We added a weekend in Monaco to Brian’s recent European work trip – our first time visiting this small country along the Mediterranean Sea.

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know much about Monaco prior to our visit. My associations were limited to Princess Grace, Formula 1 racing, and wealth. None of which really inspired us to go and see what it’s all about.

We ultimately chose Monaco because it was easy to get to from Paris, it was a country we had never visited, and the size and scope seemed appropriate for a weekend getaway. Plus, checkout the amazing views from our hotel!

We quickly learned that this tiny country packs a punch – we only made it through half of my list! From eating amazing seafood along the coast to wandering the alleyways of old town to marveling at the impressive architecture and history, we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in Monaco.

Things to Do in Monaco

Walk the Formula 1 circuit and visit the Monte Carlo Casino

Two of our favorite activities were walking the Monaco Grand Prix / Formula 1 circuit and taking an audio guide tour of the historic and opulent Monte Carlo Casino, which I detailed out in this post.

Wander the waterfront

Positioned on the French Riviera, Monaco is surrounded by France to the east, north and west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The water is visible from many places but we especially enjoyed the views from the Old Town, on the hill climb to the Monte Carlo Casino, and around the Port de Fontvieille.

The latter is also a great place for dinner – we dined at one of the many restaurants along the water, enjoying the uplighting along the cliffs as the sun went down.

Roam around downtown

I didn’t realize Monaco was squarely in the hills along the coast – roaming the streets was a great workout with plenty of hill climbs to access different sites. The winding walkways and escalators led to fun discoveries every way we turned – from interesting buildings to countless gardens and greenery.

Grab a drink or bite at the Condamine Marketplace

We ended up at Condamine Marketplace twice during our short visit. Our first encounter was in the morning as we were on our way to tour the casino – we lucked out in finding an outdoor farmer’s market setup in front of the marketplace with vendors selling local produce, flowers, and more.

During our second visit we checked out the eateries inside the 1880s public market but ultimately decided on afternoon cocktails on the patio where we could relax and people watch.

Explore Old Town/Monaco City

After a circuitous climb from Condamine Marketplace we arrived at Old Town, which dates back to the 6th century. Home to the Prince’s Palace of Monaco and Monaco Cathedral, this was a busy area with lots of tourists visiting both sites and exploring the alleys full of shops and restaurants in between.

I really enjoyed the church, which was built in 1875 and serves as the resting place to many in the Monaco monarchy, including Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III. While we didn’t want to fight the crowds entering the palace this trip, I’d consider one of the guided tours during a future visit.

Enjoy the Jardins Saint-Martin

Accessible from the Monaco Cathedral, the Jardins Saint-Martin occupy a lovely, shaded cliffside space with paths that wind around a variety of ponds, vegetation, and sculptures. There were clean bathrooms, plentiful park benches, and occasional views overlooking the water.

After all of the people milling around the palace, church, and old town, I found these gardens to be a relaxing reprieve.

Take an evening stroll around the Roseraie Princess Grace

Our hotel was a short walk from the Princess Grace Rose Garden, which was commissioned by Prince Rainier III in 1984 in her memory. It features more than 300 varieties of roses and more than 6,000 rose bushes.

This area also includes the Jardin aux Canards, where we enjoyed several water features along with some native waterfowl. The walk back to our hotel from this area along the water was quiet and unoccupied – for a weekend evening, everything seemed relatively calm and quiet.

Bonus! Walk across the border to France and eat at Restaurant A’Trego. They have indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the water and we had fresh-caught seabream that Brian picked out of the case and the waiter cleaned and served at our table (using two spoons!). One of the most memorable and delicious meals of the trip!