Surrounded by France, Monaco is the second smallest independent state in the world. It is also known as a city-state and what is known to be its capital, Monte Carlo, is actually a government district.
Monaco is divided into four areas – Fontvieille, based on light industry and recreation; Monte-Carlo, based on business and recreation; Monaco-Ville, known as the old city; and the Condamine, which is a port quarter.
The city-state is not a part of the European Union or of the European Economic Area – however, it maintains an open border as well as a customs union with France, thus being treated as part of the Schengen Area.
In terms of touristic attractions, even if tiny, Monaco has a lot to offer. Monaco-Ville, also known as the rock, is a medieval village made up almost entirely of pedestrian passageways and streets.
Then, as visiting spots, we have Palais Princier, the Monaco Cathedral, the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, Jardin Exotique, Church of the Sacred Heart, Monaco Opera House, Marlborough Fine Arts Gallery, the Grimaldi Forum, and the Prince’s Car Collection.
In short, there are plenty of things a tourist/ traveler can do while in Monaco. However, if you plan on visiting the city-state, you should read this Monaco safety guide, in order to prepare yourself for the eventual dangers/ risks that you may come across there.
So, without any further ado, let’s see how safe is Monaco for tourists!
Highest Risks You Expose Yourself to When Visiting Monaco
Overall Risks in Monaco: LOW to MEDIUM
As many sources suggest, Monaco comes with a lower crime rate when compared to most European Countries. For example, back in 2008, the country’s murder rate was 0 cases and, in 2006, its rape rate was 5.8 cases per 100,000 population.
Therefore, we can assume that Monaco is, overall, a safe country and that you don’t have to worry about certain things while visiting it. Still, things do happen here, such as petty crime – in this respect, the following Monaco safety travel tips will help you stay out of trouble completely.
Pickpocketing and theft Risks in Monaco: MEDIUM
Even though the country comes with a low crime rate, petty crime – such as purse snatching and pickpocketing – does happen. While criminals might not go out of their way and rob you during the day, you should still take some basic safety measures, in order to protect yourself against possible attempts of pickpocketing and theft.
- How to avoid pickpocketing and theft in Monaco?
In order to avoid pickpocketing and theft, our Monaco safety guide recommends increased caution in the following areas – tourist areas, public places, and at the Monaco train station.
Naturally, if there’s a crowd and it’s made up of mostly tourists, chances that pickpockets are around you are quite high. So, you should have your personal and valuable belongings in a safe place – in your backpack or other types of secured pack, and not in your pockets.
You should also avoid displaying jewelry, large sums of money, and expensive gadgets, such as cameras, smartphones, and others.
Scam Risk in Monaco: LOW
When it comes to scams and fraud schemes, there are little to no reports of such incidents. Still, the common ones are likely to happen throughout Monaco, but they are not so elaborate that you could not avoid them.
- How to avoid getting scammed in Monaco?
Avoiding getting scammed in Monaco is easy – if anyone tries to approach you and seems to be trying too hard to get your attention, then this is a sign for you to ignore the said person and move on with your day.
Other than that, you should be careful when buying souvenirs and receiving change, by double-checking that the amount you received is correct.
Moreover, the authorities of Monaco have issued warnings telling of counterfeit Euro bills that are in circulation. It is recommended to check that the notes you are receiving as change after purchasing something are in fact genuine.
Kidnapping Risk in Monaco: LOW
There have been no reports of locals or tourists being kidnapped in Monaco. Therefore, the country comes with a very small risk of such incidents. Still, our Monaco safety guide advises you to take some basic safety measures, in order to avoid such things from happening.
- How to avoid getting kidnapped in Monaco?
If you don’t want anything bad to happen, you should avoid walking through remote areas or bad-reputed neighborhoods. When traveling during the night, it is recommended that you stick within the city center and to the areas that are meant for tourists.
In short, don’t go anywhere you are not supposed to go.
Terrorism Risk in Monaco: LOW
Monaco has not seen any terrorist attacks so far. In this respect, the country is quite safe – still, such attacks can’t be ruled out.
Even though terrorists may not consider Monaco or one of its tourist spots as their next target, it is recommended that you always come prepared for such scenarios.
- How to avoid terrorism in Monaco?
In order to avoid terrorism, our Monaco safety travel tips recommend you keep an eye out on your surroundings when in one of the following areas – public places, official buildings, and areas that tend to get very crowded, such as shopping malls/ districts, as well as tourist areas.
Risks for Women Traveling Alone in Monaco: LOW
So, is Monaco safe for solo women travelers? Well, as mentioned before, Monaco is, overall, a safe country. There haven’t been any serious incidents reported in the past months.
Moreover, given the fact that Monaco is mainly a touristic state, so to speak, the only type of crime happening here is petty theft and scams in some cases. Still, this doesn’t mean that you should be traveling with no worries at all.
