Things to Do in Monaco With Kids: The Perfect Family-Friendly Guide

Monaco may be famous for luxury yachts, Formula 1 racing, and glamorous casinos, but it’s also a surprisingly great destination for a family day trip. Monaco offers a variety of attractions that kids of all ages will enjoy—from aquariums and beaches to playgrounds and sightseeing. If you’re planning to visit as part of a French Riviera itinerary, this guide covers the best things to do in Monaco with kids to help you plan a stress-free and memorable family trip.

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Best Things to Do in Monaco With Kids

1. Visit the Monte-Carlo Casino – Most Iconic of the Things to do in Monaco

Just because the Monte-Carlo isn’t the most kid-friendly stop, doesn’t mean you should skip it. The Monte-Carlo is the most iconic location in Monaco so it would be a sin to miss it. Make your way up the hill and explore the area around the Monte-Carlo before taking a quick stop to see the inside.

Note: Minors are not allowed in the actual casino but they are allowed into the Monte-Carlo atrium area and restaurant until 2 p.m. so be sure to arrive by then if you’re coming with kids.

2. Explore Port Hercules and Walk the Famous Formula 1 Track

Walking the harbor of Port Hercules offers a nice flat area for taking in views of the city and surrounding hills. As you stroll along the waterfront, you’ll be walking right on sections of the famous Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix track, including the harbor chicane and nearby straightaways. If your kids like racing, they will love spotting the race markers and imagining the cars speeding through the streets.

Note: If you visit Monaco in April or May you will likely find areas fenced off as they set up for the Monaco Grand Prix which happens in late May. This can make it harder to get around the city so just be prepared for that if your visit falls during these months.

3. Prince’s Car Collection

If your kids are into cars, don’t miss stopping at the Prince of Monaco’s Car Collection where they can see over 100 classic and vintage cars on display.

4. Stop at Place d’Armes (Food, Drinks and Playground Break) – One of my Favorite Things to do in Monaco with Kids

Place d’Armes was as great late morning/early afternoon spot for us to recharge after a hot morning of walking up and down the streets of Monaco. Here we were able to grab produce at the local market, get coffee-to-go (finally!), eat lunch, enjoy dessert AND let the kids play at a playground — all in one place.

☕ Coffee To Go: Ok, real talk, by 11 a.m. I had been unable to find coffee-to-go anywhere and learned that many places in Monaco require you to sit at a table to have coffee and don’t provide take out. Enter Barbiss Monaco to save my day. Here you can get coffee-to-go along with other food and drinks.

🍓 La Condamine Market: In Place d’Armes you’ll find La Condamine Market which consists of an indoor shopping/market area and outdoor market. We loved the outdoor market where we were able to buy some fruit for the kids to snack on while we sipped coffee and let them enjoy the playground. The market is open daily from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

🛝 Playground: Also in Place d’Armes there’s a small playground (Aire de Jeux Pour Enfants) for the kids to let their wild energy out.

🍕 Lunch: Grab a family friendly lunch from Pizza Mama MC which you can access from the outdoor market area or A Roca Condamine for reasonably priced mediterranean sandwiches and salads inside the Condamine Market area.

🍨 Ice Cream Stop: After lunch, be sure to stop at Santo Gelato Monaco for a cool, sweet afternoon treat.

5. Explore the Prince’s Palace of Monaco

Located in Monaco-Ville, the Prince’s Palace lets you get a feel for the royal history of Monaco. The Prince’s Palace is still home to the Grimaldi family, Monaco’s royals. If you can visit in the morning, you’ll be able to experience the changing of the guard ceremony at 11:55 a.m. After the changing of the guard wander around the palace courtyards before making your way into Old Town.

6. Walk Around Monaco-Ville (Old Town)

Monaco-Ville, also known as the Old Town of Monaco, is a great place to explore with the kids. Here you’ll find pedestrian-only streets with a relaxed vibe. Stop by the viewpoint where you’ll get panoramic views over Port Hercules and the kids can watch boats come and go. Wander the streets to see the beautiful old buildings, shops and gelato.

7. Visit the Monaco Zoo (Jardin Animalier)

The Monaco Zoo is a free animal park featuring hundreds of rescued animals. A fun easy stop for any animal lovers in your group.

8. Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

The Oceanographic Museum is one of the top things to do in Monaco with kids. Sitting dramatically on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, the museum features impressive aquariums, sharks, sea turtles, and interactive marine exhibits. Kiddos love watching the colorful fish and exploring hands-on displays, while parents will appreciate the educational focus. The rooftop terrace offers stunning views and an outdoor play area, making it easy to spend a few hours here.

9. Larvotto Beach

Most kiddos can’t get enough beach time on vacation. If you have a longer time to spend in Monaco, take the kids to play at Larvotto Beach for a laid back afternoon stop. The beach is just over a 15 minute walk from the Monte-Carlo; otherwise, you can take the bus or a taxi.

Getting Around Monaco With Kids

Walking with strollers

Honestly, Monaco is not the most stroller friendly city; however, it is doable. It is very hilly which makes walking with the stroller a bit challenging. Plan to fold it down a for stairs and prepare to get a workout on to push it up the hills.

Tip: My biggest tip for using the stroller (in Europe in general) is to keep the stroller empty (except for kids obvi) so that when you have to fold it down, you don’t have to spend time unloading the bottom, drink cup, etc. Instead, have a good backpack with everything so you can just grab you the backpack and fold the stroller down easily. Also make sure you are traveling with a lightweight, easy to fold stroller.

Public elevators and escalators

Monaco is well set up for pedestrians by offering numerous lifts, escalators and staircases to help you navigate the hilly city. Read more about getting around in Monaco on foot here.

Hop On/Hop Off Bus

Save your feet from all the hills by choosing to take the hop on/hop off bus to get around Monaco instead of walking everywhere. This can be especially helpful when traveling with kids who get tired quickly.

Getting to Monaco

Train

Monaco is easy to access from most places in the French Riviera since it is right off the main train route. If you’re traveling from Nice, for example, it’s a quick 30 minute train ride from the main Nice-Ville train station to the Monaco train station.

Boat

Going to Monaco by boat can be a very memorable way to visit from other coastal spots in the French Riviera. You’ll love getting to see the French Riviera from the Mediterranean before getting the chance to explore Monaco. The ferry takes about 1 hour in each direction and costs $62 per adult with discounted rates for kids.

Tour

If you like to sit back and let someone else do the navigating, book a half-day tour with a guide who will bring you to Monaco among other stops on the French Riviera.

One-Day Monaco Itinerary With Kids

If you are spending an entire day in Monaco, I would suggest starting at the Oceanographic Museum, then making your way through Monaco-Ville before watching the changing of the guard at the Prince’s Palace. Stop for a lunch and playground break at Place d’Armes before strolling along Port Hercules. Make a quick stop at the Monte-Carlo casino before ending your day at Larvotto Beach if you still have time to spare.

Note: If you go in this order and you’re traveling with kids, it’s unlikely you’ll be to the Monte Carlo before 2 p.m. (when kids can enter) however, you can still stop by and see the outside and if you’re traveling with two adults, you can take turns going in to see the inside. Otherwise, skip the beach and do this itinerary in reverse but you’ll miss the changing of the guard at the Prince’s Palace.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Monaco With Kids

Is Monaco expensive for families?

Monaco can be an expensive, luxury destination but it can also be affordable, especially when traveling with kids. Choose free activities such as sightseeing, parks and the zoo instead of paying for more expensive attractions. In terms of food, choose to eat at La Condamine Market instead of upscale restaurants.

How many days do you need in Monaco with kids?

I personally think one full day is enough to see Monaco with kids. You can do a half day but you’ll probably want to skip the casino and just stick to the Old Town/Prince’s Palace side of the city.

Can Monaco be done as a day trip with kids?

Yes, Monaco is easy to access for a day trip. Grab the train from wherever you’re staying on the French Riviera or opt to take the ferry for a different way to access Monaco. Either way, Monaco is very easy to access for a day trip.

Where to Stay in Monaco With Kids

I would actually suggest not staying in Monaco with kids and instead staying in Nice, France. Nice is cheaper and has more family-friendly activities for kids plus it’s an easy train ride away from Monaco.

Other French Riviera Travel Guides

• One Week French Riviera Itinerary with Kids: How to See the Best of the Côte d’Azur
• Best Family Friendly Places to Stay in Nice, France
• Complete Guide to the French Riviera with Little Kids
• One Magical Day in Menton France with Little Kids
• The Ultimate Family Day Trip to Ventimiglia, Italy: Kid-Friendly Activities on the Italian Riviera
• How to Get Around France with Kids: Trains, Cars, and Strollers

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