Trip Planner
Watching from a balcony or yacht at the Monaco Grand Prix
Sunday December 6 2026
What to expect in this guide
• What are the alternatives to a grandstand?
• Where can you watch from a balcony?
• What about a yacht?
• What should you check before you book?
• Best booking resources for F1 trips
• Money-saving tip
• Frequently asked questions
Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Most fans at the Monaco Grand Prix watch from a grandstand. But Monaco is one of the few circuits where private apartments, terraces, and yachts give you a genuine alternative. The buildings around the circuit have balconies overlooking the track, and the yachts in the harbour are part of the race weekend itself.
Having watched from each of the vantage points below, my view is that none of them is better than the others outright. They’re different experiences, and the right choice depends on what you want from your race weekend.
Ermanno Palace
The Ermanno suite is on the second floor of the Ermanno Palace building, a few metres from the first corner at Sainte-Devote. From the balcony, you have clear views of the start-finish straight and Turn 1. It’s one of the best corners on the circuit to watch, and drama at the start of the race tends to happen here.
Inside, there’s a lounge where you can take a break, follow the race on screen, and have a drink without losing sight of what’s happening on track.
Shangri-La Rooftop
The Shangri-La rooftop terrace overlooks the starting grid and gives you views of more than 65% of the circuit, including the start-finish straight, Rascasse, Tabac, the swimming pool complex, and the harbour.
Watching Monaco from a high-rise terrace gives you a perspective you rarely get at a Formula One race. From here you can follow nearly the entire lap from one spot. You don’t need to rely on the screens to follow the racing, though they’re there if you want them.
St Devote Villa
St Devote Villa is a seven-storey building at the first corner of the Monaco circuit. It’s one of only three private residences on the Port of Monaco, dating from the 19th century.
From the upper floors, you have views of the race start and the run down to Sainte-Devote. From the private courtyard, you’re at street level as the cars come through the corner and accelerate up Beau Rivage towards Casino Square.
Yacht
The yacht is a 50-metre vessel anchored in a Zone 1 berth. You arrive by speedboat tender from Fontvieille Harbour. From the deck, you have a direct view of the Monaco street circuit. If you’ve watched Monaco on television, you’ll have seen the yachts lined up in the harbour. Being on one is a genuine part of the Monaco experience.
Before you book a yacht
Not all yachts marketed as race-viewing are trackside. Some are moored on the jetty, where your view of the circuit is partly or fully blocked by other yachts.
The final berth is always at the discretion of the Monaco authorities, but you can maximise your chance of a good view by checking the expected mooring location when you book.
Best booking resources for F1 trips
Planning the trip is the fun part for some and a chore for others.
If you would rather not handle all the details yourself, we can do that for you.
Take a look at our Grand Prix ticket & travel packages »
Prefer to do it all yourself? You’re welcome to take everything you’ve learned here and book your own trip. These are good places to start. They’re reliable, easy to use, and usually the best value.
Tickets
Grand Prix Tickets is the agency I’ve trusted for years. They’ve always been reliable, easy to deal with, and quick to help if something comes up.
Hotels
ZenHotels is one of my go-to sites for hotel bookings. It pulls prices from many smaller sites you might not know about, which makes it good for finding deals. I also check Expedia and Booking.com when I want more options.
Excursions
Viator is full of walking tours, attraction tickets, and local experiences. It’s especially handy if you’re heading to a new Grand Prix city. It’s a good place to find extras to add to your trip.
Money-saving tip
Buy a single-day package
You don’t have to buy a hospitality package for the full weekend. You can experience the yacht on Friday only, for example, at a fraction of the full-weekend price.
FAQ's
Alternatives to Monaco Grand Prix grandstands include private apartments, rooftop terraces, balconies and yachts in the harbour.
Some of the best balcony views are from Ermanno Palace and St Devote Villa, which overlook Sainte-Dévote, the first corner and one of Monaco’s key action zones.
No. Not all Monaco Grand Prix yachts have a clear track view. Some are moored on the jetty, where the circuit view can be partly or fully blocked.
Always check the expected mooring location before booking. The yacht’s position determines whether you get a genuine race view or mainly a harbour hospitality experience.
No. Apartments, terraces, balconies and yachts are sold separately as hospitality packages, not included with a standard grandstand ticket.
Introducing the Monaco Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about the Circuit de Monaco, the layout of the street circuit, and how a race weekend works.
Getting to the Monaco Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about how to get to Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Where to stay for the Monaco Grand Prix
In this guide we'll help you choose the best place to stay during your trip to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Choosing a grandstand at the Monaco Grand Prix
In this guide we'll help you choose the right grandstand for your Monaco Grand Prix experience.
Getting around at the Monaco Grand Prix
In this guide you'll learn about the different options for getting around during the Monaco Grand Prix.
