Monterey

What you need to know before you go

    Monterey, located on California's central coast, is an excellent city for a romantic break or a fun-packed family vacation. Surrounded by white-sand beaches and verdant vineyards, this bustling city is packed with hip galleries, elegant boutiques, and restaurants serving freshly caught local seafood.

    If you’re travelling with kids, a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium is essential. This state-of-the-art attraction is home to an amazing array of ocean dwellers, from otherworldly jellyfish to majestic hammerhead sharks. Split across 2 beautifully preserved period buildings, the Monterey Museum of Modern Art boasts a comprehensive collection of Californian masterpieces.

    What to see & do in Monterey

    Featured stories & fun stuff

    Where & what to eat in Monterey

    • 10 Great Restaurants in Monterey

      Restaurants in Monterey offer fine dining and casual bistros with menus inspired by the California coast. The food scene in the county is made up of modern American cuisine and dishes inspired by the other cultures and communities in California. Monterey’s restaurants are well known for serving fresh, local seafood and dishes inspired by nearby Mexico and European countries Italy...

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    Where to shop & what to buy in Monterey

    • 10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Monterey

      Looking for the best places to go shopping in Monterey City in California? While it's best known for outdoor experiences, its fishery business, and an abundance of historical sites and vineyards, beyond the sightseeing you'll find great shopping destinations for goods such as fresh local produces, rare books and vinyl, as well as world-renowned vintage wear. Most stores are...

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    Where to go & what to do at night in Monterey

    • 10 Best Nightlife Experiences in Monterey

      Monterey is a wave-washed ocean town with a darn buzzing nightlife scene. It's famed around the globe as the setting for John Steinbeck's classic novel Cannery Row, but also draws crowds of beach lovers, history buffs, surfers and marine wildlife aficionados. When the sun sets in Monterey, you'll only need to mosey down to the shrimp shacks and beer...

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    Useful information

    • Monterey Travel Essentials

      Our Monterey Travel Essentials lays out the essential information you need to help you plan your trip to one of the most popular destinations in California, USA. No matter how frequently you travel, some questions will always need answers: What’s the weather like? How can I get from Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) to my hotel? What currency and type of...

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    More information about Monterey

    Whether spotting whales off the coast, hiking through lush canyons or indulging in a seafood medley, a unique experience unfolds on a Monterey Bay vacation. Book a Monterey Bay hotel and discover its intoxicating treasures.

    Active adventures

    The waters of Monterey Bay teem with marine life, both below and above the water. Get up close to bottlenose dolphins, squid and sea turtles on a scuba dive near Monterey. At Carmel River State Beach, bring binoculars to spot pelicans, kingfishers or sandpipers. Sea otters, humpback whales and harbour seals play in the water near Point Lobos State Reserve. Head inland to hike through the lush forests at Wilder Ranch State Park, where sweeping canyon vistas unfold.

    Family fun

    Sea creatures of all shapes and sizes flourish in the three-story-tall kelp- forest tank at Monterey Bay Aquarium. Get up close to bat rays in the petting pool or commune with sea dragons in the Splash Zone. Watch fishing boats unload their daily catch at Fisherman’s Wharf or spend a day at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary kayaking, whale-watching or just playing on the beach.

    Seafood in all flavours

    Dine on Monterey red abalone paired with a Central Coast pinot blanc in a stylish Carmel dining room or tuck into halibut in a cosy Santa Cruz shack. Splurge on a 12-course wine-maker dinner in a 19th-century Mediterranean-style villa or take a table for crispy squid swimming in spicy orange-cilantro vinaigrette at a coastal bistro amid South American artwork. Wine lovers can taste up to 70 different wines in an oak tasting room with a fantastic bay view as the backdrop. 

    Museums and culture

    Take in the maritime culture along Fisherman’s Wharf, where sea lions bark along the waterfront. Browse the shops and watch the anglers cast out for their dinner. Book a Monterey Bay hotel near Cannery Row and poke around the art galleries and souvenir shops. Ansel Adams photographs highlight the Monterey Museum of Art at Pacific Street, while surfing fans can check out longboards at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.

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