Late Nights in Monaco? There's a Free Ride Home Waiting This Summer

 

Enjoying Monaco’s legendary nightlife no longer has to come with the worry of getting home safely. For the third consecutive summer, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) has teamed up with Be Safe Monaco to provide a free late-night shuttle service, helping partygoers travel home safely after an evening out.

Running from July 1 through August 31, the complimentary service operates Wednesday to Sunday between midnight and 5:30 a.m., transporting people from Monaco’s bars, clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues to destinations within the Principality. The initiative is made possible by SBM’s team of professional drivers, who volunteer on a rotating basis throughout the summer, reinforcing the company’s ongoing commitment to responsible hospitality and public safety.

The program has become an increasingly important part of Monaco’s nightlife. Since the partnership first began in 2024, 741 passengers have taken advantage of the free rides, with usage growing from 355 people in the first summer to 386 the following year. The steady increase suggests that more residents and visitors are choosing the safer option rather than risking driving after a night out.

Be Safe Monaco was established in 2017 by Camille Gottlieb, daughter of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, along with four friends following the tragic death of Alexis Jacquemond in a scooter accident after a night out. What began as a road safety campaign has evolved into one of the Principality’s most recognized public awareness initiatives.

In addition to the shuttle service, the association regularly distributes breathalyzer tests, works with Monaco’s nightlife venues, and educates young people about the dangers of impaired driving.

One of the reasons the program has been so successful is the partnership with SBM. By providing experienced professional drivers who are already accustomed to working late-night hospitality hours, the company gives the charity resources that would otherwise be difficult for a volunteer organization to secure.

Need a Ride?

The SBM-backed shuttle service offers free transportation to destinations within Monaco for customers enjoying the Principality’s nightlife. However, Be Safe Monaco’s broader volunteer service may also be able to assist with rides to neighboring French communities, such as Beausoleil or Cap d’Ail, depending on the evening, driver availability, and the service operating that night.

Insider Tip: While Uber isn't allowed to pick up passengers within Monaco, there's an easy workaround that many locals and regular visitors use. Simply walk across the border into neighbouring Beausoleil—a matter of just a few minutes from Monte-Carlo—and request your Uber from there. If you're heading to Nice Airport or anywhere else in France, you'll often pay significantly less than you would for a taxi.

If you need a safe ride home after a night out, you can contact Be Safe Monaco directly:

• Email: bsafe@monaco.mc

• Instagram: @besafemonaco

Many participating bars, clubs, casinos and restaurants can also help arrange the service on your behalf.

Whether you’re a resident or visiting Monaco for the summer, the message is simple: if you’ve been drinking, don’t drive. With a free ride home available—and the possibility of transportation beyond Monaco on certain nights through Be Safe Monaco—getting home safely has never been easier.

Monaco’s Exotic Garden to Host Two Magical Fireworks Nights This Summer

 

Monaco is set to offer visitors a dazzling summer experience as the Exotic Garden of Monaco opens its gates for two extraordinary evening events combining breathtaking scenery, live entertainment, and spectacular fireworks displays.

Perched high above the Mediterranean, the Exotic Garden is one of the Principality’s most iconic attractions, famed for its panoramic views and remarkable collection of rare succulents and cacti. This summer, it will transform into a magical nighttime venue for two special fireworks evenings that promise to be among the highlights of Monaco’s seasonal calendar.

 

The events are scheduled to coincide with Monaco’s internationally renowned fireworks celebrations, offering guests an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the displays from one of the most scenic vantage points in the Riviera.

 

Visitors attending the evenings will be able to stroll through the illuminated gardens after dark, taking in the serene beauty of the exotic plants and dramatic cliffside setting as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.

 

The atmosphere is expected to be enhanced with live music, refreshments, and entertainment, creating an elegant and festive ambiance before the night sky is lit up by the fireworks spectacle.

 

The Exotic Garden’s elevated position offers an unrivalled perspective over Monaco’s harbour and coastline, making it an ideal location for watching the fireworks cascade across the sea and skyline.

 

The two fireworks evenings will take place during Monaco’s summer fireworks season on Saturday 25th July and Saturday 1st August 2026, with guests encouraged to reserve tickets in advance due to limited capacity and the popularity of the events. Information is available from the Jardin Exotique by email.

 

Organisers have described the evenings as a chance to rediscover the Exotic Garden in an entirely new light — literally — as the venue opens beyond its usual daytime hours for a rare and enchanting nocturnal experience.

 

For residents and visitors alike, the events promise to combine the very best of the French Riviera summer: stunning landscapes, warm Mediterranean evenings, cultural entertainment, and world-class fireworks.

 

Whether you are a long-time admirer of Monaco or discovering the Principality for the first time, the Exotic Garden’s two spectacular fireworks evenings are shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of summer on the Côte d’Azur.

Celebrate Summer Above the Mediterranean at Monaco's Most Spectacular Rooftop Party

 

There are summer evenings, and then there are Monaco summer evenings.

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the rooftop terrace of the iconic Musée Océanographique de Monaco will once again transform into one of the Principality’s most breathtaking venues as the Association des Amis du Musée Océanographique de Monaco hosts its annual Summer Party—an unforgettable evening combining spectacular scenery, live entertainment, fine food, and philanthropy.

