Safety in Monaco

Policing: Monaco has the highest density of police officers and surveillance cameras in the world, which makes it safe at any hour. Walking alone at night is a non-issue here.

Casino dress code: Trousers and closed shoes are required in the gaming rooms; shorts and beach sandals will be stopped at the door. Bring your original passport too, as age is checked.

Belongings: General safety notwithstanding, keep an eye on your wallet in the dense crowds during Grand Prix week or a street event. Pickpockets travel to where the crowds are.

Traffic: There are a great many fast, expensive cars on these streets. Cross only at marked crossings and on a green signal, and be aware that road noise makes engines harder to place than you expect.

Sun: Reflected light off white buildings and water is intense. Use sunscreen and wear a hat on long walks, particularly on the exposed cliff paths.

Footwear: The steep slopes and cobbles of the rock demand a stable sole. Heels here are a genuine ordeal rather than a fashion choice.

Drinking water: Public fountains with clean drinking water are dotted across the city and the water is perfectly safe. Carrying a refillable bottle saves you four dollars a time.

Monaco is probably the most heavily policed place on the planet for its size. Street crime does not exist here as a phenomenon.

Pickpockets. The only thing that occurs, during the Grand Prix and major events when the principality fills with people.

The casino. There is no deception in the casino itself — it is state-owned and strictly regulated. But entry to the historic rooms is charged, a dress code applies, and photography inside is prohibited.

Restaurants and clubs. Prices are astronomical but honest: a 300-euro bill for two is the tariff, not a scam. Read the menu before ordering, especially in clubs where bottle service is compulsory.

Parking. Expensive and entirely underground. The principality has an excellent system of public lifts between levels, and everyone uses it.

ATMs. Decline the machine's currency conversion.

The main hit to your budget in Monaco is prices, and there is no scheme behind them.

Appearance and conduct. Monaco has rules on decent appearance: walking the street shirtless or in swimwear is prohibited and fineable, as is going barefoot. It is one of the few countries where this is set out formally.

The casino. Entry from 18 with a passport required. Monegasque citizens are barred by law from gambling — a rule dating from the nineteenth century.

Drones. Effectively prohibited; the principality's airspace is controlled.

Photography. Prohibited inside the casino and in a number of places.

Drink-driving. The limit is 0.5 per mille and enforcement exists.

Driving. Entry is possible but parking is limited and expensive. During the Grand Prix half the principality is closed.

Drugs. The law is strict.

Documents. Monaco is outside the EU but effectively within Schengen: entry is via France and no separate visa is needed.

Vaccinations. None.

Water. Tap water is drinkable.

Healthcare. The Princess Grace Hospital is the principality's only one, at a high standard. Treatment for foreigners is chargeable and expensive. Insurance is needed.

Heat. Summer on the coast reaches 32°C at high humidity, with little shade in the built-up principality.

The sea. Larvotto is the only public beach, with clean water and lifeguards in season.

Terrain. Monaco is built on a slope and the height difference is substantial. For anyone with a heart condition this matters: the climbs are steep. Learn the free public lift and escalator system between levels straight away — it works excellently.

Emergency numbers: 112 unified, 17 police, 18 fire and ambulance.

Monaco has among the world's highest police-to-population ratios and a camera network covering nearly the whole principality. Clearance rates approach total and street crime is absent.

Police. Correct, with French primary and English and Italian spoken.

Cameras. There are hundreds across two square kilometres. This works in favour of safety: lost property is found and crimes are nearly always solved.

Reporting theft. Reports are taken quickly.

The Grand Prix. During the race the principality is closed off, movement through zones is restricted, and prices for everything double. Plan a trip on those dates deliberately.

What actually matters. Safety in Monaco is as assured as it can be anywhere. The only thing that can go wrong here is the expense.