On our way from Paris to Barcelona we decided to go via Nice in the south of France. Right next door to Nice is Monaco.
To be honest, I didn’t even release Monaco was its own country. I had always presumed it was part of France because it’s almost completely surrounded by France!
Monaco is known as a destination for the rich and famous. The shopping you find here reflects just that with stores such as Gucci (and Gucci for Kids!), LV, Tiffany and all the other brands I wish I could afford!
As it was just a short 30 minute train ride from Nice we decided to go on a day trip to see where the famous grand pix track it and of course the Monte Carlo Casino!
Something interesting we learnt – If you are a citizen here it is illegal to gamble! They have this stunning casino right on their doorstep and they are not allowed to even visit it!
Speaking of the casino – There have been 2 James Bond films filmed at the Monte Carlo Casino; Casino Royal, GoldenEye and Never Say Never Again. Unfortunately no filming was taking place when we were there!
If you are planning a visit any time soon there is one thing you should know. Monaco doesn’t have its own airport so if you are not one of the billionaires that frequent the area by yacht or helicopter, you would fly to Nice and take the train.
Monaco sits on the stunning Mediterranean coastline but it isn’t just the water that makes this a picturesque country. Beautiful hills in the distance, gorgeous cobblestone streets and spectacular Parisian style architecture are just a few reasons we loved Monaco.
Here is a look at this tiny but beautiful country…