Nestled along the rugged coastline of California’s Monterey Peninsula, Carmel-by-the-Sea beckons travelers with its whimsical charm and captivating natural beauty. Known simply as Carmel, this enchanting coastal town has been a haven for artists, writers, and dreamers for over a century.
With its fairytale-like cottages, blooming gardens, and a bustling downtown adorned with art galleries and boutique shops, Carmel exudes a magical ambiance that entices visitors from around the world. Whether you seek a tranquil retreat by the ocean, a cultural journey through artistic heritage, or an adventure amid stunning landscapes, Carmel by the Sea offers a treasure trove of unforgettable experiences.
We’ll delve into the top things to do in Carmel By The Sea, guiding you through the must-see attractions, hidden gems, and delightful activities that await in this coastal gem.
Our Recommended Carmel Hotel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tradewinds Carmel
✔️ Perfect location
✔️ Breakfast included
✔️ Pet friendly
» Looking for more inspiration along the route? Check out all our guides to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Diego. Find the best beaches in Monterey, waterfalls in Southern California, and national parks.
Fun Bits About Carmel
Carmel is one of the few cities in the United States without conventional street addresses. Instead of numbered street addresses, residences and businesses have whimsical names like “Pine Haven” or “Sea Urchin,” adding to the town’s unique charm.
Downtown Carmel is known for its hidden courtyards and passageways that often lead to secret gardens or art studios. Exploring these hidden gems adds an element of intrigue to your visit and allows you to discover unexpected beauty.
Carmel is exceptionally dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed off-leash on Carmel Beach, making it a popular spot for furry friends to run and play freely. The town’s numerous dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, and shops also cater to canine companions.
There’s a legend about a mysterious albino rabbit that occasionally roams the streets of Carmel. It’s become a sort of unofficial mascot for the town, adding to its whimsical reputation.
Things To Do In Carmel by the Sea
Stroll Downtown
Carmel’s downtown area is a hub of boutique shops, art galleries, and gourmet restaurants. Strolling through Ocean Avenue, visitors can find an array of unique and upscale shops selling art, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs.
Ocean Avenue is the main street that runs through downtown Carmel. It is a pedestrian-friendly street and a must-do activity for visitors, offering a perfect blend of retail therapy and coastal ambiance.
Downtown Carmel boasts an eclectic mix of shops and boutiques offering everything from fashion and jewelry to home decor and souvenirs. Many of these stores are housed in unique buildings with charming architecture, making the shopping experience even more enjoyable.
Located in the heart of downtown, Carmel Plaza is an upscale shopping center featuring a collection of high-end boutiques, fine dining establishments, and specialty shops. It offers a sophisticated shopping experience with a range of luxury brands.
» Try this Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour while you are there.
Discover the Wine Walk
Carmel boasts several wine tasting rooms in the downtown area, offering a chance to sample some of the excellent wines produced in the nearby Carmel Valley and Monterey wine regions.
The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea is a fantastic way to discover and appreciate the local wine offerings while exploring the charming downtown of Carmel. It’s an experience that combines the region’s love for wine, artistic ambiance, and coastal beauty, making it a favorite activity for tourists and wine aficionados alike.
To participate in the Carmel Wine Walk, you can purchase your Wine Tasting Passport mobile guide free online here. The mobile guide will give you a list of participating wineries along with local discounts available to you. It really is a great way to drink some amazing wine and see another side of Carmel. We really enjoyed the sparkling wine while visiting Caraccioli Cellars and Albatross Ridge who has tasting rooms in Monterey and Carmel Valley as well.
» If you are a wine lover you will want to make the short drive to the Carmel Valley!
Visit The Art Galleries
Carmel has a deep-rooted artistic history. It has been a haven for artists and writers for many years, with prominent figures like Jack London, Sinclair Lewis, and Ansel Adams having lived or spent time here. There are numerous art galleries showcasing a diverse range of artwork, making Carmel a vibrant and creative community.
Carmel’s downtown is renowned for its thriving art scene. You’ll find numerous art galleries showcasing a wide range of artwork, from paintings and sculptures to photography and glass art. The town’s artistic heritage attracts art enthusiasts and collectors from around the world.
The Pacific Grove Art Association is a cooperative art gallery with two locations: the Carmel Center and Main Street. Exploring the galleries in each area is free, where you’ll find a wide range of painting styles, including Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism. If you want something new to try, ask the concierge to recommend their favorite gallery or art event on the coast.
The Winfield Gallery is another must-see place in Carmel-by-the-sea. Run by the Winfield family, this gallery showcases international artists and locally produced art. This fantastic gallery offers many opportunities to learn about different cultures, experience beauty in all forms, and find inspiration for your creations.
As if that wasn’t enough, the art is affordable, and there are always deals. If you need fresh stuff for your house or want to treat yourself, the Winfield Gallery is the place to go.
