Western Europe · Europe

Monaco

Discover Monaco - the world's second-smallest country, a glamorous Mediterranean city-state of casinos, Formula 1, yachts, and tax-free luxury.

Where Is Monaco?

Monaco is a city-state in Western Europe.

Where Monaco isWestern Europe · Capital Monaco

Capital Monaco
Population 38.3K
Area 2.02 km²

Monaco is a country you can walk across in under an hour, but you'd need a few lifetimes to afford most of what's in it. This 2-square-kilometer city-state squeezed onto the French Riviera between Nice and the Italian border is the most densely populated country in the world, the playground of the ultra-rich, and a tax haven that has attracted everyone from Russian oligarchs to Formula 1 drivers. The Monte Carlo Casino is the one that James Bond made famous, and the annual Grand Prix turns the city streets into the world's most glamorous racetrack.

But Monaco isn't just about money and motors. The Grimaldi family has ruled here since 1297, making it one of the oldest ruling dynasties in the world. Prince Rainier III married Grace Kelly in 1956, turning Monaco into a permanent fixture of tabloid royalty. The Oceanographic Museum was directed by Jacques Cousteau for decades. And despite the image, it's a genuinely functional micro-state with its own flag, anthem, and 38,000 residents crammed into a space smaller than Central Park.

At a glance

Language

French

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Calling Code

+377

Drives On

Right

Internet

.mc

Timezone

CET (UTC+1)

Script

Latin

Government

Constitutional Monarchy

Independence

1297

By population

Largest cities in Monaco

Monte Carlo

The famous district home to the casino, the Grand Prix circuit, and some of the most expensive real estate on Earth

16,000

Monaco-Ville

The Rock - the old fortified town on the promontory, home to the Prince's Palace and the Cathedral

1,000

La Condamine

The commercial district with the port, market, and pedestrian shopping streets

12,000

Fontvieille

The newest district, built entirely on land reclaimed from the sea in the 1980s

4,000

People

Famous people from Monaco

Grace Kelly
Film
Hollywood star who became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III in 1956
Prince Rainier III
Politics
Ruled Monaco for 56 years (1949-2005), transforming it from a sleepy town into an international luxury destination
Charles Leclerc
Sport
Monegasque Formula 1 driver for Ferrari, multiple Grand Prix winner and Monaco's biggest sporting star
Louis II
Politics
Prince who reigned from 1922 to 1949 and founded the Monaco Grand Prix in 1929

Food

Traditional cuisine of Monaco

Barbagiuan: Deep-fried pastry filled with Swiss chard and ricotta, Monaco's traditional national snack
Socca: Thin chickpea flour pancake baked in a wood-fired oven, shared with neighboring Nice
Stocafi: Monegasque stockfish dish with tomatoes, olives, and potatoes, a traditional Mediterranean recipe
Fougasse Monegasque: Sweet bread flavored with orange blossom water and decorated with nuts, baked for holidays
Bouillabaisse: Rich Mediterranean fish stew influenced by the nearby Provencal tradition

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Monaco

Oceanographic MuseumLandmark: World-famous museum on a cliff edge, directed by Jacques Cousteau for 32 years, with spectacular aquariums
Exotic GardenLandmark: Cliffside garden with over 1,000 succulents and cacti, plus prehistoric caves discovered below
Port HerculesCoast: The main harbor packed with superyachts, surrounded by the Grand Prix circuit and Monte Carlo skyline
Princess Grace Rose GardenLandmark: Tranquil garden with over 8,000 roses dedicated to Grace Kelly, an oasis in the dense urban landscape

Sport

Sports in Monaco

Formula 1: The Monaco Grand Prix has been held since 1929 and is the most prestigious race in F1, run through city streets
Football: AS Monaco competes in France's Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2017
Tennis: The Monte-Carlo Masters is one of the most prestigious clay court tournaments on the ATP Tour
Sailing: The Monaco Yacht Club hosts world-class regattas and is the base for several America's Cup teams

Facts

Did you know?

Monaco is the world's second-smallest country at just 2.02 square kilometers, only Vatican City is smaller
It's the most densely populated country in the world with over 19,000 people per square kilometer
Monaco has no income tax, which is why so many of the world's wealthiest people have residences here
The Monte Carlo Casino is not open to Monegasque citizens - locals are banned from gambling there
Grace Kelly, an Oscar-winning actress, gave up her Hollywood career to become Princess of Monaco in 1956
Monaco's entire army consists of about 125 soldiers - smaller than the Vatican's Swiss Guard
The country has expanded its territory by 20% through land reclamation from the sea