Why should you travel to Monte-Carlo to watch tennis?
Monaco is a gorgeous destination that every traveler should make time to visit. The second smallest nation in the world is located on the French Riviera, nestled between France and Italy. The city of Monte-Carlo is within Monaco, and offers an amazing travel destination.
Why travel to Monte-Carlo?
The bigger question: why wouldn’t you? From the James Bond feel of the city to a Formula 1 race track winding through its streets, Monte-Carlo is begging to be explored. Luckily, the tennis calendar allows us a great excuse to visit the world’s most beautiful cities, and Monaco is high on the list.
Located at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera, the beautiful landscape alone is worth the trip. The average temperature in April is in the mid 70s (Fahrenheit) and the sites, both modern and medieval, will fill your time in between exciting sessions of tennis.
Experience the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters live!
Each year, the Monte-Carlo Country Club transforms from a private club into the tournament grounds for this ATP 1000 event. Many of the top men show up to play this tournament on clay as a warm up for Roland Garros. The club is an intimate venue built into the hillside, boasting spectacular Mediterranean Sea views and stunning mountain scenes.
The primary show court, Court Rainier III, is where the biggest matches will be showcased each day. The outer courts and practice areas are also open to spectators—these spots offer a great opportunity to watch your favorite players from very close up. Of course, the MCCC also offers excellent dining and shopping within the venue grounds.
Hard-to-beat seats
At Topnotch Tennis Tours we have a fantastic working relationship with the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament. In turn, we have excellent tickets each year! We offer Category 1 seats on the primary court, Court Rainier III. We have baseline, corner, and sideline seats available each day.
A ticket on Court Rainier III will also allow you access to the outer courts and the grounds. However, your ticket will not allow you access to the secondary show court, Court de Princes. Our team of travel and tennis experts will ensure you have a great view each day that you visit the tournament.
Where to stay
The team at Topnotch Tennis Tours has chosen to stay at the modern Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel in Monte-Carlo. This five-star hotel is located on the seaside Avenue Princess Grace, giving you easy walking access to all that Monte-Carlo has to offer. The MCCC tennis venue is a quick 10–15 minute walk from the hotel, and your tour hosts will guide you there each morning.
The Le Meridien Hotel has all the amenities you need to relax, including a private beach, fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and a sauna. Your stay will also include a wonderful breakfast spread each morning.
How to get to Monaco
We recommend flying commercially into Nice, France. Our tour packages include a helicopter flight transfer from Nice to Monte-Carlo (and back again at the end of your trip). The flight takes about 12–15 minutes, and offers breathtaking views of the Mediterranean coastline. Once your helicopter lands, you will be chauffeured to the Le Meridien Hotel by van.
If the thought of a helicopter flight sounds unpleasant, don’t worry. There are other ways to travel to Monte-Carlo. From Nice, it is a 35 minute drive along the coastline to Monte-Carlo. There is also a train between the two cities; the train ride is also about 35 minutes.
Things to do in Monte-Carlo
There are many activities to be done within Monte-Carlo. A few of our most popular destinations are listed below. You can also check out our Monte-Carlo Planned Experiences page to see what activities you can include in your custom Monte-Carlo tennis tour!
Visit and tour the Royal Family’s home
Upon the Rock of Monaco sits Monaco-Ville, the oldest part of Monaco, which includes the Prince’s Palace. Each day at noon there is a Changing of the Guards ceremony, which you can watch for free. You can also take a guided tour of the Palace to learn more about the monarchs.
Ogle at the Prince’s private car collection
From the most beautiful horse drawn carriages to the newest Formula 1 cars, this collection is sure to captivate all audiences. This private collection is displayed for the public just a short walk from the family’s home.
The Oceanographic Museum
This 100-year-old museum of marine science sits just on the edge of the sea, and is situated near the oldest town section of town. Today, the aquarium houses more than 6,000 specimens.
Shopping!
Monaco is home to some of the world’s best boutique shopping. Le Metropole Shopping Center is a great place to start, but there are luxury boutiques everywhere you look for everything from handbags to custom yachts.
Gamble at the casino
Unleash your inner gambler, and head to the famous Monte-Carlo Casino. Yes, the same Casino that James Bond has visited twice!
Each gaming room is more lavish than the last, with games for all tastes. If rolling the dice if not for you but you’d like to see the building, the Casino is open for tourism (but not gambling) during the morning hours.
Things to do in the surrounding areas
Visit Nice, France
The capital of the French Riviera, Nice offers a gorgeous destination just 30–45 minutes away from Monte-Carlo. There are plenty of things to do in Nice, including a visit to the Promenade des Anglais, the famous oceanfront pedestrian walkway. All seven kilometers of it has been a staple of Nicoise life since it was built in the 1820s.
There are also many art museums in Nice, including The Musee Matisse, which showcases a large collection of Matisse artworks. Don’t miss the daily open air market at the Cours Saleya Market, which is a great spot to pick up a bite to eat and some fresh flowers.
Tour a perfumery
The famous Fragonard perfumery shop is located just outside of Nice. You can take a guided tour of the factory, and see the perfume making process from start to finish. There, of course, is a factory store on site for some great shopping.
Visit the ancient city of Éze, France
Built into the cliffside, this village dates back to 2000 BC and has a rich history. The small village is packed with charm, views, shops, and cafes, all of which you can experience as you walk up the streets to the top of the hill and back down. There is even a hotel tucked into the hillside, should you wish to spend a night in this historical village.
Who calls Monte-Carlo home?
Many of our favorite tennis stars call Monte-Carlo home, and past travelers have even spotted players out and about in the city. Monaco is considered a tax haven for the wealthy as there is no personal income tax, and the country does not levy net wealth taxes. Here are a few of tennis’ biggest stars that you might see in the grocery store:
Novak Djokovic (for proof, see the back of his head in the attached photo of TNTT employee Laura having lunch in Monaco!)
Stefanos Tsisipas
Daniil Medvedev
Alexander Zverev
Matteo Berretini
David Goffin
Stan Wawrinka
Grigor Dimitrov
Felix Auger Aliassime
Milos Raonic
Book today!
This tournament is getting more and more popular each year. To get the best seats and ensure your spot at the next Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, don’t wait until the last minute! Click here to see all our Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters packages.
