Closed since 2020 for a major renovation, the Jardin Exotique of Monaco, one of the Principality of Monaco’s most picturesque and lesser‑known corners and regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful gardens, in the presence of Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, and Princess Caroline of Monaco, has reopened to the public and is even more beautiful than before.
In this unexpected setting, at the foot of a millennia‑old cave carved into rock, one can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Rock of Monaco and the Mediterranean Sea.
Why Visit the Jardin Exotique in the Principality of Monaco
For those who have never had the chance to visit it, the Exotique Garden sits on the heights of the city‑state and frames one of the chicest spots in the world. With its extraordinary collection of desert succulents and cacti from every corner of the globe, it is a microcosm that absolutely deserves a visit. There are about a thousand plant species coming primarily from Central and South America, Africa south and central, and the Arabian Peninsula. And each season brings different blooms, from winter displays to bursts of color in spring.
It was Prince Albert I (the great‑grandfather of the current Prince Albert II), a renowned explorer and patron of the sciences, who wanted the realization of this little Eden that would bring together rare species from arid regions of the world. Construction began in 1913, but the garden was inaugurated only in 1933 by Prince Louis II, grandfather of Albert II.
Since 1933, the Exotique Garden has been one of the Riviera’s jewels. Situated on a steep rocky cliff, it boasts a remarkable collection of succulents from all over the world: cacti, agaves, aloes, and crassulas have found their ideal habitat here, thanks to the wonderful Mediterranean climate.
What to See
The obligatory route winds through trails immersed in vegetation, past clusters of plants with extravagant shapes and sparkling colors, along walkways and panoramic terraces, interspersed with signage about plant types and sculptures, because the garden is also a small outdoor museum. At each turn, breathtaking views unfold of the sea, the Rock of Monaco, and the profile of the Côte d’Azur. The steep topography of the site has been leveraged to create a spectacular route, entirely along the face of a cliff.
The Cave
There is also a cave hidden in the heart of the garden, open for guided tours with specialists. Beneath the garden, in fact, another marvel awaits visitors: the Grotte de l’Observatoire. Discovered in 1916 during the works for laying the garden’s foundations, it has been open to the public since 1950. It owes its name to the proximity of an ancient astronomical observatory. This natural cavity offers a true subterranean journey. It descends to about one hundred meters. Access is via a staircase of over 300 steps, winding through galleries decorated with calcareous formations: stalactites, stalagmites, draperies and columns that intertwine, carved drop by drop over thousands of years by water rich in carbon dioxide. The Grotte de l’Observatoire is a precious testimony to the geological history of the entire region. Guided tours of the cave depart every hour from 10:00 and last 40–45 minutes.
The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology
A visit to the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, located in the garden, is an excellent complement to the visit to the Jardin Exotique of Monaco. Its collections include numerous artefacts unearthed in the cave, attesting to the presence of prehistoric humans at the site.
How to Visit the Jardin Exotique of Monte Carlo
The garden is open every day from 9:00 to 19:00. It is located at 62 Boulevard du Jardin Exotique, in Monaco. For those arriving from Italy, reach it via the highway exit Monaco and follow the Moyenne Corniche, East Entrance. There is ample parking 200 meters from the entrance. Inside the park there is also a children’s area, a bar and a shop.
