From Wikitravel

The principality of Monaco [1] lies on the southern Mediterranean Sea coast of France, near the border with Italy, in Southern Europe. It is the second smallest independent state in the world (after the Vatican) and is almost entirely urban. With no natural resources to exploit, other than its location and climate, the principality has become a resort for tourists and a tax haven for businesses.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 History 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 By Bus 7 Talk 8 See 9 Buy 10 Eat 11 Drink 12 Sleep 13 Learn 14 Respect 15 Contact

Regions

• Fontvieille
• La Condamine
• Monaco-Ville
• Monte Carlo

Cities

• Monaco - Capital

Other destinations

Understand

Climate

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain

Hilly, rugged, rocky. Highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

History

Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Get in

By plane

Airports : none; linked to airport in Nice, France, by helicopter service (2001)

Heliports : 1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2002). Entering Monaco by helicopter is especially nice, and will doubtless impress your significant other. After collecting your luggage at the Nice airport, you go to the helicopter service waiting area. The helicopter ground crew takes you and your luggage from the Nice airport to the Nice heliport, on the other side of the airport, by van. The flight along the coast is beautiful, and you land right at the water's edge at the Monaco heliport, where a car service takes you directly to your hotel. Other than arriving by yacht, this is the best way for the international traveler to enter Monaco.

Rates vary seasonally, in the range of €100-€300. They spike up to €700 or more, however, during the Cannes Film Festival, usually held in late May.

By train

You can enter Monaco by train, arriving at the Monte Carlo train station.

By car

Monaco may be entered by car, The A8 is the road that brings most of the traffic in and out of Monaco and Monte Carlo. From Monte Carlo, it heads west towards Nice and Marseille, and east towards the Italian border.

Between Nice and Monaco, there are also three more scenic roads: the Basse Corniche (Low Coast-Road - Highway 98), along the sea, the Moyenne Corniche (Middle Coast Road - Highway 7), going through Eze-Village, and the Grande Corniche (Great Coast Road), going through La Turbie and Col d'Eze (Eze Pass). All are pretty drives offering spectacular views over the Coast line.

Taxi trips to and from Nice are also affordable.

By bus

There is a bus -route 100- that leaves every 15 minutes from the centeral bus station (Gare Routière) in Nice and costs €1.30
An express shuttle -route110- links the Nice Côte d'Azur Airoport and the principality. A bus leaves every hour and a single ticket costs €14.70 (2006).

By boat

The rich can afford to travel to Monaco by boat, preferably by private yacht. It's the way to visit Monaco if you can do so. The creme de la creme berth at the Port de Monaco; the primary alternative is the Port de Fontvieille.

Get around

Walking is by far the best way to get around Monaco; however, there are some areas, such as the Exotic Gardens, that require a large change in elevation and therefore make for rather strenuous hikes. For these, there is the efficient bus system, if you don't mind feeling like a member of the working class in Monaco's bourgeois opulence, or a taxi. Private cars are singularly useless for getting around Monaco, as you'll spend more time trying to park than if you walked or took a taxi instead. Most hotels will provide courtesy drivers to points of interest, such as the Palace and casino. Note that there is an elevator at the Place du Canton that connects the sidewalk to the palace grounds above, saving an uphill hike on the Avenue de la Porte Nueve.

By Bus

A daily pass specially designed for tourists allows you to use the buses all day for €3.50.

Talk

Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

See

• The Jardin Exotique (Exotic Gardens) is a fascinating experience. Many rare plants from around the world are presented in a walking tour that is quite memorable for the views as well as the flora. Due to the rise in altitude, the microclimate of the area is mostly desert, so there are many examples of desert plants, including unusual cacti, to see. There is also a grotto (cave) that has scheduled, guided tours. The entry cost is a bit steep (€8) unless you're under 16 or a student (€3.50)

• The oceanographic museum is one of the finest in the world.

• Entry into the Monaco Casino will cost you €10 for a day. There are also passes for a week, month, or even a year (which costs approx €50). As is usual for casinos, you are not allowed to take photos once inside the casino. It's interesting to observe the games, if not participate for a bit. Watch how much money changes hands! Another attraction is the glass display showing the casino chips of higher value. You get to see the €500,000 chip, which is massive for a chip (in worth AND size).

• See the Formula One Grand Prix

• The Japanese Garden (free) on the seafront east of the headland with the Casino on top. You can walk round the road under the headland to save the climb.

Buy

Eat

How to go wrong? Food in Monaco is universally excellent. There are many fine restaurants, beginning with the Cafe de Paris across the street from the casino, to the waterfront restaurants along the Port de Fontvieille. During the winter months, you will find the restaurants to be decently priced... for Monaco.

Drink

Sleep

If you're on a budget, it's highly recommended that you do not try to find a place to stay in Monaco. For example, a two star hotel without breakfast and bathroom will cost around €60 per person. A better option is to stay in one of the many towns outside of Monaco, for example Ventimiglia a sea-side town situated on the French-Italian border on the Italian side.

Try to stay in Nice. It's only 1/2 hour away from Monaco and it's very cheap to use the trains. They run regularly.

Learn

Respect

See France for guidance on "Respect" as the countries are similar in almost all ways when it comes to social practise.

Contact

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