Monaco Travel Guide

Monaco — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Western Europe.
Language: French. Monégasque (a mixture of French Provençal and Italian Ligurian), English and Italian are also spoken. Native Monégasques make up only a minority of Monaco’s population.
Area: 1.95 sq km (0.75 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 32,965 (2009).
Population Density: 16,905 per sq km.
Capital City: Monaco-Ville. Population: 1,034 (2000).
Government: Constitutional monarchy.
Head of Government: Minister of State Jean Paul Proust.
Head of State: Prince Albert II since 2005.
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic (Monaco has a Catholic Bishop), with Anglican minorities.

Recent History

Since the 13th century, Monaco has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi, a noble Genoese family, and has run its own affairs separately from neighboring France and Italy.

Following the death of Prince Rainier in April 2005, his son Prince Albert II was enthroned in November 2005, ending a process that began when he was sworn in before his subjects in July.

Monaco's status as a tax-haven is at risk from measures implemented after the global recession, however, it is protecting its status vehemently by refusing to take part Council of Europe talks about tax-havens.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +377.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Good coverage.

Internet

There are several Internet cafes.

Media

There are no daily newspapers in Monaco, but French papers - and the tabloid magazines - cover news from the principality. The principal regional daily is Nice-Matin (which includes two pages on Monaco). Weekly publication, the Monaco Hebdo covers Monaco's current affairs. The Journal de Monaco is an internal government journal published weekly. Other newspapers include Gazette Monaco-Côte d'Azur, Monaco Actualité and Monte Carlo Méditerranée. French newspapers are widely available, as are English books and magazines. The Riviera Reporter, the only English-language magazine for residents in the French Riviera, is published every two months. Riviera Radio is a privately-run English-language network.

Post

Same rates as France. The main post office is at The Scala Palace, Beaumarchais Square. There are special Monégasque stamps.Mon-Fri 0800-1900, Sat 0800-1200.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
27 Jan Saint-Devote’s Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
2 Jun Ascension Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
23 Jun Corpus Christi
15 Aug Assumption
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
19 Nov Monaco National Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
27 Jan Saint-Devote’s Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
17 May Ascension Day
28 May Whit Monday
7 Jun Corpus Christi
15 Aug Assumption
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
19 Nov Monaco National Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception
25 Dec Christmas Day

Contact Information

British Embassy in Marseille (there is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in Monaco)

24 avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseille, France
Tel: (04) 9115 7210.

Consulate General of the Principality of Monaco in the UK

7 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2LX, UK
Tel: (020) 7318 1083.
Website: www.monaco-consulate-uk.gouv.mc
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1200 and 1400-1700.