Historical Buildings Walk (Self Guided), Monte-Carlo

Monaco – the world’s second smallest state – is also one of the world’s richest. The latter fact definitely shows in the historic buildings – famous casinos, opera house, hotels and opulent palaces – found in the central ward Monte-Carlo, displaying a range of architectural styles quite wide for a small country like this.

The geography of Monaco, featuring sharp hills and narrow coastline, has largely determined the Monacan architecture. It is also attributed to the city-state's location in the South East of France, which has entailed strong French influence, especially that of the Belle Époque period. Notable Monacan works by French architects Charles Garnier and Jules Dutrou epitomize the mixture of other European and historical influences.

A host of architectural landmarks of the Principality allow visitors to learn the history behind its current-day glitz and glamour. Collated here are some of the major local edifices worth checking out; such as:

Cafe de Paris and Casino – the top place in Monaco for high-end gambling since 1868; the most recent renovation in 1988 gave the Cafe a Belle Époque style mimicking Parisian bistros from the early 1900s.

Casino de Monte-Carlo – perhaps the world's most famous gambling establishment, operational since the 1850s; the ornate structure is an outstanding example of Beaux-Arts style.

Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo – a luxury hotel built in 1863; among other amenities, offers the best view of the Monte Carlo Casino and the sea, plus several Michelin-star restaurants.

Opera de Monte-Carlo – coupled with the famous Monte Carlo Casino, established in 1879; initially served as the Prince's private theater; renowned for its opulent interiors.

To explore these and other historically important architectural sights of Monte-Carlo, take this self-guided walking tour.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and otterboris.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Monte-Carlo

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Historical Buildings Walk
Guide Location: Monaco » Monte-Carlo (See other walking tours in Monte-Carlo)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Monte-Carlo?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Monte-Carlo Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Monte-Carlo?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Create Your Own Walk in Monte-Carlo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Monte-Carlo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Monte-Carlo Introduction Walking Tour

Prince Charles III of Monaco declared in 1860s “A new town will rise here, surrounded by gardens and light.” His words became the blueprint for what the world now knows as Monte-Carlo - the glittering heart of the Principality of Monaco.

Monte-Carlo is internationally recognised for its glamorous casino culture, luxury hotels, and high-profile events. Its name, meaning “Mount Charles”... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles