48 hours in… Monaco

One of the most exclusive cities on the Mediterranean coast is Monte Carlo, in the principality of Monaco. In this wealthy city state, on every street corner you will stumble across a famous world citizen who has his or her residence in this tax paradise. A city full of exclusive super yachts, expensive cars and shiny white dream palaces.

If you travel by train, you can get off at Monaco station on two levels. In the hilly principality it is smart to start at the top and slowly descend to the port. Directly outside the station is a spot that offers beautiful views over the world-famous marina and the many exclusive apartment blocks with sea views.

A must-see is the Casino, which enchants visitors with a beautiful square. You can also be amazed at the many super luxurious cars that often parade in traffic jams. Classic convertibles do just as well here as shiny new Bugattis and Ferraris. It is nice for motorists that you can drive partly around the Formula 1 street circuit with your own car. Keep your speed in check, because the fines for speeding are not easy.

Extreme superyachts

For boat enthusiasts, a walk along the harbor is a must. There, the extremely luxurious superyachts lie side by side with yellowed sea fishing boats. Both species are worth taking a closer look at. A tourist attraction is the Jardin Exotique, opened by the legendary Princes Gracia. The garden overlooking the azure sea is home to a large collection of rare exotic plants. If the weather is not so good, it is worth going to the Oceanographic Museum. It has a large number of beautiful aquariums with bizarrely beautiful fish. The roof terrace offers a spectacular view of the sea, which is especially nice when the sun is shining.

Tax-free shopping

You can shop duty-free in Monaco, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. The word expensive is actually an understatement here. There are plenty of shops along the harbor to purchase beautiful, but also extremely priced items. There are hardly any cheap shops, although there are some supermarkets that charge normal prices. On Avenue Monte Carlo and Avenue des Beax-Arts you will find exclusive clothing brands such as Prada, Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

Exclusive jewelry and watch shops, such as Cartier, Bulgari and Chopard, are located everywhere around the casino. Regular shops such as Carrefour for daily groceries can be found in the Fontveille shopping center. In La Condamine, the Rue Princesse Caroline is the best-known shopping street and on the Place des Armes there is a fruit and vegetable market from early in the morning. A flea market is held on the Quai Jean-Charles Rey near the harbor on Saturdays.

Events

Many events are organized in Monaco, such as the Monaco Boat Show, the Monaco Circus Festival, the Grand Prix Formula 1 competition and the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament. During events it is often a madhouse in the oh-so-civilized Monaco. All restaurants are overbooked, super yachts and smaller boats are anchored in the harbor and people even sleep in places where this is otherwise strictly prohibited, such as under bridges and on the pebble beach. Parking is virtually impossible during events in the principality.

Spend the night in Monaco

Hotels

In Monaco, the Hotel de Paris is known as one of the best hotels in the world. But of course that comes with an elite price tag. Those who do not have a top budget can go to the also beautifully located Novotel, which charges prices from 200 to 250 euros per room. Except around the Boat Show or Formula 1, when everything is sold out well in advance and prices skyrocket.

Campsites

Camping la Ferme Riola

La Ferme Riola is a terraced campsite in the forests of the Alpes-Maritimes (30 km from Monaco). You camp under olive trees, on small camping fields. There is a sports field (including volleyball) and cycling enthusiasts can enjoy the cycle routes that the campsite has collected. The campsite has an outdoor swimming pool, a recreation room, a covered barbecue area and a pétanque court. WiFi available.

Route de Sclos 5309
F-06390 Contes
www.campinglafermeriola.com

Camping Le Val Fleuri

Small family campsite with camping pitches on terraces. With a playground, heated outdoor swimming pool and a paddling pool. The campsite has a park-like layout, with beautiful pitches in the shade of trees. 14 km from Nice and 35 km from Monaco.

Chemin du Vallon des Vaux 139
F-06800 Cagnes sur Mer
www.campingvalfleuri.fr

Campsite Domaine Ste Madeleine

Camping Domaine Ste Madeleine is a small campsite 4 km from the village of Sospel (30 km from Monaco), in the Alpes-Maritimes region. The terraced campsite has pitches in both the shade and full sun. The higher camping spots are ideal for tent campers; You can easily go to the lower part with your caravan. Many sporting opportunities in the area, such as canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, mountain climbing and mountain biking.

Mercantour National Park, Route du Moulinet
F-06380 Sospel
www.camping-sainte-madeleine.com

Wide range of campers and caravans

Looking for a camper or caravan with which you can go on a city trip to Monaco? Our website contains a large and current range of campers and caravans. View the offer here