Museums

Even though the Principality of Monaco is very small, it houses numerous museums, displaying collections from very varied disciplines.

Oceanographic Museum of Monaco

This temple to the sea was opened in 1910 by its founder, Prince Albert I, who is famous the world over for his collections, but especially for his aquariums, including the well-known “shark lagoon”, which was opened in 2001. For its centenary, an ambitious programme of improvement works was carried out on the building.

The exhibition centres on the first floor focus on the history of oceanography. Part of these exhibition centres is also given over to natural history, artistic and ethnographical collections.

The ground floor of the museum houses temporary exhibitions which, since 2010, have concentrated on contemporary art. 

• Opening hours:

April to June: from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
July to August: from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm 
September: from 9.30 am to 7.00 pm
October to March: from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm

Avenue Saint-Martin 
Phone: (+ 377) 93 15 36 00
Fax: (+ 377) 93 50 52 97
Website: www.oceano.mc

The Museum of “Vieux Monaco”

This museum displays objects relating to ancient cultural heritage, ceramics, paintings, furniture and costumes. In its halls, the museum demonstrates what daily life would be like on the Rocher of long ago.

Currently in works 

2, rue Emile de Loth
Phone: (+377) 93 50 57 28
Website: www.traditions-monaco.com

Nouveau Musée National de Monaco - Villa Sauber

Villa Sauber, which is in the Belle Epoque style, is used for the Performing Arts. This Villa allows its audience to view this essential component of the Principality’s cultural and artistic heritage under a new light.

• Opening hours: every day from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (winter) - from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm (summer)

17, avenue Princesse Grace
Phone: (+377) 98 98 91 26
Website: http://www.nmnm.mc/

Exotic Garden of Monaco

Opened in 1933, the garden has a collection of several thousand species of “succulent” plants, which hang on to the side of a rock. 60 metres below this garden, visitors can explore the prehistoric cave of the Observatory. The Exotic Garden is in the same location as the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology.

• Opening hours:

Summer (from 15th May to 15th September): from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.
Winter (from 16th September to 14th May): from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm or to nightfall

Closed on 19th November and 25th December

62, boulevard du Jardin Exotique

Phone: (+377) 93 15 29 80
Website: www.jardin-exotique.mc 

Le Musée d'Anthropologie préhistorique

In this museum, visitors can explore a large collection of objects from the lithic (sculpted stone) industry as well as famous sepulchres which come from the area surrounding the Principality and especially from Grimaldi (Italian Liguria). This museum, which was founded in 1902 by Prince Albert I, retraces some of the most important milestones in the history of humanity.

The museum has an extensive scientific inventory, an essential precursor to reorganising the museum and relaunching its activities. This task was given to Professor Yves Coppens, who is President of the International Scientific Committee, a body that brings together the key players in international prehistory. The museum’s most recent exhibition “Les preuves du temps, l’homme face aux changements climatiques”, was unveiled on 14 December 2010.

• Opening hours:

Summer (from 15th May to 15th September) : from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.
Winter (from 16th September to 14th May): from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm or to nightfall

Closed on 19th November and 25th December

Entry by the Exotic Garden
Phone: (+377) 98 98 80 06
Website: map-mc.org

Nouveau Musée National de Monaco - Villa Paloma

Villa Paloma, which dates from the beginning of the XXth century, is among the most beautiful stately homes in the Principality. Originally built as a private home, Villa Paloma was bought by the Monegasque State in 1995 and given to the New National Museum of Monaco in 1998. The Villa’s doors were opened to the public in 2010, and since then, the New National Museum of Monaco has been spread over two locations, Villa Sauber (used for Performing Arts and Decorative Arts) and Villa Paloma (used for projects associated with Monegasque territory and the analysis of natural phenomenon).

• Opening hours: every day from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (winter) - from 11.00 am to 7.00 pm (summer)

56, boulevard du Jardin Exotique
Phone: (+377) 98 98 48 60
Website: www.nmnm.mc

Monaco Top Cars Collection 

Here, some one hundred motor vehicles from the private collection of Prince Rainier III are on display. This collection includes cars from the largest European and American firms as well as six horse-drawn carriages.

• Opening hours: every day from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm (closed on 25th December and 1st January)

Terrasses de Fontvieille
Phone: (+377) 92 05 28 56
Website: www.palais.mc

Le Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies 

This museum opened its doors in 1996 in order to display the philately and coinage from the private collection of Prince Rainier III.

• Opening hours:

Every day:
From 1st October to 30th June, from 10.00am to 5.00pm
From 1st July to 30th September, from 10.00am to 6.00pm

Terrasses de Fontvieille
Phone: (+377) 98 98 41 50
Website: www.mtm-monaco.mc

The Naval Museum

This museum has a collection of more than 180 model ships from periods throughout history.

• Opening hours: everyday from 10.00am to 6.00pm (closed on 25th December and 1st January)

Terrasses de Fontvieille
Phone: (+377) 92 05 28 48
Website: www.musee-naval.mc

The Sculpture Path

At the initiative of Prince Rainier III, the Principality has, over several years, acquired works by artists of international renown. As a result, in Monaco’s gardens, sculptures by César, Arman, Botero, Folon, Lalanne, Emma de Sigaldi and Moore have all found a home. A footpath was set up in the district of Fontvieille specifically with the discovery of these sculptures in mind.