Monaco with kids: 5 family activities!
It’s great to visit Monaco with kids for a day when enjoying a vacation on the Côte d’Azur. In that respect, Monaco is really a city, where you can already see a lot of the city in a day trip. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world and it is a tax haven, which is why a lot of millionaires live in Monaco. This is also evident in the city. Following our visit to the city, we list the best activities in Monaco with kids.
Monaco with kids #1: exploring the city
Monaco is definitely a fun city to tour. So you have the expensive Monte Carlo district, where you also have the world-famous casino and where expensive cars drive in and out. You also have all the expensive brands sitting in this area with a store. It is also fun to take a look at the harbor, where huge yachts belonging to the rich of the earth are moored.
Another part of the city that is fun to visit is the Monaco Ville district that sits beautifully on the rocks. You have a great view of the city from here and you also have the Prince of Monaco’s palace located here, where there is a changing of the guard at 11:55 a.m. every day. If the prince is not here, you can also visit this palace.
Because of the differences in elevation between the two different neighborhoods, walking alone can be quite strenuous. The advantage is that escalators have been made on some of the hills, making hiking a lot easier. It is also possible, as we did to choose the hop on hop off bus or take the tourist train for a tour of the city. This also gets you to all of the city’s attractions as well as these two different neighborhoods.
Monaco with kids #2: Monaco Zoo
You can also go to the zoo in Monaco with kids. A two-minute walk from the Prince of Monaco’s palace is this zoo. Don’t expect to admire all the great African animals at this zoo, but there are several large animals such as the hippopotamus, ostrich and wallaby.
Otherwise, you have mostly farm animals to admire here. Kids can also feed the goats here. So don’t expect half a day of entertainment here either, but it’s a fine activity for an hour. You also pay only a few euros per person for zoo admission.
Monaco with kids #3: family-friendly museums
Monaco does not have super many family-friendly museums, but there are two museums in the city that are worth visiting, if of course your kids like the theme of the museum. The first museum is the Musée Océanographique de Monaco. This museum dedicated to the underwater world is a 15-minute walk from the Monaco Zoo.
You will find in this museum several aquariums with many different kinds of colored fish. You can also admire sharks and turtles. Keep in mind that the museum can be very crowded during the summer months. Be sure to arrive early then. Of course, this is also a great outing if the weather is a little less sunny in Monaco. For more information on opening hours, entrance fees and different animals, check out the Dutch-language website.
The second museum to visit with kids in Monaco is the Automobil museum Monaco. Located next to the zoo, this museum has hundreds of the prince’s cars on display. If your kids are big fans of cars, then obviously checking out this museum is an option.
Monaco with kids #4: Rainier III outdoor Swimming stadium
Most tourists visit Monaco in the summer, when it can be quite hot on some days. There is then a possibility of swimming in Monaco. The Rainier III Outdoor Swimming Stadium is in the middle of downtown on the water and is a great place to take your kids for a few hours of swimming.
The pool is Olympic-sized (50 m x 25 m) and contains seawater that has been treated and filtered. The water in the pool is nicely heated at 27 degrees, making swimming very pleasant. It has several diving boards with heights of 1 meter, 3 meters, 5 meters and 10 meters. The pool also has a fairly large slide.
Around the pool are umbrellas and deck chairs that you can rent, allowing you to soak up the sun yourself while the kids are playing in the pool. The outdoor pool is open only during the summer months. You pay a few euros entrance fee per person for the pool, and kids get a discount.
Monaco with kids #5: Plage de Larvotto
Despite Monaco being on the waterfront, you don’t have that many public beaches, where you can cool off in the water with your kids. Locals mainly go to expensive trendy beach clubs in the city, but there is still a beach nearby where you can go with your kids.
Plage de Larvotto is a 15-minute walk from the expensive Monte Carlo district and has a fine sandy beach. Part of the beach is open to the public. If you want to lie on the beach a little more finely, you can also rent an umbrella and a sunbed from the beach clubs located at this beach.
The water of the sea here is very clear and in the summer months the beach has a jellyfish net hanging, so your kids won’t be bothered in the water by these beasts either.
Where to stay in Monaco with kids?
You can certainly spend a night in Monaco with kids, but the city doesn’t have many budget accommodations. Still, we list some nice options that are well-reviewed below.
Budget hotel: Novotel Monte-Carlo
Mid-range hotel: Fairmont Monte Carlo
Luxury hotel: Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo
For a list of all accommodations in Monaco, take a look here.
