Monaco Sightseeing: Rock, Casino and Port

October 20, 2026

Monaco is a country of about 2 square kilometres made up of several quarters. Monaco-Ville is the Rock with the palace, cathedral and Oceanographic Museum. La Condamine surrounds the port, Fontvieille is reclaimed land, and Monte-Carlo is the quarter around the casino, rather than the name of the country. The ground is steep, with more than 160 m between the port and the upper streets, and the government counts about 80 lifts, 35 or more escalators and 8 travelators to link the levels. A “Monaco Malin” map brochure shows them.

Place du Palais and the Prince’s Palace

The palace square has views over Port Hercule and Fontvieille. The Changing of the Guard takes place there at 11:55 every day of the year and is free, though state events can cancel it. The State Apartments inside are open only in season, from roughly spring to mid-October, with a 2026 adult ticket of EUR 13. The 2027 dates were not out yet, so check the palace site before you plan around the interior. The palace can also close without notice.

Oceanographic Museum

Prince Albert I opened the museum in 1910, and it is built into the sea cliff. Adults pay EUR 22.50, and the online shop lists tickets from about EUR 20.50. The Shark Lagoon, Tropical Seas and the rooftop terrace are open, while the Mediterranean Aquarium is closed for renovation. Hours are on the museum’s practical page .

Casino Square and Port Hercule

Casino Square has the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo. The casino atrium and boutique are free to enter from 10:00. A morning visit with a smartphone guide costs EUR 20, and the games rooms are for adults with ID from 14:00. Port Hercule is the superyacht harbour, and the public lifts connect it to the upper town.

Gardens and art

The Jardin Exotique reopened on 30 March 2026 and has views from its cliff-top terraces. The garden-only ticket is EUR 12. Villa Paloma, part of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, charges EUR 6 and is free on Sundays and for under 26s. It shows a Victor Brauner exhibition from 3 July 2026 to 3 January 2027, while Villa Sauber is closed for works. See nmnm.mc .

Solemn places

The Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco-Ville is free and was completed in 1903. Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace are buried there. Opening hours are listed inconsistently, and visits pause during services, so check on the day, dress modestly and keep your voice low. Sainte-Dévote church on Place Sainte-Dévote is free. On the saint’s feast, 26 January, a boat is burned in front of the church in a rite dating from 1874.

At the Monaco cemetery, a monument bears the names of Jews deported from Monaco. In the night of 27 to 28 August 1942, at least 66 foreign Jews were arrested, and Prince Albert II publicly apologised and unveiled the monument on 27 August 2015. See the World Jewish Congress report . Visit quietly.

Dress and timing

Swimwear, bare chests and bare feet away from the beach can bring a fine. Many sights restrict access over Grand Prix weekend, 4 to 6 June in 2027.

Guided sightseeing tours are listed on GetYourGuide .