We drove to Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, in our rental car this morning. The drive from Nice takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. We stopped at a viewpoint above Villefranche-sur-Mer. From there, we had a fantastic view of the bay and a cruise ship anchored in the water.
We continued along the coast to Monaco. Our first plan was to drive up to the Prince's Palace (Place du Palais), which sits atop a hill between Monaco and Fontvieille. However, we had to turn back because a police officer was only allowing entry to cars with Monegasque license plates. So we headed back towards the harbor. There were still significant traffic jams throughout the city due to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which had finished two days earlier. After passing the start/finish straight, we headed for a parking garage near the famous casino. Parking prices are the same in the numerous underground garages scattered throughout the city. We paid €9.40 for 4.5 hours.
Casino Monte-Carlo
The Monte-Carlo Casino was inaugurated in 1865 and is one of the most prestigious and elegant venues in the heart of the principality. Since the dress code (men must wear a jacket, tie, and appropriate shoes) is known to be very strict, we could only admire the building from the outside. Several wealthy residents parked their expensive cars around it. I was able to photograph, among others, a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Afterwards, we went to the Café de Paris. There's a slot machine hall there where even the "average person" can try their luck. We took €5 and tried our luck on a few machines. We even managed a couple of wins, but unfortunately, in the end, the house usually wins.
We continued on foot along the Circuit de Monaco to the famous hairpin bend by the Fairmont Hotel. As everywhere along the track, we were struck by the incredible narrowness of the road. We couldn't imagine that Formula 1 cars race around here at speeds of up to 200 km/h.
Japanese Garden – Monaco
Before walking back through the tunnel towards the harbor, we stopped for lunch in a beautiful Japanese garden (Jardin Japonais). We were able to eat our sandwiches in peace until a security guard reminded us that eating was prohibited.
Anyone who has ever watched the Monaco Grand Prix on TV will surely remember the chicane after the tunnel exit. There's usually a café there.
Port Hercule – Monaco Marina
We continued along the waterfront of Port Hercule, passing numerous impressive yachts once again. However, we were somewhat disappointed, as there weren't any truly superlative vessels. Perhaps the owners had fled with their yachts to escape the noise of the grandstand dismantling. Interestingly, and new to me, there's a small swimming pool with a diving platform located between the grandstands on the back straight from the start/finish line. I'd never noticed it during TV broadcasts. At the end of the harbor passage, we came to the Rascasse, a very sharp right-hand corner on the Formula 1 circuit. The entrance to the pit lane is just beyond it.
Prince's Palace of Monaco
We climbed several flights of stairs to the Prince's Palace. Unfortunately, we missed the changing of the guard, which takes place daily around noon. Nevertheless, a visit up here is highly recommended, as you can enjoy a fantastic view over the harbor and the city.
Back at the harbor, we walked through the narrow streets and found a car dealership called "Monaco Motors." Here, men can fulfill their automotive dreams – from Ferrari to Maserati.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel on the Côte d'Azur?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, opodo, otel.com or Venere.com.
After we arrived back at the casino, we fought our way back to Nice through the heavy traffic.
