Heaven or Hell: 18 celebrities share their thoughts on Monaco

“Monte-Carlo is like a big city but without the drawbacks – it offers complete security with no compromises. I have a huge apartment at the top of Millefiori, with 360 degree views, which is my secret hideaway and I love the Monte-Carlo Beach hotel now it’s been renovated.”

“When you arrive in Monaco, you step into a unique world with its own rules. In the 12 years since we started Y.Co, I’ve gotten to know it pretty well. The American Bar at the Hôtel de Paris is still a place one must experience. For a big Friday night, I recommend going for dinner at Cipriani then hit Twiga – and get a table by the edge of the water. One of my favourite moments in Monaco was at the end of the Redman Whiteley Dixon Auto Tour from the UK to Monaco in 2014, which Gary [Wright] and I drove in our Ford GT40s. Arriving in the principality driving race cars is a moment I’ll never forget!”

“I was going to the Red Cross Ball in 2007 and had been playing beach volleyball all day, so I just painted my nails red and threw on a green dress. I thought I looked great at the time, but looking back, I realise that my debut into Monaco society should have been better executed!”

“Monaco is hell. The driving is amazing, it’s the weekend that’s a pain. You can’t sleep at night because there’s music everywhere until six in the morning. It’s hell to work. It’s not the good old days, where you went to a gala the night before and drank and raced anyway.”

“People often say that Monaco is a small place, but it’s really part of a community that stretches from Cannes to San Remo, Italy. Our office and weekday apartment is here in Monaco, where we relocated 10 years ago, but our weekend residence is literally just over the border in Italy – only two minutes by car. What I enjoy about Monaco is there is a proximity to nature with the mountains so near by. You can be on the slopes in an hour by car and 20 minutes by helicopter. You’re also right on the sea, of course, and can be in a boat in five minutes.”

“I have two amazing memories of Monaco. The first is when my husband David and I took our honeymoon there in 1976 and spent a beautiful week strolling through the principality, enjoying the great restaurants and views on offer. Our second memorable occasion was in June 2004 when our daughter was married in Monaco at the sporting club.”

“I love Monte-Carlo and decided it was a good place for me to settle. It’s the only place I know in the world where you can wear diamonds and feel safe.”

“The first time I arrived in Monaco it was on my father’s boat in 1962. The whole city and harbour looked to me like a dream. I love the contrasts you find in Monaco: tradition and modernity, serious business and a holiday attitude, local people and worldwide foreigners, calm and busy. A place that is quintessentially Monaco is the Place du Casino, with all the beautiful cars parked in front, and also the bar of the Hôtel de Paris.”

“I’ve lived in Monaco for 20 years, I’ve won the grand prix here a few times, my kids go to school here – I have a really special connection to it. Monaco may be small but small can be beautiful. Obviously it’s not all award-winning architecture but there are some really amazing buildings and it has a very different feel to the rest of the French Riviera. Of course, the other thing that makes Monaco special is the yachts. I love nothing better than wandering along the harbour watching people tinker with their boats and admiring the amazing design that goes into a great superyacht.”

“The other day an Irish friend and I were having lunch at the Café de Paris, which attracts a vast number of visitors curious to see the old Monte Carlo. I came out and got in my car. My Irish friend called me later and said there were two chaps from Manchester saying: ‘What’s bloody James Bond doing in a tin can?’”