If you’re a fan of cacti, agaves, yuccas, and other succulents, Monaco’s Exotic Garden is a must-see. Its beauty is enhanced by sweeping sea views and the dramatic limestone rock from which many plants grow. We can thank Prince Albert I of Monaco—who devoted his life to oceanography and founded the Oceanographic Museum—for deciding in 1912 to transform this part of Monaco into a park. That year he commissioned engineer Louis Notari to create the garden. The cave, discovered in 1916, opened to the public in 1950 and can be visited only with a guide. Important figures in its history include Augustin Gastaud, who imported succulents from Mexico in 1860; agronomist and first director Louis Vatrican; and Marcel Kroenlein.

Monaco itself is a very attractive place for holidays. His perfect position on the sea and the wonderful climate, are a boon to the exotic garden. Full Monaco exudes luxury and purity.

The park is very easy to find; using GPS is the simplest option, as we did. There’s a spacious underground garage nearby, so parking isn’t a problem. We visited the Exotic Garden in September with our six-month-old baby, when temperatures were still high. Because the park has many narrow paths and stairs, pushchairs/strollers aren’t allowed, so we left ours at the entrance with the friendly guards.

Besides the impressive neatness and cleanliness, I was amazed by how many gardeners tend the grounds. At the entrance you’re greeted by monumental yuccas and beautiful specimens of Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus). There’s also a lovely lookout with columns and three arches, offering views over Monte Carlo, the port, and the Rock of Monaco.

Many of the plants were set in place decades ago, and the sheer variety of succulents and cacti from around the world leaves you speechless. As you follow the stairways and paths down, you’ll come across a small pond with fish and, at the end of the tour, the cave. Entry to the cave is by guided group only. On the way out, you can stop by the gift shop and pick up a small cactus—I went home with a little euphorbia.

I was struck not only by the park’s neatness and cleanliness, but also by how many gardeners care for it. At the entrance you’re greeted by towering yuccas and beautiful specimens of Echinocactus grusonii. There’s also a lovely lookout with columns and three arches, offering views over Monte Carlo, the port, and the Rock of Monaco.

Decades have passed since many of the plants were first set in place, and the sheer splendor of succulents and cacti from around the world leaves you speechless. As you follow the stairways and paths downward, you’ll come across a small pond with fish and, at the end of the route, the cave—accessible only on a guided group visit. On the way out, you can stop by the gift shop to buy a small cactus. I went home with a little euphorbia.

I was especially captivated by species such as big Echinocactus grusonii and many others, Echinocactus. Mexican Pachycereus pringlei, Pachycereus schottii monstruosus, Pachycereus marginatus, from the US and Mexico so many yucca’s like Yucca baccata, Yucca torreyi, Yucca treculiana, Yucca valida, Yucca rigida, Yucca rostrata, Yucca filifera, Yucca angustissima, Yucca campestris, Yucca brevifolia, Euphorbia cactus, Thelocactus setispinus, all Melocactus species.

Chorisia speciosa at the entrance of Monaco Exotic garden

You can see many Sclerocactus species like Sclerocactus brevihamatus tobuschii, Sclerocactus cloverae, Sclerocactus cloverae, Sclerocactus franklinii, Sclerocactus glaucus, Sclerocactus polyancistrus, Sclerocactus scheeri, Sclerocactus uncinatus, Sclerocactus uncinatus wrightii, Sclerocactus wetlandicus whipplei ..)
You can see many Tephrocactus species from Argentina, Peru, Chile, like Tephrocactus alexanderi, Tephrocactus aoracanthus, Tephrocactus articulatus, Tephrocactus articulatus inermis, Tephrocactus articulatus papyracanthus, Tephrocactus articulatus syringacanthus , Tephrocactus dimorphus ,Tephrocactus floccosus, Tephrocactus molinensis, Tephrocactus sphaericus, Tephrocactus verschaffeltii, Tephrocactus weberi .

Many Ferocactus species ( ferocactus alamosanus , Ferocactus alamosanus reppenhagenii , Ferocactus chrysacanthus , Ferocactus chrysacanthus grandiflorus, Ferocactus cylindraceus , Ferocactus cylindraceus eastwoodiae , Ferocactus cylindraceus lecontei , Ferocactus diguetii, Ferocactus echidne Ferocactus emoryi, Ferocactus emoryi, Ferocactus emoryi covillei, Ferocactus emoryi rectispinus, Ferocactus flavovirens, Ferocactus fordii ,Ferocactus glaucescens, Ferocactus gracilis, Ferocactus gracilis coloratus, Ferocactus gracilis gatesii, Ferocactus haematacanthus , Ferocactus hamatacanthus, Ferocactus hamatacanthus, Ferocactus herrerae Ferocactus histrix, Ferocactus latispinus, Ferocactus latispinus, Ferocactus latispinus spiralis, Ferocactus peninsulae, Ferocactus peninsulae santa-maria Ferocactus pilosus, Ferocactus pilosus, Ferocactus robustus, Ferocactus sp. Cactaceae, Ferocactus sp., townsendianus, Ferocactus viridescens wislizeni, Ferocactus wislizeni ).
You can see many Notocactuses, Pediocactus simpsonii, Pterocactus fischeri, Pterocactus kuntzei , Pterocactus reticulatus , Pyrrhocactus andicola , Pterocactus valentinii. Then you can see from Cuba Rhodocactus cubensis.