Monterey travel guide
Monterey Tourism | Monterey Guide
You're Going to Love Monterey
With a population of 27,810, Monterey is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Monterey deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Monterey
Activities
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Where to Eat in Monterey
If you’re looking for affordable options, Cibo Ristorante Italiano (301 Alvarado St) and The Club Room (Two Portola Plaza) are great picks.
When to visit Monterey
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Monterey in July, when the average temperature is 60.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 66.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 41 °F, with an average temperature of 50 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 3.8″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Monterey, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to Monterey
Plane
When flying to Monterey, you’ll arrive at Monterey Regional (MRY), which is located 3 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Monterey include Air Canada, Avianca and Copa Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Monterey departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Monterey. The train journey from Monterey to Los Angeles takes 0h 38m and costs around $16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Sacramento, expect to pay about $29 for a 1h 37m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Monterey is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 87 miles from Monterey. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
You can travel by bus to Monterey using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Santa Barbara, the bus ride to Monterey takes 395 miles and will cost you around $44. From Fresno, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 405 miles. The most popular bus station is Monterey Transit Plaza, located 0.2 miles from downtown Monterey. Monterey Fremont / Abrego Street is also a commonly used station, and is 0.4 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Monterey
Where to stay in Monterey
Average rates range from around $268 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $221 and up for a 5-star experience.
Where to stay in popular areas of Monterey
Most booked hotels in Monterey
Renting a car in Monterey
Renting a car in Monterey costs $82 per day, on average, or $164 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Alamo, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Monterey is the Hertz branch at 200 Fred Kane Ste 104, which is 3 miles from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 15% more expensive than at San Francisco.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Monterey (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Monterey is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Toyota Yaris or similar) are, on average, 60% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.