Monaco is never short on supercars, but during the month of May, their numbers (and the crowds) skyrocket.
Hot on the heels of Top Marques 2025, which brought over 120 luxury and concept cars to the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the principality now shifts into a different gear as the Grand Prix weekend rolls in.
When one of the oldest and most demanding races in the Formula 1 calendar roars to life over the weekend of May 23, the population of the principality reportedly swells from 36,000 to a staggering 200,000. With that many people jostling for a table at one of Monaco’s best restaurants or a spot on a superyacht, you’ll need more than luck to land the best reservations.
That’s where we come in. From five-star stays to the chicest trackside views, Elite Traveler has created your ultimate Monaco Grand Prix guide to navigating race weekend in true VIP style.
Yes, the sight of cars hurtling through Monte Carlo’s streets at 200 mph is the main event – but the Monaco Grand Prix is just as much about who you’ll see and where you’ll be seen. Consider this your golden ticket to the most glamorous weekend on the sporting calendar.
[See also: Elite Traveler’s Monaco Destination Guide]
Getting to Monaco
Riviera Airport
Your Monaco Grand Prix guide wouldn’t be complete without tackling the logistics. With thousands of motorsport fans descending on the nearby airports, commercial flights can be sold out months in advance. Usually, a haunt for the world’s wealthiest, Monaco is well-equipped for the inevitable spike in private jet traffic for race week.
Riviera Airport is offering special packages for private jets during the race weekend (23-25 May). The airport benefits from having no slot restrictions and is located just an hour away in Albenga, Italy.
Explora II
Docked in Monaco’s iconic Port Hercule, Explora II offers a front-row seat to the Grand Prix – just minus the crowds. As the only ship in port during race week, it’s a rarefied way to watch the action, with sweeping views, elegant soirées and guest appearances from Formula 1 legends. Between laps, expect curated wellness rituals, race simulators and private showcases from houses like Buccellati and Piaget.
Where to stay in Monaco
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
No Monaco Grand Prix guide would be complete without the inside track on where to stay — ideally somewhere that puts you in pole position for both the race and the revelry. And do luxury hotels get grander than the legendary Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo?
Perfectly positioned on the Golden Square, for nearly two centuries, the hotel has welcomed royalty, aristocrats, Hollywood icons, and heads of state. Since its opening in 1864, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has embodied glamour, making it more than a symbol of Monaco, but part of the principality’s identity.
Sitting within the fabled Place du Casino, guests at the hotel are within walking distance of the Salle Garnier opera house and Casino Monte-Carlo. Each year, the fastest cars in the world speed past its storied facade during the Monaco Grand Prix, but the hotel is far more than a backdrop to the race.
Top Suite: Diamond Suite – Princess Grace
Named in honor of perhaps Monaco’s greatest icon, the Diamond Suite – Princess Grace is one of Elite Traveler’s Top 100 Suites for 2025. Situated at the top of this famous hotel, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite is situated over two floors and provides a series of extra amenities that ensure it’s worthy of royalty. Home to two panoramic terraces, each offering a 180-degree view of the Mediterranean, the suite also features a large heated infinity pool and jacuzzi in addition to an outdoor lounge.
Price available upon request. Click here to book the hotel now. Elite Traveler may earn commission if you book through the link.
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
Although only a minute away from Place du Casino, the atmosphere transforms at nearby Hôtel Hermitage. Located on the edge of the Mediterranean port, the race, along with sweeping views of Port Hercule, can be viewed unrestricted from the Salle Belle Epoque terrace. With grand rooms and corridors styled with quiet opulence, and Michelin-starred restaurants serving world-class cuisine, there are many reasons why Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo helped put Monaco on the map as one of the world’s most exclusive destinations.
Top Suite: Diamond Suite – Princely
For a more private experience, the Penthouse Suite has its own terrace, where guests can view the race in privacy and, after the race is over, watch the sunset over the myriad superyachts moored in the harbor.
From $27,048 per night. Click here to book the hotel now. Elite Traveler may earn commission if you book through the link.
Where to eat in Monaco
Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris
We return to the Hôtel de Paris for quite possibly the finest haute cuisine to be found in Monaco, and perhaps in the entire Coté de Azur. Le Louis XV became the first ever hotel restaurant to earn three Michelin stars in 1990 and has maintained them ever since. That is mainly due to the efforts of genius chef Alain Ducasse, who boasts 21 Michelin stars across his many restaurants. The Mediterranean menu is, in the words of Ducasse, designed to “taste like the sun” and takes its inspiration from the local fisheries and fertile lands across the French Riviera.
