The Fairmont Monte Carlo has one of the most recognisable locations in motor racing: the Grand Prix circuit loops around the front of the hotel at the famous hairpin, and every race-weekend broadcast shows cars squeezing past its entrance. Outside race week it is a large, modern seafront hotel on Avenue Princesse Grace, built on a slope above the water with an unusually generous amount of terrace and outdoor space for Monaco. Many of its rooms face the sea, with balconies or terraces, and the lobby and public areas are bright and open. It has restaurants and bars, a pool, a spa and fitness facilities and conference rooms, and the scale means it can accommodate more guests and offer a wider choice of room types than the smaller boutique hotels in the principality. The location is the draw: you are close to Larvotto beach, the Japanese Garden and the Grimaldi Forum, and Casino Square is a reasonable walk or a short ride away.
The hairpin is not just a curiosity. For motorsport fans, waking up beside the most photographed bend in racing is the point, and the hotel's terraces and sea-view rooms are among the most sought-after for race week, so book very early and expect high prices and minimum stays at that time.
Outside the Grand Prix, the road is open to ordinary traffic, and the hotel can be a little noisy on the street side, so ask for a quieter room if you are a light sleeper. Sea-view rooms are the best choice, because the outlook over the water is a big part of the experience.
Getting around is straightforward. Local buses and the hop-on hop-off bus run along Avenue Princesse Grace, Monte-Carlo railway station is a bus or taxi ride away, and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is a short drive by road or about half an hour. Walking is possible in both directions: east along the seafront promenade to Larvotto and the Japanese Garden, or west up to Casino Square, though the return is uphill.
Check what is included in the rate, such as breakfast, pool access and parking, since these vary by room and date and parking can be costly.
Who it suits
Motorsport fans, couples who want a sea-view room, business and event travellers, and families who need a larger hotel with more space. It does not have the intimate boutique feel of a smaller property, and the style is more contemporary than historic, so if you want Belle Époque charm, choose the Hôtel de Paris or the Hermitage.
If you want a beach, the Monte-Carlo Bay is the more resort-like choice, but the Fairmont gives you more rooms to choose from and a famous address. Book early for race week, the yacht show and the summer, and consider late autumn or winter for much lower rates and a quieter principality.
Why stay here
- ✓Grand Prix hairpin location
- ✓Sea-view rooms with balconies
- ✓Terrace and outdoor pool
- ✓Spa and fitness facilities
- ✓Restaurants and bars
- ✓Walk to Larvotto beach and the Japanese Garden
- ✓Large choice of room types
- ✓Meeting and event space
Good questions
Where is the Fairmont Monte Carlo?+
On Avenue Princesse Grace in the Larvotto area, beside the sea. The Grand Prix circuit passes the front of the hotel at the famous hairpin bend.
Is it a good choice for motorsport fans?+
Yes, it sits on the hairpin, one of the most recognisable corners in racing. Book very early for Grand Prix week, when prices and minimum stays rise sharply.
What is nearby?+
Larvotto beach, the Japanese Garden and the Grimaldi Forum are within walking distance, and Casino Square is a reasonable walk or a short ride away.
