We are in the tiny Principality of Monaco for 3 days, ready to enjoy the Monegasque lifestyle but also curious to learn more about this tiny piece of land that attracts celebrities and international jet-setters from all over the world.
Walking through the city, Birkin bags stroll beside you almost as if they were ordinary prêt-à-porter accessories.
Except that we are talking about handbags costing ten thousand euros and upwards.
Around Place du Casino, supercars parade past in their gleaming colours, while yachts worth millions of dollars are moored in the harbour.
If we had to choose just one word to describe all of this, it would be: luxury.
But it was not always like this.
Monte Carlo was created in the mid-19th century as a response to a serious economic crisis in the Principality of Monaco.
And behind the extraordinary wealth we see today lies a much more fascinating story, one that began long before the supercars and casinos.
3 Days in Monaco: The History of the Promontory
The area we now know as the Principality of Monaco was inhabited as early as prehistoric times.
Its strategic position, with a natural harbour and an easily defended rocky promontory, did not escape the attention of the Ligurians, the indigenous population of the area, who settled here.
Later, the Phocaeans, the Greek colonists who also founded Marseille, established a trading post here.
During Roman times, the place was known as Portus Herculis Monoeci, a small harbour along the route towards Gaul.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the region passed through several different dominations: Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards and then Franks. It also suffered Saracen raids around the 9th and 10th centuries.
In 1191, Emperor Henry VI granted the territory to the Republic of Genoa, which built a fortress here in 1215.
And this is where the history of Monaco became deeply intertwined with Italian history.
During the 13th century, Genoa, like many Italian communes, was torn apart by internal struggles between factions competing for control of the city.
The conflict increasingly divided the Guelphs, supporters of the papacy, including the Grimaldi and Fieschi families, and the Ghibellines, supporters of the emperor, including the Spinola and Doria families.
The two factions repeatedly seized control of Genoa, sometimes through sudden coups.
It was during one of the periods of Ghibelline dominance, when the Spinola and Doria families were in power in Genoa during the 1290s, that the fortress of Monaco came under the direct control of Ghibelline troops.
And that was when a Grimaldi who would become one of the central figures in Monaco’s history entered the scene.
The Conquest of Monaco in 1297
On 19 January 1297, Francesco Grimaldi, known as “il Malizia”, arrived at the foot of the Rock disguised as a Franciscan monk, asking for shelter for the night.
Once he had been allowed inside, he and his men launched a surprise attack on the garrison and seized the fortress.
This episode also gave rise to part of the Principality’s heraldry: the Grimaldi coat of arms still depicts two monks armed with swords, commemorating the famous ruse.
But the 1297 conquest was not permanent.
Francesco Grimaldi was expelled from Monaco in 1301.
His cousin Ranieri I reconquered the Rock that same year on behalf of the family.
The true founder of the stable dynasty was Ranieri II and, above all, Carlo I Grimaldi, who acquired Menton and Roquebrune in 1331, expanding the family’s territory.
In 1346, possession of Monaco was officially recognised as belonging to the Grimaldi family.
From the French Revolution to Monaco’s Economic Crisis
During the French Revolution, Monaco was invaded and annexed by France in 1793.
The Grimaldi family was stripped of its possessions and the Principality temporarily ceased to exist as a sovereign state.
It was only restored after the Restoration, this time under the protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia, ruled by the House of Savoy, rather than France.
During the first half of the 19th century, resentment grew dramatically in Menton and Roquebrune. These were the wealthiest and most populous parts of the Principality, with economies largely based on agriculture and citrus cultivation.
The pressure of the taxes imposed by the Grimaldis made the situation increasingly difficult.
In 1848, Menton and Roquebrune rebelled and declared themselves free cities under Sardinian protection. They were eventually ceded permanently to France in 1861.
Monaco was left with a tiny territory and almost no economic resources.
And it was precisely this crisis that gave birth to the Monte Carlo we know today.
