Monterey - What you need to know before you go - Go Guides

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

10 Best Things to Do in Monterey
There are plenty of things to do in Monterey, a quintessential north Californian ocean town in the USA. Facing wide Monterey Bay, it's famed around the globe for its abundance of marine wildlife and uber-fresh seafood. Dinners of shrimp, oysters,...
10 Best Beaches in Monterey
Monterey is one of the West Coast's original beach resorts, attracting sunseekers with its chic north California vibes, whale watching opportunities, and excellent clam chowder. The wild and rugged shoreline of the Golden State extends all around the town, offering...
10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Monterey
Monterey is one of the most family-friendly coastal cities in California, especially if the little ones are curious about adventure. You can spot bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles while on a dive or boat cruise in Monterey Bay, while otters...
10 Best Festivals and Events in Monterey
Monterey is a city located on the central coast of California on the southern tip of Monterey Bay. Its proximity to the ocean means that it’s prone to pleasant, mild weather year-round akin to the Mediterranean. That not-too-hot, not-too-cold weather...

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 and...
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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 independently owned...
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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 bars of...
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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...
10 Best Festivals and Events in Monterey
Monterey is a city located on the central coast of California on the southern tip of Monterey Bay. Its proximity to the ocean means that it’s prone to pleasant, mild weather year-round akin to the Mediterranean. That not-too-hot, not-too-cold weather...

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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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