With its balmy climate, superb scenery and glamorous lifestyle Monaco offers ample pleasures year round. Luxury hotels, exclusive shopping boutiques, the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix and its enviable location on the beautiful Cote d’Azur make Monaco the ultimate jet-set location.

To accommodate the influx of visitors, Monaco began building at a furious pace and once all the available space had been used up, the decision was made to extend the shoreline into the sea creating the Fontvielle District and expanding the territory by 25%.

Living in Monaco

Monaco is currently divided into ten residential and resort districts or 'wards'. The four traditional quarters:

• Monaco-Ville, the old city, which is seated on a rocky foreland known as the ‘Rock of Monaco’ or simply as, ‘The Rock’
• Monte-Carlo is the principal residential and resort area, home to the famous casino, palace and the remains of the ancient fortress
• La Condamine, the southwestern section which includes the port area Port Hercules
• Fontvieille, created in the 1970s, is the newest of the traditional four quarters and contains Monaco’s heliport, connecting Monaco by air to Nice and the rest of the world

And the six newer wards:

• Moneghetti was created from part of La Condamine, home of the famous Jardin Exotic
• Larvotto was created from part of Monte Carlo
• La Rousse/Saint Roman (including Le Tenao) was also created from part of Monte Carlo
• Saint Michel created from part of Monte Carlo
• La Colle and Les Revoires were both created from La Condamine

Accessibility

• By air: Nice International Airport - 30.3km
• Monaco helipad is located in Fontvielle
• All distances are approximate 

  Where to go

  Monaco’s cost of living is among the highest in the world, and this luxury comes with a lot of perks for its residents. While it is the second smallest state next to the Vatican, it is packed from coast to coast with decadent venues to explore. First off, you can go traipsing through Monte Carlo, and marvel at everything from superyachts to skyscrapers.

  If you’d like to get away from the glitz and glamour for a while, you can venture on out to the Rock or Monaco-Ville. Here, you can visit the Oceanographic Museum of Monte Carlo, a hundred-year old attraction that is famous for its six-meter lagoon with sharks and rooftop terrace. It is also connected to the St Martin Gardens, as well as the Zoological Gardens, the Exotic Gardens, and the Fontvieille Park.

  The Rock is also home to the royal palace, which is the official residence of Prince Albert II. The interiors are done up in the Louis XIV style, and the old-fashioned class permeates the entire area, as this whole rocky outcrop is your closest look at native Monegasque culture. You can also pore through the modern art exhibits of the New National Museum of Monaco, which houses two villas that feature modern art exhibitions every year. These villas are the Villa Paloma and the Villa Sauber.

  Where to eat

  When it comes to dining, this little French Riviera jewel also offers a smorgasbord of treats. Monte Carlo boasts of Michelin-star restaurants with a wide array of menus. There’s the Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse restaurant, which has three Michelin stars and serves food that “tells the story of the Riviera”, located at the Hotel de Paris.

  Joel Robuchon, a chef that has been awarded the Michelin distinction more than any other chef in the world, also mans the open kitchen at the Hotel Metropole, which offers Mediterranean cuisine, as well as Yoshi, a Japanese-Western restaurant. Or you can dine at the Blue Bay at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel, and feast on Mediterranean and Carribean dishes while enjoying views of luxury yachts.

  If you prefer beachside or poolside dining, you can start with the Monaco Beach Club, which cooks up gourmet and organic dishes served in striped tents, which you can enjoy by its private beach or its seawater pool. Or you can head on to Larvotto Beach and enjoy a luxurious dinner with jazz lounge music at La Note Bleue, or plop down on the sand and enjoy Monegasque dishes at La Rose des Vents. There is also Nikki Beach at the rooftop of the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel, and Miami Plage, which has its own private beachfront.

  What to do

  Finally, you’ll never run out of things to do in Monaco, especially if you’re into luxury yachting. The principality is home to Port Hercule and the Port of Fontvieille, which serve as the perfect starting points for navigating the beautiful French Riviera, as well as the nearby islands of Sardinia and Capri. It also hosts the yearly Monaco Yacht Show, a luxury 4-day event that showcases 120 superyachts and supercars at the Yacht Club de Monaco.

  If you’d like to charter a yacht, you can take your pick from the multitude of charters and excursions available through the Monaco Yacht Charters, the Super Yachts Monaco, Fraser Yachts, Bespoke Yacht Charter, and the Burgess. Go snorkeling or diving or jet skiing along the Mediterranean Sea, with a full crew or without.

  Off the water, Monaco also hosts the annual Grand Prix, so you can revel in the excitement in the air as race cars battle on the world-famous three-kilometer track with hairpin bends. You can also visit the principality’s casinos, which are full entertainment complexes that stay awake all night.

  Or if you’d like a quiet evening of culture, arts, and music, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra plays regular concerts. You can also catch the annual Monte Carlo Jazz Festival; other performance spaces include the La Salle des Etoile, where performers play under the stars, the Espace Léo Ferré, and the Grimaldi Forum auditoriums.

  Sounds like a great place to live in? The Monaco real estate market holds little to no restrictions for foreign buyers, and you can sort through comprehensive listings of luxury properties to invest in.

  When doing so, just remember to partner with Monaco realtors that specialize in bridging sellers and buyers from different countries, such as Spark and Partners. Operating from three offices in the French Riviera, the company draws from extensive experience in delivering successful results for investors, as well as provides customized guidance to help you find your dream property.