Monaco
Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a sovereign city-state and microstate in Western Europe.
Situated on the French Riviera, it is a semi-enclave bordered by France to the north, east, and west, with the Mediterranean Sea to the south; the Italian region of Liguria is about 15 km (9.3 mi) east. With a population of 38,423 living in an area of 2.08 km2 (0.80 sq mi), Monaco is the second smallest sovereign state in the world, after Vatican City, as well as the most densely populated. It also has the world's shortest national coastline of any non-landlocked nation, at 3.83 km (2.38 mi). Fewer than 10,000 of its residents are Monégasque nationals. Although French is the official language of Monaco, Italian and Monégasque are also widely spoken and understood.
Getting to Monaco
Although Monaco is not part of the Schengen Area, it has open borders with France, so it can for all practical purposes be considered part of it. If you want a passport stamp, you can queue for one at the Mairie de Monaco. There is border control for arriving boats from outside the Schengen Area. If you want to stay for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a residence permit.
- 01Aéroport Nice Côte
- 02Monacair
The sole operator of regular helicopter transfers between Nice Airport and the Monaco Heliport.
- 03Monaco-Monte-Carlo
Worth seeing
The principality of Monaco offers a great balance of historical and modern attractions. There are various museums and palaces to visit as well as shopping malls and casinos. Monaco also offers relaxation spots along the harbour and even around the attractions. It is relatively easy to navigate Monte Carlo and Monaco if you take the time to learn where the various "short cuts" are.
Where to eat
Food in Monaco is varied, but generally expensive, and even very basic meals often cost over €20-30. Take a look at the menu before entering even shabby restaurants or you may be in for a surprise. There are places where you can find decent value, but they often require knowing about beforehand.
- 01Chez Roger
- 02Mickey’s Pizza
10 Rue de la Turbie, contact@mickeyspizza-monaco.com.
- 03Cooks Monaco
Brilliant Italian pizzas and great service.
- 04Lo Sfizio Street
The dough and the filling is quite exceptional.
- 05Maison des pâtes Saint-Charles
The pasta, gnocchi and ravioli are very good, the sauces varied and well cooked.
Getting around Monaco the local way
- Get aroundIf you find yourself afoot and wanting to reach the opposite bank of Port Hercule, look for the small , a pedestrian-only ferry that runs each 20 minutes or so during daylight; it costs €2.
From Wikivoyage: Monaco, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Spike (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.