Delight In The Fairy-Tale Houses
Carmel is known for its unique architecture, particularly the quaint and whimsical cottages with storybook-like designs. The town has strict building codes that prohibit the cutting down of trees and require unique architecture, which contributes to its distinct charm.
Take a stroll and see the town’s famously picturesque Comstock cottages. There are 21 Comstock cottages scattered throughout Carmel. Built in the 1920s by Hugh Comstock, a local artist and builder, the original cottage was built as a gift for his wife, who sold handmade dolls and needed a space to display them. The cottage’s unique design and charming details, such as the sloping roofline, rounded doorways, and intricate woodwork, have made it a popular attraction for visitors to Carmel.
Discover these historic homes at your leisure with this Fairytale Houses self-guided walking tour. On this tour, you’ll have time to explore as many as you like at your own pace. They are all private houses though so you won’t be able to go inside.
A Famous Resident
Carmel’s most famous former mayor is none other than the legendary actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood. He served as the town’s mayor from 1986 to 1988 and has been actively involved in the local community.
Mission Ranch is a popular boutique hotel, restaurant, and event venue, attracting visitors from around the world. Guests can stay in cottages or rooms that offer modern amenities while still capturing the ambiance of the property’s history.
The on-site restaurant at Mission Ranch is a popular dining spot known for its picturesque views and delicious American cuisine. The restaurant often features locally sourced ingredients, and visitors can enjoy their meals while overlooking the grazing sheep in the fields.
Check out the Hog’s Breath Inn, originally owned by Clint Eastwood. The Inn is a popular restaurant in Carmel, named after Eastwood’s character’s favorite watering hole in the film “High Plains Drifter.” You can peruse through Clint Eastwood inspired decor and enjoy American comfort food.
Walk Carmel Beach
Carmel Beach is the place to be when you visit Carmel by the Sea. Stretching for miles, it offers a peaceful and relaxing beach atmosphere where you can enjoy beautiful Pacific Coast scenery. Not only does the beach have sandy white beaches, but it also has scenic rock formations to explore and tide pools to discover. On days when waves are present, surfers frolic in the waves or sit in contemplation as they watch them roll in.
Center For Photographic Art
The Center for Photographic Art is a must-see in Carmel-by-the-sea. With the arts at its core, the building’s bright white walls and expansive windows reflect the exhibit spaces and reading room, which includes an interactive area for children. Outside exhibitions, ongoing lectures, and photography demonstrations allow visitors to participate in hands-on workshops.
Onsite exhibits include works by current artists in residence, past residents, and prestigious international photographers, all in intimate settings like Carmel’s own Point Lobos State Reserve. One of the features at the Center is called A Sense of Place: North California Coast. Currently on display are images by Joel Levitt, along with five unique photographic prints explicitly commissioned for this exhibition.
Carmel Art Festival
Carmel is all about the arts; one of the most popular annual events is the Carmel Art Festival. Visitors can browse a variety of art vendors in addition to attending demonstrations, lectures, performances, and other related events like a silent auction. If you’re fortunate, you can hear a particular class or see a sneak peek of a future film.
The event is held once a year in May at Devendorf Park. Enjoy a live sculping demonstration, live music, receptions and activities throughout the weekend.
17 Mile Drive
While not technically part of Carmel, the iconic 17-Mile Drive runs through the neighboring town of Pacific Grove and offers stunning coastal views, majestic cypress trees, and access to Pebble Beach golf courses.
This scenic route winds through Pebble Beach, which was the first public golf course to stage the U.S Open. Explore beautiful beaches, check out the many gold courses, and see the famous Lone Cypress tree which is the midpoint of the drive.
You can jump on 17-mile drive in Forest Grove and it ends in Carmel. Admission price to the Pebble Beach area of 17-mile drive is $11.25 per car. Here is a map of the drive and great places to stop. The drive takes about 1-2 hours, depending on how many stops you make along the way.
The best time to drive 17-Mile Drive is in the morning or evening when traffic is lighter. The gates are open to the public from sunrise to sunset. If you plan on making any stops along the way, be sure to allow for extra time.
» Try this tour: 2.5-Hour Electric Bike Tour Along 17 Mile Drive of Coastal Monterey.
Point Lobos State Reserve
Without a doubt, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is my favorite spot in the Carmel area. This beautiful area offers breathtaking coastal views, diverse plant and animal life, and abundant recreational opportunities.
Just south of Carmel, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a protected area known for its diverse marine life, hiking trails, and stunning coastal views. It’s a popular spot for nature enthusiasts and offers excellent opportunities for photography and wildlife observation.
The reserve has several hiking trails that offer stunning views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. The trails range from easy to moderate difficulty and are suitable for hikers of all levels. The Bird Island lookout is an easy hike and has a great parking lot.
