Hotels
The best hotels in Monaco: nine places to stay, from Place du Casino to the harbour
At seven in the morning they hose down Place du Casino, and the first coffee drinkers settle under the parasols outside Café de Paris. Down in the harbour the yachts are moored side by side. Monaco covers only two square kilometres, but your hotel decides whether the palace, the beach or the harbour is right outside the door.
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Monaco is a city state on the Riviera, squeezed between the mountains and the Mediterranean close to the Italian border. Monte-Carlo is the district with the casino and the grand hotels, Port Hercule is the harbour in the middle of town, Larvotto is the beach to the east, and Fontvieille is the newer district below the Prince's Palace. You can walk everywhere, but it is steep, and public lifts and escalators link the different levels.
We have chosen nine hotels, eight in Monaco and one just over the border in France, and we say who each one suits. Every hotel has a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. The links go there, and we always pick the hotel before we look for a link.
In short: where should you stay in Monaco?
For classic Monaco, stay near Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo. With children or on a summer holiday, Larvotto and its beach is the better choice, and if you want to watch the boats, pick a hotel on the harbour.
Best for a first visit: Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Best for romance: The Maybourne Riviera
Best for families: Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
Best for the Grand Prix: Fairmont Monte Carlo
Best for value: Hôtel Columbus Monte-Carlo
How to choose the right hotel in Monaco
Grand Prix in May or June: prices multiply, and many hotels insist on a minimum of four nights. Book early or choose another weekend.
Beach or town: Larvotto is the only public beach. Hotels in the centre have pools but no beach.
Hills: the city is built in terraces. Ask how close the hotel is to a public lift if you have heavy luggage or small children.
Staying outside: Nice and Menton have cheaper hotels, and the train from Nice to Monaco takes about 20 minutes.
Dress code: the casino and the best restaurants have an evening dress code. Pack a jacket.
The facade
The facade of Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo on Place du Casino.
Monte-Carlo and Place du Casino
Around Place du Casino are the most famous hotels, the designer shops and the restaurants. This is the Monaco you have seen in films.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo: the palace on the square
Hôtel de Paris opened in 1864 and stands next door to the casino on Place du Casino. A rebuild lasting several years added new suites and rooftop terraces. Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV has three Michelin stars, and the wine cellar is said to be one of the largest in the world.
This is our pick for a first visit, for the location and the history. It is among the most expensive hotels on the Riviera, and the lobby fills with sightseers taking photos. Guests have access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa close by.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
The glass-domed salon
The salon beneath the glass dome at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo: Belle Époque with a sea view
The Hermitage sits on the ridge above the harbour, a couple of minutes' walk from the casino, in a Belle Époque building. The salon beneath its glass dome is the signature space, and many rooms have balconies facing the harbour and the Prince's Palace.
It suits you if you want a classic stay near Place du Casino that is a little calmer than Hôtel de Paris. Prices are lower, though still high. Ask for a room facing the harbour, as those on the street side are darker.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
The hotel at dusk
Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo and its front garden at dusk.
Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo: the garden behind the square
The Métropole sits just above Place du Casino, behind a garden that shuts out the traffic. The Odyssey pool area was designed by Karl Lagerfeld, and food has long been one of the hotel's great strengths.
It suits couples and anyone who wants luxury without staying in the middle of the crowds. Most rooms have no sea view. The shopping street Avenue des Beaux-Arts and the casino are a few minutes away on foot.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo
By the sea
Fairmont Monte Carlo on the waterfront with Monaco behind, seen from the air.
Fairmont Monte Carlo: the hotel on the hairpin
The Fairmont sits down by the sea below the casino, at the famous hairpin bend on the Formula 1 circuit. It is the largest hotel in Monaco, with a rooftop pool, several restaurants and rooms with balconies over the sea.
This is our pick for the Grand Prix, as the cars race right past the building. The rest of the year it is a practical and cheaper choice, though big and busy. Book a sea-view room, as the others face the town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Fairmont Monte Carlo
The lagoon pool
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and its lagoon pool on the Larvotto peninsula, seen from the air.
