Monaco

Monaco may be tiny — just 2 square kilometers — but it packs in more luxury per square meter than anywhere else on the planet. The Monte-Carlo Casino, the Grand Prix circuit, the superyacht-filled harbor, and the Prince's Palace create a concentrated dose of pure glamour that has defined the concept of Mediterranean luxury for over a century. The Casino de Monte-Carlo, designed by Charles Garnier (architect of the Paris Opera), is the spiritual heart of the principality. Even if you don't gamble, the ornate Belle Epoque interior — all gilded ceilings, onyx columns, and allegorical paintings — is worth the visit. The dress code is enforced after 2 PM: jacket required for gentlemen, no shorts or sneakers. The Grand Prix, held each May, transforms the streets of Monaco into the most glamorous racing circuit in the world — watching Formula 1 cars negotiate the hairpin at the Fairmont Hotel or blast through the tunnel beneath the Hotel de Paris is a visceral thrill. The Rock of Monaco, topped by the Prince's Palace, offers a different Monaco entirely: quiet medieval streets, the Oceanographic Museum (founded by Prince Albert I, a pioneer of marine science), and the changing of the guard ceremony each morning at 11:55. The Port Hercules harbors some of the world's largest private yachts — during the Monaco Yacht Show in September, the floating real estate on display is worth billions. Dining in Monaco reaches extraordinary heights: Le Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris, Alain Ducasse's legendary three-star restaurant, serves Mediterranean cuisine in an opulent Belle Epoque dining room. Yoshi, Monaco's Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant at the Hotel Metropole, and Elsa, the world's first organic restaurant to earn a Michelin star, represent the principality's evolving palate. The Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, after a multi-year renovation, offers the most luxurious accommodation in the principality, while the Monte-Carlo Beach Club provides a more relaxed setting with a pool overlooking the Italian border.

Highlights