Cidade Turismo
the United States

Before you go

Your trip to Monterey.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Monterey – Califórnia Destination Monterey and Big Sur

How to get there

  • Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) Monterey · 6 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before purchasing. MRY receives regional flights; from San Francisco, regional arrival is by road.

How many days

Two days for the aquarium, heritage sites and the shoreline, with extra days for Carmel and Big Sur.

When to go

In Monterey, the periods from April to June and September to October usually have mild conditions for outdoor circuits; between November and March, consider the possibility of rain when planning the coast.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Walk by area; a car helps link the aquarium to downtown and to continue along the peninsula.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Monterey
  1. Morning
    Monterey Bay Aquarium

    Devote the start of the itinerary to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Prioritize the main part of the visit and arrival time, leaving a break before continuing in Monterey.

  2. Afternoon
    Monterey State Historic Park

    After the break, proceed to Monterey State Historic Park. Check access and tour the site without turning the afternoon in Monterey into a sequence of transfers.

  3. Late afternoon
    Return via the Monterey Bay Aquarium area

    Finish walks in the sector already visited in Monterey and return to your accommodation before planning another trip. Light and weather can change the duration of this stage.

  4. Evening
    Evening at leisure in Monterey

    Dine near your base in Monterey and keep the evening free to rest after visiting Monterey Bay Aquarium and Monterey State Historic Park.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get to Monterey and start the visit?

MRY receives regional flights; the coast is accessible by road.

How many days to allow for Monterey?

Two nights cover the aquarium and local heritage.

How to get around during your stay in Monterey?

City areas can be connected by local transport.

Is it worth visiting Monterey without driving all of Big Sur?

Yes. The aquarium, historic center and the peninsula’s coast support a standalone visit without needing to drive along Highway 1.

Back to Monterey