Today's Post is a guest post by Jeremy Head. The tiny principality of Monaco, neighbor to Nice on France’s Cote d’Azur, is home to billionaires, tax-evaders and celebrities alike, as well as a Grand Prix and, in its main central district of Monte Carlo, a famous casino: it’s not an obvious choice of destination for budget travelers. However, you don’t have to be banking a seven-figure Christmas bonus, lucking out on the lottery or be in possession of a Coutts credit card to enjoy the spectacle. (Photo "Monte Carlo" by Cholin)
The scenery comes at no cost at all: climb to a high spot up on the Rock and take a bird’s-eye view across the Mediterranean and over Monaco-Ville, the old town. At less than 2km square, the glamorous domain of the Grimaldi dynasty is a compact place to get around, though you’ll need a good pair of walking shoes to scale its heights. Public lifts (free) speed your progress – and save your energy – as you ascend. The Jardin Exotique, featuring some notably spectacular cactus, gives a great vantage point; it’s also the site of the prehistoric Observation Cave and some equally spiky and impressive stalagmites and stalactites.
Walk out to the harbor and marvel at the yachts; the largest, most luxurious and most opulently-finished boats money can buy are moored in Monte Carlo, many complete with the requisite bikini-clad beauties lounging on-deck (depending on the weather, of course). Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern oil barons… all of the world’s rich (and nouveau riche, in particular) are here. Dress smartly enough to pass the door code, and you can watch Monegasques and their friends at play on the roulette wheels of the casino, even if you don’t fancy a flutter yourself. (Photo "View of Monaco" by kketeci)
The Museum of Vieux-Monaco (open only Wednesdays and Fridays, June-September) is free to enter, and the extensive vintage car collection of the Prince of Monaco – in an exhibition center on the Terraces de Fontvieille – is currently a manageable six euros to view (three euros for children). The Museum of Stamps and Coins, the Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology also host eclectic collections and are reasonably-priced, as are numerous churches, the Cathedrale de Monaco (resting-place of Princess Grace), and the State Apartments in the Royal Palace.
Buses are very cheap, and even the tourist-oriented Azur Express mini-train, which runs out to the Oceanographic Museum - where you can see Jacques Cousteau’s aquarium - is an affordable amusement. Watch the changing of the guard at Place du Palais, visit the colourful fruit and vegetable market at La Condamine, promenade amongst the palm trees on the boulevards and through the leafy residential districts, take a stroll in the Princess Grace Rose Garden at Fontvielle Park, sip coffee in an everyday café instead of on a hotel terrace; people-watching comes (relatively) cheap.
After culture rather than capitalist excess? Try the Nouveau Musée National, on two sites at Villa Paloma and Villa Sauber, for contemporary art, architecture, costume and artifacts from the principality’s heritage, as well as a broad and quickly-changing series of visiting international exhibitions. (Photo "Casino of Monte Carlo" by papipasto)
You may wish to stay elsewhere along the coast, however, as hotel rooms in Monaco don’t come cheap – especially when Formula One comes to town. Nice, an extremely pleasant destination in itself, has more affordable accommodation and is only a short bus-ride away – or a few minutes by helicopter, if you’re feeling suitably flash.
This is a guest post on behalf of P&O Cruises. You can visit Monte Carlo on several P&O cruises itineraries – for more information see their website.
