaco for the first time in 1992, when I joined an organized tour that took us to vacations in Lloret del Mar (Spain). On the way home our bus stopped for a few hours in Monte Carlo to appreciate the luxury and wealth that had accumulated in this lavish city. I don’t possess any photos; my memories are limited.

I only remember driving through the famous tunnel towards the Portier curve, where formula one cars speed up to 250 kilometers per hour.

My second Monaco travel adventure took place in 2023, exploring its landmarks and unique places to visit.

Monaco is still a fascinating and unique country with a rich history, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant culture. Despite its small size, it is home to some attractions, interesting places to visit, luxurious casinos, and a thriving economy. In recent decades, Monaco has thrived under the forward-thinking leadership of Prince Albert II, who has guided its development since 2005 by appointing a government that answers only to him.

I parked my car in the area of the casino and explored the city on foot. It was a summer day, with streets full of tourists enjoying various things to do: hoping to spot celebrities, taking photos of famous buildings, and soaking in the visible wealth everywhere.

Standing near the Casino de Monte Carlo, I watched luxury cars pass and park outside the Hôtel de Paris. I quickly realized the immense wealth concentrated in such a small area.

Bentley, McLaren-Mercedes, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, and Lamborghini are some brands I recall off the top of my head.

It seemed so surreal that so many luxury vehicles passed by in such a short time. The situation reminds on an exhibition of the latest, most extravagant car models.

Monaco’s casino was founded when Prince Charles III built his first casino in 1865. At that time, the principality was a poor agricultural country facing the imminent threat of bankruptcy. It became so successful that by 1869 the prince abolished taxation in the principality. Nine years later, he replaced it with the still existing extravagant building. The expansion included an opera house and additional, larger gaming rooms.

A brilliant move that generated revenue and saved the House of Grimaldi from bankruptcy for the price of giving away the areas of today’s Roquebrune and Menton. As part of the agreement, France also promised to build a road and rail line from Nice to Monaco.

The citizens of Monaco are forbidden from entering the casino gaming rooms; an initiative of Princess Caroline. It was a good move to protect locals from the temptation of gambling.

The Atrium is free to visitors, and I even entered in shorts and flip-flops. Unfortunately, the paid tour of Monaco’s most famous landmark was fully booked, so I could not explore the opera and ballet areas. The atrium is still a beautiful place to wander and glimpse the opulence. Nevertheless, it is hard to take a photo without selfie-chasing tourists in the background.

There are only two ports in Monaco: huge and glamorous Port Hercule and the charming Port Fontvieille. Located near the commercial and recreational centers, restricted Port Fontvieille can offer berths for only 160 vessels that don’t exceed the size of 30 meters.

Built in a natural bay at the foot of the ancestral rock, Port Hercule is the only deep-water port in Monaco and one of the very few deep-water ports of the French Riviera. When floating concrete pontoons were installed in 2011, the most modern and most practical marina in the western Mediterranean positioned Monaco as the Capital of Yachting. The marina embodies excellence glamour and luxury, welcoming boats, yachts and of course, the most magnificent superyachts and megayachts.

There are no restrictions on walking through the public areas and observing exquisite yachts, wealthy owners, and luxury cars arriving at their floating homes. I was surprised to find an area where rather modest speedboats were parked side by side. They don’t fit Monaco’s postcard image.

I didn’t plan to dine in Monaco, but instead I opted for street pizza and drinks, which I later shared with my family on a bench in the port. I expected much higher prices. The pizza was not bad at all, and some items were surprisingly affordable considering the country’s high standard of living.

Monaco is a small, but mighty gem, nestled on the French Riviera. With its glamorous reputation, luxurious lifestyle and stunning landscapes, Monaco has not really captivated my heart. A constitutional monarchy with an unconventional system that doesn’t collect income taxes from its citizens, has achieved a legendary status as tax haven for the richest people of the world, the most successful sportsmen and famous celebrities.

I am not convinced that living in Monte Carlo with plenty of tourists in the search for a photo or handshake with a celebrity offers a quiet retreat with high quality of living for its residents.

Stunning homes, fancy cars, and fashionable passersby might be an interesting stop for a few hours, but other than that, there are not many things to do in Monaco.