A weekend in Monaco

Two square kilometres, a Rock, a casino, a port lined with superyachts and some of the finest tables on the Riviera: Monaco is the perfect counterpoint to the bohemian elegance of Saint-Tropez. Here is how we would spend a weekend there.

Getting there

From the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, count around two hours by road along the coast, or a short helicopter flight for an arrival worthy of the Principality. Our concierge organises chauffeur-driven cars, helicopter transfers and, in season, sea crossings.

Day one · The Rock and the port

Start on the Rock, the historic heart of Monaco, with its pastel streets and the Prince’s Palace, where the changing of the guard takes place every day just before noon. A few steps away, the Oceanographic Museum, founded by Prince Albert I and perched above the sea since 1910, is one of the most spectacular museums of the Mediterranean.

In the afternoon, walk down to Port Hercule to admire the yachts, then cross over to the Larvotto beach for a swim before the evening.

The evening · Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo is at its most beautiful at nightfall. The Casino, a Belle Époque jewel whose opera hall was designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera, faces the Hôtel de Paris across the square. For a memorable dinner, Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV is one of the great gastronomic tables of the Riviera; for a more relaxed atmosphere, the terraces around the square and the port offer plenty of choice.

Day two · Slow down

Give the morning to a long breakfast with a view, a spa session or a stroll through the Japanese Garden near the Grimaldi Forum. In the afternoon, a boat trip along the coast towards Cap Martin or Cap Ferrat reveals the Riviera from the sea.

When to go

Monaco is lively all year round, but two moments stand out: the Formula 1 Grand Prix in early summer, when the whole Principality becomes a circuit, and the Monaco Yacht Show at the end of September, when the most beautiful superyachts in the world gather in Port Hercule. During these events, accommodation is booked well in advance: anticipate.

Where to stay

On the heights above the Principality, Villa MONACO BLUE offers a panoramic view over the Mediterranean and Monaco, a heated pool in a landscaped garden and four en-suite bedrooms for up to eight guests: an elegant private base for a weekend, a Grand Prix or the Yacht Show.