Le Grill
Another table not to miss at Hotel de Paris is Le Grill, perched atop the iconic hotel. Offering an unparalleled dining experience with sweeping views of Monaco and the Italian coast, the cuisine here is just as refined as the views. The cuisine emphasizes fresh, local ingredients, with a focus on grilled meats and seafood. Helmed by chef Franck Cerutti, who spent three decades working alongside Alain Ducasse, Le Grill earned one Michelin star for its high-quality cooking.
Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac
Returning to another familiar spot on this list (what can we say – Monaco might be luxurious, but it’s also very small), Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac is situated within the iconic Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo. Chef Christophe Cussac, a former disciple of Joël Robuchon, masterfully blends classic French techniques with modern recipes, always keeping the essence of Mediterranean flavors at the forefront. Not only popular with the elite, but Les Ambassadeurs has proven itself a critic’s darling, too, earning two Michelin stars in the 2024 Michelin Guide, a testament to Cussac’s dedication to gastronomic excellence.
elitetraveler.com/les-ambassadeurs
Where to watch the Monaco Grand Prix
From a superyacht
One of the most important elements of any Monaco Grand Prix guide is knowing where to watch the action — and, ideally, where to sip champagne while doing it.
The berths in Monaco’s port are among the most coveted in the world and are near impossible to get during race week. That leaves you with two choices: anchor your yacht out of port and tender in, or buy a superyacht experience from a hospitality expert.
Grand Prix Events are specialists in Formula 1 packages and their offering is one of the best we have seen. Their Super Yacht Package includes helicopter transfers from the airport and five nights onboard their own chartered yacht, which is moored by the tunnel exit and the accident-prone chicane that follows.
The package also gets you into some of the most exclusive and glamorous events across race week, including drinks with F1 legends, a yacht cocktail party and the Amber Lounge after party, where drivers and VIPs come together for a final night of hedonism.
The Super Yacht Package from Grand Prix Events is priced at $14,300 per person based on two people occupying the master cabin.
Terrace Shangria-La
The Shangri-La building is located right in the middle of the harbor area and is just around the corner from where the race begins. For race week, the suites within the building are transformed into luxury hospitality spaces, where enthusiastic F1 fans come together for arguably the best view in the city.
From the ninth floor, a panoramic view of Monaco is on offer, allowing guests to see more of the race than at any other location. Not only that, but it is also located right by a giant screen, meaning you won’t miss a second of the action.
Hospitality specialists GPExperiences can tailor your experience down to the finest details and also offer lower terraces in case you want to be closer to the action.
The Formula 1 Paddock Club
The Paddock Club is Formula 1’s official hospitality area and is where many of the official guests (celebrities, influencers and VIPs) will watch the race from. This makes it the best place in town for celebrity spotting and, because of its official status, you also get the best view at the Rascasse corner.
An open bar and gourmet food is included in all packages while the most exclusive also includes grid walks and reserved seats in the grandstand, the most coveted viewing point of them all.
Fairmont Monte Carlo
Veterans of the Monaco Grand Prix will recognize the name of this hotel. A mainstay of any well-informed Monaco Grand Prix guide, the Fairmont Monte Carlo offers unparalleled proximity to the iconic hairpin bend.
Fairmont Monte Carlo oversees the famous Fairmont hairpin bend, where drivers are forced to reduce their speed to a pedestrian 30mph.
There are ample viewing points within the hotel and guests can pay for access to the top terrace on Sunday. This may lack the privacy of your own terrace, but the atmosphere is sure to be spectacular with many of the hotel’s guests enjoying the race action from there.
Events & Experiences in Monaco
Amber Lounge
The Amber Lounge after-party becomes the hottest ticket in town once the chequered flag brings an end to the action. This hedonistic evening brings the curtain down on race week in fine style. Drivers and their teams will be present alongside celebrities to unwind after a hectic few days of high-octane racing. Expect iconic live acts, sets from world-famous DJs and unlimited champagne and premium spirits.
Simple admission tickets begin at $935 but for the ultimate experience, a Methusalem Table will see you and your selected guests served with a huge six-liter (1.3 gallons) bottle of premium champagne.
A Methusalem Table is priced at $29,233.