Larvotto: the beach to the east
Larvotto is the district with Monaco's public beach, a long promenade and beach restaurants. It is at its best in summer.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort: the lagoon on the peninsula
Monte-Carlo Bay stands on a peninsula in Larvotto, with a sand-bottomed lagoon and several pools among the palms. Most rooms have a balcony, and many look out to sea.
This is our family pick, with space, pools and the beach close by. It feels more like a resort than a city hotel, and it takes about fifteen minutes to walk to Place du Casino. The lagoon is open from spring to autumn.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
The beach
The private sandy beach at Le Méridien Beach Plaza at sunset.
Le Méridien Beach Plaza: a beach of its own
Le Méridien sits right on the water in Larvotto and has its own sandy beach, which few hotels in Monaco can offer. The hotel is large and modern, with a pool and rooms looking out to sea.
It suits you if you want to swim right outside the door without paying for a beach club. It is a big hotel and busy in summer. Take the steps up to the Larvotto promenade for dinner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Méridien Beach Plaza
Breakfast by the window
Breakfast by the window at Port Palace, with the boats in the harbour outside.
The harbour and Fontvieille
Port Hercule is home to the yachts and part of the Grand Prix circuit, with the cars racing along the quay. Fontvieille is the newer district on the far side of the rock with the Prince's Palace, built on land reclaimed from the sea.
Port Palace: right above the harbour
Port Palace is a small hotel directly above Port Hercule, with rooms looking down on the boats. It is small and personal, a contrast to the big names around the casino.
It suits you if you want to watch harbour life from your room and stay somewhere more private. Rooms are smaller than at the big hotels. From the hotel you can walk along the harbour to the market on Place d'Armes.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Port Palace
The pool
The terrace pool at Hôtel Columbus, with the sea behind.
Hôtel Columbus Monte-Carlo: the best-value choice
The Columbus sits in Fontvieille by the rose garden and the small marina, with modern rooms and a pool on the terrace. The Prince's Palace and the old town on the rock are a fifteen-minute walk away.
This is our value pick, if you want to stay in Monaco without paying Place du Casino prices. It is quiet in the evening, and you will need the bus or a walk to reach Monte-Carlo. Rooms facing the marina are the best.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Columbus Monte-Carlo
On the cliff
The Maybourne Riviera on the cliff above the sea at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
Just over the border: Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
East of Monaco lies the French coastal town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, high above the sea with views back towards Monte-Carlo.
The Maybourne Riviera: the view of Monaco
The Maybourne Riviera opened in 2021 on a cliff above the sea, with every room facing the Mediterranean and Monaco. Its restaurant Ceto is run by the chef Mauro Colagreco, and the pools sit on terraces above the water.
This is our romantic pick, for anyone who would rather look at Monaco than stay in the middle of it. The hotel is in France, and it is about fifteen minutes by car to Place du Casino. Plan on taxis into town.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Maybourne Riviera
When should you book?
May and June: the Grand Prix and the yacht show fill the hotels and push prices up. Book six months ahead.
July and August: peak season for the beach in Larvotto, with higher prices.
October to April: quiet months with lower prices, mild weather and fewer people in the streets.
Frequently asked questions about hotels in Monaco
Where should I stay in Monaco on a first visit?
Stay in Monte-Carlo, within walking distance of Place du Casino. You can then walk to the casino, the shops and the harbour, and you get the Monaco you have seen in pictures. Hôtel de Paris and the Hermitage are the classics, and the Métropole is a slightly calmer alternative.
Why is Monte-Carlo Beach not on the list?
The beach hotel in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin has a high rating but too few reviews on Expedia to meet our requirement of at least 50. It only opens in summer. You can still book it directly with the hotel.
Is it cheaper to stay in Nice?
Yes, often much cheaper, and the train from Nice to Monaco takes about twenty minutes. The downside is catching the train back after dinner. For one or two nights it is worth staying in Monaco to see the city in the evening.
How many nights do I need in Monaco?
Two nights cover the casino, the harbour, the Prince's Palace and the old town. Combine it with Nice, Èze and Menton, a short train or bus ride along the coast, and spend a week on the Riviera.
Can I swim in Monaco?
Yes. Larvotto is a public sandy beach with clear water and beach restaurants. Several hotels have their own pools, and Le Méridien Beach Plaza has its own beach. Outside summer, the water is too cold for most people.