The Solution: Gambling
To revive the Principality’s finances, the Grimaldi family decided to focus on gambling, which was prohibited in France at the time.
An early attempt to establish a casino in the 1850s failed, mainly because of its inconvenient location and the lack of efficient transport connections.
The turning point came with François Blanc, an entrepreneur already well established in the gambling industry, who had successfully managed the casino in Bad Homburg, Germany.
In 1863, he founded the Société des Bains de Mer, better known as SBM, which developed an entire district devoted to luxury and gambling.
But better connections were also essential.
The railway arrived just a few years later, in 1868, and became a decisive factor in the success of the new destination.
The district was named Monte-Carlo after the reigning prince, Charles III of Monaco, under whose rule, beginning in 1856, the entire project took shape.
The name was officially adopted in 1866.
From then on, Monte Carlo quickly became a magnet for European aristocracy and the wealthy upper classes.
Gambling radically transformed the Principality’s economy and helped create the model of wealth and prestige that we still associate with Monaco today.
Monte Carlo Today: Jet Set and Lifestyle
And today?
Today, Monte Carlo is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive and recognisable places in the world.
Just over 2 km² concentrate luxury boutiques, hotels, prestigious restaurants and, naturally, the famous Carré d’Or, centred around the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris.
Thanks to Monaco’s favourable tax system, a mix of old European aristocracy and new international wealth has chosen the Principality as a residence.
Among them are Formula 1 drivers, tennis players, entrepreneurs and celebrities.
The presence of the international jet set is an important part of the country’s economic model: it attracts capital, events and high-spending tourism that supports the wider economy.
Monaco hosts major international events such as:
- the Formula 1 Grand Prix, held at the end of May, which literally transforms the harbour and city streets into a racetrack and attracts VIPs, sponsors and fans from around the world;
- the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, held in April, a men’s clay-court tennis tournament and part of the ATP Masters 1000 series;
- the Bal de la Rose, or Rose Ball, held in March, a prestigious charity event founded in 1954 by Princess Grace of Monaco;
- the Monaco Yacht Show, held in September, an international event dedicated to the world of superyachts.
What to See in Monte Carlo: The Architectural Heart of Monaco
Visiting Monte Carlo means immersing yourself in a dreamlike atmosphere that can begin in the Carré d’Or, the district surrounding Place du Casino.
This is where some of the most iconic buildings of the Belle Époque are concentrated, all connected to the history of François Blanc and the Société des Bains de Mer:
- the Casino de Monte-Carlo;
- the Hôtel de Paris, the historic luxury hotel;
- the Café de Paris, where celebrities, locals and visitors sit and watch the constant movement around the square.
The square was recently renovated to restore the appearance it had when it was first created and still features the mirror by Anish Kapoor, the British sculptor of Indian origin, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding buildings.
Looking towards the Casino, One Monte-Carlo is on the right: a contemporary district that brings together some of the biggest names in fashion and jewellery within just a few metres.
It is also home to Mada One, a restaurant that has reinvented the snack break in a chic, sophisticated way.
If you are thinking of eating here, you absolutely need to book well in advance.
We were there in August, admittedly, but the restaurant was already completely sold out a month beforehand.
Never mind.
We consoled ourselves by going into the Hôtel de Paris, whose inner courtyard is home to the pastry shop of the famous Cédric Grolet.
Cédric Grolet at the Hôtel de Paris
If you don’t know him, Cédric Grolet is the pastry chef who became famous for taking realistic fruit pastries, known in his own production as Fruits Sculptés, to an almost sculptural level.
If, like my daughter, you are a victim of TikTok marketing, you cannot possibly have missed them.
The trend became hugely popular among young Italians in 2026, also thanks to Grolet’s first Italian boutique, opened inside the Hotel Airelles Palladio on Venice’s Giudecca Island.
Imitations of every kind soon appeared, some more carefully made than others, some more delicious than others.
