Squeezed into 1.95 sq km, making it the world’s second smallest country, after the Vatican, this pint-sized principality is a sovereign state, with its own red-and-white flag, national holiday (19 November), country telephone code and traditional Monegasque dialect.

French is the official language, although many street signs, especially in the old Monaco Ville quarter, are in French and Monegasque, and children of all 107 nationalities that form Monaco’s population are required to study the language at school. Neither is Monaco part of the EU, but because of its close ties with France it participates in the EU customs territory, and there are no border formalities crossing to and from France.

Monaco’s manicured streets presided over by palaces and its lush fountained parks are eminently safe thanks to a prolific police presence backed up by plain-clothed patrollers and CCTV cameras.

Monaco is most famed for its glamorous Monte Carlo casino, Formula One cars roaring through the streets during its glamorous Grand Prix, and the scintillating lives of its glamorous royal family, the Grimaldis.

Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Monte Carlo

The food was great, a mix between mediteranean cuisine with  some british & asian influences. The style is contemporary with a good atmosphere. We had a variety of dishes including  pan fried Camembert and Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese for starters, Indian Chicken Curry, Fish and Chips for main courses and a  great Gateaux Moelleaux for dessert. 

At the end we were offered limoncello and small cookies on the house.