- How to avoid crime as a solo woman traveler in Monaco?
When it comes to avoiding crime as a solo woman traveler, it is recommended that you take a look at the country’s local laws and customs. For example, if you were to skip reading our Monaco safety travel tips, you would probably not know that it is not permitted to walk around in swimsuits, barefooted, or stripped to the waist in any other areas than beaches and bathing areas.
In this respect, keep in mind that decent, appropriate clothing must be worn in all of the public places that you may want to visit, especially around and within religious buildings.
Other than that, you should take just the basic safety measures – don’t walk alone during the night, avoid visiting remote areas and keep your valuables in a safe place.
Rape Risk in Monaco: LOW
As mentioned before, Monaco’s rape rate was 5.8 cases per 100,000 population, back in 2006. This also represented a decrease of 34.59%, when compared to 2005’s rape rate.
Moreover, given the fact that there have been no rape reports in the last couple of years, it is safe to say that the rate has drastically decreased and that there’s nothing travelers should worry about.
- How to avoid getting raped in Monaco?
Even though the rape rate is low, you should still take some basic safety measures in order to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to you. You should approach a decent dress code and stick to the areas that are meant for tourists.
Avoid the city slums or any bad-reputed areas. Naturally, keep your belongings out of sight, as any theft or robbery might escalate into something unpleasant. In order to avoid getting raped or any other kind of crime, it is better if you keep yourself safe overall.
Risks for People Traveling with Children in Monaco: LOW
So, how safe is Monaco for tourists traveling with their children? Well, given what we have mentioned so far in our Monaco safety guide, feel free to take your children with you and explore this wonderful city-state.
With only some basic safety measures, you shouldn’t come across any type of incident.
- How to avoid unwanted scenarios?
When it comes to unwanted scenarios, the only thing you should be careful about is not keeping an eye on your children.
As Monaco is a destination preferred by quite some tourists, it is important that you keep your children close to you and let them explore the surroundings only if they are accompanied. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to search them through crowds of tourists.
Natural Disaster Risks in Monaco: LOW
In terms of natural disasters, the only thing to have affected Monaco are earthquakes – and even then, the city-state suffered only economic losses, as reports do not tell of anyone being injured or killed during such an event.
Other than that, there is nothing else you should be worried about. Just check the weather reports before leaving for the day so that you make sure that you are well prepared in case rain or storm hits.
Transportation Risks in Monaco: LOW
In order to drive through Monaco, you must have a valid license, vehicle documents, and insurance. If the vehicle that you’re driving is not yours, then written permission from its registered owner may be required.
Alcohol and speed limits are strictly enforced, so it is recommended that you stay away from drinking if you plan on driving.
There are really no other transportation risks in Monaco – there are no issues with public transportation, roads are in good condition, and driving standards are on par with the rest of Europe.
Night-Clubs, Pubs, and Bar Risks in Monaco: LOW
As expected, there have been no reports of serious incidents or such taking place in nightclubs, pubs, or bars in Monaco. So, is Monaco safe to visit for anyone that plans on partying, even too much?
Well, the answer is yes – if you pick your location properly and don’t end up in a bar filled with petty thieves and opportunists. In this respect, you recommend you visit only the nightclubs, pubs, and bars that are within areas recommended for tourists or around the city center.
Health Risks in Monaco
First of all, keep in mind that Monaco is not a member of the European Union – thus, any EU reciprocal medical arrangements do not apply, and the European Health Insurance Card does not provide you with health cover here.
Other than that, there have been no outbreaks of certain diseases or any other type of infections throughout the country. However, it is still recommended that you travel with proper travel health insurance and with enough funds to cover the costs of any treatment or medication that you may be subject to.
List of Vaccines You Need in Monaco
As vaccines are important, here is a list of those that you need to take before entering Monaco:
- Routine Vaccines – MMR, varicella, diphtheria-tetanus, polio, and the yearly flu shot.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Rabies
Most Dangerous Areas in Monaco
Given what we have mentioned so far, it is safe to say that there are no dangerous areas in Monaco – after all, it is deemed by many as Europe’s safest country.
Still, there have been some incidents on trains and in certain train stations where, reportedly, the police had to intervene in order to stop pickpockets. Some tourists/ travelers advise that you exercise increased caution when traveling in TER PACA – the trains to France -, as they host, so to say, more pickpockets than usual.
Concluding Remarks: Is Monaco Safe to Visit?
So, as a final question, is Monaco safe to visit? Well, without any doubt, it is safe to say that Monaco is the country that can be viewed as the perfect traveling location even for the rookie tourist, so to speak.
Other than the usual pickpockets and opportunist scammers that you may encounter, there are really no other dangers one should be worried about. The crime levels are very low, the cities are surveilled/ watched by both CCTV cameras and the authorities.
In short, if you’ve thought of visiting Monaco before, then simply do it!