But Cédric Grolet’s remain the originals.
What are realistic fruit pastries?
They are individual pastries designed to look exactly like real fruit, but are actually highly elaborate creations.
A very thin shell of white chocolate and coloured glaze reproduces the shape and colour of the fruit, while the filling recreates its flavour.
Grolet’s first creation as executive pastry chef at Le Meurice in Paris was a cherry, back in 2013.
Since then, he has expanded his creations and become an international pastry star, winning the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2018.
His pastry shop in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is a beautiful place.
The space includes a counter where you can order pastries to take away, a dining room reserved for hotel guests and an outdoor garden open to everyone.
Of course, we had to try the realistic fruit pastries.
We chose three flavours: lemon, peanut and mango.
We liked all of them.
The lemon is fragrant and slightly tart, just like the real fruit, with a fresh aftertaste.
The mango is rich, enveloping and intoxicating, just as tropical fruit should be.
And the peanut was, without a doubt, the best thing we have ever tasted.
A single realistic fruit pastry costs around €18.
And it is worth every euro.
Absolutely recommended, both for the taste and for the eyes, for the beauty of the setting and for that luxurious atmosphere that stays with you throughout the experience.
What Can You See Inside the Monte Carlo Casino?
The Casino de Monte-Carlo can be visited with an audio guide in the morning, when the gaming rooms are closed.
As soon as you enter, you immediately feel transported to another era.
The atrium, which can also be visited without a ticket, was built in 1878.
It was designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera, who also built the Opéra de Monte-Carlo behind the Casino, an Italian-style theatre accessed via the grand staircase.
The atrium is arranged around 28 stucco columns, except for one made of marble, supporting a gallery with balustrades.
After passing the ticket desk, you enter the Renaissance Room, the antechamber to the famous Salle Europe, one of the Casino’s oldest rooms and its first gaming room, inaugurated in January 1865.
The room is illuminated by eight Bohemian crystal chandeliers, each weighing 150 kilograms, while the walls are covered in 22-carat gold leaf.
One curiosity in this room is the œils-de-bœuf, literally “bull’s eyes”, visible on the walls.
These openings allowed people to observe the gaming room without being seen.
In the rooms that follow, which we don’t want to give too much away about, you can see various games, from classic roulette to Texas Hold’em, the world’s most popular poker variant, and slot machines imported from America.
Who Were the Cocottes?
While exploring the stories surrounding these rooms, you eventually come across the figure of the Cocottes.
They were women who associated with wealthy and powerful men and became famous for their glamorous lifestyles and the extravagant gifts they received from wealthy men and even crowned heads.
In the White Room there is a painting by Paul Gervais depicting three of the most famous: Émilienne d’Alençon, Liane de Pougy and, above all, La Belle Otero.
The flamboyant Carolina Otero, born in Spain, captivated Prince Albert I of Monaco, King Edward VII of England, King Leopold II of Belgium, the Japanese emperor and the celebrated writer Gabriele D’Annunzio.
She was a star of the Folies Bergère in Paris and even conquered the United States after a triumphant tour in 1890.
She made a fortune.
But, sadly, she was addicted to gambling.
She died in 1965 in extreme poverty, in a house in Nice paid for by Monaco’s Société des Bains de Mer.
It is an almost paradoxical story when you consider that gambling itself had contributed to her fortune.
The Rock of Monaco: Prince’s Palace and Grace Kelly
Among the things to see during 3 days in Monaco, the most touristy area of the Principality is undoubtedly The Rock, or Monaco-Ville.
Here the glamour of Monte Carlo gives way to the crowds gathering to watch the changing of the guard in front of the Prince’s Palace, or queuing to visit the palace and the Oceanographic Museum.
These are probably must-see attractions even for day-trippers visiting the Principality for just a few hours.
We went inside the Palace with an audio guide.
