Things To Do in Carmel
Walk Carmel Beach and Ocean Avenue, then add Point Lobos, 17-Mile Drive, galleries, or Monterey County wine tasting.
Four ways to spend a Carmel day
Choose the beach, Point Lobos, 17-Mile Drive, or the village
Carmel Beach and the village fit together on foot. Set aside a separate block for Point Lobos or 17-Mile Drive because access, parking, and road time differ.
Beach morning or sunset
Walk down Ocean Avenue to the sand, continue along Scenic Road, and return to the village for galleries or dinner without moving the car.
Point Lobos in the clear window
Arrive near the 8 a.m. opening for limited parking, then choose Cypress Grove, Sea Lion Point, or a longer coastal trail. Dogs are not allowed in the reserve.
17-Mile Drive without rushing
Use the Carmel Gate, stop at Lone Cypress and Spanish Bay, then return to town before the day turns into a windshield tour.
Galleries, wine, and dinner on foot
Ocean Avenue and the side streets combine galleries, tasting rooms, courtyards, and restaurants within a compact walk.
Carmel Beach
The iconic white-sand beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue is known for pale sand, cold Pacific water, and Monterey cypress along Scenic Road.
The Pacific is cold and surf conditions can be strong. Walking, beach views, and dog time are the main reasons to visit; dogs may be off leash only while they remain under voice control.
- Free public access ā no parking fee at the beach itself
- Dogs may be off leash when under voice control
- Leashes are required on the Scenic Pathway and in town
- Current city rules allow compliant user-provided propane fire devices; check restrictions before bringing one
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Landscape painter Francis McComas called Point Lobos "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world." About two miles south of Carmel, the reserve protects granite headlands, emerald coves, kelp forests, and sea lion colonies.
Trails connect Cypress Grove, Sea Lion Point, Whalers Cove, and other coastal sections. Bring binoculars ā harbor seals, sea otters, and migrating whales are commonly spotted from the trails.
17-Mile Drive
Cypress forest, rocky shoreline, and Pebble Beach landmarks
17-Mile Drive winds through Del Monte Forest and the Pebble Beach resort community. Notable stops include the Lone Cypress, Seal Rock, Bird Rock, and Spanish Bay.
Allow about 1.5ā2 hours with stops. A gate fee applies; check Pebble Beach for the current amount and any dining-credit terms. Enter at Carmel Gate, just north of Carmel Beach.
- Gates normally operate from sunrise to sunset; special events can change access
- Lone Cypress is one of the route's signed stops
- Spanish Bay provides another beach and coastal stop on the loop
- Confirm current bicycle access rules before riding the loop
- Motorcycles are prohibited on 17-Mile Drive
Art Galleries & Culture
Photography, painting, sculpture, and California art
Weston Gallery
A photography gallery carrying work by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and other major photographers.
Carmel Art Association
Founded in 1927 by local artists and still showing work by current California artists from its Dolores Street gallery.
Photography West Gallery
A gallery specializing in 20th-century and contemporary fine art photography.
Wine Tasting on the Avenue
Tasting rooms around Ocean Avenue and the side streets pour Monterey County wines, including Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Check current hours, tasting fees, and reservation policies before building a tasting-room walk.
Scheid Vineyards Tasting Room
Monterey County wines from a producer with vineyards across the region.
Caraccioli Cellars
Santa Lucia Highlands sparkling wine, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Manzoni Estate Vineyard
A small Carmel Valley producer with a tasting room in the village.
Taste of Monterey
A broad Monterey County selection in one tasting room; verify the current location and hours before walking over.
Bookable experiences
Carmel wine tours and peninsula sightseeing
Compare guided wine outings, Pebble Beach sightseeing, and other bookable Monterey Peninsula experiences.
Carmel wine tasting and Monterey Peninsula tours
Browse options for wine tasting, scenic drives, and Monterey Peninsula day-trip experiences from Carmel-by-the-Sea.
17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach sightseeing tours
Browse options for Pebble Beach, 17-Mile Drive, and Monterey Peninsula coastal sightseeing.