Port Hercule, Monaco
See the crews and cars up close at the official start on Thursday afternoon and at the prize-giving on Sunday at 17:00. The easiest rally moments to reach from Villa Graziella.
Dates, the full 2027 route, the best places to watch, tickets, getting around and where to stay. Everything you need for the opening round of the World Rally Championship.
The Rallye Monte-Carlo is the oldest and most prestigious rally in the world, and every January it opens the FIA World Rally Championship season. The 95th edition runs from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January 2027 and marks a new chapter for the WRC, with the first outing of the new WRC27 cars.
In this guide we cover the 2027 route day by day, where to watch, how tickets work, practical tips for following the stages, and the rally's remarkable history. And if you're looking for Monte Carlo Rally accommodation, Villa Graziella in Èze is just ten minutes from Monaco.
The 95th edition features 18 special stages and more than 330 km against the clock, from the foothills behind Nice to the Hautes-Alpes and the Drôme. Gap is once again the rally's base, with the team area at the Fontreyne leisure park and a fan zone at Parc Bernard-Givaudan with screens showing the stages.
Crews start the week with reconnaissance of the stages. The shakedown, the teams' final test before the competition, takes place on Wednesday 20 January on the roads of La Garde and Rabou above Gap.
The rally leaves the Principality for three stages, including two in the dark:
Col de Bleine – Aiglun (25.47 km) Clumanc – Lambruisse Esclangon – Seyne-les-AlpesSix stages around the Dévoluy massif, including the return of La Salle-en-Beaumont – Les Côtes-de-Corps, last used in 2015.
Two loops of three stages through the classic Monte-Carlo territory:
Laborel Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert La Bâtie-des-FontsRepeats of Clumanc – Lambruisse and Col de Bleine – Aiglun, then the legendary Power Stage La Bollène-Vésubie – Moulinet (23.45 km) over the Col de Turini. The prize-giving takes place at 17:00 at Port Hercule in Monaco.
Route as announced by the Automobile Club de Monaco in autumn 2026. Detailed timings and stage maps are published closer to the event; always check acm.mc before you go.
The rally spreads across a huge area, so choose one or two highlights rather than trying to see everything.
See the crews and cars up close at the official start on Thursday afternoon and at the prize-giving on Sunday at 17:00. The easiest rally moments to reach from Villa Graziella.
The most famous mountain pass in rallying, on the Power Stage La Bollène-Vésubie – Moulinet. Expect big crowds, hairpins and possibly snow. Arrive early: roads close well before the stage starts.
The rally's base, with the team area at Fontreyne, the fan zone at Parc Bernard-Givaudan and the shakedown on Wednesday. Ideal if you want to follow several days in the mountains.
Unlike most major motorsport events, the Rallye Monte-Carlo generally doesn't require spectators to buy tickets. Most special stages are freely accessible from the designated spectator areas along the mountain roads.

Accommodation in and around Monaco is in high demand during rally week, and hotels fill up quickly as January approaches. For groups who want comfort, privacy and space after long days on the stages, a private villa is the ideal base.
Learn more about the villa and what's included in your rental.
Monaco is undeniably exciting during rally week, but many visitors quickly discover its limits. Experienced rallygoers often choose a base nearby for more comfort and flexibility.
Morning in the Alps, afternoon by the sea: the Rallye Monte-Carlo is unique that way.
Public transport between the mountain stages is very limited. A car lets you move between villages and catch more of the action. Carpool where you can, as parking near the stages is scarce.
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is about 30 minutes from Monaco and Èze by car. For a faster arrival, helicopter transfers link Nice with the Monaco Heliport.
Conditions change from dry tarmac to snow and ice, sometimes on the same stage. Snow boots and sunglasses often get equal use on the same day. Bring warm layers, water, snacks and a power bank.
Roads close to traffic well before each stage. Plan to be in place in good time, especially for the Col de Turini on Sunday.
Take your rubbish with you or use the bins provided. Lighting fires and cutting trees or branches is forbidden in the spectator areas.
