Prince's Palace of Monaco

The Prince's Palace of Monaco has been the residence of the Grimaldi family since 1297, and it still serves as the home and office of the reigning prince. From the outside it is a long, many-towered fortress-palace with pastel-painted walls and a Renaissance-style gallery, facing a broad square that is the beating heart of Monaco-Ville. The square is open to everyone at any time of year and is a good place to begin an old-town walk: cannons and a row of cannonballs stand at the parapet, the view stretches across the harbour to Monte-Carlo, and the Prince's Carabiniers perform the Changing of the Guard every day at 11:55 in front of the main gate. The ceremony is brief and rather charming, with a small crowd gathering from around 11:40, and it works whatever the season. Inside, the State Apartments are open to visitors only during part of the year, with a season that ran from 30 March to 15 October in 2026, so they are shut as you read this and are expected to reopen in spring 2027. The visit, when open, takes in the Throne Room, the Mazarin Gallery and rooms covered in painted Renaissance frescoes.

Because of that seasonal pattern, a November visit is really a visit to the square, and it is a good one. Arrive in time to find a spot near the railings, watch the guard, then walk to the edge of the terrace for the sweep of Port Hercule, the Casino hill and the mountains above. The streets running back from the square are lined with small shops and cafes, and the Cathedral is five minutes away on foot. The palace itself is lit up in the evening, though it is quieter and the old town empties after dark, so lunch on the Rock is a better plan than dinner.

If you want to see the interior, plan a spring to early-autumn trip: tours of the State Apartments run in the main season, at roughly 10am to 6pm, with a later close in July and August, and last entry comes an hour or so before closing. Ticket details and the 2027 dates are published through the palace's official channels and the principality's tourism office, so check them in the new year. A combined ticket with the Car Collection is a common pairing. Dates and times can change at short notice for state events and official ceremonies.

Practical tips: the Rock is reached by a steep climb from the port, by the public lifts and escalators that run up through the old town, or by a bus that stops close to the square. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbled streets, and note that the palace is a working building, so do not expect to enter the private apartments or to photograph guards at close range. On windy days the square can be bracing, so bring a jacket even in sunshine.