The entire Principality of Monaco has just one railway station, and that goes by the name of Monaco Monte Carlo. It thus deftly encompasses the name of the country with a reminder of its principal attraction, which is the casino in Monte Carlo. The latter is only for the over-21s, and the smart dress code is strictly enforced. Don’t even think of trying to slip in while still wearing beach gear. The casino is a superb spot to while away a wet winter afternoon. It’s great for people-watching and there’s no pressure to gamble.

Monaco is more interesting than you might expect. Climb up into the quaint Old Town (called Monaco Ville) which is mercifully free of modern development. It’s a pleasant area to wander, with some fine views along the Riviera coast. While the Oceanographic Museum is Monaco's long-standing set-piece attraction, our favourite diversion is the beautiful Jardin Exotique de Monaco, which occupies a splendid steep site affording great views of the Med.

The country’s sole railway station is hidden away underground. That’s a mark of the high land prices in this crowded principality. The station is strangely elegant in a subterranean sort of way. From its two platforms, trains leave for destinations as distant as Milan and Moscow. There is a once-daily direct TGV to Paris, but for most French destinations it’s best to take a local train to nearby Nice and connect there onto the French long-distance network.

For those looking to make local excursions from Monaco, there’s a superb network of Riviera connections, including two trains per hour to Antibes, Nice, Cannes, Menton and the Italian border town of Ventimiglia. There is also a useful hourly train to the inland town of Grasse.