Stay within the authorised spectator zones and obey all signs and marshals. Never stand on the outside of a bend.
Oliver Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson won the 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, leading a Toyota one-two-three.
The Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo is one of the most prestigious and historic events in motorsport. Organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco, it has more than a century of history and remains a cornerstone of rallying.
The rally was created in 1911 under Prince Albert I of Monaco, to promote advances in automobile technology and showcase Monaco as a glamorous destination. It began as a "concentration rally": competitors set off from cities across Europe and converged on Monaco. The first edition was won by Henri Rougier in a Turcat-Méry 25 HP, who started from Paris. In those early years the result depended not only on speed but also on the comfort and elegance of the cars, and Rougier's victory sparked controversy.



After the Second World War the rally returned in 1949, and manufacturers such as Simca, Delahaye and Jaguar began entering factory-backed cars. In 1952 Sydney Allard made history by winning in a car bearing his own name. Through the 1950s and 1960s the event became a key proving ground for manufacturers, from Ford and Sunbeam-Talbot to the famous Mini Coopers.
The rally's most infamous controversy came in 1966, when several top finishers were disqualified over their headlamps. Those excluded included the Mini Coopers of Timo Mäkinen, Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk, as well as Roger Clark's Ford Cortina. The decision caused an outcry, and Pauli Toivonen was declared the winner.
The Monte-Carlo opened the FIA World Rally Championship from 1973 to 2008, joined the Intercontinental Rally Challenge from 2009 to 2011, and returned to the WRC in 2012. Its most iconic road is the Col de Turini, a mountain pass of tight hairpins where snow and ice are never far away. The "Night of the Turini" became legendary, with thousands of fans lining the road under the glare of the headlights.
What sets the Monte-Carlo apart is its constantly changing grip: dry tarmac, wet roads, ice and snow, often within a single stage. Tyre choice can decide the rally, as a tyre that works on snow may struggle on dry asphalt. Adaptability and strategy matter as much as raw speed.
Today the rally blends world-class motorsport with Monaco's prestige. As the opening round of the WRC it attracts huge crowds of passionate fans and curious visitors alike, and in 2027 it opens a new era with the WRC27 cars, more than a century after Henri Rougier first drove into Monaco.
Ten minutes from Monaco, space for up to 10 guests and an EV charger on site. Rally week books up early: tell us your dates and we'll come back to you with availability and rates.
The 95th Rallye Monte-Carlo runs from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 January 2027, with reconnaissance from Monday 18 January and the shakedown on Wednesday 20 January near Gap.
The rally starts and finishes at Port Hercule in Monaco. The special stages run through the mountains of the Alpes-Maritimes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes and Drôme, with Gap as the rally's base.
Generally no. Most special stages are free to watch from the designated spectator areas.
Stage maps and timings are published by the Automobile Club de Monaco on acm.mc ahead of the event, and updates are posted on the Sportity app.
Sportity is the rally's official digital noticeboard, with real-time announcements, schedule changes and stage information.
Hotels in Monaco fill up quickly in rally week. Villa Graziella in Èze is ten minutes from Monaco, sleeps up to 10 guests and has an electric car charger. Contact us for availability.
Port Hercule in Monaco for the start and prize-giving, the Col de Turini for the Sunday Power Stage, and Gap and the Alpine stages if you want to follow several days of action.
Anything from mild sunshine on the coast to snow and ice in the mountains. Dress in warm layers with waterproofs, especially for the stages at altitude.
Book accommodation early, rent a car, pick one or two stages per day, check the official timings on acm.mc and Sportity, and arrive well before the roads close.
The Col de Turini is a mountain pass above the Vésubie valley, famous for its hairpins, unpredictable winter conditions and the legendary "Night of the Turini". In 2027 it features in the Sunday Power Stage, La Bollène-Vésubie – Moulinet.
This guide is published by Villa Graziella, a private luxury villa for holiday rental in Èze, which is not affiliated with the Automobile Club de Monaco or the Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo. Route and timings are taken from published information and may change; please confirm on acm.mc before travelling.