Perched dramatically atop the cliffs of Monaco-Ville, the museum offers panoramic views stretching across the Mediterranean, making it one of the finest locations to experience Monaco’s famous summer fireworks display.

An Evening to Remember

Running from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm, guests can expect an elegant “summer chic” atmosphere featuring:

• A live DJ set

• Cocktails and refreshments

• Gourmet food stations

• Entertainment for adults and families alike

• One of the most stunning rooftop views anywhere on the French Riviera

• Front-row views of Monaco’s spectacular fireworks over the harbour

While the atmosphere is undeniably glamorous, the event also serves a meaningful purpose.

Partying for a Good Cause

More than just a social highlight of the Riviera summer calendar, the Summer Party is a charity fundraiser supporting projects undertaken by the Oceanographic Museum.

Funds raised help preserve the museum’s historic collections while supporting its mission of marine conservation, scientific research, education, and ocean awareness—continuing the vision established by Prince Albert I over a century ago.

One of Monaco’s Most Iconic Landmarks

Few venues can rival the Oceanographic Museum for atmosphere.

Built dramatically into the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, the museum has been welcoming visitors since 1910 and remains one of Monaco’s most visited attractions. Beyond its magnificent Belle Époque architecture, it houses world-renowned aquariums, marine science exhibitions, conservation programmes, and the immersive Mediterranean 2050 exhibition exploring the future of our oceans.

Its rooftop terrace is rarely opened for public evening events, making the Summer Party a particularly sought-after experience.

A Riviera Summer Highlight

Whether you’re a Monaco resident, spending the season on the Côte d’Azur, or visiting from abroad, the Summer Party offers a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the Principality’s most exclusive settings while contributing to an important cause.

With exceptional views, an elegant atmosphere, and a commitment to protecting our oceans, it perfectly captures the spirit of a Monaco summer—where culture, philanthropy, and unforgettable scenery come together under the stars.

Monaco Takes Another Step Toward Legal Recognition for Same-Sex Couples

 

Monaco has taken another significant step in its gradual evolution toward recognizing same-sex relationships, with growing legal and political momentum behind civil unions, even as full marriage equality remains off the table.

For decades, the Principality has been viewed as one of Western Europe’s most socially conservative jurisdictions. While Monaco decriminalized homosexuality in 2007, legal protections and family rights have lagged behind many of its European neighbours. The debate over civil unions has become one of the country’s most important social reforms in recent years.

A Monaco Version of a Civil Union

The proposed Contrat de Vie Commune (CVC)—often described as Monaco’s equivalent of France’s PACS—is designed to provide legal recognition for unmarried couples, including same-sex couples.

Under the legislation:

• Two adults may enter into a civil union by signing a declaration before a notary.

• At least one partner must either be a Monégasque citizen or legally reside in Monaco.

• The agreement can be dissolved through marriage, death, or a joint or unilateral declaration.

• Partners gain a number of legal protections and obligations relating to their shared life together.

Unlike marriage, however, the CVC does not provide complete equality with heterosexual married couples.

An Unusual Compromise

One of the most distinctive aspects of Monaco’s legislation is that it also allows certain family members living together—such as siblings or a parent and adult child—to enter into a separate civil solidarity contract for practical and financial reasons.

This provision emerged after discussions with the Catholic Church, which argued that legal recognition should not be limited solely to romantic relationships but should also acknowledge relatives who share a household and provide mutual support.

The compromise reflected Monaco’s unique political culture, where the Catholic faith remains the state religion and often plays a consultative role in major social legislation.

Years of Political Debate

The journey toward legal recognition was lengthy.

• A proposal for a civil union was first introduced in 2013.

• Monaco’s National Council unanimously approved the proposal in 2016.

• After negotiations and amendments, the law creating civil solidarity contracts was unanimously adopted in December 2019.

The unanimous vote was widely regarded as a historic moment, providing legal recognition to same-sex couples for the first time in Monaco’s history.

Progress—But Not Equality

While many welcomed the legislation as a major breakthrough, LGBT advocacy organizations and European human rights bodies continue to argue that Monaco remains well behind much of Europe.

Today:

• Same-sex marriage is still not legal in Monaco.

• Same-sex couples do not enjoy all of the legal protections available to opposite-sex married couples.

• Issues surrounding inheritance, survivor pensions and other social protections continue to generate legal disputes and calls for reform.

The newly formed LGBT advocacy association Mon’Arc en Ciel has highlighted a number of practical examples where same-sex couples remain disadvantaged under current Monégasque law and continues to advocate for broader legal equality.

A Carefully Measured Evolution

Rather than embracing sweeping social reform, Monaco has followed its traditional approach of incremental change.

The creation of civil unions represents official recognition that same-sex couples deserve legal protection and acknowledgment by the state, while stopping short of redefining marriage itself. It reflects Monaco’s effort to balance modern legal expectations with its conservative traditions and constitutional identity.

Whether the Principality eventually moves toward full marriage equality remains uncertain. However, the introduction of civil solidarity contracts marked one of the most significant milestones in the history of LGBT rights in Monaco and established a legal framework that was unimaginable only a generation ago.