Itineraries for Your Trip to Monaco
2 Days in Monaco for First Timers
No trip to the French Riviera is complete without a stop-off in Monaco. It may be small, but the principality is suffused with old-world glamour and legend. Its name alone evokes images of Grace Kelly, roaring Formula 1 cars, and nights out at the Monte Carlo Casino à la James Bond.
I’ve enjoyed making stop-offs in the beautiful city-state while visiting nearby hubs such as Nice and St-Tropez. Two days in Monaco is just the right amount of time to check off its best-known attractions, people-watch in Casino Square, and even squeeze in a boat trip or side excursion. Here’s an essential itinerary to inspire your travels.
Monaco overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, so you should prepare for sun and temperate weather for most of the year.
If you only have time for one thing, make it strolling through Monaco’s picturesque Old Town.
Begin your 2-day Monaco itinerary with a morning guided tour of the city-state’s Old Town, which is worth soaking up at street level. Look out for major landmarks, including the Prince’s Palace (where Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier lived), the Monaco Cathedral, the Oceanographic Institute, and more. Some itineraries even include a boat tour from Port Hercule.
After you’ve enjoyed a restorative café lunch (or a picnic by the water’s edge), save your legs and enjoy a relaxed option for discovering additional must-see Monaco attractions. A hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great way to spot landmarks such as the Hôtel de Paris and Princess Grace Rose Garden. From the upper deck, you can capture postcard-worthy snapshots and enjoy the sun and sea breezes.
Whether you’re visiting Monaco with a group of friends, vacationing with your significant other, or embarking on a solo trip, hiring a professional photographer to capture photos of your trip is the perfect souvenir. Before you embark on a night on the town—or a gourmet dinner at one of Monaco’s high-end restaurants—pose for a sunset photo shoot, with the city’s picturesque vistas as your backdrop.
After a light breakfast, check off one of the best things to do in Monaco for first-timers. That would be the principality’s iconic Formula 1 circuit, where the Monaco Grand Prix is held every spring. Unlike other courses, the racetrack here is situated directly on the city’s streets. While you can drive it yourself, a guided walking tour is a great way to discover its features and stories.
Given Monaco’s small scale—and its location along the French Riviera—you can easily fit in a short side trip on a 2-day Monaco itinerary for first timers. It’s just a quick journey across the border to destinations including the vibrant city of Nice, the hilltop village of Èze, and St. Paul de Vence (where artist Marc Chagall once lived). Book a trip with a private driver for a fully flexible outing.
There’s no better way to cap off two days in Monaco than with a glitzy night out in Monte-Carlo. Make like James Bond at the storied Monte-Carlo Casino, party with the VIPs at one of the area’s high-end nightclubs, or treat yourself to dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Or simply soak up the sights and scene on Casino Square.
