What to do in Monaco this October

Publication date: 02/10/2024
There’s so much going on in Monaco and so many incredible places to eat, at every time of the year! Here are just a few ideas for where to go and what to do this October.

EXHIBITIONS

“La fête de l’art” at Espace 22 (until 10 October)
From 1 to 10 October 2024, "Multi Art GalleryMonaco" Espace 22 is hosting a collective exhibition featuring works by 14 painters, sculptors, and other artists, brought together to create a truly unique artistic experience.

“Miquel Barcelo, Oceanographer” at the NMNM – Villa Paloma (until 13 October)
The sea is part of the Principality’s DNA... As is the art of Miquel Barcelo. The exhibition "Miquel Barcelo,océanographe" is a chance to get a fresh look at the Spanish artist’s eclectic output. Visitors can see paintings, ceramics, embroidery, and works on paper.

“Lascaux in Monaco” at the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology (until 21 November)
Get a feel of what it would be like to actually stand in the Lascaux cave.
Until 21 November, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology invites visitors to walk among the cave paintings, thanks to the magic of virtual reality. This temporary travelling exhibition is the best way to experience the famous cave in France’s Dordogne region, which has been closed to the public since 1963.

"Des ateliers aux ateliers" (until 24 November)
The exhibition "Des ateliers auxateliers"  features over 150 photographs by Michael Sima depicting artists in their studios. It is essentially a journey through the history of 20th century art! The exhibition also introduces children to the wonders of art with drawing and art workshops.
You can visit the exhibition at Quai Antoine 1er until 24 November.

“Polar Mission” at the Oceanographic Museum (until 31 December)
The venerable Museum, which opened in 1910, continues to offer fascinating and wondrous experiences for all ages, including special temporary displays. Starting with "Polar Mission",  a huge exhibition tracing more than a century of life in the Arctic and Antarctica. An immersive story told across five themed areas, the exhibition runs until 31 December.

Meanwhile, "The Prince and the Mediterranean" while originally intended to be only a temporary exhibition, has now been made permanent. It takes visitors aboard the Deo Juvante II where a succession of areas offer a fascinating glimpse into Prince Rainier III’s passion for the sea.

“The Early Days of Télé Monte-Carlo” at the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco (until 31 January 2025)
The story of Télé Monte-Carlo began in the Principality all the way back in 1954…
With its exhibition "The Early Days of TéléMonte-Carlo",  the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco looks back at the first two decades of TMC, from its creation through to the advent of colour TV in the mid-1970s.  With press cuttings, photographs, old (and impressively large!) cameras, and video screenings, the exhibition is a veritable cabinet of curiosities that transports visitors back to the infancy of Monegasque television!

CONCERTS AND SHOWS

MC Solaar at the Espace Léo Ferré (4 October)
Famed for his captivating performances and poetic lyrics, MC Solaar promises a memorable evening for anyone who loves great music.  With hit albums including "Caroline", "Bouge de là", and "Hasta la vista", he is the second biggest selling artist in the history of French rap music.

“MAMMA MIA! The Musical” at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco (9-13 October)
Mamma Mia is coming to the Principality! The cast of the hit musical, featuring timeless pop classics by ABBA, will be at the Grimaldi Forum for seven special performances from 9 to 13 October.

Concerts by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (from 5 to 29 October)
The OPMC's 2024-2025 season promises a whirlwind of emotions.  The programme for this month includes a spiritual concert at the Cathedral (5 October), an operatic concert inspired by a piece by Saint-Saëns (6 October), a piano recital with music by Chopin, Debussy, and Szymanowski (9 October), and a series of tributes to Shostakovich (13, 20, and 29 October). 

Culture and music at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo (from 10 to 23 October)
The Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo will be hosting three jazz nights on 10, 11, and 12 October. The suave voice of Jaffa will bring New Orleans to the Lobby Bar of the beautiful Belle Epoque hotel.  On 23 October, one of French contemporary literature’s leading voices, Laure Gouraige, will be talking about her latest opus, “Le livre que je n’ai pas écrit”.

