Port promenade, Hotel corner, tunnel, and Casino Square: Only a few weeks a year do these streets become the Monaco race track, the Circuit de Monaco, with 3.337 kilometers and 19 turns. It was never built for motorsport: The course runs right through Monte-Carlo and La Condamine, where every meter counts between guardrails and house walls. Here, you’ll go through the course turn by turn and learn why overtaking is rare, how it all began in 1929, and how you can walk the track yourself.
The Monaco Race Track at a Glance
It takes about six weeks to set up grandstands, guardrails, and pit facilities, and roughly three weeks to dismantle them. After that, the streets return to regular city traffic.
- Location: Monte-Carlo and La Condamine, Principality of Monaco
- Length: 3.337 kilometers, 19 turns
- Elevation change: 44 meters between Casino Square and the lowest section of the lap
- First race: April 14, 1929
- Race distance in Formula 1: 78 laps, approx. 260 kilometers
- Lap record in race: 1:12.909 minutes, set in 2021
- Record winner: Ayrton Senna with six wins
The key facts 1929, 19 turns, and 3.337 meters are also featured on the poster in our Monaco frame. The dimension sketch shows the frame with 23 × 32 cm outer dimensions and 3 cm depth; the image area is 21 cm wide.
Track layout: one lap around the Circuit de Monaco
The lap can be divided into five sections, from the climb to the Casino to the port.
Sainte Dévote and the climb
After the start on Boulevard Albert Ier, Sainte Dévote awaits—a nearly right-angled right turn named after the small chapel just behind the guardrails. At the start, the entire field crowds here. Afterward, the Beau Rivage section climbs uphill, past facades that extend right to the guardrails.
Massenet and Casino: the highest point
At the top is the long left-hand curve Massenet, followed directly by Casino Square. This is the highest point of the lap, with cars driving right past the Monte-Carlo Casino. The Casino corner is also on our list of the ten most legendary curves in motorsport.
Mirabeau, hairpin, and Portier
From the Casino, the track descends to Mirabeau, a right turn. Shortly after comes the most famous corner on the calendar: the hairpin, now named after the Fairmont Hotel and previously known as Station, Loews, or Grand Hotel hairpin. At around 48 km/h, it is the slowest turn in Formula 1. Via Mirabeau Bas and Portier, the track heads down to the sea.
The tunnel
Behind Portier, the track disappears under a hotel complex in the tunnel, a long right-hand bend driven at full throttle. At the exit, drivers switch from artificial light back to daylight and must brake hard for the Nouvelle Chicane, one of the few spots where overtaking is even possible.
Tabac, swimming pool, and Rascasse
After the chicane, the Monaco track runs along the harbor basin. The left-hand Tabac corner is named after a tobacco shop at this spot. Then, the course winds through the chicanes at the swimming pool, a section added in 1973. After the tight Rascasse, also part of the track since 1973, the final Antony Noghès corner leads back to the start-finish straight.
From above, the GP Tile Monaco shows how tightly the red track winds around the harbor basin and through the buildings. Tunnel, port, and the climb to the Casino are just a few hundred meters apart.
Why overtaking is so difficult on the Monaco F1 track
In Monaco, you rarely see position battles. The roads are narrow, the straights short, and guardrails line almost the entire track. Real chances exist almost only when braking for the Nouvelle Chicane after the tunnel, occasionally also at Sainte Dévote.
Public roads as a race track
Then there’s the road surface itself. Since regular traffic uses it, the asphalt is bumpier than on a permanent race track. Teams run with as much downforce as possible, with steep wings to find grip in the many slow corners. Even a small mistake can end in the guardrail.
The close-up of the GP Tile shows how closely houses and high-rises stand next to the red track. There’s barely room for run-off areas.
Qualifying and tactics
Since overtaking is rare, much is decided on Saturday: The starting grid carries more weight in Monaco than on most other tracks, and pit stops become a tactical tool. In 2025, the FIA mandated at least two pit stops, but this rule was scrapped for 2026.
Monaco is also an exception in terms of distance: At around 260 kilometers, the Grand Prix remains the only race below the otherwise required minimum distance. For the opposite extreme, where top speed is key, see our profile Monza: Temple of Speed.
History: how the Monaco Grand Prix circuit came to be
The Grand Prix owes its existence to a rejection. In 1928, the Automobile Club de Monaco wanted to upgrade from a regional club to a national association. The application was denied because there was no major motorsport event held entirely within the principality. Antony Noghès, a driving force in the club, then proposed a race through the city’s streets.
