Monaco Travel Guide: Top Luxury Hotels in the Heart of Monaco
Planning a trip to Monaco and searching for the perfect luxury stay? If you’re heading to the principality for the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show this September, explore these top-tier hotels offering unparalleled accommodations.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
A Top Pick By Readers
Just steps from the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Hôtel de Paris has been so beloved and frequented by the world’s high-rollers that their superstitions have left indelible marks on its decor: generations of guests have touched the lobby’s bronze statue of Louis XIV on a horse for good luck, imparting an unmistakable shine.
Opened in 1863, just a year after the Casino, the Hôtel de Paris was designed to rival Parisian icons like the Hôtel du Louvre and the Grand Hôtel. From its earliest days, the hotel attracted the glitterati—U.S. President Grant mingled with Russian Grand Duke “Serge,” while luminaries such as Verne, Verdi, and Dumas found inspiration in its belle époque elegance.
Opulence defined the hotel’s golden era. Beams were added to one suite so Empress Elizabeth of Austria could practice trapeze before retiring for the night. A grand duke famously traveled with 50 gardeners who toiled overnight to present him with a new garden view each morning. The hotel became synonymous with lavish balls, hosting iconic events like Errol Flynn’s 1950 wedding and the 1956 royal nuptials of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.
These echoes of glamour continue to define the Hôtel de Paris today. Modern-day starlets and moguls walk the same marble halls as belle époque aristocrats and mid-century icons. Guests can immerse themselves in its storied past through exquisitely preserved architecture, antique furnishings, and opulent suites named for famous patrons, including the Princess Grace Diamond Suite, where a night starts at €40,000.
Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo
A Fine Dining Hotspot
Way back in 1905, even Edith Wharton — she of the famously luxurious mansion in Massachusetts’ elite western Berkshires , now a destination in its own right, wrote gushing praise for the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo’s architecture and gardens. The venue’s allure and exclusivity haven’t diminished even in the face of Monaco’s increased development: despite its closeness to the heart of Monaco, the Hôtel Métropole remains one of city’s most relaxing sanctuaries, created in part by thoughtful, careful landscaping and use of greenery.
The hotel has undergone several redesigns to stay fresh, including one by fashion’s own kaiser, Karl Lagerfeld, resulting in a space carefully balanced to exude calming luxury. Three signature suites—Prestige, Azur, and Carré d'Or—cater to the most discerning tastes, including one that offers direct views of the Grand Prix circuit. 2025 promises brand-new interest for travelers with yet another update by interior designer Jacques Garcia, said to be completed in March of this year.
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
A Panoply of Luxury
The Hermitage is a neo-classical gem, a hotel fit for royalty. If Marie Antoinette had lived two centuries later, she would surely have held court from the balcony of a Hermitage suite, enjoying complimentary Ladurée macarons and elegant white roses. It’s not uncommon to run into celebrities meeting journalists in the hotel’s grand marble lobby, a space that resembles a wedding cake, before retreating into its quiet, pearly-tiled labyrinth of corridors.
Opened in 1900, The Hermitage was built in the shadow of the Hôtel de Paris, ready to compete with its opulent neighbor. The Salle Belle Epoque ballroom was designed by the painter and orientalist Gabriel Ferrier, while Gustave Eiffel crafted the glass dome of the Winter Garden.
Renovated in the 1970s and early 2000s, the rooms exude romance with rococo furniture upholstered in pastel silks and velvets. However, the 361-square-meter Diamond Suite Penthouse is the epitome of royal luxury. With a palette of taupe, aubergine, and gold, it boasts two expansive terraces, three bedrooms, three living rooms, two dressing rooms, a playroom, and breathtaking 360-degree views of the principality.
The hotel's views are its greatest luxury, and the Crystal Terrace is the perfect spot to savor them with a cocktail in hand. Just steps away, the Michelin-starred Yannick Alléno restaurant offers exquisite cuisine and is one of the top dining destinations in Monte-Carlo, especially during the Monaco Yacht Show.
Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel
Exquisite privacy in Monte Carlo's beachside pine forest.
The Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, with its low, expansive art deco design, was completed in 1929 to attract high-end summer tourists. To populate it with glamorous guests, American gossip columnist Elsa Maxwell was enlisted. Known for her connections with the jet set from Cairo to New York (she famously introduced Maria Callas to Aristotle Onassis), Maxwell ensured the hotel was the epicenter of 1920s decadence, extending the era’s vibrancy well into the next decade.
A 2009 renovation by Parisian designer India Mahdavi restored the hotel’s chic, deco-inspired charm. The two-bedroom Sunshine Suite boasts a spa pool and private terrace, but every room is equally exquisite, featuring muted tones, stylized prints, and "strong visual references from the Riviera of the '30s," as Mahdavi described it. It's easy to imagine the glamorous starlets and dashing socialites lounging by the pool. In fact, Leonardo DiCaprio has been spotted playing poker and smoking cigars under the cabanas of the Monte-Carlo Beach Club, while Beyoncé occasionally arrives by yacht.
Although technically located just over the eastern border in France, the hotel offers a peaceful retreat for those seeking a respite from Monaco’s high-octane glamour. For a lunch escape during the Monaco Yacht Show, the Michelin-starred Elsa restaurant, with its bright atmosphere and breezy terrace, is the perfect spot.
Villa La Vigie
The perfect sophisticated getaway.
While technically not a hotel and just over the border in France, Villa la Vigie is the most exclusive address in the region. Perched high on the Pointe de la Veille promontory, its breathtaking views stretch from Monaco to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin — so spectacular that during World War II, the Germans used it as an observation post.
Built in 1902 by English baronet William Ingram, owner of The Illustrated London News and a liberal politician, this neoclassical villa was known for its lavish parties, where rare animals roamed the gardens and tropical birds fluttered freely. Forty years later, the Nazis became troublesome tenants, digging trenches and planting mines to protect their valuable property. After they left, the villa was renovated, and the lush gardens were restored (and de-mined).
The villa’s most famous resident was Karl Lagerfeld, who spent summers here from the late '80s to the early '90s, hosting supermodels and fashion royalty. Today, the villa is available for weekly or monthly rentals. The sleek interiors, decorated in pale tones and sumptuous fabrics, complement the elegant architecture, while tall windows bathe the villa in natural light.
With six bedrooms, two dressing rooms, and a 237-square-meter terrace wrapping around two sides of the building, there’s no better spot on the Riviera to enjoy a sundowner. Privacy is a significant draw for the elite, with a private road, forest-cloaked gardens, and a sea-view spa pool. A chauffeured electric car takes guests to the nearby Monte-Carlo Beach Club, where a private 10-person tent awaits. Mention you're staying here, and you're sure to turn heads.
