Palais princier de Monaco
Residence of the princes of Monaco for more than seven centuries: the Grands Appartements (State Apartments) can be visited in season, with their Renaissance frescoes.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The palace stands on the Rock of Monaco, on the site of a fortress built by the Genoese in 1191. The Grimaldi seized it in 1297 and have not left since, apart from a few interruptions: the residence was besieged, bombarded and retaken several times. As the princes long had to defend their territory, the palace has kept towers and fortified walls, which blend with Renaissance façades and arcaded courtyards.
The state apartments took shape from the 16th century onwards, and in the 18th century received a décor inspired by Versailles, notably in the Galerie des Glaces. During the French Revolution the palace was looted and emptied of its treasures, before being restored in the 19th century and again in the 20th. It is still the residence of the Sovereign Prince.
Since 2015, restoration work has uncovered Renaissance frescoes that had been hidden for nearly five centuries. They cover around 600 m² and depict, among others, Hercules, Ulysses and Europa; they are now part of the visit to the Grands Appartements.
Highlights
- Renaissance frescoes (around 600 m²) uncovered since 2015
- Galerie d’Hercule and Galerie des Glaces
- Salle du Trône (Throne Room)
- Chapelle Palatine
- Cour d’honneur with its arcades
Permanent exhibition
- Les Grands Appartements – A tour of the palace’s state rooms, from the Galerie d’Hercule to the Salle du Trône, with the restored Renaissance frescoes and the Chapelle Palatine.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €13 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €11Students |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 5 · Children aged 6 to 17; free for under-6s |
| Students & apprentices | €11 |
| Groups (20+ people) | –Rate on request for groups and agencies; guided tours from 20 people |
Tickets are bought online or at the ticket office on the Place du Palais, not by phone. They are valid for the whole season and can be postponed, but are not refunded.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access is by stairs only: the palace, a historic building, cannot accommodate visitors in wheelchairs. Guide dogs and other assistance animals are admitted; a Braille booklet is available at the entrance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
A booklet for children aged 6 to 11 is available on site.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Place de la Visitation · 5-min walk
Bus lines 1 and 2 of the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco, stop “Place de la Visitation”. On foot, allow 5 minutes from the Place de la Visitation through the lanes of the Rock, or 10 minutes from the Place d’Armes via the Rampe Major.
By car
Parking available
Parking des Pêcheurs (recommended for cars and coaches)
Vehicles registered outside Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes (06) do not have access to the Rock or Monaco-Ville.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
There is no restaurant or food shop in the palace; many dining options are found on the Rock.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guides are available in 11 languages, as well as a smartphone app. Group guided tours (from 20 people) and VIP tours must be booked in advance by email (visites@palais.mc). Pets are not admitted, except in a small bag. |
