How to experience the lifestyle of the super rich – a guide to spending a long weekend in Monaco

At just 0.75 square miles in size, roughly the same footage as New York’s Central Park, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. Bordered by France on three sides and the Mediterranean sea to the south, Monaco is famous for its luxury and grandeur and offers fine dining, culture and an insight into the lives of the wonderfully rich and fabulous. Being so small means a long weekend here will give you all the time you need to experience the country and its opulence without having to spend a fortune, and you might even hit the jackpot while you are here!

Accommodation in Monaco can be undeniably extortionate, but with private properties appearing more and more on rental sites such as Airbnb, options to stay in a somewhat compact but perfectly formed apartment are plenty. On average you can find a place to lay your head, close to the action, for around £80 a night, which will most often be studio apartments with a small kitchen, bathroom and living room come bedroom at night. With so much to do out and about, there is little need for anything more, and compared to the £500 – £1500 night prices you will find at hotels, these options are more than suitable for most. Because of its size, most of Monaco can be seen on foot, although there is an ample bus service and taxis readily available should you wish to venture around faster and further.

Below are three great ideas of where to visit during your stay in Monaco, which you can build into your itinerary if they take your fancy – all without needing to break the bank, whilst still immersing yourself in the magnificence and splendour.

Rainier III Nautical Stadium

With its Mediterranean climate and summer high temperatures of 27°c, a lazy day of swimming and sunbathing might be what you are looking for. A wonderful time can be had at the Rainier III Nautical Stadium, an outdoor Olympic sized swimming pool situated next to Port Hercule. The heated, saltwater pool has four diving platforms at 1m, 3m, 5m and 10m and around the outskirts are sun loungers and parasols to rent. Frequented by the locals as well as some tourists, the swimming pool feels authentically European and there is an impressive outlook over to the yachts moored in the harbour, as well as views of the steep hills which surround Monaco.
There are changing rooms and lockers available, and a cafe for drinks and snacks or a light lunch if you fancy. Prices here are more than reasonable, especially compared to other pools and some beach entry prices in Monaco. Entry costs just €3.20 per person for a morning session, €4 for the afternoon or €5.70 to stay all day.

Please be aware that from December through until March, the swimming complex transforms into self into an impressive ice rink, so don’t be disappointed when you can’t take an alfresco dip during the winter months.

The Café de Paris and the Monte Carlo Casino

Monte-Carlo is one of the nine districts that make up Monaco and is undoubtedly the most famous, with its name instantly conjuring visions of glamour and luxury. If you are hoping for an unforgettable evening then visiting its centre, Place du Casino (Casino Square), with drinks at The Café de Paris and a visit to the Monte Carlo Casino will not disappoint.

Facing the beautiful Hotel De Paris, the Café de Paris is a restaurant and bar decorated spectacularly in the Parisian style of the 1900s. The Brasserie menu is of course fantastic, but equally wonderful is sitting on the terrace sampling the cocktails and nos coupes de glaces (our ice cream cups), whilst watching supercar after supercar impressively drop off or pick up their respective owners all night. Booking for the restaurant is advised, but you can usually be seated without a reservation and with only a short wait on the terrace for drinks and something small. Cocktails prices range from around €18 to €22 but are worth it for both the taste and overall experience.

Just next door in the square sits the Monte Carlo Casino. Synonymous with James Bond and the location for movies including GoldenEye and Never Say Never Again, the beautiful building and luxurious atmosphere is well worth a visit, even if you do not wish to gamble. Again, the cocktails are fabulous and it is enough to watch the fabulously dressed casino regulars in action from afar if that is your preference. It might be worth noting that photography is not allowed within the casino itself so make sure you take enough snaps outside and in the foyer if you want to.

Monaco Old Town

In Monaco’s picturesque Old Town you will find beautifully quaint side streets and corners, as well as the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Reached by two roads, a favourite route can be found by walking the Rampe Major, where despite being steep and a little tiring, is well worth it for the beautiful scenery which can be along the footpath. Here views stretch nearly the entirety of Monaco, and right across to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, east into France. Doing this walk late afternoon into dusk is the most beautiful; here it will not only be cooler if visiting in the summer months, but you will be able to take advantage of the stunning changing landscape under the sunset, twilight, into the twinkling night. If you do choose to visit in the day ambling around the Old Town you will find St. Nicholas Cathedral, where Grace Kelly was married and is now buried, the Palace itself, as well as three beautiful chapels, gardens and The Museum of Old Monaco. Up here on the hill are a handful of wonderful restaurants and cafes, including L’estragon, which, being slightly set back from the main palace square, makes for a perfect dinner spot if you are looking for a simple but tasty meal away from any crowds.

If shopping is to your fancy Monaco, of course, offers this in spades, with Avenue de Monte-Carlo, Boulevard des Moulins and Avenue Princess Grace offering designer stores, elegant boutiques and high-end jewellers and perfumeries. Fine dining is also in abundance with Michelin-starred cuisine and famous restaurant brands situated here, most notably the Peruvian restaurant Coya, Chinese Song Qi, and Monaco’s famed oyster bar Les Perles de Monte-Carlo. That being said, fabulous service and wonderful dishes are not just to be found in the lavish and high-priced restaurants, and hidden gems can be found tucked away for a fraction of the price, including Grubers for burgers and the small Italian Restaurant, Valentin to name a few.

11 UK airports fly to nearby Nice, including four London airports, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast. Once here, Monaco is a 30-minute taxi ride away and will cost around €80, or alternatively, a train service from Nice-Ville station to Monaco will take 21 minutes and can cost less than €4.