Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
famouscasino,intheparkabovethepedestrian-unfriendly trafficcircle.Inthemid-1800s,
olive groves stood here. Then, with the construction of casino and spas, and easy road and
train access, one of Europe's poorest countries was on the Grand Tour map—
the
place for
the vacationing aristocracy to play. Today, Monaco has the world's highest per-capita in-
come.
The casino is intended to make you feel comfortable while losing money. Charles
Garnierdesignedtheplace(withanoperahouseinside)in1878,inparttothanktheprince
for his financial help in completing Paris' Opéra Garnier (which the architect also de-
signed). The central doors provide access to slot machines, private gaming rooms, and the
opera house. The private gaming rooms occupy the left wing of the building.
The scene, flooded with camera-toting tourists during the day, is great at night—and
downright James Bond-like in the private rooms. This is your chance to rub elbows with
some high rollers—provided you're 18 or older (bring your passport as proof).
If paying an entrance fee to lose money is not your idea of fun, you can access all
games for free in the plebeian, American-style casino, adjacent to the old casino.
Cost and Hours:
The casino opens daily at 9:30 and stays open until the wee hours
(there is no official closing time), but gambling is not allowed until 14:00. The
first gam-
ing rooms
(Salle Renaissance, Salon de l'Europe, and Salle des Amériques) are free to
enter after 14:00, with European and English roulette, blackjack, craps, and slot machines.
You can pay €10 to visit in the morning to gawk—but not gamble—in the same rooms
(daily 9:00-12:30, no dress code). The more glamorous
private game rooms
(Salons
Touzet, Salle Medecin, and Terrasse Salle Blanche) cost €10 to enter and have the same
games as above, plus Trente et Quarante, Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em poker, and Punto
Banco—a version of baccarat.
Information:
Tel. 00-377/92 16 20 00,
www.montecarlocasinos.com
.
Dress Code:
During gambling hours, men need to wear a jacket and slacks. Dress
standards forwomenaremorerelaxed—only tennis shoesandbeach attire aredefinite no-
no's.
Take the Money and Run:
The stop for buses returning to Nice and Villefranche-
sur-Mer,andforlocalbuses#1and#2,isatthetopofthepark,abovethecasinoonAvenue
de la Costa (under the arcade to the left). To get back to the train station from the casino,
take bus #1 or #2 from this stop, or walk about 15 minutes down Avenue d'Ostende (just
outside the casino) toward the port, and follow signs to
Gare SNCF
(see map).
(€1 = about $1.30, country code: 377)
