Between a 2000-meter-deep sea and 3000-meter-high summits, the city state of Monaco is the country with the world's highest population density. With a land surface of 2.02 km2, the Principality of Monaco is the world's second smallest country.
Between a 2000-meter-deep sea and 3000-meter-high summits, the city state of Monaco is the country with the world's highest population density. With a land surface of 2.02 km2, the Principality of Monaco is the world's second smallest country.
The Principality of Monaco is famous, among other things, for hosting the most iconic Formula 1 motor racing event in the world. On the morning of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, dozens of yachts are at anchor in the Bay of Roquebrune.
Districts of Larvotto and La Rousse in the eastern part of Monaco. Left of the peninsula, the Larvotto Beach is the only beach in the Principality of Monaco. Right of the peninsula, the beach is in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort is one of the finest in the Principality of Monaco. It is built on a 4-hectare peninsula reclaimed from the sea. The resort features a beautiful garden with lush vegetation, a swimming pool heated all year round and a sandy lagoon.
Port Hercule is Monaco's historic and natural harbor. It has a capacity of 760 berths and can accommadate cruise ships as long as 300 meters alongside a unique floating breakwater, 352 meter in length. This colossal structure was built near the Rock of Gibraltar and towed all the way to the Rock of Monaco. One end of the breakwater is attached to the Rock, and the other end, where water depth is 55 meters, is attached by wires to the seabed.
The Marina of Fontvieille was created in the early 1970s alongside the land extension of Fontvieille, It has a capacity of 290 berths. The marina of Fontvieille and Hercules Port are administered by a company owned by the city-state of Monaco which also administers a third port in nearby ventimiglia in Italy.
The district of Fontvieille is almost entirely built on reclaimed land, its surface area is approximately one sixth the size of the Principality of Monaco. In Fontvieille, property owners can park theirs luxurious yachts in front of their luxurious apartments. Temporarily bored with the sea, residents can walk to the nearby heliport and a 20-minute flight will bring them to the 3000-meter-high mountains in the hinterland.
Although Fontvieille is a district in Monaco, the marina adjacent to it on its western side is in Cap d'Ail, a seaside resort in France. The marina has a capacity of 260 berths, 10 of which can accommodate large yachts up to 65 meters. Here you can live in one country, have your yacht stored in another country and yet have it under your balcony.
The Fairmont Monte-Carlo is a luxury resort with unobstructed views of the Mediterranean. It is located in the district of Monte-Carlo and stands behind the historic Monte-Carlo Casino. Some of the rooms have a direct view of the famous hairpin turn (right edge of photo) of the Monaco Grand Prix with prices in the five-digit during the racing event. The Grand Prix tunnel is beneath the resort.
Monaco is a city state that has been dedicated to tourism since the 19th century. Nestled between the lofty Alps and the azure Mediterranean Sea, the Principality is a tourist magnet. Here the winters are mild and there is no shortage of sunshine with 2600 hours yearly (1600 hours for Paris). The 181-meter-long Azamara Quest cruise ship is moored to a recently-built semi-floating concrete pontoon, it stands opposite from the Fairmont Monte-Carlo Hotel and the Casino of Monte-Carlo.
The colorful roof of the Rainier III Auditorium at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo Hotel (formerly the Loews Hotel Monte-Carlo). This polychromic art display made of enamelled lava is the work of Victor Vasarely. It is named Hexa Grace, in homage to Princess Grace, the work was commissioned at the request of Prince Rainier III. Behind the hotel stands the backside of Monte-Carlo Casino.
Because of its strategic location atop an impregnable 60-meter-high limestone mesa jutting into the Mediterranean, the site was known since ancient Greek time. The beginnings of a new era started in 1191 when the rocky promontory was acquired by the Republic of Genoa from the German Emperor Henry IV. Construction of a fortress started in 1215 when a Genoese consul anchored his ships loaded with building materials in the natural harbor north of the mesa.
The Palace, as we know it today, replaced the fortress in the 16th century. It is the official residence of Prince Albert II. The Prince's Palace is in Monaco-Ville, a district in the Principality of Monaco. The district is nicknamed The Rock. The Prince’s Palace is a major tourist attraction with the changing of the guard and in the summer time, the luxurious interiors can be visited with the highlight being the Italian Renaissance frescoes.
The creation of the Carabinieri Corps dates back to 1817. These versatile Carabinieri are entrusted with the protection of the Prince, his family, his properties, the enforcement of the law, the safety of major sporting or artistic events. They also participate in ceremonies such as the daily ritual of the changing of the guard in front of the Prince's Palace much to the delight of international visitors.
Built atop a limestone cliff, the Oceanographic Museum viewed from the sea is quite impressive. There is a restaurant on the rooftop terrace with a stunning view from a height of 85 meters over the Mediterranean. This baroque revival architecture was built in the early 20th century. It was inaugurated in 1911 by Prince Albert I (great-great-grand-father of Prince Albert II) who was also a dedicated explorer and oceanographer.
The famed Oceanographic Museum is a must-see attraction in the Principality of Monaco. The most famous director of this landmark was Jacques-Yves Cousteau (from 1957 to 1988) who achieved international fame with the underwater movie The Silent World, released in 1957. He was also the co-inventor of the first successful Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA). To the right of the museum, a new parking lot was recently built on land reclaimed from the sea.
The Grimaldi Forum is the place where Monaco organizes many conferences, congresses, concerts, etc... It is built on reclaimed land and its main stage is at 15 meters below sea level.
The Odeon Tower with 49 floors and a height of 170 meters is Monaco's tallest residential building. Monaco has the most expensive real estate in the world. In 2017, the average for Monaco was at 53000€ per square meter, the upper floors of the Odeon Tower were high above this average.
Nice secluded cove in the overpopulated city state of Monaco.
Le Portier is the newest land extension project in the Principality of Monaco. This floating concrete caisson was manufactured in Marseille and towed behind a boat to Monaco in 2018. 17 more will be brought and sunk to serve as the seawall of the new district.
In 2020, All floating concrete caissons were sunk, and the temporary lake that had been created by the caissons, is now filled with sediment.
In 2023, construction of buildings is progressing at a good pace and nearly completion.
On december 2024, Le Portier, also known as Anse du Portier or Mareterra was inaugurated. This project added a surface area of 6 hectares to the Principality. It is the world's most expensive real estate with a square meter fetching up to 120.000€. The 7 villas of Mareterra have each sold for over 100.000.000€.
Inaugurated in 2024, Testimonio II is the latest major real estate development in Monaco. The towers of Testimonio II bis (110 meter-high) and Testimonio II (100 meter-high) houses 356 state-owned apartments. Bay House, the longitudinal building houses 56 luxurious properties, and is crowned with five upscale villas.