What to see and do in Carmel - Attractions, tours, and activities

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Attractions & guided tours

Monterey and Carmel full-day tour from San Francisco

Ride along California's Highway 101 and explore the towns of Monterey and Carmel-by-The-Sea while passing the famous 17-mile drive with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

free cancellation

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Excursions & day trips

Monterey, Carmel and The 17-Mile Drive tour

Travel along California's breathtaking coastline on a relaxing day trip from San Francisco.

free cancellation

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Activities

Carmel-by-the-Sea's fairytale houses self-guided audio tour

Explore the Historic Hill District of Carmel-by-the-Sea and enjoy a self-paced, self-guided audio tour of Carmel's famous Comstock Fairy Tale cottages.

Duration 45 minutes

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Activities

Carmel-by-the-Sea scenic path self-guided audio tour

Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea's spectacular Scenic Road on a self-paced GPS audio walking tour, learn about some of Carmel's history and distinctive architecture.

Duration up to 1 hour 25 minutes

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Activities

Carmel-by-the-Sea off-the-beaten-path self-guided audio tour

Explore the off-the-beaten-path areas of Carmel-by-the-Sea. This audio tour plays automatically using your smartphone's GPS and a mobile app, which works offline.

Duration 1 hour

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Instant Confirmation

Activities

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea self-guided audio tour

Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Downtown on a 60-minute audio tour designed to keep you on the move and still see all of the main sites and hidden jewels.

Duration 1 hour

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Where to go

Introducing Carmel-by-the-Sea

Let us introduce you to Carmel-by-the-Sea, also simply known as Carmel. Known as one of the best beach towns in America, this quaint and quirky coastal oasis is located in Monterey County, California adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

Stretching approximately just one square mile, Carmel is an enchanting art haven famous for attracting artists, writers, photographers, and art enthusiasts alike. In fact, a number of the city's mayors have been poets or actors, the most famous of all being Clint Eastwood.

Take in stunning scenery at Carmel Beach, celebrated for its clean, white-sand beaches and ideal surfing conditions, or delight in the abundance of art galleries, specialty shops, and boutiques along Ocean Avenue. Here you'll find numerous shopping and dining options, and you can even pay a visit to the Cottage of Sweets, a British-style candy shop.

This town is perfect for a romantic getaway or a charming retreat with the family. It's also exceptionally dog-friendly!

Visit Carmel for artistic inspiration or for the beautiful beaches, great weather, and charming, friendly atmosphere — either way, you won't be disappointed!