Monaco: a double-edged destination

June 01 2013

by Marc Dedonder

Monaco is a well-known destination for the rich and famous. So if your wish is to be rich and famous, Monaco should be on your "destination to visit" list.

This small country in the Mediterranean is a big open-air Club Med, but without the free drinks. Few people live there year-round. Monaco should be seen as an excursion between Italian life and French culture. Here in Monaco, French is the main language spoken. However, Italian and English are equally popular.

You don't go to Monaco thinking that it is the realm of tourist attractions in the same way as Paris or London. If you are the backpacker type, a few days in Monaco is enough, because at some point boredom may set in.

Many people come to Monaco for very specific reasons: business, festivals or for a long weekend. For several years now, the principality has relied heavily on trade shows of all kinds to attract casual visitors.

Nevertheless, Monaco is still working on its image as a luxurious and refined destination. Attractive for many, repulsive for others, discover the places not to be missed during your passage in Monaco.

La Condamine. Photo : ThinkingNomad (Flickr)

La Condamine
This is without a doubt the most beautiful place to see an impressive view of Monaco. It is also in this neighborhood where you can walk through the oldest streets of Monte-Carlo. This unique area also allows you to see the most luxurious yachts docked at the edge of the marina and making all travelers in need of adventure dream.

Palace of Monaco : Photo : Travelpod

Royal life
The monarchy is always present in Monaco. It is possible to visit the Grand Apartments of the Palace. This discovery will give you the right to visit the Throne Room as well as palace objects and the magnificent portrait of Princess Grace. The nearby Palace Museum is also a must-see attraction on the royal life of Monaco.

Collection of old cars of Prince Rainier III. Photo: Caradisiac

In the realm of vintage cars
With its F1 race, Monaco stands out as a racing destination, but also for its most high-tech and luxurious vintage cars. One can discover the sumptuous collection of cars so coveted by Prince Rainier III. Models that are sometimes so rare that people travel all over the world to come to Monaco to admire them.

Casino of Monte-Carlo. Photo: luxorium (Flickr)

Casino of Monte-Carlo
All the successful films that have been shot in Monaco refer to the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo. A chic and elegant place where the nightlife begins. The casino offers a selection of American and European games for all tastes. True casino enthusiasts will enjoy coming to play where the world's greatest gamblers have made their mark.

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort

A semblance of gay life in Monaco
Monaco is far from being the world's gay-friendly destination. However, just a few kilometers from Monaco is Nice, a world-renowned gay-friendly destination.

Here in Monaco, don't look for a bar, let alone a sauna or a nightclub dedicated strictly to gays. However, gay and lesbian tourists are always there to experience the principality. It must be said that the French cities of Nice and Cannes help to have this tourist influx.

The ideals on the subject of homosexuality coming from the government are sometimes archaic, knowing that the country is surrounded by "open" countries. It is still not uncommon to hear homophobic comments or innuendos from the country's leaders, which does not contribute to the gay-friendly economic development. Fortunately for homosexuals living in Monaco, no homophobic legislation exists. It can only get better in the future for a rosier country.

Even if life is not very gay in Monaco, it is nice to walk around and discover a world of its own. To enter Monaco is to enter a country where luxury is limitless. Why deprive yourself? Enjoying Monaco for a day will put "one more country" on your world map.

To learn more, check out the Gay Guide to Monte Carlo.