Monte Carlo is the playground of millionaires, with its majestic vistas and fabulous architecture, but visitors on a wide range of budgets can find reasons to visit and enjoy all this stunning destination has to offer. Getting to Monte Carlo is as simple as hopping a helicopter from the airport, as fast as a high-speed train or as slow and scenic as taking the bus from the airport and enjoying a 40 minute ride through some of the most scenic countryside in all of Europe.
The views and vistas alone are worth the journey. Looking costs nothing and the many high points around the city present the visitor with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Down from the heights, tourists will wish to explore the narrow streets of Monaco-Ville, the old-town. With its down-to-earth colors and inexpensive cafes, this part of Monte Carlo is tailor-made for the budget traveler. Sitting at a pavement cafe, sipping an espresso is the perfect way to watch the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo pass by.
If you fancy a spin at the tables, better bring your wallet. Serious gamblers and those bent on losing large quantities of Euros are all welcome at Monte Carlo’s tables. Best to brush up on your game savvy at a site like Pokerblog.com before trying your luck at the town’s casino.
For those more inclined to admiring the sea life than the lifestyles of the rich and famous, Monte Carlo offers some of the most spectacular opportunities for viewing coastal areas in the world. The Sentier Littoral is a tourist by-way that follows the coastline, beginning at Cap d’Ail and winding its way around the rocky coast, swerving inland through green hills to the Chemin de Souta and Le Cap Fleuri, where visitors may want to visit Le Cabanon.
Excellent food can also be found at Yoshi, the newest Japanese restaurant in Monte Carlo. Do not look for endangered blue-fin tuna on the menu, though. Monte Carlo is light-years ahead in eco-friendly responsible use of our ocean’s bounty and has issued a ban on serving the fish. Visitors to Yoshi can, however, enjoy freshly prepared bento boxes, Japanese box lunches. The boxes feature some of the freshest seafood and Japanese cuisine to be had in all of Monte Carlo.
For art lovers, Villa Paloma is a must-see. As part of the Nouveau Musee National de Monaco, the National Museum of Monaco, Monaco’s interdependent relationship with the sea is evident in the artwork and exhibits that rotate in and out of the museum.
Families traveling with children could be concerned that Monte Carlo might be a little too full of itself, a little too ritzy, a little too glamorous, a little too overflowing with art, culture and bling. Never fear, for Monte Carlo has something for everyone, even the kiddies. Located on the waterfront, NI Box is an enormous amusement park, offering arcades, bowling, a skating rink and many other attractions. Parents can relax in the on-site lounge for drinks nightclub style, while the kids run rampant. Enjoying Monte Carlo as a family has never been so easy or enjoyable.
Top image from Herry Lawford
