…and I had a great time! Surprisingly because, yes, Monaco is undoubtedly a rich country, and quite an expensive place to visit as well. Yet, I managed to have a lot of fun, explore everything I wanted, and admire the colourful streets of Monte-Carlo without ever spending a single euro while being there. (Okay I spent a few euros on a gelato, but that was a gift from me to me!) My personal philosophy has always been that traveling should be affordable; you do not need to have a lot of money in your bank account to explore the world. You simply need to make sacrifices, and to focus on visiting the different cities and countries of the world by walking around and meeting people rather than going to museums, expensive attractions and fancy restaurants. Every dream, every trip, every journey,… is achievable.
The 1,95 km2 city-state of Monaco comprises many residential areas and districts such as the old city of Monaco, the very famous Monte-Carlo, La Colle, Fontvieille, Les Révoires and Saint-Michel. I visited this tiny but charming country back in August 2011. In order to save a ton of money, I was staying in a charming little hotel in Nice, France, which was way cheaper than anywhere in Monaco. Going from one city to the other by train takes between 20 to 25 minutes, and the tickets cost less than 4 euros. What I also did to save money was to bring a lunch. I made some tasty sandwiches in Nice, put them in my bag and voilà!, I could enjoy a nice, quiet picnic near the Mediterranean sea for just a few bucks. And I honestly believe that I had a much better view than any of those fancy Riviera restaurants. What about the rest of the day? Well, I simply walked, walked, walked and walked again.
Alright then… but what did I see? What is there to do in the tiny city-state of Monaco that costs nothing (or almost nothing!)? Well, let’s start with the free stuff first!
The things you absolutely need to see are:
*The port with the crazy-expensive yachts to remind yourself how poor you are… But
probably happier than all of those rich people, eh? 🙂
*Monte-Carlo’s casino (if you want to go inside and play, that’s another thing, but just
admiring it from the outside is worth it.) Oh, and the casino’s plaza is super beautiful
as well.
*The Prince’s Palace. Spoiler alert: it’s a big palace.
*The beaches, simply because the Mediterranean Sea is a glorious one, and that
admiring and enjoying it is a peaceful experience.
*The exotic garden with all of its succulents, cacti and (weird) statues.
*The Grimaldi forum for its interesting architecture and location.
*Going up (and down) the Rock of Monaco because the views that you get when you are
on top are frankly breathtaking.
What I really liked about walking around the small country was seeing the beautiful houses, the Ferrari car-dealers, the greenery, the mountains, the luxurious luxury, the cathedrals and the posh shops. Something that really impressed me in Monaco was how polite and respectful people were. First, the place is cleaner than clean, and wherever you are, when you want to cross the street, cars will always politely stop for you. (Yes, even the speedy Lamborghini!)
As for the not-free yet not-so-expensive things to do while wandering around the city-state of Monaco:
*The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, if you are interested in marine science.
*Eating a gelato! It’s (almost) as good as the Italian ones.
*Gambling in one of the many casinos (at your own risks!)
*The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology where there are tons of rare fossils.
*The Napoleon Museum in Monte-Carlo.
*The Zoological Garden.
Monaco may be small, but it’s a stunning place to discover. In just a day or two, you can see everything there is, and your wallet won’t suffer too much, as long as you stay away from the big hotels and the chic soirées. So go, have fun, bring a lunch, put on some good shoes, stay hydrated, take pictures, relax… and sleep in France!
Bittersweet Travel Memories 