Excursiv
Coming Soon
The Week
Four days in the principality in early June. The circuit runs through the streets of Monte Carlo, which means the city becomes the track, and the track becomes the reason to be here. Port Hercule fills with boats that have been positioning since Tuesday. The terraces above Casino Square fill with people who reserved in January. This is the guide to doing it properly.
Ch. 01The Arrival
Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur. The helicopter from Nice to Monaco Héliport takes seven minutes and costs €160 one way. Book through Monacair or Heli Air Monaco directly. The alternative is forty-five minutes along the Corniche by car, which is the more considered way to arrive.
Reserve
Nice to Monaco Helicopter
Monacair · Nice Côte d'Azur to Monaco Héliport
From €160 one way
Ch. 01The Arrival
Fly into Nice Côte d'Azur. The helicopter from Nice to Monaco Héliport takes seven minutes and costs €160 one way. Book through Monacair or Heli Air Monaco directly. The alternative is forty-five minutes along the Corniche by car, which is the more considered way to arrive.
Reserve
Nice to Monaco Helicopter
Monacair · Nice Côte d'Azur to Monaco Héliport
From €160 one way
Ch. 02The Stay
There are three hotels in Monaco that matter. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo sits directly on Casino Square and is booked by February of the preceding year by families who have been coming since the 1970s. Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is fifty metres away, quieter, and releases rooms in March when Hôtel de Paris guests cancel. Columbus Monaco is in Fontvieille, away from the circuit noise, direct access to the port. It is where the people who have done Grand Prix before stay. No lobby scene, no posturing, a genuine night's sleep during a weekend when that is harder than it sounds.
Reserve
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
Square Beaumarchais, Monaco
From €900/night during Grand Prix week
Ch. 02The Stay
There are three hotels in Monaco that matter. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo sits directly on Casino Square and is booked by February of the preceding year by families who have been coming since the 1970s. Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is fifty metres away, quieter, and releases rooms in March when Hôtel de Paris guests cancel. Columbus Monaco is in Fontvieille, away from the circuit noise, direct access to the port. It is where the people who have done Grand Prix before stay. No lobby scene, no posturing, a genuine night's sleep during a weekend when that is harder than it sounds.
Reserve
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
Square Beaumarchais, Monaco
From €900/night during Grand Prix week
Ch. 03The Circuit
Grandstand K sits at Turn 1, Sainte Dévote, the first corner where the race is decided in the opening seconds. Every overtake attempt of the weekend happens here. Book through the Automobile Club de Monaco directly. Thursday practice day is when the pit lane opens for a public walking session. Tickets are significantly cheaper than race day, access is better than any grandstand, and you walk the actual circuit. Thursday is where the weekend starts for anyone who knows how to use it.
Reserve
Grandstand K, Race Day
Turn 1 · Sainte Dévote · Automobile Club de Monaco
From €350 for qualifying · From €600 for race day
Ch. 03The Circuit
Grandstand K sits at Turn 1, Sainte Dévote, the first corner where the race is decided in the opening seconds. Every overtake attempt of the weekend happens here. Book through the Automobile Club de Monaco directly. Thursday practice day is when the pit lane opens for a public walking session. Tickets are significantly cheaper than race day, access is better than any grandstand, and you walk the actual circuit. Thursday is where the weekend starts for anyone who knows how to use it.
Reserve
Grandstand K, Race Day
Turn 1 · Sainte Dévote · Automobile Club de Monaco
From €350 for qualifying · From €600 for race day
Ch. 04The Yacht
Port Hercule sits inside the circuit. During race weekend, yachts moored in the port have unobstructed views of the swimming pool section, the Swimming Pool section after the tunnel that produces the closest racing of the weekend. A day charter on a 50-60ft yacht moored in the port for race day runs €8,000 to €15,000 depending on size and position. Book through Yachtico, Boatbookings, or Click&Boat. January at the latest. The port fills by February.
Reserve
Race Day Yacht Charter, Port Hercule
50-60ft · Captain and Crew Included
From €8,000 for race day
Ch. 04The Yacht
Port Hercule sits inside the circuit. During race weekend, yachts moored in the port have unobstructed views of the swimming pool section, the Swimming Pool section after the tunnel that produces the closest racing of the weekend. A day charter on a 50-60ft yacht moored in the port for race day runs €8,000 to €15,000 depending on size and position. Book through Yachtico, Boatbookings, or Click&Boat. January at the latest. The port fills by February.
Reserve
Race Day Yacht Charter, Port Hercule
50-60ft · Captain and Crew Included
From €8,000 for race day
Ch. 05The Casino
Opens at 2pm. Jacket required, trainers refused, passport not driving licence. The American Roulette tables on the ground floor are for tourists. The private salons on the upper floors require a minimum buy-in of €300 and are where the actual casino operates. Ask to be taken upstairs.
Reserve
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Place du Casino, Monaco
Entry from €17 · Private salons from €300 buy-in
Ch. 05The Casino
Opens at 2pm. Jacket required, trainers refused, passport not driving licence. The American Roulette tables on the ground floor are for tourists. The private salons on the upper floors require a minimum buy-in of €300 and are where the actual casino operates. Ask to be taken upstairs.
Reserve
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Place du Casino, Monaco
Entry from €17 · Private salons from €300 buy-in
Ch. 06The Night
The weekend opens Thursday with Rampa at Lilly's, the correct way to arrive in Monaco before the circuit noise takes over. Sunday closes with Black Coffee at Jimmy'z, which is the one night that justifies staying until Monday. Amber Lounge runs the official paddock after-parties on Friday and Saturday. Former drivers, current team principals, the inner circuit. Book Amber Lounge in January. Jimmy'z table reservations open six to eight weeks out.
Reserve
Jimmy'z Monte-Carlo
Black Coffee · Race Night · Sunday June 7
Table reservations from €500
Ch. 06The Night
The weekend opens Thursday with Rampa at Lilly's, the correct way to arrive in Monaco before the circuit noise takes over. Sunday closes with Black Coffee at Jimmy'z, which is the one night that justifies staying until Monday. Amber Lounge runs the official paddock after-parties on Friday and Saturday. Former drivers, current team principals, the inner circuit. Book Amber Lounge in January. Jimmy'z table reservations open six to eight weeks out.
Reserve
Jimmy'z Monte-Carlo
Black Coffee · Race Night · Sunday June 7
Table reservations from €500
Excursiv members get the concierge-handled version. One enquiry, one invoice, one week of Ibiza as it was meant to be experienced.
