Family activities in Monaco

With some stunning beaches along the coastline you will not be at a loss for places to go and things do by the shore in Monaco. From beach clubs to watersports, sailing and boat trips, to just sunbathing and enjoying the scenery there is something for everyone.

Explore the beautiful coastline around Monaco on a boat. Many of these trips include stops for swimming in the crystalline Mediterranean waters, as well as snorkelling and even scuba diving. A trip along the coast to St Jean Cap Ferrat or the Cannes Lerins islands of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, off the southern tip of the Cap de la Croisette, offers a range of environments to explore, whether sailing round them or visiting them. The glamorous towns of Cannes or Saint Tropez are also a popular option, where you can enjoy anchoring just out of port or setting foot on land to explore a little deeper.

Catch the latest films and releases in Monaco on your holiday. Look out for VOST for English speaking films at the central Cinema des Beaux-Arts in Monaco.

Many towns and villages across France have their version of the 'Petit Train' and the Monaco region is no different. Giving you a guided tour of the area and entertaining children, these trains are a great excuse to sit down for half and hour and take in the sights. Walking tours are another great way to see the principality and learn more about its interesting past.

Enjoy a number of cycling trails and routes in Monaco and what better way to explore Monaco than on a bike when you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. Have a look at our cycling guide for more information and explore the cycling routes that are in the area. If you are in Monaco without your biking gear there are a number of cycle hire shops in who rent and sell bikes, gear and more.

Dive into the beautiful waters of Monaco and discover the world below. Anyone can go snorkelling and it is a great way to begin your underwater adventures without travelling too far away from the comfort of the waters’ surface. Many of the tourist shops sell snorkelling gear.

Scuba diving is a fantastic way to explore what lies below. If you are new to scuba diving, the diving schools in Monaco that can teach you the ropes and get you started. For those more experienced there are plenty of excursions in Monaco where you can dive into the beautiful blue waters and explore the depths below.

There’s some good deep sea fishing off the coast, with tuna, marlin, swordfish and sea bream, and there are some good tour expeditions running out from major ports along the coast.

To enjoy a day out on a family fishing trip then we recommend speaking to some of the specialist companies who offer guided trips and excursions or yacht charters for coastal or deep sea fishing. You have a few options for fishing charters with a range of budgets, from 50 euro per person for a casual affair to 2800 for 10 people for the day for the charter of a luxury sports fisher with professional fishermen. Most of the fishing excursions along this stretch of coast operate out of Beaulieu-sur-Mer, a port between Nice and Monaco. There are also small local operators along the coast who don’t have websites- you’ll see their signs saying ‘Peche au Gros’ in the port.

Flyboarding (jetpack or hoverboard) has become a 21st-century international sensation in the watersports world. Imagine oversized boots affixed to your feet which allow you to be propelled into the sky above the water. Whilst not all watersports companies have this impressive piece of equipment, you will find more and more companies are investing on it because this surreal experience is becoming beyond popular.

This adrenaline fuelled family activity will require parently consent for minors and some companies may impose a minimum age (perhaps around 10 or 12 years of age) or a minimum weight requirement (35kg).

Treat the family to a helicopter tour of the coastline and islands with one of the local helicopter tour operators. This is an exclusive experience which enables you to see aerial views of Monaco, the neighbouring towns of Cannes and Antibes and even close to the border of Italy.

There are over 2.5 million people doing geocaching around the world and some of them (perhaps surprisingly) are right here in Monaco! It’s a relatively new craze that started taking the world by storm in May 2000 after a computer geek decided that GPS could be “really exciting”. He hid some treasure at his home in Portland, America, for people to find, broadcast the GPS coordinates and said, “Come and get it”. His only rule: “Take some stuff, leave some stuff”. And that’s exactly what Geocaching is…you go in search of treasure by using the GPS system on your mobile device – once you’ve found it, you write your name in a logbook and replace the treasure you decide to take. It’s pretty simple really and means, as a family, you can be adventurers together. You won’t usually find anything quite as precious as gold, silver and diamonds but nevertheless it’s quite exciting!

The principality of Monaco has a rich heritage in ocean exploration which can be discovered at one of their most popular attractions, the Oceanographic museum. This museum also houses an aquarium, with over 6,000 species of fish, as well as the shark lagoon, a giant aquarium with sharks, the turtle island on the museum's panoramic terrace and even a tank where you can stroke a sea star, feel a sea urchin or touch a baby shark.

Although a small principality, you might be surprised to find that it contains plenty of green-space and several well-reputed parks and gardens. The Jardin Animalier is situated close to the Palais Princier and is a popular stop for families. Equally the Jardin Exotique offers a wealth of entertainment with exotic succulents, caves and a museum to explore.

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a popular global sport these days, often described as a cross between surfing and kayaking. It is also a fun way to explore the immediate coastline. Whether going solo or with the whole family, you will find paddle boards to hire on various beaches around the coast, usually rented out by the hour. No previous experience is needed, just hop on the board and start paddling.

Soaring high above the stunning coastline of Monaco offers a rather different view of this infamous stretch of water. Most companies will offer two or three seater parasails meaning that the whole family can experience flying 60m in the air whilst getting a real birds-eye view of what’s going on below.

With plenty of coastline to explore you would be silly not to hire a boat, charter a yacht or join one of the many boat trips up and down the French Riviera to some of France's best beauty spots.

If you'd like to take a dip outdoors or indoors, you'll be able to find somewhere to go for a swim in Monaco. Most hotels have their own swimming facilities, however there are also municipal swimming baths that you can visit. In summer and winter, you should be able to find somewhere to take a dip, so don't forget your towel and your swimming costume or shorts.

Try an adventure playground or a theme park for a day of family fun. There are a number of adventure playground and theme parks, where both adults and children can play for hours. Koaland in neighbouring Menton is perfect for younger families and offers miniature golf as well as some fairground rides. For older children, the journey up to Saint-Martin-Vesubie to the Vesubia Mountain Park offer a great day out. The new centre provides a unique experience for those wanting to try caving, canyoning and climbing.

Monaco is perfect for water sports with its warm summers, gentle breezes and interesting coastline. There are plenty of watersports centres where you can learn to sail or enjoy thrilling rides in speedboats, and everything in between.