From hotels, off-track events, to your own set of wheels, we have you covered for this years Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
In 2017, 200,000 guests descended on the glamorous Principality of Monaco for the four-day Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, with 37,000 per day watching from the race track and the rest from around the circuit. In 2018, another two-hundred thousand revering fans flew, drove, and sailed in to watch the mind-bending F1 speed chariots and their high-earning drivers do 78 laps of the 3.34 km Circuit de Monaco, with its 19 turns.
Now, in 2019, from May 23 to May 26, adoring fans return in droves for F1 Monaco, the race that embodies the extravagant brilliance of Grand Prix racing. They’re also there for the gorgeous sophistication of the town and French Rivera, the posh off-track activities, and the refined dining and elegant relaxation.
Will you be joining? We hope so.
With so many people and options, be sure to plan ahead before you pull up and step into luxury at the second-longest-running Formula 1 race ever (behind Monza’s Italian Grand Prix).
To give you a leg up, peruse this guide on the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix weekend. From hotels and off-track events to your own set of wheels, we have you covered.
Get started now so you can book ahead before all the other race enthusiasts beat you to the starting line.
Travel: Getting There and Getting Around
Enjoy easy access to this seaside gem nestled between the French and Italian Rivieras via boat, air, the rails, or auto.
If you’re not driving in, we suggest a VIP transportation service once you arrive for convenience. Charter a limo or car with driver to be at your service and chauffeur you all weekend or for specific trips. If the F1 driving itch is too hard to resist, let your concierge charter your own speed chariot. Think Maserati, Aston Martin, Porsche and more.
Port Hercule in Monaco’s harbor offers prime berths whether you captain your own vessel or let a luxury concierge service charter a yacht for you. Vessels must be 130 meters or less (that’s 427 in feet).
Nice Cote d’Azur Airport is just a hop, skip, and jump away. The 37-km drive (23 miles) between Monaco and airport takes roughly 35 minutes on the A8 or a few minutes longer along the water on the M6007. Take a direct flight from NYC (8h 20m); Tel Aviv (3h 50m); Berlin (2h 15m); London (2h); Paris (1h 25 m); and more. Fly international airlines Air France, British Airways, Delta and more; small carriers Easy Jet and Ryan Air; or a private jet. Book through a luxury concierge service for convenient charter options.
Fly from the Nice airport to Monaco Heliport by helicopter. Again, a concierge service makes this easy.
Gare De Monaco train station awaits you in city center Monaco at Place Sainte Dévote, Monte Carlo, for those that enjoy the relaxation and countryside-views of rail travel.
Really can’t wait? Hire that sports car from your favorite European destination and drive in. Head for Nice and take the A8 or that M6007 to get a peek at the seaside view.
Accommodations
The rich and famous love the opulence and thrill of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, and luxury hotels, with historic buildings, seaside views, spas, and five-star dining, love them. Movie stars, world-class athletes, royalty and other celebrities can be spotted indulging in the post-race extravagance of some of these local spots.
In Monaco
Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo holds court in Casino Square, right in the heart of the city and overlooking the Mediterranean and Prince’s Palace. With majestic exterior and contemporary design inside, the hotel boasts premiere world-class restaurant Le Louis XIV and world-class service.
Hotel Metropole, originally built on land owned at one time by Pope Leon XII, offers classic style with a touch of modernism. Personalized service with a touch of charm, give this elegant refuge a playful twist. Eat at the open-style Mediterranean bistro, burn it off at the fitness center and indoor swimming pool, and relax at the spa.
The Monte-Carlo Beach actually sits on the French side of the border but is a quick five-minute stroll to the Monaco tennis club, and your driver (or you) can zip you into town for the shops, casinos, and race (1) in 10. Enjoy its Art Deco style, Olympic-size pool, Michelin-star dining, and private beach and jetty. Surrounded by pines and quietude, this luxury villa-style resort has been a society favorite since the 1920s.
Many of the Monte Carlo hotels are along the circuit or have views of it.
In Nice
The Palais de la Méditerranée sits right on the Promenade de Anglais overlooking the French Riviera. In the 1920s, Charlie Chaplin and Maurice Chevalier were guests and performed in the 1000-seat theater. Enjoy a dip in the sea or the indoor and outdoor pools and sip cocktails at the beach club or your private terrace.
