Fontvieille Park is the principality's calm green corner, set on land reclaimed from the sea beneath the Rock. The landscape park covers about four hectares near the Port of Fontvieille and surrounds the Espace Fontvieille Big Top, with palm-lined paths, Mediterranean trees and water features. At its heart is the Princess Grace Rose Garden, created in 1984, covering around 5,000 square metres with more than 450 varieties of roses, including Grimaldi family roses and prize-winning plants from the Monaco International New Rose Competition. The main pond was renovated in 2020 and has a walkway accessible to people with reduced mobility, with turtles, fish, ducks and dragonflies. About twenty sculptures from the Rainier III Chemin des Sculptures are placed along the paths, including the ballerinas of Passo a due and a bronze after a Renoir design. A playground between the rose garden and the Big Top has slides, swings and climbing walls for under-fives and for ages six and up.
In November the roses are past their peak, since the main bloom runs from spring through early summer, but the park is still pleasant for a walk, with evergreen planting, sculptures and the sea nearby. If your trip falls in May or June, the rose garden is at its best and is a real reason to visit. The park is flat and wheelchair-friendly, which makes it a rare easy corner of Monaco, and it is useful as a break from the stair-heavy old town.
Make it part of a day on the Rock and Fontvieille: begin with the old town and the Oceanographic Museum, drop to Fontvieille by the lifts or the bus, walk through the park, and visit the Car Collection, with lunch in one of the cafes around the port. The hop-on hop-off bus stops at the Rose Garden, which gives another way to reach it. Pack a picnic if you like, though check local rules about where picnicking is allowed.
Who it suits: families with young children, visitors with limited mobility, gardeners and anyone wanting a quiet hour. It is less suited to those who want grand views or famous sights, since its appeal is gentle. The tourism page does not state formal opening hours or an entrance fee for the park, so treat it as a public park and check the official page if you have a particular need. Mornings are quiet, and sunset light on the palms is pleasant.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided stroll through palm-lined paths, the Princess Grace Rose Garden, the pond and the sculpture trail.
Best time
May and June for the roses, or any morning for quiet; sunset for soft light.
How long
About an hour to an hour and a half.
Tips
Use the flat paths for pushchairs and wheelchairs, take a snack for the playground and pair it with the Car Collection.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, gardeners and visitors who want a flat, quiet break.
- Families
- Excellent: a playground, a pond with turtles and ducks and lots of room to run.
- Couples
- A gentle walk among roses and sculptures, best in late spring.
- Pair with
- The Car Collection, the Exotic Garden and the Rock.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
What is in the Princess Grace Rose Garden?+
More than 450 varieties across about 5,000 square metres, created in 1984, including Grimaldi family roses and prize-winning plants from the Monaco rose competition.
When are the roses in bloom?+
The main bloom is from spring to early summer, so May and June are best. In November the garden is quieter, with less colour.
Is the park suitable for children?+
Yes, it has a playground with areas for under-fives and for ages six and up, a pond with turtles and ducks and flat paths.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs?+
Yes, the park is flat, and the main pond has a walkway accessible to people with reduced mobility.
How do I get there?+
It lies below the Rock near the Port of Fontvieille. You can walk down from Monaco-Ville, take a local bus or use the hop-on hop-off bus stop at the Rose Garden.
