Where to Stay in Monaco in 2024 | Best Areas & Hotels

Considering visiting Monaco in 2024? Great choice! This small city-state basically offers two options: you can either stay in the posh Monte Carlo or in the cultured and deeply historical Monaco-Ville (Monaco City).

But don’t panic! There are also other cities on the French Riviera, like Menton, which are quite close by.

No matter the area or the district you choose, make sure you visit the unforgettable casinos, the lavish hotels, and the erudite museums, but also go for a swim in the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea.

The 3 Best Places to Stay in Monaco

It’s no secret that Monaco is very small, with practically four areas or districts: Monte Carlo, Monaco-Ville, Fontvieille, and La Condamine.

But that’s only nominally the case because only the first two are your real options, with most of the accommodations located in either Monte Carlo or Monaco City (the center).

That’s why we added one more city very close to Monaco to further enrich your experience, as well as to give you real and reliable budget options that you can’t find in the city-state.

1. Monte Carlo: The most upscale, posh, and luxurious part of the city; the place where you’ll find the unforgettable Monte Carlo Casino, Café de Paris, and Hôtel de Paris.
2. Monaco-Ville (Monaco City): The absolute center of the city, located on a huge monolith above the sea, it’s where you’ll find most of the cultural and historical landmarks of the city.
3. Menton: Located less than 7 miles from Monaco, Menton is the small but quintessential French Riviera town and the only real budget option in the area.

Where to Stay in Monaco: Best Areas & Hotels

Again, it’s no big secret that Monaco is one of the most luxurious and upscale places in both Europe and the world. That being said, the accommodation options and variety have to be taken in the context of the reputation of the French Riviera, which is as high as you get.

Monte Carlo and Monaco-Ville (Monaco City) are where you’ll find most of (if not all) the accommodation options in the city. There are some hotels and apartments in Fontvieille, too, but not too many.

Most of them are very expensive, but there are some decently priced three-star hotels and even some rare two-star accommodations.

As we said, your only real budget options are to be found outside Monaco, in the nearby less populous cities. That’s why we chose Menton — a small coastal town around half an hour from Monaco — as an alternative, budget-friendly option.

1. Monte Carlo

You don’t get any fancier and classier than Monte Carlo, the administrative center of Monaco. Located on the so-called escarpment (a long cliff) at the bottom of the French Alps and the French Riviera, it’s a piece of natural beauty and incomparable cultural and financial luxury.

As the things you have to do and see in Monte Carlo can’t be overstated, consider this segment as a rough sketch and not a complete picture. The central building of the whole area is the Monte Carlo Casino.

Whatever you plan to do in Monte Carlo, the first thing to see is this fantastic place. Built in the 19th century, it’s been the backdrop of many famous movies, namely, a couple of James Bonds and Ocean’s Twelve.

The structure also includes — aside from the Casino — the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the company of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo. Next to it is the equally famous Café de Paris and the extra luxurious Hôtel de Paris, both of which opened in faraway 1864.

They also provided the setting for many famous movies and cultural events and are as famous as the Monte Carlo Casino. The Hôtel de Paris, for instance, boasts no less than four restaurants that you can visit at any time — two of them Michelin-starred.

Other things you have to see are:

• The striking Japanese Gardens;
• The educational Oceanographic Museum of Monaco;
• The lavish The Private Collection of Antique Cars of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III;
• The beautiful Monte Carlo Harbor;
• and the equally stunning Larvotto Beach.

As Monte Carlo is pretty small, you’ll probably have time to look at each of them individually.

In terms of accommodation options, you already know what we are about to tell you: Monte Carlo is one of the most elite and expensive places in the world, full of scandalously expensive and luxurious hotels.

But, believe it or not, there are some mid-range options close to the border, more specifically, in the area called Beausoleil.

Monte Carlo Budget Hotels

• Hôtel Villa Boeri is a relatively cheap (as cheap as you’ll find in Monte Carlo) two-star hotel located around 550 meters from the Monte Carlo Casino and 15 minutes away (on foot) from the beaches. It offers free Wi-Fi, family rooms, and a nice breakfast, as well as rooms with flat-screen satellite TVs. There’s also a great view of the sea from the balconies of the hotel.
• AZUR HOTEL is another generally cheap two-star hotel with a great location, less than a mile from Larvotto Beach. All the rooms in the hotel are equipped with a private bathroom, wardrobe, and flat-screen TV. There’s also free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, facilities for disabled guests, a bar, and a very tasty breakfast.

Monte Carlo Mid-Range Hotels

• Odalys City Beausoleil les Hauts de la Principauté is a decently priced three-star hotel located in Beausoleil, 15 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea. Particularly suitable for couples, every room offers a kitchenette, a balcony, and a dining area — some of them even offer fantastic views of the sea.
• Hotel Olympia is another three-star hotel that comes at a relatively reasonable price. Located on the border of Monaco, it’s practically a five-minute walk away from Monte Carlo. It offers free Wi-Fi, parking (quite rare in this area), a bar on the premises, facilities for disabled guests, and breakfast.

Monte Carlo Luxury Hotels

• Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is a very luxurious and very expensive five-star hotel located very close to the Place de Casino. Set in a beautiful building from the middle of the 19th century, the hotel offers two swimming pools, two restaurants, a bar, a wine cellar, a spa and wellness center, and much, much more.
• Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo located in the Carré d’Or and a stone’s throw away from Casino Square, it’s a five-star hotel and definitely one of the best accommodations in the city. It has an indoor swimming pool, 125 rooms decorated by Jacques Garcia, a restaurant, a bar, a spa and wellness center, a fitness center, and all the amenities you can think of.

See All Hotels in Monaco

2. Monaco-Ville (Monaco City)

Right next to Monte Carlo is the real center of the city, the so-called Monaco-Ville (or Monaco City). If Monte Carlo is the crème de la crème of Monaco and the place where most of the fancy casinos, hotels, and restaurants are located, Monaco-Ville is where you’ll find most of the cultural landmarks.

It’s also known as Rocher de Monaco (The Rock of Monaco) because it is located on a 200-foot monolith over the Mediterranean Sea and the famous Port Hercules.

If you choose to stay in Monaco City, you can definitely say that you’ve seen the whole place from above. The most important landmark in this part of town — much like the Monte Carlo Casino in the former — is the Prince’s Palace.

A current residence of the Prince of Monaco (and once of Grace Kelly), it was built in the 12th century as a Genoese fortress — a strong fortification to protect this small principality.

In the 20th century, when it lost its protective function, it became a personification of luxury and even decadence, mostly because of the lavish lifestyle of the family.

The other important administrative bodies of Monaco’s Principality are also located here, like the government, the town hall, the Municipal Council, the prison, the courts, and the National Council. Make sure you take a look at them, too, as they’re all situated in ornate structures.

If, on the other hand, you prefer the architecture of religious buildings, don’t forget the Cathedrale Notre-Dame-Immaculee, where the royal family’s remains are located.

Let’s not forget the shopping, dining, and accommodation options. Monaco-Ville is slightly less upscale and luxurious than Monte Carlo, but that doesn’t mean that it’s cheap or budget-friendly — on the contrary, you are still in Monaco and the French Riviera.

There are plenty of high-quality shops, famous restaurants, and numerous luxurious four-star hotels. Wherever you go in Monaco, you can’t escape the sense of extravagance.

Monaco-Ville (Monaco City) Budget Hotels

• Boutique Hotel Miramar is a multilingual (English, French, Spanish), reasonably priced hotel with a fabulous view of the sea. Particularly suitable for people who want to travel alone, it boasts a desk in every room, free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs. The breakfast in the hotel is very good.  
• Hôtel de France is a relatively cheap two-star hotel, with a great location, right in the heart of Monaco, merely ten minutes away from the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. It doesn’t offer much aside from the parking, the free Wi-Fi, the bar on the premises, and the delicious breakfast. The hotel is particularly suitable for solo travelers.

Monaco-Ville (Monaco City) Mid-Range Hotels

• Plein coeur de Monaco is an entire 110-square-meter apartment located in the very center of the city and offers a beautiful view. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a nice terrace, free Wi-Fi, as well as parking and airport shuttle services.
• Hotel Restaurant Forum is a three-star hotel that’s also very close (less than a mile away) to the famous Place du Casino. Again, a particularly suitable place for solo travelers, it offers free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and bar on the premises, and professional room service. Chef Pino prepares great Italian and Mediterranean dishes for every guest.

