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The tiny principality of Monaco, which stretches for just three kilometres along the French-Italian coast, has long been a magnet for the glitterati, so it’s the perfect home for one of the swankiest social events in the world. The circuit is one of the only street races left on the F1 calendar, and its fabulous location has provided a glamorous backdrop for the antics of drivers from Juan Manuel Fangio and Graham Hill to Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso. The route, round which the fast and the furious speed 78 times, hugs the water’s edge before leading drivers past an array of the city’s landmark sights. Tight corners and steep climbs keep things tense, while the straights allow for speeds of up to 280kph. This intimate mix of town and track means that spectators not only get an up-close experience unrivalled in motorsport, but become an integral part of the carnival of noise that is the greatest road race on earth.

Highlights

In The Know

Head Count

Around 30,000 tickets are sold each year.

Meeting Point

The fountain in front of the casino. Pop in and take your chances while you're there - it'd be a shame not to.

Best View

The balconies and terraces of the hotels and restaurants that line the circuit offer guests and parties an unparalleled Grand Prix experience. The Palais Heracles terraces on Boulevard Albert 1er are the best – they overlook the start/finish grid and three quarters of the race circuit.

Packing Tips

Smart casual for day (Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein), dazzling designer for night (Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli). And take some industrial-strength ear plugs for the race – you really will need them.

Escape

Take your foot off the accelerator and hop on a train down the coast to the historical town of Villefranche sur-Mer, a soothing antidote to the glitz and revs of Monte Carlo.

Dos and don'ts

• Take advantage of the drivers’ rest day on the Friday by walking or cycling the circuit. ITC Sports (01244 355391; www. itcsports.co.uk) offers a range of packages that include pit tours with former champions including Sir Stirling Moss.
• For a different angle on the race, hire a sleek waterborne grandstand and watch from the harbour – getting a berth is a bit of a lottery though, unless you have a magnificent vessel, are involved with a team or sponsor, or know a broker who is. Matt Folkes at Meranti Marine (07765 142691) arranges bespoke luxury yacht charters from £600 a person, including grandstand tickets. Alternatively, try AquaCruise (www. aquacruise.com) or Edmiston (www.edmistoncompany.com).
• Book a hotel in Nice or anywhere along the Côte d’Azur if you can’t find a good hotel in Monaco, then take a cab, a train or, even better, a speedboat to the Grand Prix. Prestige Boat arranges speedboat transfers from Nice and Cannes to the race, from €250 (+33 (0)4 92 09 81 35; www.prestigeboat.com).
• Don’t think you can turn the local roads into your own race course: the routes along the Côte d’Azur are the stuff of James Bond-inspired dreams, which is why the police have speed traps on every corner.

Need To Know

Children

You don’t often see kids here, but there’s no reason why they wouldn’t enjoy the race – provided they have adequate ear protection. We also recommend the rather grand Cliffside Oceanographic Museum (www.oceano.mc) to keep them entertained when the motors fall silent (it’s closed on the day of the Grand Prix, though).

Parking

There's hardly anywhere to park in this little city, so if you're taking your own car, speak to your hotel first about where you're going to put it.

Disability Access

Most of Monaco is navigable in a wheelchair; ring +377 92 16 61 16 to request a copy of the tourist board’s useful access guide. For other queries, contact the Association Monégasque des Handicapés Moteurs on +377 93 50 71 00.

Food & Drink

The cuisine here is influenced by classic French, Provençal and Italian cooking, so expect wonderful things: bouillabaisse, tapenade, seafood and haute cuisine with fine wines. Le Saint-Benoît, on Avenue de la Costa (+377 93 25 02 34) overlooks the port and race circuit; or get some respite at La Rose des Vents on Plage du Larvotto (+377 97 70 46 96), which specialises in fish and has its own private beach. For late-night drinking, head to the fabulous terrace of Zebra Square (+377 99 99 25 50).

Sleep

Co-owned by F1 driver David Coulthard, Columbus Monaco is a hip designer den with 192 rooms and suites, and a chi-chi bar open into the small
hours. To book this hotel or see details of other stylish places to stay on the Côte d’Azur, visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or ring 0845 034 0701.

VIP

Unsurprisingly for moneyed Monte Carlo, there are dozens of hospitality events – among the most enjoyable are the lively Red Bull Race Team affairs. After Sunday’s big race, the place to rub shoulders with the wheel stars is the Amber Lounge (+377 97

More Details

www.acm.mc; www.formula1.com