Monaco: The Grand Prix & Beyond

So few destinations capture the imagination like Monaco. A Mediterranean gem set amongst the natural beauty of the Côte d’Azur, sparkling against a backdrop of Belle Époque architecture and superyachts. It’s the world’s second smallest country (after Vatican City), but what it lacks in scale, it makes up for in showmanship. Monaco is a destination for hedonists and romantics. A country of grand seaside palace hotels, dressed in timeless Belle Époque styles. Of cerulean seas, Michelin stars, iconic spas, and world-class shopping.

But each May, Monaco’s allure shifts into a higher gear as the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco takes over Monte-Carlo’s winding streets, an event as much about fashion, style and spectacle as it is about sport. Even for non-racing fans, visiting during the Grand Prix is an experience like no other, a time when little Monaco becomes a grand spectacle of speed and endurance, opulent parties and Monegasque sophistication

Whether you’re visiting for the roar of F1 engines, the elegance of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, or simply to immerse yourself in all that the Monte-Carlo glitz, these are our top, hand-selected experiences and luxury hotels in Monaco for the Grand Prix and beyond.

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo: An Epicurean Grand Prix

Monte-Carlo is not the kind of place you visit for boutique hotels and modern design statements. No, it’s the place you visit when the allure of palatial luxury becomes so profoundly inescapable that only Monte-Carlo will do. It’s a city of overwhelming opulence and beguiling luxury hotels. And few other hotels excel in show-stealing Belle Époque grandeur, like the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. You’ll find it in one of Monte-Carlo’s best locations: the legendary Place du Casino. In the reception, you get a hint of what to expect with a glass rotunda and a crystal chandelier glittering in diamond hues. A few steps beyond the door, you’ll find everything from the Salle Garnier for operas, and the stunning Casino de Monte-Carlo for high-stakes gambling (certain room types in every Société des Bains de Mer hotel receive free access).

The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is an ideal choice for the Monaco Grand Prix. Watch the action from one of its immersive terraces, offering exclusive vantage points to an action-packed section of the road, elevating Michelin-starred lunches at Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris with the thunderous company of racing royalty.

New for this season, indulge in the divine creations of Cédric Grolet, the recently appointed Executive Pastry Chef of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. His creations, as one of the world’s most celebrated pastry chefs, are as precise and dazzling as the races themselves.

Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo: A Romantic View

Another Belle Époque masterpiece with a reputation for timeless glamour, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is a luxury Monaco hotel boasting an impressive collection of suites. The location is classic, a few steps from the Casino, and all of Monte-Carlo’s picturesque old town. But there’s one suite in particular that excites us: the Carré d’Or suite. With a private terrace that frames the best of Monaco’s rooftops in exquisite dalliance with the sea, this is a room to toast romance against the dazzling backdrop of Monaco.

Dining at the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is an affair in itself, from Christophe Cussac’s twin Michelin-starred creations to the east meets west Teppanyaki flavours at Yoshi. Wellness is an adventure too, with a Karl Lagerfeld-designed pool wrapped in a photographic representation of Ulysses’ journey. And the spa by Guerlain offers treatments fine-tuned for Riviera beauty.

Nouveau Luxe At Roquebrune-Cap-Martin: The Maybourne Riviera

If you have a desire for something a touch more modern, then you can do no better than to seek out the cliffs above France’s Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and the Maybourne Riviera’s bold new vision of Côte d’Azur luxury. Located just a short distance from Monaco, the architecture at the Maybourne Riviera eschews typical Riviera grandeur, providing instead a striking confluence of crisscrossing glass, stone, and light suspended above the Mediterranean. Inside, the design embraces refined minimalism, each space softened by modern textures and meticulous detailing. Suites flow onto private terraces facing south into the sun, while infinity pools seem to dissolve into the blue expanse of sea below. If you’re visiting for the Monaco Grand Prix, you’ll find the Maybourne Riviera, with its serene pools and expansive spa, a chic retreat from Monte-Carlo’s crowds.

The legendary Grande Corniche is just minutes away from the Maybourne, making this an ideal choice for view-laden drives (enhanced by insider tips from your travel designer), as exciting as any on the Grand Prix circuit.

Browse more of our preferred French Riviera luxury hotels here.

Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo: A Belle Époque Classic

The incredible Gustave Eiffel–designed glass cupola at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo only hints at the opulence of this luxury Monaco hotel. The building is an impossibly pretty curve of divine Belle Époque aesthetics, located just above the busier roads of Monte-Carlo, and sitting atop a panoramic hilltop with breathtaking harbour views, from expansive rooms brought to life with diffused Côte d’Azur colours.
During Grand Prix weekend, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, a part of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (which grants free access to the Casino, amongst other things), transforms into one of the Riviera’s most exclusive race-day addresses. Its elegant terraces offer elevated views over the adrenaline-charged circuit below, pairing Michelin-starred menus in Pavyllon with the roar of F1 engines. And afterwards, Les Thermes Marins provides lavish spa treatments alongside a swimming pool with Mediterranean views.

A Family Getaway, Monaco style: Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort

Perched on the edge of the Larvotto Peninsula, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort blends Monaco’s glamour and luxury finesse with a chic yet casual Riviera style that suits family travellers just as well as couples looking for a beachside escape. A highlight at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel is the vast gardens that encircle a playful lagoon and spill towards a sea animated by endless sun-singed vistas. Inside, rooms and suites are finished with bright pops of contemporary colour, playful furnishings and cheerful art.

Dining is a delightful experience too, from Michelin-starred creations by Marcel Ravin at Blue Bay (ask us about the themed gourmet dinners during the Grand Prix) to breezy, al fresco lunches at L’Orange Verte. Between indulgent spa rituals, adrenaline-fuelled water sports, and glittering evenings at the casino, Monte-Carlo Bay offers a versatile Monaco stay, as effortlessly tailorable to a Grand Prix weekend as it is to a beach holiday for all the family.

To elevate the experience, choose a cinematic arrival by helicopter from Nice airport.