Monaco-Ville (Monaco City) Luxury Hotels

• Port Palace is a marvelous, very luxurious four-star boutique hotel located very close to Port Hercule. It offers — among other things — private parking, free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, a bar and restaurant, and air-conditioned family rooms with minibars and TVs. The hotel also has great breakfast in the morning and very professional room service.
• Riviera Marriott Hotel La Porte De Monaco is an opulent pet-friendly hotel that boasts a perfect view of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel has plenty to offer: an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site bar and restaurant, a fitness center, and delicious breakfast in the morning. Unlike the other accommodation options on our list, this one is particularly suitable for couples.

See All Hotels in Monaco

3. Menton

As you can see, you practically can’t find any budget options in Monaco in the true sense of the word. But that’s why we offer you an alternative that — taking everything into account — is more than viable.

Menton, located less than 7 miles from Monaco to the east (right on the border with Italy), is a beautiful town on the French Riviera (which is obviously in France) but significantly more down-to-earth than Monaco.

If you’re tight on cash, we recommend you drop your anchor here and visit Monte Carlo and Monaco any time you want.

Because of its mild climate, beautiful clear water, and plenty of sunny days (more than 310 a year), Menton has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century and a favorite place of leisure for many artists, intellectuals, and famous people.

The famous Irish poet W.B. Yeats spent his last days here, for instance. You should start your exploration of this hidden pearl of the French Riviera by strolling through its charming old town.

Menton is all about pastel colors that will rest your eyes and soul. The central building of the town — as is usually the case with small cities — is the yellow-orange Basilica de Michael Archangel, a sky-high building dedicated to the patron saint of the city.

The Cemetery of the Old Chateau, on the other hand, located on a hill, offers both the best views in the city and plenty of well-known names on the numerous gravestones.

Other important landmarks are the museums and the gardens. Menton was once the favorite place of Jean Cocteau, a famous artist, and the city thanked him for establishing a beautiful museum.

When it comes to botanical gardens, there are many of them — we’ll suggest some in a bit. Last but not least, Menton offers plenty of sandy beaches and the Mediterranean Sea at its best.

Menton Budget Hotels

• Hotel Parisien is a cheap two-star hotel with a great location at 300 meters away from the beach and 500 meters from the center of Menton. All the rooms are decorated in a contemporary fashion and have private bathrooms. Particularly suitable for couples, it also offers free Wi-Fi and a very nice breakfast.
• Hôtel Claridge’s is another relatively cheap two-star hotel located in the utmost center of the city. You can be at the beaches as well as the casinos in less than five minutes. The free Wi-Fi and private parking are another draw, especially the latter. Finally, Claridge’s has a terrace, bar, great breakfast in the morning, and fantastic professional room service.

Menton Mid-Range Hotels

• Hôtel Miléade L’Orangeraie – Menton is a striking three-star hotel located in a 19th-century building just a few minutes away from the city’s train station. The hotel boasts free Wi-Fi and private parking (a really important thing in the French Riviera), a restaurant and bar on the premises, a terrace, and delicious breakfast in the morning.
• Hotel Chambord is a reasonably priced three-star hotel with a great location, just 100 meters from the beach. Particularly suitable for couples, it offers free Wi-Fi and private parking, facilities for disabled people (and a lift on the premises), a 24-hour front desk, a terrace, and rooms with balconies.

Menton Luxury Hotels

• Hotel Napoléon is a beautiful and luxurious four-star hotel located on the beachfront of Menton with direct access to the Mediterranean Sea. Another couples-friendly hotel, it also offers an outdoor swimming pool, rooms decorated in Jean Cocteau’s style, a bar, and truly superb breakfast every morning.
• Villa Genesis is another fabulous four-star hotel located near the beach that also has a beautiful outdoor swimming pool. It offers free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, private parking, a nice terrace, and a bar. There are facilities for disabled people and an airport shuttle available as well.

See All Hotels in Monaco

Book Your Trip to Monaco Today!

Monaco may be small, but it offers much more than a country ten times its size. As you saw yourself, the headings were so full, they were on the brink of overflowing with places to see, things to do, and restaurants to lunch or dine in.

Now, before we wrap things up, let’s do a quick recap of the three areas that we’ve covered in our guide:

🥂 Most Luxurious Area	Monte Carlo
🏰 Most Historic Area	Monaco-Ville
💲 Least Expensive Area	Menton

As we’ve shown, there’s no bad area to stay in Monaco, and each of the 3 most popular areas has something unique to bring to the table. So, with so much to see and do, what are you waiting for — book your trip to Monaco today!