Europe’s most manicured playground
Monaco is everything a sun-soaked Mediterranean paradise should be. Whitewashed villas cover the clifftops like butter cream, while the cerulean waters drum a rhythm against the rocks beneath. Immaculate yachts bob gently in the marinas, waiting to be re-boarded--or perhaps gambled away on an unlucky hand in the legendary Casino Monte Carlo. Expensive sportscars race nimbly through the steep, tightly wound streets, their drivers engaging in their own personal Grand Prix. Monaco absolutely delivers on the expectations it sets for wealth, luxury, and visual delight. Beauty comes standard in Monaco, from the gilded opera house designed by Charles Garnier to the lovely Cathedral of St. Nicholas, where Princess Grace was laid to rest. Clearly, no expense was spared in making Monaco a stunning, picturesque hideaway. Stroll through the manicured public gardens that face the sea or gaze at the treasures presented in the windows of Monte Carlo’s choice boutiques. The phenomenal aesthetics extend to the fine restaurants and seaside cafes and deep into the sanctuaries of Monaco’s world-class spas. Even the fish on display at the Musée Océanographique and the blooms in the Jardin Exotique start to appear suspiciously comely. Monaco’s opulence can seem otherworldly, but the real beauty may well be that it can all be enjoyed without having to shell out for a single poker chip
