Monaco may be small, but it is packed with surprises. While you are visiting, make sure you sample some of the locally made, here are some recommendations.
Visit the local market
If you are foodie and want to try some local dishes or just wish to observe local life, head to the Condamine marketplace. Outdoors you will find a range of fruit and vegetable sellers with local and regional produce. Inside the covered market is the ideal place to enjoy the Monegasque culinary specialties, like the Barbajuan (a fried ravioli made with chard or marrow) and get a taste of local life.
A tipple at the Distillerie de Monaco
Just around the corner from the market is the Distillerie de Monaco, making liqueur from the bitter oranges which line the Principality’s streets, l’Orangerie is the first premium bitter orange liqueur from Monaco. They also make other fine beverages, including a citrus gin, vodka and a liqueur made from the fruit of the carob tree, the national tree of Monaco.
Les Perles de Monte-Carlo
Les Perles de Monte-Carlo are oysters grown in Port de Fontvieille which can be enjoyed at the restaurant of the same name or taken away, as you wish.
La Bière de Monaco
La Bière de Monaco is brewed on site, at the Brasserie de Monaco located at Port Hercule. Monaco’s beer comes from organic malts and comes as lager, wheat beer, ale and seasonal versions. No need for transport, filtering, nor pasteurisation.
When visiting Monaco, indulge in its vibrant new culinary scene. L'Abysse Monte-Carlo at the Hermitage Hotel, opened in 2024, offers a remarkable fusion of Japanese and French cuisine by Michelin-starred Chef Yannick Alléno. For more fine dining, Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac at the Metropole Hotel delivers Mediterranean flavours with stunning views of the Casino. Nobu Monte-Carlo at Fairmont Monte-Carlo presents a creative blend of Japanese-Peruvian dishes against a Mediterranean backdrop. Don't miss Smakelijk at the Meridien Hotel for a Belgian brasserie experience or Amazónico, with its vibrant Latin American-inspired cuisine and rooftop setting, perfect for dining with flair.
Getting around like a local
It doesn’t take long to work out how to navigate the Principality as if you were one of the residents, here are our tips.
- A walking destination - With a total area of 2km², Monaco can be easily explored on foot. If you opt to walk you will discover the many ingenious solutions to help you get around. Being a hilly destination, the Principality makes it easy to get around with public no less than 80 elevators, 37 escalators and 8 travelators, allowing you to get from A to B easily and as quickly as possible. And if you want to walk a lot more and catch some stunning scenery, check out the locals favourite walks starting in the Principality here
- Try the public transport - Public transport in Monaco is top notch. Managed by Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco who serve the entire territory in a sustainable way. Monaco’s buses are powered by di-ester. There are plenty of bus routes making it quick and easy to get around.
- Down at Port Hercule a water-bus ferry, called the Bateau Bus runs on electricity. The waterbus is equipped with two electric engines powered by batteries and 14 monocrystal solar panels which in summer supply 15W/day.
- Share transport options - Other wonderful innovations include the Monabike, an electric bike hire system with 350 bikes and 49 stations, it’s easy to take a bike for an hour or more and put it back when you’ve finished your ride! Plenty of options keeping the country, clean, green and easy to get around.
Get yourself a Monapass:
Monapass is the Principality’s all-in-one transport mobile-app. Monapass allows you to keep all your transport passes together (bus, Monabike, on-street parking) on your telephone. Extended Monaco's flagship app has also been updated to include new attractions such as the Grand Apartments of the Prince's Palace, H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco's Car Collection, and the Oceanographic Museum. The application can be downloaded from both Android and Apple stores. More information here
www.visitmonaco.com
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