

Things to do in Monterey & Carmel
Monterey Bay is one of the best whale watching stretches in the world, alongside kayak tours over the kelp forest, 17-Mile Drive and Big Sur coastal runs, and Carmel wine walks. Boat size and naturalist quality decide the whale trips, and we score them accordingly.
Quick answer
What are the best things to do in Monterey & Carmel?
Outty ranks 94 bookable experiences in Monterey & Carmel, United States. The highest scoring is Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr at 94 out of 100, followed by Whale Watching Tour From Monterey, Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour, 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour. Prices start at $8 per person and 1 experiences score 90 or above, putting them in the Outty 90+ Club. April to November for whales and calm seas.
- Ranked experiences
- 94
- In the 90+ Club
- 1
- From
- $8 per person
- Bookable today
- 94
Most Popular in Monterey & Carmel
The experiences travelers book most right now.


Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour in Carmel by the Sea

Monterey Whale Watching Tour

Guided 2-Hour Point Lobos Nature Walk

Afternoon Whale Watch
Most Highly Reviewed in Monterey & Carmel
Highest traveler sentiment with enough reviews to trust it.

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

Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour
Last Minute in Monterey & Carmel
Confirmed availability today or tomorrow.

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

Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour

17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Whale Watching Tour Monterey California

Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour in Carmel by the Sea
Family Friendly in Monterey & Carmel
Works with children in tow, by age policy and pacing.

17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Monterey Whale Watching Tour

Cannery Row: Sardines, Steinbeck and Sea Otters

Monterey 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Treasure Hunt Ride Ticket and 1 Power-Up Combo

Thai Cooking Class in Monterey
Food & Drink in Monterey & Carmel
Food tours, tastings, markets and dinner experiences.

Sunset Whale Watch Tour in Monterey

Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea

4 hour Electric Bike Rental on 17 Mile Drive

Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour

Old Monterey Walking Food Tour

Macaron making with a Master Chef - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Culture & History in Monterey & Carmel
Museums, landmarks and stories behind the streets.

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

17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Guided 2-Hour Walking Tour in Carmel by the Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea and 17-Mile Dr 3-3.5 Hour Electric Bike Tour

3-Hour Whale Watching Tour from Monterey

Guided 2-Hour Point Lobos Nature Walk
Outdoors in Monterey & Carmel
Fresh air, water, trails and skyline views.

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

17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Carmel-by-the-Sea and 17-Mile Dr 3-3.5 Hour Electric Bike Tour

Guided 2-Hour Point Lobos Nature Walk

Monterey Bay Kayak Rental Two Hours: Otters, Seals and Sea Lions

Monterey Bay Whale Watching
Nightlife in Monterey & Carmel
After dark: bars, shows and evening cruises.

Whale Watching Tour From Monterey

Carmel Walk Guided Tour Carmel by the Sea

Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea

Monterey 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour

Mist, Mayhem, & Murder: Monterey Ghost Tours

Thai Cooking Class in Monterey
Planning questions about Monterey & Carmel
- What are the best things to do in Monterey & Carmel?
- Monterey's 17 Mile Drive Guided Electric Bike Tour, 3 hr is the highest ranked experience in Monterey & Carmel, scoring 94 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking from 938 traveler reviews. Whale Watching Tour From Monterey, Elkhorn Slough Wildlife Tour, 17-Mile Drive Electric Bike Guided Tour, Whale Watching Tour Monterey California round out the top five. Outty ranks 94 bookable experiences in Monterey & Carmel, United States, and 1 of them score 90 or above.
- How much do activities in Monterey & Carmel cost?
- The median price across everything we rank in Monterey & Carmel is $75 per person, and the cheapest starting price is $8 on Off the Beaten Path in Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Self-Guided Tour. Guided, small-group and skip-the-line versions sit above the median, and peak weekends price higher than midweek mornings.
- Can I book something in Monterey & Carmel for today?
- Yes. 94 of the 94 experiences we rank in Monterey & Carmel currently show same-day availability. Same-day slots are limited, so book early in the day where you can.
- Is Monterey & Carmel good for families?
- Yes. 13 of the experiences we rank in Monterey & Carmel are family friendly, covering short, low-cost activities as well as full-day outings. Check the minimum age on each experience page before booking.
- How many days do you need in Monterey & Carmel?
- Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting: one anchor experience each morning, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
- When is the best time to visit Monterey & Carmel?
- April to November for whales and calm seas. Prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
- Can I cancel a booking in Monterey & Carmel?
- 67 of the 94 experiences we rank in Monterey & Carmel offer free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact window is shown on each experience page before you book.
- How does the Outty Ranking work?
- Every experience in Monterey & Carmel gets a single 0 to 100 score built from traveler sentiment, the depth of review evidence, recent booking momentum, price fairness against comparable options in the same city, operator standing and cancellation flexibility. Scores are benchmarked within Monterey & Carmel so a strong local option is not buried by global volume, and anything at 90 or above joins the Outty 90+ Club.