The first race took place on April 14, 1929, won by William Grover-Williams in a Bugatti. In 1950, Monaco was part of the very first Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship. After a brief hiatus in the early 1950s, the Grand Prix has been a permanent fixture on the calendar since 1955, with only 2020 canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The track of today has evolved over decades: In 1973, the swimming pool and Rascasse sections were added; in 1986, the tighter Nouvelle Chicane replaced the fast chicane after the tunnel; in 2003 and 2004, the swimming pool passage and pit lane were redesigned. In 2015, the Tabac corner was reprofiled, making the lap slightly shorter: Since then, it measures 3.337 km instead of 3.340 km. The core character remains: port, casino, tunnel.
Together with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Monaco forms the so-called Triple Crown of motorsport. From 2026, the Grand Prix will take place on the first weekend of June, with the Formula 1 contract running through 2035. In 2027, Monaco will host its first sprint race.
Visiting Monaco: walking the track and experiencing the race
The great thing about a street circuit: Outside race weeks, you can simply walk the Monaco track. Start at Sainte Dévote and head up to the Casino—you’ll feel the steep climb the cars race up during the event. Then, it’s downhill toward the hairpin.
Tips for your visit
- On foot: The pure lap of just over 3.3 km takes about an hour; the climb to the Casino is the most strenuous part.
- Prince’s car collection: Since July 2022, the collection has been located at the port next to the swimming stadium, right on the track. On display are cars from the Rallye Monte-Carlo and Formula 1 cars from the Grand Prix. It remains closed during race weeks for Formula 1, Historique, and E-Prix. Details are available on the Prince’s Palace page about the car collection (English).
- Monaco Historic Grand Prix: Usually held every two years, historic race cars take to the track, with 2026 featuring pre-war Bugattis to Formula 1 cars that raced in Monaco between 1981 and 1985. This was the 15th edition; the next is in 2028. More info at the Automobile Club de Monaco (English).
- Formula E: The electric racing series has been using a slightly modified version of the Grand Prix circuit since 2021, previously a shortened variant.
- Getting there: The nearest major airport is in Nice. For race weekends, it’s best to take the train from Nice or Menton, as access and parking are heavily restricted.
Monaco as a 3D Relief: Frame, GP Tile, and Christmas Gift
As a 3D relief, the course comes to life on your wall: The track is raised and shows the true elevation changes, including the climb to the Casino and the descent back to the harbor.
The Monaco Frame
The frame features the red course as a 3D relief on a dark city map with the harbor. Two sizes are available: A4 for €55, A3 for €85. If you’ve run the course yourself, personalize it for an extra €5, e.g., with “Once to the Casino and back – Monaco 2026” in one of the two text lines. You can also add your name, start number, and country.
For damage-free hanging without drilling, the adhesive nail is available for €3.99. Orders over €85 ship free within Germany.
The GP Tile with City Relief
The GP Tile (€69) tells the street circuit from a different angle: The buildings themselves are 3D reliefs, the harbor basin is set in black, and the track runs through in red. For a larger version, the Monaco Big Frame (€160–250) offers a white 3D city relief with a red track around the harbor.
Monaco as a Christmas Gift
For motorsport fans who’ve been to Monaco or dream of going, the track as a relief is a personal gift idea. The Premium Gift Packaging costs €9.90. Each item is made to order in Germany. We ship within 1–2 business days—still, order by mid-December to be safe.
Matching ideas beyond the frame: a weekend on the Côte d’Azur with a track walk or a photo book on the race’s history. More courses in frames can be found in our GP Frames collection.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Monaco Race Track
What is the name of the Monaco race track and where is it located?
It’s called Circuit de Monaco and runs through the city center, passing Monte-Carlo and La Condamine around Port Hercule. The start and finish are on Boulevard Albert Ier, with the highest point at Casino Square.
How long is the Monaco race track and how many turns does it have?
The course is 3.337 km long and has 19 turns. Older sources cite 3.340 km, which was the length before the Tabac corner was redesigned in 2015.
How fast is a lap in Monaco?
The race lap record is 1:12.909 minutes, set in 2021. The slowest section is the hairpin at around 48 km/h, while drivers stay at full throttle in the tunnel.
Can you drive or walk the Monaco track yourself?
Yes, you can walk it almost year-round: The track consists of public roads, and sidewalks even take you through the tunnel. By car, you’ll drive the same streets in normal city traffic. Parts may be temporarily closed or narrowed around race weekends due to setup and teardown.
When is the Monaco Grand Prix?
From 2026 onward, it’s held on the first weekend of June; previously, it was usually at the end of May. In 2027, Formula 1 will be in Monaco from June 3–6, according to the Automobile Club de Monaco, featuring a sprint race for the first time.
Conclusion: Precision Over Speed
Casino and tunnel, harbor and slope, 1929 and today: Few tracks tell so much history in such a small space. Walk the course yourself on your next Côte d’Azur vacation, or bring it home as a 3D relief in the Monaco frame.
