How to enjoy the best off-track activities at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. What to do in Monaco, Nice & the French Riviera
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The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix is on June 4-7
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What to See & Do in Monaco
Make sure you devote some time to check out the sights of Monaco, especially after dark. You can walk around the whole track if you like each evening, when the streets are opened to traffic. More information on what to do at the track can be found in our Trackside Guide.
The iconic Casino de Monte Carlo is a must visit. Open for gambling from 2pm; don’t forget to bring your passport and to pack something smart to wear if you are visiting in the evening. Jackets are recommended for men, and no trainers are allowed. (Guided tours in the morning do not take place on race weekend). La Rascasse is a lively club that’s not as bankrupting as Jimmy’z, Black Legend or Moods (expect to pay at least €30 a drink if you find yourself in one of these bars.) With the party spilling out onto the racetrack itself on the Friday and Saturday nights, this is a fun place to grab a beer before heading off for some dinner and shuteye – or maybe a few more affordable beers – back in Nice.
No weekend in Monaco would be complete if you didn’t walk up the hill to check out the Prince’s Palace area of the principality, with exceptional views of the surrounding area. Tours of the State Apartments of the Princely Palace are available during the summer season, but not on race weekend. Other places to see in Monaco can be found on the official Visit Monaco site.
2026 Racing Stars Football Cup
The Racing Stars Football Cup takes place during the week of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix at Stade Louis II on Wednesday, June 3 from 15:30-17:30. It replaced the previously held World Stars Football Match. Last year, current F1 drivers Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Isack Hadjar all played in the match, and Charles Leclerc was in attendance. Former World Champion and Monaco resident, Mika Häkkinen, was the event ambassador. Funds raised support several charities. Tickets for adults cost €10 and 5 for children aged under 16. Tickets are available to buy via AS Monaco.
Visit Prince Rainier III’s Car Collection
Prince Rainier III began collecting cars in the 1950s, and his large and impressive collection is housed in its own museum, which moved to a new location near the swimming pool in 2022. The collection has been open to the public since 1993, and features over 100 cars, including models from Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Alfa Romeo. The museum also has cars which have competed in the iconic Monte Carlo Rally and the F1 Monaco Grand Prix. Please note that the museum is not open during the four days of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix (June 4-7). Entry for adults is €10 (€5 for children 6-17). More information & tickets are here.
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What to See & Do in Nice, France
Start with the Old Town. The Vieille Ville is all tiny winding streets and red tiled roofs, colourful architecture, food markets and cosy little cafes where you can sit and watch the world go by. Also great for an evening out, the Old Town has a host of superb restaurants.
Culture vultures will be more than satisfied with what Nice has to offer. From the impressive collection of modern masterpieces at Musée d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain to the colorful impressionist works found at Galerie Jean Renoir and Musée Matisse, the artistic leaning in the galleries and museums of Nice is very much towards the modern. Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall is another must-see if you have a few spare days in Nice – a collection mainly focused around Chagall’s religious pieces.
And in direct contrast to the modern art on show in Nice’s galleries is the profusion of churches and cathedrals worth checking out. Cathédrale Saint Nicolas is one of the best-known examples of Russian Orthodox building outside Russia itself, and Chapelle de la Miséricorde is a Baroque masterpiece – as is the tiny Eglise de l’Annonciation.
Castle Hill in Nice
Grab your suncream and a bottle of water, and head up Castle Hill for breathtaking views over the city and beyond. It’s a bit of a trek, but with plenty of benches en route, plus waterfalls, war memorials and a café for a well-earned rest at the top, it’s well worth it. There’s also a lift at the eastern end of the beach that will take you halfway up.
Private Beaches in Nice
The end of May is a gorgeous time to be on the French Riviera. Nice’s town beaches are shingly, but it’s worth devoting at least one afternoon to a bit of cocktail-sipping and reading on the beach. Many have lockers and neat matting to guide you out for your dip in the sea, and the poshest of the lot is Plage Beau Rivage. For watersports, try Blue Beach.
Extended Holidays on the French Riviera
Your grandstand tickets are booked and you’re coming to the Monaco Grand Prix, so why not extend your trip a little and make it part of a proper summer holiday? Whether you simply stay on in Nice for a day or two at either end, or if you fancy renting an apartment in neighbouring Antibes, St Tropez or St Maxime, there are plenty of options for making the most of your trip. Here’s some of our favorite places to stay or visit near Monaco:
Saint Raphael
A great place for campers and families who like a big choice in beaches – though with plenty of hotels and rental apartments too – Saint Raphael is a stunning port town just 60km from Nice. Full of Belle Epoque architecture as well as some colourful Byzantine influence too, it’s a simply stunning place to spend a few days with the mountains as a backdrop.
Cape D’Antibes
Stunning beaches, palm-fringed promenades and long balmy evenings await you in glamorous Antibes. It’s also a great spot for art lovers and art collectors, with several impressive galleries and museums for both appreciating and purchasing art and sculpture. Pablo Picasso lived here and was deeply inspired by the striking colours of Antibes.
St Paul-de-Vence
A walled medieval village overlooking the Riviera, this well known artists’ retreat is stunningly unspoilt – a real Provencal gem that’s also picture-postcard pretty. Think mazes of cobbled streets and wide, lush gardens. St Paul-de-Vence is found 12km inland from the Cote d’Azur and well worth a stopover of a day or two.
Sanremo
A short hop over the border in north western Italy, Sanremo is a chic harbour town with some wonderful shopping, good beaches, plenty of ice cream parlors and a big casino. Its train station links with all the major cities along the French Riviera, and is only 50 minutes from Monaco via the coastal motorway. Worth also considering as your base for the Monaco GP.