The park fills up quickly on the weekends. Once enough cars have entered to fill the available parking spots cars are held at the gate and it is a one car out one car in system. To avoid this try and get to the park early.
Point Lobos is open 8am- 7pm daily with the last entry admitted at 6:30pm. The day use fee for the park is $10.00 per car. This pass is good for the whole day at any California park. No dogs are allowed in the park.
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum
The Carmen Mission Basilica Museum is a museum focused on the history of the Carmel Mission. From its establishment in 1771 to today, this museum examines actual events and personages in Carmel’s history, including Father Junipero Serra.
The Carmel Mission, also known as the Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, is a historic Spanish mission dating back to 1771. It is a National Historic Landmark and a significant cultural and religious site in the region.
As a bonus, it is positioned right next to (or should I say underneath) the world-famous Point Lobos State Reserve, where visitors can admire wild seascapes and search for sea lions during whale watching. The Carmen Mission Basilica Museum is an excellent choice for a day of entertainment in Carmel by the Sea.
Where to Eat in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Vino Napoli Wine Bar
There are few tasting rooms that are open late in Carmel, including Vino Napoli, which is both a tasting room and Italian eatery/wine bar, where you can get a wine flight with your late-night pizza. We ate there twice, while sipping on a few of the featured Pèpe Winery wines.
The pizza was outstanding. And there were lots of other snacks and wine flights to choose from. In between wine tastings, we also tried out a few great restaurants. I would return again to all of these restaurants. The food was great at each.
Location: 7th Street between Dolores and San Carlo
Cantinetta Luca
Cantinetta Luca is a busy little Italian eatery with rustic, homemade favorites like burrata with crostini, heaping bowls of pasta – like the bowl of Tagliatelle Alla Bolognese, pictured above – and hand-tossed pizza from the wood-fired oven. You can even sit at the pizza counter and watch the tossing of the dough.
Location: Dolores Street between Ocean and 7th
La Bicyclette
This is the perfect little bistro to sit down and have a nice lunch. It’s a French-inspired bistro, but with more of a European fusion aspect (they serve wood-fired pizza). They source fresh, local ingredients and the food is always delicious. Great service, cute decor and nice ambiance.
Location: Corner of Dolores & 7th
How to Get to Carmel-by-the-Sea
Getting to Carmel-by-the-Sea is super easy. You might include it as part of a Central Coast road trip or pop down on a day trip from San Francisco. It’s also very close to the gorgeous Monterey beaches and 17-Mile Drive, so there are numerous other things to add to your itinerary.
If you’re flying in, San Jose International Airport is the quickest. It’s about 1:20 minute drive to Carmel. San Francisco airport is 1:45.
The best part about Carmel-by-the-Sea is that everything is within walking distance. We parked our car when we arrive on Saturday and didn’t get back in it until we left town.
As soon as you walk into the center of town, you’ll see how extremely easy it is to get around to all the tasting rooms. None of them are more than a few blocks away. Spread out in between tasting rooms are tons of fantastic restaurants, bars and cafes. You won’t find any Starbucks Coffee on offer in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Instead, there are many cute and cozy coffeehouses to visit.
Where to Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea
As I mentioned earlier, there are no big chain hotels in Carmel, though there are a few brands you will recognize, which provide a boutique experience. If you’re traveling with a dog, you’ll be happy to hear that many properties are dog-friendly. Here are our top recommendations for places to stay in Carmel.
- L’Auberge Carmel: For couples looking for a quiet, romantic weekend, we recommend ⇒ Book or read reviews now on: Trip Advisor | Expedia
- Tradewinds Carmel: For a slightly less expensive stay in a lovely renovated boutique hotel ⇒ Book or read reviews now on: Trip Advisor | Expedia
- Quail Lodge & Golf Course Located slightly outside of town ⇒ Book or read reviews now on: Trip Advisor | Expedia
Travel Planning Guide
🚙💨 Where should I book my rental car?
Renting a car is one of the best ways to get around in California, no matter where you’re visiting. Public transportation can only get your so far, even in big cities. I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks the prices of all major rental car companies, so you get the best rates.
🛌 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels and vacation rentals, Booking.com or Expedia.com are the best sites, but you can also book through TripAdvisor. If you’re considering renting a house instead, don’t forget to also check VRBO, which is often cheaper than Airbnb.
🧳 What do I pack for California?
Head to the our California Packing List or Disneyland Packing List to get all the info on packing.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to California?
For finding cheap California flights from around the world, I recommend Skyscanner. I’ve also had pretty good luck with Kayak.com.
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Laura is a travel fanatic who loves seeing and doing new things. She lives in Ventura, CA, and spends a lot of time exploring California’s cities, beaches, and national parks.