Monaco
Hank Schrader, USMA '71, Europe Destination & Europe River Cruise Expert
Anne Schrader, Certified Travel Counselor & Certified Luxury Cruise Specialist
There are 5 Little Treasures in Europe—countries so small they sometimes are easy to miss. We call them Little Treasures.
Monaco is one of those countries.
So, let’s explore together and learn about Monaco.
Overview
Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. It is officially called the Principality of Monaco and their official language is French. It is among the wealthiest places on earth and known for glitz, glamor, intrigue thanks to James Bond films and a Formula One race in the streets of Monaco.
It is also known as a tax haven, there are no income taxes, and it is reported that over 30% of its residents are millionaires. The government is a constitutional monarchy, but the prince wields immense power which is accepted by the populace.
One last fun fact—land and buildings are so scarce that one square foot in a building will sell for more than 100,000 Euros.
A visit to the key spots of its tourist industry and gambling industry (the most important parts of their economy) will help you understand this small, wonderful country and help you decide if it lives up to the hype as one of the most glamorous places on earth.
Key Spots to See in Monaco
Belle Epoch Monte Carlo Casino—built in 1878; the casino is the world’s largest and one of the most elegant European Casinos. Admission charged to gaming salons, coat and tie required except for the casual American Room. On the same square is the elegant Opera House.
Monaco-Ville Palace—is the home to the Grimaldi family, the oldest ruling house in Europe. The changing of the guard at the palace takes place daily at 1155 AM.
The palace is a fortress built on the Rock of Monaco—here is a picture:
According to the legend, one of the Grimaldi family captured the palace disguised as a monk and let his soldiers inside the fortress—here is the statue of that event and another outside statue:
Visitors can tour the state apartments and throne room during the tour. They provide an audio box that explains facts about the rooms.
Among the rooms available to visit include the Hercule Gallery (has some impressive frescoes),
the Blue Room which is used for state functions,
the wood-panned Mazarin Room,
and the Throne Room.
Here is some more pictures of the palace:
It is open from April 2 to October 31. Admission charge. Website: www.palais.mc/en/index.html.
Monaco-Ville Cathedral--Built with the stark white stones from La Turbie in 1875, this Roman-Byzantine-style building houses the burial places of past sovereigns, including Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Free Admission.
Monaco-Ville Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium—founded by Prince Albert I, this museum is a testament to the importance of the sea to Monaco.
There are 3 Aquariums: the Tropical Aquarium, the Mediterranean Aquarium and the sea turtle aquarium.
We especially liked the Sea Turtle Exhibit.
There is a rooftop terrace restaurant which has great views of the coastline.
Right next to the Aquarium is the Jardins Saint-Martin. We walked down through this garden off the Rock of Monaco.
Admission charge for the Aquarium .(www.oceano.mc)
Monaco-Ville Jardin Exotique--This extraordinary garden, bringing together several million species of plants known as succulents, was opened in 1933. It was boldly planted on the rocky mountainside where it blooms superbly; it has today become the object of worldwide admiration. Admission charge. Website: www.jardin-exotique.mc/en
Princess Grace Rose Garden—Opened in 1984, this garden is a tribute to Princess Grace.
It has over 6,000 rose bushes and there are about 315 different varieties.
Anne was really impressed by the size and color of the roses.
Collection de Voitures de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco—this is a collection of the over 100 vintage cars owned by the Prince of Monaco. The collection includes famous automobiles such as Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Maserati.
The Monaco Harbor—this is a spectacular port that has some of the best yachts in the world. It has berthing space for over 500 ships.
The first two pictures are of Port Hurcle, the largest port and an amazing collection of huge yatchs.
The next picture is the port of Fontviella.
This is the view from our room at the Port de Cap D’Ail.
Jardin Japonais—this garden is designed in the Zen style. It uses water, bamboo hedges, stones and Mediterranean tress sculpted in Japanese style. The park has a waterfall, a koi fishpond with water lilies and a Japanese Tea House. The park also uses Japanese lanterns and traditional bridges to complete this excellent garden park.
I was surprised at how small this garden is.
Monaco is famous for helicopters transfers and even has a circus each year.
Some last photos—the helipad with a helicopter and two elephants in tribute to the circus.
Getting Around Monaco
The best way to get around Monaco is by bus (www.cam.mc ). You can buy bus cards, which cost 2€ per ride, directly on the bus. Bus stops are set up every few blocks on the main streets in town and buses are scheduled every 5 to 10 minutes. Buses go to all the major tourist sites; just look at the front of the bus to see the destination. There is an excellent tourist map that marks the lines by colors.
There is also a Hop-on-Hop Off bus (it is a big red bus you have probably seen in other places) that makes 12 stops. I took it and realized how spread out Monaco is with windy roads, lots of hills and tunnels—trust me the bus is your best option as taxis are few and far between and cost a flat rate of 25€.
Our Final Thoughts
Wow—what an interesting place—you should visit. Let Monaco transports you into a rarify world of money and glamor.
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Whatever your Dream Destinations are, we are here to help you get the best possible vacation based on what is important to you! We will provide you high quality, expertly planned travel. Please give me a call 713-397-0188 (Hank) or email me at hschrader@dreamdestinations.com. We want to help you: Savor life…make memories…Visit Dream Destinations! Your journey begins here!
ANNE has earned a degree from the University of Houston in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Serving as the President of Visit Dream Destinations, LLC, since 2016, she is uniquely experienced professional travel advisor with over 26 years’ experience in the travel industry. Among her numerous certifications, she is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) by the Travel Institute, considered the gold standard in travel agent certification and she is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC) by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), as well Luxury Cruise Specialist also from CLIA. Having traveled often to Europe since 1989, she has expanded on her certification as a Destination Specialist in Western Europe (DS) with extensive first-hand experience in luxury vacations. She holds numerous other specialty designations from individual vendors. An expert photographer, she delights in capturing the true essence of destinations to share with all.
HANK is a certified Western European Destination Specialist (DS) who has been traveling to Europe for 50 years. He is also an Accredited Cruise Counselor (ACC), conferred by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). This recognized expert in cruise and leisure travel is a retired Army Officer, and taught World Geography for 8 years. He is a `71 graduate of West Point and has earned 2 master’s degrees. His other Certifications:
AmaWaterways River Cruise Specialist
Viking River Cruise Specialist
Scenic River Cruise Specialist
Emerald Waterways Specialist
Avalon Waterways Specialist
Brit Agent
