Heaven or Hell: 18 celebrities share their thoughts on Monaco

From its A-list parties to pretentious pomp, we ask Monaco’s most famous fans (and detractors) what they really think about the principality...

“I went to school in Monaco until I was 10. We lived on Avenue Princess Grace and I remember learning to swim at the Beach Club and keeping our yacht Isabella in the harbour. As teenagers we went to the Paradise nightclub and the open-air pool next door but, like so many of the places from my childhood, they’re both gone now. This year a couple of friends hosted a pop-up for their nightclub 1 OAK at the Fairmont and Chris Brown and Justin Bieber played – it was a really fun night. However, the traditional Monaco spots are still the best. I always go back to the Hôtel de Paris and the Hermitage and never miss a chance to shop at the Metropole, but if you only have one afternoon in Monaco don’t miss the incredible Oceanographic Museum out on the rocks. Amazing.”

“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.”

“Monte-Carlo is the ideal place to raise kids because it’s so safe, the weather is always nice and there’s such a strong international community. My son Falco is fluent in three languages and his schoolmates are from all over the world.”

“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.”

“The chairman of the board, the president, the CEO – everybody came to Monaco because of the style, the speed, the danger. Joan Collins, Graham Hill – that’s the Monaco Grand Prix. It still does that. Elizabeth Taylor came. Bette Davis came one year. Frank Sinatra. Louis Armstrong. The Beatles all came. So did Rod Stewart. If all these people were there, you had to stand out to be noticed.”

“The sense of security in Monaco is second to none. There are not many cities in the world where you’d have no problem walking home alone at midnight. Some people call it a police state, but I would not. There is a big police presence but you don’t really see or feel it, and it obviously works – I’ve lived here for 12 years and I’ve yet to hear about a break-in. Monaco is a pretty place, but people rarely see all the hard work that goes into keeping it as beautiful as it is. There are jet bikes out on the water every morning with scoopers on the front, collecting all the little bits of paper floating on the water. The beaches are raked every day. And, though some people find it ridiculous, the roads are washed at 5am every day. If you have an early flight to the airport, sometimes you have to alter your route as these machines are out cleaning everything!”

“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.”

“What I love most about Monaco is there is always something happening here – from sports to yachting to culture. The Monaco Grand Prix is the most exciting time of the year, and the sunset party at Le Méridien Beach Plaza hotel after the race is definitely the highlight of it – it’s a great beach party! The Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht Show are the two must-visit times of the year. I also love how beautiful and well-kept Monaco is. The fact that it’s really safe and clean means you can have a fantastic quality of life. But Monaco is also extremely international, with such an interesting mix of people. That being said, it can get too small very quickly in the winter, but I travel so much that I don’t even realise. No matter where I go, I’m always happy to come back.”