Perched on the famous Rock, the Old Town (Monaco-Ville) juts into the sea on Monaco’s western flank and offers excellent views of the harbor and its usual armada of luxury yachts below. The city’s architectural history, reflected in its medieval houses, palaces and vaulted passageways, is best experienced on foot – either alone or through one of the many organized tours available (which tend to make the city quite crowded during the summer months). The main tourist attraction is the Prince’s Palace and State Apartments (open daily 0930-1830 (June to September), 1000-1700 (October)). Built around 1215, the palace’s focal points are the Throne Room and the Main Courtyard with its horse-shaped marble staircase, adorned with millions of geometric patterns. The Changing of the Palace Guard (admission free) takes place daily, just before noon (1155). For a visit of the palace and apartments, an admission fee is charged. Also worth visiting are the serene and sea-facing Saint-Martin Gardens, which inspired the poet Guillaume Apollinaire between 1887 and 1889. There are a number of museums of varying degrees of interest located in the Old Town, including the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, whose grandiose façade rises spectacularly out of the sea and houses a world-renowned collection of marine fauna and interactive exhibits. Other museums and attractions include the Museum of Napoleonic Souvenirs and Collection of the Palace’s Historic Archives, which exhibits thousands of objects relating to the First Empire (Napoleon I) and provides a colorful history of Monaco; the Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco, Monaco’s answer to London’s Madame Tussaud’s; the Monte Carlo Story, a multivision show about Monaco’s history; and the Azur Express Tourist Train, which carries up to 54 visitors and offers commentaries in French, Italian, German and English.
For all tourist attractions and museums (except the Japanese Gardens), an admission fee is charged. Opening hours and prices are seasonal; ask for the relevant brochures from the Direction du Tourisme (see General Info section).