Le Negresco Hotel, with its swank pink dome inspired by the architect’s mistress (allegedly!), has long been the flamboyant favorite of screen stars, royalty, rock stars, and the who’s who of the jet set that likes a playful scene. This Belle Epoque, majestic wonder, right on the Promenade de Anglais, is the most well-known landmark about. There’s no pool, but who needs a pool when you have the Mediterranean and a private beach club?
The Locals
If you want something off the beaten path and perhaps down a windy cobblestone street, check out the local bed and breakfasts. Countryside or beach more your style? Opt for a luxury villa or chateau. Or try a houseboat!
The Race
The Formula 1 Grand Prix race takes place on Sunday, May 24, 2019, from 3:10 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. The race is 78 laps or 120 minutes maximum. On Thursday and Saturday watch qualifying sessions and free practice for F1 Monaco, and on all three days leading up to the race, see qualifying sessions, free practice, and races for F2 FIA, Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, and Formula Renault 2.0 Series.
The Circuit de Monaco rounds the principality in tight quarters so there isn’t much space for seats and viewing options. For this reason, there are only 40,000 race-side grandstand seats, the smallest number in the F1 series and the highest priced. There are also general admission tickets for two areas: the Rocher-zone grassy hill in front of the castle and one for the section of track that runs along the harbor. Top-tier VIP tickets offer the best views. Be sure to secure tickets early and consult a concierge service for your best options.
Other viewing options depend more on your accommodations or local friends than your tickets. Think hotel terraces, apartment balconies, and yachts.
Off-Track Activities
Start by walking the Circuit de Monaco itself! Monaco GP events end before sunset each day and even earlier on Friday, at 2:00 p.m. and they open the circuit, making it available to walk (or run if you feel so inclined!). Walking the two-mile circuit gives a real sense of the event. You’ll be done in under an hour and ready to take in the town.
If you like to shop, head over to Place du Casino to peruse the posh boutiques at Cercle D’Or Place for Gucci, Prada, Chanel, and other fashionable finds. Into wine? Take a gander at Les Grands Chais Monegasques with its old-world charm. Plenty of spas ready to pamper await, and some even have a race-circuit view, like Pole Position at the Fairmont hotel, where you can get a mani/pedicure while you cheer on your favorite car.
Enjoy other shopping areas, such as Galerie Metropole, Avenue de Beaux Arts, Avenue Monte-Carlo, and others. For some true local flavor, head over any morning to the Provencial market at Place D’Armes, the Condamine Market, and sit in a charming café. You can also buy some fruit and take it down to the seaside for possibly our favorite activity: swimming in the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
At night, A-list parties abound on yachts and hotels about the city. You can also head over to Casino de Monte Carlo for a night of class and gambling, a definite must-see. Do check the dress code and bring your passport. Jacket required in the evenings and no sneakers
For a true Monaco F1 original, try Rascasse corner to party on the racetrack till the wee hours. Find a crowd of fellow Monaco F1 enthusiasts, bars, and dancing. Of course, the true glamour
Be sure to take in the glamorous history here, including the Prince’s Palace and Prince Rainier III’s car collection, begun in the 1950s, with over 100 cars, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and more.
Speed Check: Monaco Grand Prix Facts Pit-stop
Brush up on some Monaco GP history and basics:
- First race: Organized by Autoclub of Monaco and Antony Noghès in 1929
- First race won by Driver William Grover-Williams in a Bugatti going 48 mph
- Driver with the most wins: Brazilian Ayrton Senna with six wins
- The car with the most wins: McLaren with 15 wins
- 2018 winner: Daniel Ricciardo (RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER) with a time of 1:42:54 and speed of 158.984 km/h
- 2018 fastest time: Max Verstappen (RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER) with a time of 1:14.260
Check out all the Formula 1 Monaco standings here.
Your Weekend Playground: A Bienvenue of Elegance, Thrills, and Mind-blowing Machines Awaits
You really do have to experience this glamorous sport-filled F1 Monaco weekend yourself to understand how it’s like no other.
Are you ready?
If so, the main word here is speed! As in, get your plan in place now so as soon as your fashionable boots hit the ground in the principality, you are ready to go.
Contact us today so we can help you arrange your Monaco Grand Prix weekend in style and with ease.
