Top Monterey & Carmel Cultural Tours

Get your bearings in a new city easily with help from this Carmel-by-the-Sea Walking Tour. Prebook your tour and guarantee your guided walk on the day of your preference. See highlights of Carmel such as the First Murphy House, Church of the Wayfarer, Tuck Box, Hog's Breath Inn, and more, while you hear history and stories of the city from your guide.

A history-saturated neighborhood and a literary landmark, Monterey’s Cannery Row is a must-see for fans of John Steinbeck and American literature—and this self-led walking tour offers a seamless, flexible way to discover. Upon purchasing, download the audio tour and use when and as often as you’d like. You’ll learn about the rise and fall of the local fishing industry, Steinbeck’s work, the neighborhood’s revival, and more.

Experience in the scenic splendor of the California coast, its forested interior, and patchwork of agricultural fields on this self-guided audio driving tour along Highway 1. Start in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea and head north toward Monterey, all the way to Santa Cruz Beach. Along the way, drive through quaint towns like Fort Ord, Castroville, Moss Landing, Aptos, and Capitola.

Explore Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, Calif., with this self-guided, self-paced audio walking tour. Stop at three museums (with free admission) in the Monterey State Historic Park along the way, and learn about the area’s fishing industry history. Plus, visit filming locations for popular TV shows. The tour plays automatically at the correct location using your mobile phone’s GPS.

Experiencing snow-white beaches and fairy-tale cottages from the seat of a bicycle is one of the most fun things to do while visiting Carmel-by-the-sea. Our electric bike guided tour is a great way to see the beauty and charm, while learning the history and stories our iconic town has to offer. You will ride from our bike shop in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea and explore cottages throughout Carmel. Passing several local historic sites, you will ride down the Carmel coastline along Scenic Drive; a one-way, 15-mile per hour road. You’ll pass landmarks such as the Tor House, Butterfly House, Carmel River State Beach, Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch, and the Carmel Mission, one of the most authentically restored Catholic mission churches in California.

Look for whales as they migrate through the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of California on this half-day whale-watching cruise from Monterey. Your naturalist guide shares commentary about the whales and their habitat as you search for gray whales (most common), humpback and blue whales, and other marine life such as dolphins and sea lions during your cruise. Get tips for great photo ops and learn all about the mighty creatures at one of California's most famous whale-watching destinations.

Enjoy an independent sightseeing tour by Sea Car to discover Monterey Bay and the Central Coast at your own pace. Aboard a 2-seater, GPS-guided convertible that navigates itself, you can cruise along the Pacific shoreline or through town. Listen to recorded commentary about attractions like Monterey’s historical center, and admire views of the ocean. The scooter car tells you where to drive, from Cannery Row and more.

Discover a new side of Monterey—and get up close and personal with its wetlands and wildlife—on this family-friendly boat tour. Pick between morning and afternoon tour times, and hop aboard your electric-powered catamaran. The boat offers up-close views of the Elkhorn Slough, an estuary that’s home to animals ranging from sea lions and otters to bird species and more. Learn more as you go from your naturalist guide.

Discover the natural and manmade beauty of 17-Mile Drive on an electric bike tour from Pacific Grove. The e-bike allows you to cover more ground without getting worn out. The tour is great for the whole family, with the option to ride tandem with children weighing up to 120 lbs (54 kgs). Along the way, learn about the area from your guide and make stops at impressive viewpoints.

Look for whales during a boat tour from Monterey, the premier destination in northern California for winter whale watching. Learn about the majestic animals from a marine biologist or naturalist guide who shares detailed commentary about the whales, dolphins, sea lions, sea birds, and natural history of the region.

Drive through the streets of Monterey and Pacific Grove in a Sea Car, a 2-seat vehicle with GPS-enabled tour narrative. Skip renting a car and make your own way around Fisherman's Wharf, Lover's Point, and Cannery Row.

Explore so many wonderful spots in Big Sur with this self-drive audio tour that goes down the Pacific Coast Highway, California’s Highway 1. Just download the app, then get the map and password, and your route is all there, marked for you. You get to keep this information forever- it does not expire. You can go at your own pace, and choose where you want to stop and spend a little extra time.

Leave the mainland behind for the afternoon, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Monterey Bay, on this family-friendly whale-watching excursion. Grab a lifejacket and hop aboard: With your marine biologist guide’s assistance, you’ll look out for orca and humpback whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions, and much more as you cruise. As you go, take in the coastal views, and relax in the sea breezes.

Explore the culinary delights of Carmel, just down the coast from Monterey, on this food and wine walking tour. With a knowledgeable foodie guide, you’ll learn about the history and gourmet culture of Carmel, an upscale enclave known for its charming architecture and cozy, small-town vibe, as you visit local eateries to sample locavore and ethnic dishes, chocolate, and wine. Limited to 16 people, this tour provides a small-group experience with personalized attention.

If you’d like to explore Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Scenic Road but don’t want to be stuck in a group tour, try this Carmel-by-the-Sea Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour. This tour allows you to download the VoiceMap app on your smartphone and listen to the tour as you walk along the road at your own pace. Highlights include the Clinton Walker House - Frank Lloyd Wright, Carmel Beach Overlook, and La Playa Carmel Hotel.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a self-guided audio tour Discover the seaside charm of Carmel-by-the-Sea—and enjoy an independent way to explore—with this self-led, smartphone audio tour. Upon booking, download the tour and set off at a time that works best for you. Your GPS-assisted tour works offline, and will guide you directly to the town’s top attractions, from local landmarks and art galleries to public parks and more. As you go, learn more about the town’s rich history.

This self-guided audio walking tour covers Carmel-by-the-Sea’s three mission areas: Mission Ranch, Carmel Mission Basilica, and the Mission Trail Nature Preserve. Our tour begins and ends at the Mission Ranch Hotel, owned by actor and former mayor of Carmel, Clint Eastwood. From there, we’ll wind our way through the southern end of this charming village of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the Mission Basilica, and then on to the Mission Trail Nature Preserve. Along the way, you will learn about early local California and Carmel history, view Carmel’s different architectural styles, from mission to modern, and hear stories about some of its interesting residents. This two-hour walking tour is two miles long. Please note: This tour does not include a visit to the interior of the Mission Basilica. To access the Basilica, its five museums, cemetery and courtyard grounds, purchase a ticket inside the Gift Store.

With the scenic 17 Mile Drive nearby and dozens of worthy sights between Pebble Beach and Point Lobos, Carmel-by-the-Sea might be best explored by car. This self-guided, app-based audio tour narrated by a well-known resident helps travelers take private trips through town, visiting hidden gems, beaches, downtown, the Mission Carmel, and other sights. The tour takes less than an hour, but travelers can explore at their own pace as the app syncs audio with smartphone GPS systems.

This self guided audio tour of Monterey I take friends and family on, when they come to visit. Monterey’s story is as beautiful as its scenery. When European explorer Juan Cabrillo first laid eyes on the bay 500 years ago, he was astounded by it, and he wrote such a glowing description that other explorers followed. Eventually, Monterey became a city. Whether this is your first time here or you visit the Peninsula regularly – and even if you live here – you’ll discover something new on this tour of California’s second oldest city. After all, there are more historical buildings in Monterey than any other city west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. You’ll see both sides of Fisherman’s Wharf, take in the actual locations in John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row and end the tour at the Monterey’s most visited attraction, The Aquarium.