Monaco: Fast Lanes and Fine Life, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, is packed with more glamour per square inch than most places dream of. In just a few dazzling hours, we took in Monaco’s greatest hits—from the harbor to the palace, a peek at the iconic casino, and lunch at a longtime favorite.

You can almost see the entire country standing atop the royal palace grounds. The country is completely surrounded by France and the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Easily accessible by train, and as a part of the Schengen region of the EU, moving in and out of the country is effortless. We were staying in Nice, just a 30 minute train ride to this tiny country.

If you love to gawk at mega yachts, this is the place for you. Taking the train in, you drop right down to the harbor, called Port Hurcule. Here you will find some of the most gorgeous yachts you could imagine. There are restaurants, bars and gelaterias all along the harbor if you want to stop and simply enjoy the sights.

From the edge of the harbor, it's impossible to miss the Prince’s Palace, perched high above on the Rock of Monaco. The contrast is striking—glittering yachts below, royal history above. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).