“La dispute” by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo (21 & 22 October)
The curtain will go up on Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo's new season with “La dispute”, inspired by the Marivaux play of the same name. Created as a meeting of art, education, and humanity, this one-act prose comedy brings together a choir of forty instructors, alongside five teenagers from Monegasaque cultural institutions, and two dancers from Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

Plays at the Théâtre Princesse Grace and Théâtre des Muses
From world-class solo performances to classics by the greatest playwrights, and lectures organised by philosophy club Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco, once again the Théâtre Princesse Grace has an eclectic programme with something for everyone.  There’s an equally diverse line-up at the Théâtre des Muses where you’ll find plays for all ages, and even drama bootcamps for kids.

LEISURE

40th anniversary of the Princess Grace Rose Garden (5 October to 8 January)
The Princess Grace Rose Garden celebrates its 40th anniversary! Various events will take place in the coming months to mark the milestone. In October, the famous rose garden will host an eau de Cologne distillation activity (5 October) and a plaster rose-making workshop (23 October). 

Qi Gong at the Spa Givenchy at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo (8, 15, 22 October)
Have you ever tried Qi Gong? Head to the Métropole Monte-Carlo for an hour of the ancestral Chinese practice on Tuesday 8, 15, and 22 October. It's the perfect way to ease stress and top up your levels of inner peace.

Bingo Brunch at the Hôtel Novotel Monte-Carlo (13 October)
If delicious food and fun and games are your thing, visit the Azzurra Kitchen at the Novotel Monte-Carlo for the perfect combo: a gourmet buffet brunch and a round of bingo.

Funfair at Port Hercule (from 18 October to 19 November)
As the autumn arrives and the nights draw in, the funfair is returning to Port Hercule. There’s fun for all the family with dodgems, candy floss, and ghost trains galore in the heart of the Principality.

Karaoké Room at the Hôtel Novotel Monte-Carlo (Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays)
Locals and visitors can sing their hearts out at the Novotel Monte-Carlo with friends, family, or coworkers.  The hotel’s karaoké room is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for a party-style afternoon or evening, for groups of between four and eight people.

UNMISSABLE EVENTS

Lagoon cinema night at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort (5 October)
Calling all fans of movies and unforgettable evenings! Relax by the hotel's magical sandy-bottomed lagoon and watch a screening of Emile Ardolino's cult film "Sister Act", in a unique gospel-style atmosphere.

Monte-Carlo E-Rally (23-26 October)
The 8th Monte-Carlo E-Rally will roll into the Principality from 23 to 26 October.
The event, for all-electric vehicles only, is a thrilling blend of modernity and prestige that will see the teams speed along the back country roads in the countryside around Monaco, following a route that will take in some of the most iconic locations in the history of the Monte-Carlo Rally.

The Sportel Awards at the Grimaldi Forum (27-29 October)
Taking place during Sportel Monaco, an event held every October that brings together the movers and shakers of the sports industry, the Sportel Awards reward the finest sporting sequences of the year.  The ceremony is always a popular affair, with the public able to attend and get a glimpse of their favourite sports stars.

GOURMET PLEASURES

Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest in the Principality is an occasion not to be missed! The festival is back this year at the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo from 18 to 27 October, for just over a week of memorable evenings dedicated to the very best of Bavarian flavours and traditions.
From 10 to 12 October, La Condamine market s holding its very own Oktoberfest celebration with traditional fare to sample in a fantastic festive atmosphere!

New Lebanese restaurant "Le cèdre bleu"
There’s a new restaurant in the Principality: Le cèdre bleu. The eatery serves fine and authentic Lebanese cuisine.

New restaurant "Baretto"
Baretto, at 24, boulevard Princesse Charlotte, is a little Italian bar that’s all about using only top-quality ingredients to delight customers from morning to evening, Monday to Saturday.

Le Bar des Artistes
Previously known as the Bar du Quai, the Bar des Artistes has been fully redesigned, turning it into a mecca for fans of fine wines and inventive cocktails. 

Photo credits: ©Benjamin Vergély / Novotel Monte-Carlo / André Morin / Alice Blangero / Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte-Carlo / Monaco Tribune / VisitMonaco /