I have to say, though, that what impressed us most was the temporary exhibition installed in its rooms, which are otherwise rather bare, dedicated to the royal wedding between Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly, the young Hollywood star, in April 1956.
It was a wedding that captivated the world’s press and public opinion.
Around 30 million viewers watched the couple’s civil and religious wedding at Monaco Cathedral.
For those who enjoy looking back at historic footage, RaiPlay preserves original footage of the wedding.
Grace Kelly died in a tragic accident on 13 September 1982, on the road towards La Turbie-Cap-d’Ail, while driving her car with her daughter Stéphanie, who survived.
Grace Kelly’s tomb can be visited inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Monaco Cathedral, beside the altar and next to that of her husband Rainier III, who died in 2005.
The inscription bears her baptismal name: Grace Patricia.
What to See at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
What exactly is the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco?
It is certainly not simply an aquarium where you can see marine ecosystems from around the world.
Frankly, there are more beautiful aquariums elsewhere.
Its real value lies in the work it has carried out since its foundation to promote awareness of the protection of marine ecosystems.
The museum has its origins in the passion of Prince Albert I of Monaco for the study of the oceans.
In 1889, the prince therefore commissioned the construction of a museum of the sea, which became the Oceanographic Institute we know today in 1906.
On the upper floors, you can still see instruments and techniques once used to study the seabed, small interactive displays explaining how they worked and enormous cetacean skeletons.
The visit, however, did not completely satisfy us.
There were so many people that it was almost impossible to move between the tanks, and the bathrooms were not particularly clean.
Perhaps it is worth visiting at a quieter time.
Larvotto and the Walk Towards Mareterra
If Monte Carlo is the most elegant and flamboyant face of the Principality, Larvotto has a much more relaxed atmosphere.
The district stretches along the sea, with its beach, promenade and a series of contemporary spaces that have transformed this part of Monaco in recent years.
Here you will also find the Japanese Garden, a small oasis of tranquillity with ponds, rocks, bridges and carefully arranged vegetation following traditional Japanese principles.
Admission is free, and the garden is located directly opposite the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco’s exhibition and conference centre.
It is surprising to find such a peaceful place just a few steps from luxury hotels, boutiques and the constant parade of supercars.
But there is something else we recommend doing: take a walk along the Promenade Prince Jacques, from Larvotto towards Mareterra.
We walked it after dinner and found it genuinely pleasant, even in heels, with the sea beside us, soft background music and the city lights providing the perfect scenery.
At one point, we noticed a large circle of coloured glass, set into the wall that forms the promenade’s railing.
From the outside, you really cannot understand what it is.
And inevitably, we asked ourselves:
“What could possibly be inside?”
Curiosity made us stop.
And we discovered that it was the entrance to a meditation space, an immersive installation designed by Vietnamese artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen.
Once inside, you find yourself in a small, intimate environment surrounded by pink-toned crystals and shifting patterns of light.
The idea is to create a place devoted to calm, contemplation and introspection.
Continuing along the promenade, you reach Mareterra, the new district built out over the Mediterranean, where contemporary architecture completely changes the appearance of this part of the Principality.
It is a very different Monaco from the Casino and Belle Époque buildings.
But perhaps that is precisely what makes it interesting.
Where to Eat in Monaco
Monaco’s food scene is of an exceptionally high standard, perfectly in keeping with the rest of the city.
When choosing where to eat, we did not want to miss the experience of the legendary Café de Paris.
Perhaps a little touristy, but certainly an iconic stop for anyone visiting the Principality.
We arrived as twilight was falling and went up to the terrace overlooking the square, where our table had been reserved for our family evening.
The food was perfectly good.
The champagne was too.
But what we will remember most is the atmosphere: incredibly glamorous and surrounding us for the entire evening.
The following evening, we moved slightly away from Monte Carlo towards Larvotto.
Here you will find the famous Maya Bay Monaco, a city institution since 2006 and a reference point for Japanese and Thai fusion cuisine.
