place du palais

bronwynt216

We visited here in October 2013. We walked up the hill from the harbour, through the gardens at the top and around the buildings located on the hill, which is a charming setting, ending up in the piaza where the palace is. We watched the changing of the guards and then did a tour of the palace which it was worth doing. The audio guide is spoken by the current Prince. No photos were allowed so we purchased a book from a shop in the piazza.

SarahCorell

Took the ferry across the harbour and then battled the walk up to the palace!It's an amazing view as you get higher and higher.Armed guards are less serious than at Buckingham palace.You seem very close to the palace itself.It's all very regal but very relaxed!Worth a visit

jeroenw59

Just fun to watch the guards in front of the palace. Palace itself looked very nice and good maintained. Nice view from this hill on the smaller harbor of Monaco and the AS Monaco stadium. Also nice to see all the canons placed at the walls.

673nigelr

The palace itself was of course beautiful and we lucked out and got there right as the changing of the guard happened. That event was a little lackluster but the view of Monte Carlo is absolutely worth the trip up there. There's also plenty of souvenir shopping up there too!

Kim_OK

We found the tour to be interesting and beautiful. Changing of the guard is ok to see if you can. Worth a visit!

meshef

I liked the quaint, charming feel of the palace and the old town combined with the cathedral and the garden area. Everything here reminds one of Grace Kelly including the cathedral, garden sculptures & mementos being sold. Just to get to the palace it is a very steep hike up from the road below, but it's really worth it.

Ice_D_8

The square is bordered by the Prince's Palace and the Old Town. It has fantastic views of Monte Carlo in both directions, and is the viewing place of the Guard Changing that happens at every day. The Old Town is made of neat but narrow laneways with shops and cafes - comfortable walking shoes a must! It is a very beautiful place and a must-visit for any trip to the area.

Anki_Mum

It is about 30 mins walk up the hill. But the views from various photo points is beautiful. The square at the top though quite big is not as great as one would expect from a Prince's palace. However the old own adjacent to it is worth visiting. There are narrow streets with little souvenir shops and restaurants.Do remember to walk around the square as the views from all sides are amazing.

kemariahd

Put on a good walking shoes and slowly walk up as it can be a challenge to some! As you walk, the view is so breath taking! You can see all the yachts n big speed boats from up the hill. The place is very crowded so if you are with friends, best to go in 2s or 3s n have a meeting place. Dont miss on the alley walks as they have lots to offer. Visiting the museum is a must so you can the history of the place. We took a tour next to the oceanographic museum which took us around Monte Carlo, passing the casino, market place and places of interest. Monte Carlo is not a cheap place to visit but worth it..!

stuartled

The Palace is an interesting building that looks a little dated and plain. It certainly is not fitting of all the wealth and majesty of Monaco. It was all decked out for Christmas and looked very inviting. The church at the bottom of the square contains the crypts of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier.

tRAVellerOfTheW0rld

We visited Monaco for a day when our cruise ship stopped at Villefranche. By train it took us 45 minutes and it was a beautiful ride. From the train station we walked to the Palace, which is a nice walk of about 30 minutes. The last part is up hill, because the square is on top of the Rock of Monaco. But when you arrive at Place du Palais, the views of Monaco are great. The Palace itself is also beautiful and worthwhile a visit. Several times a day you can see the changing of the guards, but it will get very crowded. We actually enjoyed the square a lot. On one side the Palace and on the other side marvelous views of Monaco. Our sons were very interested in all the big cannons which are standing in front of the Palace and around the square. Also there are piles of cannonballs, which are great for picture taking. Our next stop was St. Nicholas Cathedral, which is close by and is the final resting place of Grace Kelly and Reinier III.

Elizabethrap

Given the fact that Monaco is both the smallest and most wealthy nation in the world. I love the fact that you can get that close to the Palace and the changing of the guards.I was lucky enough to get a private tour of the Palace, no photos allowed, each and every room was more breathtaking than the other.Put this on your must do list !

risxlene

Good place to visit to see the change of guards. Spacious area, many cafes around, can sit and wait or have a drink.

Keyz

Not much in Monaco is free. This is a beautiful place to take pictures and admire the views of Monaco. The guard walking around is also a good attraction. There are many cafes and restaurants which are affordable and allow you to enjoy the weather and people watch.

BeijingEye

This happens each day at 11:55am. A 5 minute orchestrated change of the guard. Each hour on the hour, one Guard at the main gate also changes.