Visit Monaco
Walk from the harbour up towards Monaco-Ville and you can cross much of the country on foot without ever feeling as though you have left the city. Monaco compresses a royal palace, superyachts, Belle Époque architecture, gardens, museums and Mediterranean viewpoints into just over two square kilometres. Monte Carlo brings the famous casino and grand hotels; the Rock holds the Prince’s Palace, cathedral and old town; Port Hercule and Larvotto give the place its waterfront identity. Its appeal comes partly from the scale. Monaco is one of the world’s smallest sovereign states, yet it has a distinct political and cultural identity shaped by the Grimaldi family and centuries of independence. The Prince’s Palace remains the official residence of the ruling family, while the Oceanographic Museum reflects Monaco’s long connection with marine science. The Casino de Monte-Carlo and surrounding Belle Époque buildings add a very different layer, tied to the principality’s development as a luxury resort in the nineteenth century. A day is enough to see the main sights, but staying overnight gives you time to experience the harbour and Monte Carlo after the day visitors leave. Monaco also works easily as part of a wider French Riviera trip because it sits directly beside France and is well connected by rail. British visitors should check current Schengen entry rules before travelling. Add Monaco to your list and see how much history, spectacle and coastline can fit inside one very small country.