The Casino de Monte-Carlo is on Place du Casino in Monaco's Monte Carlo district. Charles Garnier, who also designed the Paris opera house, planned this Belle Époque building. Inside are an onyx-columned atrium, frescoes, chandeliers and a red-and-gold theatre. In the morning you can walk through the interiors as a sightseer, and gaming starts after 2 pm. Outside, luxury cars pull up in front of the doors, and the gardens and terraces are open to everyone. Bring your passport, because you need it to get in.
Garnier's building on Place du Casino
The Casino de Monte-Carlo was designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris opera house. It dates from the 19th century and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Belle Époque architecture. Many first-time visitors take it for the palace. Turrets, cupolas and a Beaux-Arts facade face a circular driveway where expensive cars are usually parked.
Monaco was short of money when the casino was planned, and the aim was to draw tourists and bring in income for the ruling family. Prince Charles III led the development. The Monte Carlo district was created in 1866 around the casino and its gardens, and its name, Ligurian for Mount Charles, honours the prince. The casino was a venue for the art of play from the start.
Inside the atrium and the salons
The building is arranged around an atrium ringed by 28 onyx columns, with marble and gold throughout. Behind it is the Salle Garnier, an Italian theatre in red and gold that is a miniature version of the Paris opera house. It is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and opera is staged there in season.
The salons each have their own decoration. Frescoes are painted in the manner of Boucher, and there are bas-reliefs, sculptures and caryatids. Bohemian crystal chandeliers hang over the gaming rooms, and one source mentions stained-glass ceilings. The large Salle Médecin has four paintings showing different times of the day. Look up while you walk through, as the ceilings repay it.
The complex also holds restaurants, bars and lounges. The Café de la Rotonde is inside the casino, and the lounge bar of the Salle Europe has live music in the evening. A souvenir shop is on site, and the terrace above the building looks over the city and the Mediterranean.
Visiting by morning, playing from 2 pm
Sightseers are admitted in the morning, including to the private gaming salons, and one source says morning visits are open regardless of age. You can look into the foyer and the atrium for free. A ticket covers the interiors, and guided tours and audioguide tours are available, with the guided tours running in the morning. Check the casino's website for current prices and tour times.
Gaming starts at 2 pm, and from then only guests aged 18 and over are admitted. The rooms offer French roulette, blackjack, punto banco, trente et quarante and more than 700 slot machines. In the Salon Touzet, a live roulette format is played at eight touchscreen stations. Monaco's own citizens are not allowed to gamble in the casino. Smart dress is expected for gaming, especially in the evening. Bring your passport in every case.
The square, gardens and terraces
You do not have to go in to enjoy the setting. Place du Casino fills with luxury cars, and the Café de Paris and the Hôtel de Paris are on the same square. Many people stand by the fountain and watch guests arrive.
The Jardins du Casino have two areas. To the east, the gently sloping Jardin de la Petite Afrique has tropical planting, including Ficus macrophylla and Ginkgo biloba, with winding paths, fountains and sculptures. From the paths you see the square, the Belle Époque facade and the sea beyond. The gardens and terraces are open to everyone, so they suit a family walk.
Getting there from Nice
From Nice, a bus leaves from Port Lympia (stop Arson Fodère, behind the church), calls at several stops in Mont Boron and drops you at the casino or at Place d'Armes near the Prince's Palace. The train runs from Nice's stations (Saint Augustin, Nice Ville or Riquier) to Monaco station, and from there it is a walk or a short bus ride to Monte Carlo.
If you walk from the Yacht Club de Monaco, follow the signs to the casino. The route can run through underground passages and lifts before you come out in front of the building.
Häufige Fragen
Do I need a passport to enter the Casino de Monte-Carlo?
Yes. A passport is required to get in, and a paper copy is needed, not a photo on your phone.
Can I visit without gambling?
Yes. Sightseers can visit the interiors in the morning, and the foyer and atrium can be seen for free. A ticket covers the interiors, so check the casino's website for the current price.
When can you gamble at the casino?
Gaming starts at 2 pm, and only guests aged 18 and over are admitted from then. Smart dress is expected, especially in the evening.
Can I take photos inside?
No, photos are not allowed inside. The facade and the cars on Place du Casino make good subjects outside.
Is the casino suitable for children?
Morning visits are open regardless of age according to one source, while gaming is for guests aged 18 and over. The gardens and terraces around the building are open to everyone.