The restaurant is located on the ground floor of a building on Avenue Princesse Grace.
At the entrance, the sushi bar displays beautiful pieces of fresh fish, ready to become sushi or sashimi.
You can sit at the counter or explore the various rooms inside the restaurant.
The restaurant promises a sensory journey and lives up to the promise.
We felt genuinely pampered and enjoyed beautifully presented dishes with outstanding flavours.
One detail we did not particularly appreciate was the 35% tip pre-set on the payment terminal.
We are happy to leave a tip when the service deserves it, but we would have preferred to decide freely rather than having to actively remove an amount that seemed excessive to us.
Where to Stay in Monaco: Experience the Principality at Night
If you are planning 3 days in Monaco, my advice is not to limit yourself to a day trip.
It is worth staying overnight in the Principality, even though, naturally, hotel prices reflect everything else about Monaco.
The reason is simple: Monaco changes completely in the evening.
Once the day-trippers begin to leave, the streets become quieter, the lights illuminate the Belle Époque façades, restaurant terraces fill up and the harbour begins to sparkle.
This is when you can really appreciate the particular atmosphere that has made Monaco one of Europe’s most exclusive destinations.
Luxury Hotels in Monaco
The Principality’s hotel offering perfectly reflects its reputation for luxury.
There are historic hotels that have become icons in their own right, grand properties overlooking the Mediterranean, contemporary hotels and addresses where the hotel itself becomes part of the travel experience.
Staying in Monaco also means not having to leave the Principality after dinner and return to the French Riviera.
You can walk between Monte Carlo, the harbour and the Rock when the city takes on a completely different character.
We chose the Fairmont Monte Carlo, a hotel with a particularly interesting history.
Before becoming the Fairmont, it was the Loews Monte-Carlo, a historic hotel in the Principality, and it stands exactly where the old railway station once stood.
But for Formula 1 enthusiasts, there is an even more special reason to stay here.
The hotel entrance is located beside a famous hairpin bend.
And this is no ordinary corner.
It is one of the most beloved corners among Formula 1 fans and, even when there is no Grand Prix, it is one of the places in Monaco where visitors stop to take photographs.
Every day, dozens of people sit on the wall right where the Formula 1 cars race during the Grand Prix, waiting for a supercar to come past.
It is not unusual to see someone standing on the famous red-and-white kerbs, taking home a photograph that looks as though it came straight from the Formula 1 circuit.
It is a very Monegasque scene and one that perfectly captures the iconic nature of this place.
Staying at the Fairmont Monte Carlo
The Fairmont is a large hotel with hundreds of very comfortable rooms.
Some overlook the inner gardens, offering a quieter and more intimate atmosphere.
Others face the Mediterranean, directly overlooking Mareterra, the new district built out over the sea.
We particularly enjoyed this relationship with the outside world: the sea on one side, the city on the other.
But the moment we probably enjoyed most was breakfast.
The incredibly rich buffet is served on the terrace of the seventh floor, at the Amù restaurant.
Starting the day with breakfast outdoors, with the sea in front of you and Monaco slowly coming to life, is difficult to beat.
I genuinely cannot imagine a more pleasant way to begin a day in the Principality.
The Fairmont also has two other restaurants.
One evening, we had dinner at the Lobby Lounge, where we enjoyed excellent fish overlooking the sea, accompanied by soft background music.
It was one of those moments when you don’t need to go anywhere else.
You are already exactly where you want to be.
One afternoon, after returning from our sightseeing, we simply sat down here for a cocktail, choosing from the bar’s extensive drinks list.
Because this, too, is part of the experience of staying in Monaco: allowing yourself the luxury of having nowhere else you need to be.
There is also the renowned Nobu Fairmont Monte Carlo, a restaurant offering Japanese fusion cuisine with Latin American influences.
We did not try this one.
Maybe next time.
And perhaps that is one of the best things about Monaco: even after three days, you can always find a good reason to come back.
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