Things to see and do Monaco

In front of the Oceanographic Museum, climb aboard a mini-wagon and learn about the history of Monaco's most important sites in an educational and entertaining way. The tour takes in the Principality's most prestigious sites, such as Casino Square, Port Hercule, the Prince's Palace and the cathedral. Smart tip: park your car at the Pêcheurs parking lot on avenue de la Quarantaine, then take the free elevator to the train departure point.

An authentic work of art installed in the very heart of Monaco, this garden spreads over its 7,000 square meters a stylized reproduction of nature: beach, mountain, waterfall, hill, water bodies and streams. Created by landscape architect Yasuo Beppu at the request of Prince Rainier III in 1994, this garden, structured in an asymmetrical and quasi-natural manner, is based on the principles of Zen thought. The plants were worked on for three years to give them a Japanese style.

Follow in the footsteps of man's origins in this museum, founded in 1902 by Prince Albert ^I. Discover the results of excavations carried out in and around the area, and relive the major stages of human evolution through the ice ages and interglacial periods. The museum, which is also a research institute, carries out excavations and studies, and also offers mediation services. The new building, dating from 1959, is the work of Monegasque architect Louis Rué.

All the information you need for a pleasant stay in the Principality can be found here. On site, hostesses speaking several languages are at your disposal to give you information and advice on the range of accommodation on offer, whether for business or leisure. The website is also a valuable source of information. It includes all the activities and events organized on Monegasque soil.

Discover the Principality in complete freedom thanks to the hop on / hop off buses: buy your ticket, get on board the double-decker vehicle and listen to information on the surrounding monuments thanks to the audio guide provided by the driver. At your leisure, and according to the different stops scattered throughout the city, get off the bus and discover the streets and the must-see sites of Monaco before returning to the stop of your choice and waiting for a new bus in which you can get back on free of charge upon presentation of your ticket.

In the Fontvieille district, this superb stadium stretches over 22 hectares. Founded under the aegis of Prince Rainier III in 1971, it hosts major sporting competitions throughout the year. It is also an emblematic place for Monegasque sportsmen and women, who come to practice some thirty activities (athletics, running, soccer, table tennis, weightlifting, gymnastics, but also basketball and handball at the Salle Gaston Médecin or swimming and water polo at the Centre Nautique Albert II...). The Stadium is also accessible during a guided tour.

The Museum of Stamps and Coins opened to the public in 1996. This princely collection exhibits all the series issued since the first stamps bearing the effigy of the Principality in 1885, under the reign of Charles III. You will also find very rare stamps, as well as coins dating from before the euro, minted by Monaco. Temporary exhibitions are held regularly. The ideal place to complete a collection thanks to the philatelic and numismatic store.

The Naval Museum was born from the passion of Professor Claude Pallanca, who, since his youth, dreamed of sailing and made models of ships. This princely collection, founded in 1993, brings together more than 250 models and objects of the navy from antiquity to the present day, some of which were built by Prince Albert ^I around 1875. Eventually, the Naval Museum should leave the Fontvieille shopping center and move to another building. Its reserves have already been moved to Ventimiglia (Italy).

Saint Devote is the patron saint and protector of the Principality. Originally from Corsica, she was one of the Christian victims of the persecution led by the Roman emperor Diocletian. According to legend, her entourage managed to recover her remains and put them in a boat, which ran aground in Monaco. The martyr, who became a saint, was buried there. The current church dates from 1870 and is surprising with its facade that rises between two cliffs, near one of the accesses to the railway station. Every January 27, the saint is commemorated by setting fire to a boat on the square.

What a pleasure to walk around this zoo built on the side of a rock, with a certain charm that works on the whole family! It houses nearly 250 animals: exotic birds, turtles, caimans, hippos, reptiles, primates, farm animals... They have all been donated or recovered during customs seizures. During your visit, dive into this almost wild universe in the middle of the modern world that is the Principality of Monaco: a change of scenery guaranteed!

The Monegasque parish church of Saint Charles was built at the end of the ^19th century, under the order of Prince Charles III. Installed in place of the old Saint Laurent chapel, its purpose was to meet the spiritual needs of a growing population. In accordance with the Prince's wishes, the new church was dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, whose statue can be seen on the porch. In the shape of a Latin cross, the building is a reconstruction of the French Renaissance style. The facade is topped by a bell tower with a 30 m high campanile.

Discover illustrious characters from a mythological past unfolding their adventures in the salons... You will be fascinated by these frescoes dating from the ^16th century. Their discovery resonates with the history of the Principality and its age-old ties with the Mediterranean world. Today, two heroes and a heroine of the ancient world, Hercules, Ulysses and Europa, come back to life, with their exploits and adventures now revealed on the frescoes of the Palace.