Beaches -- Just outside the border, on French soil, the Monte-Carlo Beach Club adjoins the Monte-Carlo Beach Hôtel, 22 av. Princesse-Grace (tel. 04-93-28-66-66). The beach club has thrived for years; it's an integral part of Monaco's social life. Princess Grace used to come here in flowery swimsuits, greeting her friends and subjects with humor and style. The sand is replenished at regular intervals. You'll find two large pools (one for children), cabanas, a restaurant, a cafe, and a bar. As the temperature drops in late August, the beach closes for the winter. The admission charge of 50€ to 75€ ($65-$98), depending on the season, grants you access to the changing rooms, toilets, restaurants, and bar, and use of a mattress for sunbathing. A fee of 150€ to 200€ ($195-$260) will get you a day's use of a private cabana. Most socializing occurs around the pool's edges. As usual, topless is de rigueur but bottomless isn't.
Monaco, the quintessential kingdom by the sea, offers swimming and sunbathing at the Plage de Larvotto, off avenue Princesse-Grace (tel. 93-30-63-84). This strip of beach is free, and the surface is frequently replenished with sand hauled in by barge. Part of it is open; other sections are private.
Golf -- The prestigious Monte Carlo Golf Club, route N7, La Turbie (tel. 04-92-41-50-70), on French soil, is a par-72 course with scenic panoramas. Certain perks (including use of electric carts) are reserved for members. In order to play, nonmembers are asked to show proof of membership in another club and provide evidence of their handicap. Greens fees for 18 holes are 90€ ($117) Monday to Friday, 110€ ($143) Saturday and Sunday. Clubs rent for 20€ ($26). The course is open daily 8am to sunset.
Spa Treatments -- In 1908, the Société des Bains de Mer launched a seawater (thalassotherapy) spa in Monte Carlo, inaugurated by Prince Albert I. It was bombed during World War II and didn't reopen until 1996. Les Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo, 2 av. de Monte-Carlo (tel. 92-16-40-40; www.montecarlospa.com), is one of the largest spas in Europe. Spread over four floors are a pool, Turkish hammam (steam bath), diet restaurant, juice bar, two tanning booths, fitness center, beauty center, and private treatment rooms. A day pass, giving access to the sauna, steam rooms, fitness facilities, and pools, costs 78€ ($101). Massages cost 65€ ($85) for a 30-minute session, 110€ ($143) for a 60-minute session.
Swimming -- Overlooking the yacht-clogged harbor, the Stade Nautique Rainier-III, quai Albert-1er, at La Condamine (tel. 93-30-64-83), a pool frequented by the Monégasques, was a gift from Prince Rainier to his subjects. It's open May to October daily 9am to 6pm (until midnight July-Aug). Admission for a one-time visit costs 5.40€ ($7) per person; discounts are available if you plan to visit 10 times or more. Between November and April, it's an ice-skating rink. If you want to swim in winter, try the indoor Piscine du Prince Héréditaire Albert, in the Stade Louis II, 7 av. de Castellane (tel. 92-05-42-13). It's open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:30am to 2:30pm; Saturday 1 to 6pm; and Sunday 8am to 1pm. Admission is 3.50€ ($4.55).
Tennis & Squash -- The Monte Carlo Country Club, 155 av. Princesse-Grace, Roquebrune-St-Roman, France (tel. 04-93-41-30-15), has 21 clay and 2 concrete tennis courts. The 36€ ($47) fee provides access to a restaurant, health club with Jacuzzi and sauna, putting green, beach, squash courts, and the well-maintained tennis courts. Guests of the hotels administered by the Société des Bains de Mer (Hôtel de Paris, Hermitage, Mirabeau, and Monte Carlo Beach Club) pay half price. Plan to spend at least half a day, ending a round of tennis with use of any of the other facilities. It's open daily 8am to 8 or 9pm, depending on the season.
