Old Monterey Travel Guide

Monterey

Golden State Theatre showing a city and theatre scenes
Golden State Theatre showing a city and theatre scenes
Golden State Theatre which includes theater scenes and signage
Maritime Museum
Monterey State Historic Park featuring a park

Popular places to visit

Monterey, California's marina is filled with sailboats and yachts. Birds fly over the water, while fog partially obscures the distant hills.

Waterfront

Enjoy a trip to Waterfront and popular activities such as golfing in Monterey. Discover the area's seafood restaurants and its acclaimed art galleries.

Waterfront
Colton Hall Museum which includes a house

Colton Hall Museum

Find out about the early days of Californian state rules via the displays and guides in this historic 19th-century building.

Colton Hall Museum
Aerial view of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California, United States.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

You can take time to visit WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during your travels to Monterey. Attend a sporting event or simply enjoy the seafood restaurants while you're in the area.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
Cannery Row which includes a beach as well as a small group of people

Cannery Row

Luxury, leisure and nature come together at this historic sardine-canning district, which is one of Monterey’s most acclaimed recreational areas.

Cannery Row
17-Mile Drive featuring rugged coastline and a beach

17-Mile Drive

Discover palatial mansions, lush golf courses and a wild stretch of coastline inhabited by sea lions on a road often dubbed one of the world’s most scenic drives.

17-Mile Drive
Fisherman\'s Wharf which includes boating and general coastal views as well as a large group of people

Fisherman's Wharf

Take a whale tour, admire the ocean views from seafood restaurants and browse the souvenirs for sale in this thriving marina.

Fisherman's Wharf

Things to do

Picture 9 for Activity Monterey: Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour

Monterey: Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour

Rp1.042.840
per adult
92% of travellers recommend
Monterey: Monterey Bay Dolphin and Whale Watching Boat Tour
Cannery Row Cross Overs

Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey

Rp151.212
per adult
Historic Cannery Row: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of John Steinbeck's Monterey
All Day Unlimited Games in Monterey

All Day Unlimited Games in Monterey

Rp487.780
per adult
All Day Unlimited Games in Monterey
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Big Sur PCH Highway 1

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Big Sur PCH Highway 1

Rp336.232
per traveller
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Big Sur PCH Highway 1
RadWagon tandem

Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr

Rp1.328.780
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr
Half Day Private Big Sur Driving Tour in California

Half Day Private Big Sur Driving Tour in California

Rp588.700
per traveller
Half Day Private Big Sur Driving Tour in California
See all activities in Monterey

Top hotels in Old Monterey

Hotel Pacific

Hotel Pacific

3.5 out of 5
300 Pacific St Monterey CA
Stay at this hotel in Monterey. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,467 reviews)
Good location. Nice stay. Internet was slow and couldn’t connect most of the time

Reviewed on 12 Feb 2026

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Hotel Pacific
Merritt House Hotel

Merritt House Hotel

2 out of 5
386 Pacific St. Monterey CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is Rp3.180.492 per night from 16 Feb to 17 Feb
Rp3.180.492
Rp3.622.405 total
16 Feb - 17 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf hotel in Monterey. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a marina. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,001 reviews)
Very nice, room was great, staff very pleasant.

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

Merritt House Hotel
The Monterey Hotel

The Monterey Hotel

3 out of 5
407 Calle Principal Monterey CA
Stay at this hotel in Monterey. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,519 reviews)
Clean room

Reviewed on 9 Feb 2026

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The Monterey Hotel
Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay

Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay

4 out of 5
Two Portola Plaza Monterey CA
The price is Rp3.343.771 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
Rp3.343.771
Rp3.975.920 total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa resort in Monterey. Enjoy a full-service spa, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,961 reviews)
My favorite place away from home. Quite, clean, cute, close to everything.

Reviewed on 8 Feb 2026

Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay
Carmel Bay View Inn

Carmel Bay View Inn

2.5 out of 5
Junipero Street Between 5th And 6th St Carmel CA
Stay at this hotel in Carmel. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,505 reviews)
great experience and front desk was very helpful

Reviewed on 6 Feb 2026

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Carmel Bay View Inn
Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa

Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa

3.5 out of 5
700 Munras Ave Monterey CA
Stay at this spa hotel in Monterey. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,716 reviews)
Clean room. Several amenities and close proximity to necessities.

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2026

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Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Old Monterey

Following highway 1 south out of Monterey you get views like this

Downtown Monterey

4/5(31 area reviews)

The pristine beaches and popular aquarium are top of the list for many visitors to Downtown Monterey. A stop by Dennis the Menace Playground or Golden State Theatre might round out your trip.

Downtown Monterey
EyeEm Custom Shoots Q4 2018

Alta Mesa

While visiting Alta Mesa, you might make a stop by sights like Munras Avenue and Del Monte Shopping Center.

Alta Mesa
Path in live oak forest or woods, footpath trail or footway in old grove or woodland. Twisted gnarled oak trees branches and trunks. Lace lichen moss hanging. Point Lobos wilderness, California, USA.

Oak Grove

While Oak Grove may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Monterey Bay Aquarium and Dennis the Menace Playground.

Oak Grove
Point Sur Lighthouse at Big Sur, California

Lighthouse District

4/5(9 area reviews)

Lighthouse District is well-regarded for its pristine beaches, ample dining options and popular aquarium, and you might also want to make a stop by Cannery Row, a top sight in the neighbourhood.

Lighthouse District
One of the most mesmerizing jellyfish species I have ever seen!

New Monterey

If you're spending some time in New Monterey, Cannery Row and San Carlos Beach - The Breakwater are top sights worth seeing.

New Monterey
panoramic drone view of Pebble Beach, California

Monterey Vista

While Monterey Vista isn't home to many top sights, Munras Avenue and Waterfront are some notable places to visit nearby.

Monterey Vista

Old Monterey Travel Guide