MonacoCapital
Monaco · Country profile
Monaco is the glamorous microstate of the French Riviera, a cliff-hung principality of barely two square kilometres that packs dazzling wealth, yachts, casinos and one of the most spectacular natural harbours of the Mediterranean into a single elegant sweep of the coast. The rock of the Monaco-Ville, the old town that crowns the promontory above the sea, holds the princely palace, the cathedral and the oceanographic museum, while the casino quarter of Monte-Carlo, with its Belle Epoque palaces and its gardens above the harbour, gives the country its enduring glamour. The Formula One circuit of the streets, the glittering marina of the Port Hercule and the festivals of the year keep the tiny state permanently in the world spotlight. Compact, opulent and astonishingly beautiful, Monaco is the fairy-tale citadel of the Cote d Azur.
About Monaco
Monaco is the capital of Monaco. The city's documented population is around 38,350 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and French is spoken; the dialling code is +377.
The Rock of the Old Town and the Palace of the Princes
Monaco unfolds as an elegant, walkable circuit between three graceful quarters, the Rock of the old town with its palace and its cathedral, the casino thespread of Monte-Carlo on the heights, and the marina and the beaches of the Port Hercule where the superyachts line the quays. The stairways and the lifts of the principality climb between the levels of the cliff, the famous circuit of the grand prix follows the streets on ordinary days, and the restaurants and the terraces of the port run the glamorous daily life of the country. It compresses an extraordinary amount of beauty and wealth into a short, sunlit sweep of the Riviera coast, easily combined with the neighbouring cities of the region.
The Casino Quarter of the Monte-Carlo and the Gardens of the Height
The climate of the principality is the mild Mediterranean, with warm, sunny summers, gentle winters and the occasional sharp rain of the spring, and the seasons of the festivals and the grand prix shape the busiest weeks of the year. The euro is the currency and the French the everyday language, with the Italian and the English common across the tourist quarter. The rock of the old town, the casino quarter and the gardens make the classic walking circuit, and the lifts and the buses climb the levels of the cliff with ease. Smart-casual dress, sun protection in the summer and a comfortable pair of shoes complete the preparation for the compact principality.
The Marina of the Port Hercule and the Circuit of the Grand Prix
The palace of the princes on the rock of the old town stages the daily changing of the guard, while the alleyways of the Monaco-Ville, painted in the soft colours of the Riviera, wind past the cathedral and the palace of justice to the great cliffs above the sea. The casino of Monte-Carlo, the most famous gambling house of the world, opens its gilded salons to the sightseers, and the oceanographic museum of the prince leans its cliffs over the Mediterranean with its aquariums and its great views. The gardens of the exotic quarter, with their cacti and their palms looking down on the port, and the museum of the cars of the palace with its royal collection, complete the dense, brilliant world of the smallest great state of the Mediterranean.
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- Country
- Monaco
- Population
- 38,350
- Capital
- Monaco
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- French
- Calling code
- +377
- Country code
- MC
Frequently asked questions
Is Monaco the capital of Monaco?
Yes — Monaco is the capital of Monaco.
What currency do I need in Monaco?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in Monaco include French.
What is the dialling code for Monaco?
The international dialling code for Monaco is +377.
Flying out of Monaco? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.