Monaco is one of the most luxurious travel destinations in the world. Loaded with incredible architecture, sports cars, and more yachts than anyone would know what to do with, it truly is a millionaire’s playground. In fact, of the people who live in Monaco, it’s reported that one in three are millionaires, which means that there are over 12,000 millionaires per square mile in the 0.81 square miles of the principality.
Overlooking the French Riviera, Monaco truly is an opulent place to be, but you need more of an excuse than just “lots of rich people live there” to visit. Here, we’ve got just three of the many, many reasons as to why you should make Monaco your next luxury destination. Even if you don’t have as much cash as your average Monégasque, you can behold the elegance of these picks without much of a burden to your bank account.
Visiting the Old Town
Most people think of the palace and the streets drenched in Ferraris and Bugattis, but here, we’ll be starting with Le Rocher. Strangely, even though it’s not as drenched in fineries or awe-inspiring architecture, the undisputed elegance is retained across Monaco, including in its original old town. Once a stronghold of the Grimaldi dynasty, you’ll get to venture down the narrow medieval streets with iconic views of the sea.
Many people who come to Monaco end up strolling down the little alleys to get to other hotspots, but Le Rocher itself is well worth exploring on its own merits. That said, the quaint walk will invariably guide you to the likes of Placette Bosio, the changing of the guard at Place du Palais, Place Saint Nicolas, Palais de Justice, Chapel of Mercy, and the Roman-Byzantine-style cathedral.
Where All the Action Congregates
As it happens, this little city-state is the home of one of the most popular and well-known games of the 19th Century through to the modern day. Without a very competitive play made in Monaco’s Monte Carlo in the 1860s, we might not have the much more player-friendly version of roulette. Monte Carlo’s still-famous casino is where François and Louis Blanc decided to go after Germany shut down gambling, introducing the famous game.
However, the duo came up with a tweak that would make Monte Carlo the envy of the gambling world – to a greater degree, that is. Nowadays, we have American roulette, European roulette, and French roulette. While it naturally came about later, American roulette more closely aligns with pre-1860s roulette due to its zero and double-zero pockets.
Formerly known as the bank’s pockets, when the Blancs came to Monte Carlo, they removed the double zero. Now, as anyone will know by analyzing roulette odds online, this greatly decreases the house edge. Between American and European roulette – two banker’s pockets versus one – the house edge reads 5.26 and 2.70 percent. This simple move nearly halved the edge the house has, making for a much more player-friendly game.
Now, that game crafted by the Blancs is reflected in the online versions of European Roulette Classic, Roulette European, and French Roulette. French roulette comes with a few extra perks for players, such as the En Prison rule, which shrink the house edge even further. Naturally, the lavish gaming house that is Casino de Monte-Carlo is teeming with European and French roulette tables, just as it was well over a century ago.
Naturally, you can play roulette online to get a feel for the game, and there are even live roulette games with the same odds as the classics that can blur that divide between playing in person and online. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury experience in one of the most luxurious countries in the world, though, you simply must go to Casino de Monte-Carlo. Through the deluxe virtual tour portal, you can click and see why.
One of the Grandest Displays of Our Oceans
One of the wonders of Monaco is the famed Musée Océanographique, or rather, the Oceanographic Museum. Much like the other open-to-the-public buildings in Monaco, the collection is housed by a stunning museum that overlooks the sea. Perhaps more impressive is how modern the interior and its displays are given that it was inaugurated in 1910 by Prince Albert I.
It was this building and its place in the world that led to oceanographers descending on Monaco to establish what is now known as the Mediterranean Science Commission. Thanks to its ambitious renovations that were completed in 2010, people can now enjoy some truly otherworldly experiences at the Oceanographic Museum. You’ll find everything from ships to sharks, turtles to cuttlefish, and a basement aquarium.
One of the most awe-inspiring experiences on-site is the Immersion Exhibition. It’s a huge room with projections on all of its sides. In the 250m2 of interactivity, you’ll discover 12 species and see some 40 different video projections. Best of all, it’s included in the price of your ticket – which comes in at around $12 each. Still, of everything there, it’s Shark Lagoon and Turtle Island that really take your breath away.
There you have it: three exceedingly good reasons to make Monaco your next luxury destination. If they’re not enough to spur you to take the trip, you’re bound to find several more with a quick search online!
