The Casino de Monte-Carlo

The Casino de Monte-Carlo, standing in lavish splendour on its manicured square, is the glittering symbol of Monaco and of Riviera glamour itself. This opulent Belle Époque palace, designed in the nineteenth century by Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera, is a masterpiece of gilded, ornate architecture, its grand halls, marble atrium, sculptures and adjoining opera house dripping with luxury. Set amid immaculate gardens and framed by grand hotels and a plaza where supercars gleam, it embodies the wealth, style and history of the principality. Even for those who never place a bet, the sumptuous architecture, gardens and people-watching are a spectacle.

What you actually see

• The Belle Époque architecture - the opulent Garnier casino building.
• The Place du Casino - the grand square, gardens and supercars.
• The opera house - the lavish adjoining Salle Garnier.
• The grand hotels - the Hôtel de Paris and luxury surroundings.

When to go

April to October, for the mildest, sunniest Riviera weather to enjoy the square, gardens and terraces; the casino and its surroundings are glamorous year-round and especially dazzling in the evening when floodlit. The area buzzes during the Monaco Grand Prix in May and the glittering high season of summer.

Honest expectations

The casino's gaming rooms charge admission, enforce a smart dress code, and are, of course, about gambling, which is not to everyone's taste or budget, and the whole area is unabashedly about wealth and glamour, which can feel exclusive or ostentatious. For most visitors, though, the appeal is simply admiring the sumptuous Belle Époque architecture, the manicured square, the supercars and the glamorous atmosphere from the outside, which is free and a genuine spectacle emblematic of Monaco.

Nearby

The old town of Monaco-Ville, the harbour and the Oceanographic Museum are close.