Where to Stay in Monte Carlo: Editor’s Picks

From 5-star hotels with on-site casinos to 4-star seaside resorts, Monte Carlo provides elite accommodations. When choosing where to stay in Monte Carlo, it’s important to know which hotels offer which amenities. Our ‘where to stay’ recommendations lists hotel amenities and also pays special attention to modern conveniences, such as in-room WiFi. In Monaco, few hotels cost less than $200 a night, however, we have one featured budget hotel as well as two 3-star hotel recommendations. If cost is a concern, consider staying in one of the nearby villages, such as Cap D’Ail (see recommendations below.) The following ‘where to stay’ options are organized by star rating, beginning with 5-star hotels.

The Principality of Monaco

5-Star Hotels in Monte Carlo

Hotel De Paris
This glamorous hotel possibly has the best location in Monaco and it is one of the top luxury options (it even has its own credit card!), featuring marble colonnades, crystal chandeliers, and sea views. Located on the Place du Casino square, many rooms come with views of the bustling city. The 182 rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated. Amenities include direct access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa, a fitness center, a heated sea-water pool, a private beach club, and a hair salon. The 3 Michelin star Louis XV – Alain Ducasse restaurant as well as The Grill restaurant and The American Bar are located on-site.

Hotel Metropole
This hotel has served Monaco since 1886, and it is just off of Place du Casino. The lobby is opulent to the extreme. Rooms come with WiFi, marble bathrooms, and Hermes amenities. Amenities also include a spa, indoor swimming pool, and fitness center. The Joel Robuchon Restaurant features Mediterranean cuisine and an open Teppanyaki-style kitchen. Also on-site are the Yoshi restaurant, Swimming Pool restaurant, and a lobby bar. The staff is professional, accountable, and particularly hospitable. Note that some of the deluxe rooms are on the smaller side.

Hotel Hermitage
This hotel’s Pagnol suite, the Salle Belle Epoque, is a historical monument, and its other rooms and suites are similarly grand, featuring timeless décor. The Gustave Eiffel dome is a beautiful glass dome in the center of the hotel. The 280 rooms are spotlessly clean and feature WiFi (for a charge). Free WiFi is offered in the lobby. Amenities include direct access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa (with a swimming pool) spa treatments, saunas, and a fitness center. There are two fine restaurants with Le Vistamar featuring panoramic views. The hotel is a two-minute walk from Place du Casino. Get a room that includes breakfast in the price: the buffet-style spread is vast. Note that rooms do not come with coffee/tea-making facilities or an ironing board, however, the latter can be requested free of charge.

4-Star Hotels in Monte Carlo

Fairmont Monte Carlo
This hotel has a great location, an exceptional staff, and well appointed rooms. It is one of the largest hotels in Europe, and the 602 guest rooms all come with terraces, marble bathrooms, and WiFi (for a charge). The hotel is just steps from the Monte Carlo Casino and the sea. Amenities include two restaurants and its Willow Stream Spa has won the Prix Villégiature Award for best hotel. It includes a fitness center and rooftop pool. Note that some of this hotel’s rooms are perfect for watching the Formula One race. Request a room with a sea view.

Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel
This hotel is ideal for travelers looking for modern décor and privacy. It is the only hotel in Monaco that has a private beach for exclusive use by hotel guests. The 403 rooms are decorated in modern Mediterranean style and come with high-speed and wireless internet access (for a charge) and deluxe bathroom amenities. Make sure to request a room with a sea view. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, two bars, and two restaurants, one of which is seasonal. This hotel is not a good option for light sleepers, as some noise can be heard between rooms. It is a ten-minute walk from the Monte Carlo Casino.

Port Palace Hotel
The only boutique hotel in Monte Carlo, this hotel is located right on Monaco’s marina. The 50 rooms and suites are large and have exceptionally large bathrooms. Each room comes with complimentary WiFi. The hotel has a spa and a fitness center. The Mandarine restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine on the sixth floor of the hotel overlooking Monaco’s famous marina. Breakfast is also served on the 6^th floor, and it too comes with great views. The hotel’s famous JFK Bar is one of the best places to watch the Formula One in Monaco. The staff is professional but not pretentious. Request a room with a Jacuzzi bath.

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
This resort and hotel with four acres of gardens surrounding it, whisks its guests away from the hustle and bustle of Monaco. It has many on-site facilities, such as the decadent “5 Mondes Spa” and the Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo nightclub. The 334 rooms and suites are a good size and spotlessly clean. Amenities include an outdoor swimming-pool lagoon (the pool has a sand bottom), indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a fitness center, the Blue Gin bar, and three restaurants, two of which are in the gardens. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the Monte Carlo Casino.

3-Star Hotels in Monte Carlo

Miramar Monte Carlo
Located in Cap D’Ail, this hotel comes at a good value. Monaco is less than 15 minutes away by bus or 40 minutes away by foot; the walk hugs the seashore. This family-run hotel offers 25 well maintained rooms and all have air conditioning and free WiFi. Some rooms come with balconies and views of the sea, and there’s a beach nearby. The owners are friendly, and the buffet breakfast is quite complete. Cap D’Ail is a pleasant seaside town, but the restaurant options are limited.

Hotel de Monaco
Opened in 2008, this boutique hotel in Cap D’Ail is private and offers inviting rooms at good rates. The 13 rooms are modern, trendy, and comfortable. The beach isn’t far away, and the hotel grounds include a garden. It is located near the path to Monaco, which is a 50-minute walk away. It takes less than 15 minutes to reach Monaco by bus. The lobby has an internet point. Light sleepers may want to request a room in the back of the hotel, away from the main road.

Featured Budget Hotel in Monte Carlo

Novotel Monte Carlo
This hotel combines a modern atmosphere with a great price, and the Place du Casino is just an eight-minute walk away. The 197 rooms and 21 junior suites are spick and span and come with WiFi (for an extra charge), air conditioning, hair dryers, safes, and a mini bar. Amenities include a Turkish bath, outdoor pool, and fitness room. There’s an on-site restaurant, and the breakfast buffet is extensive. This 3-star hotel verges on 4 stars.

Written by Mattie Bamman for EuropeUpClose.com