Embark on a journey through time in Monterey, a Central California city with a rich and varied history. From Native American settlements to Spanish missionaries, Mexican ranchos to a bustling sardine industry, Monterey has seen it all. Monterey was California’s capital during Spanish, Mexican, and American military rule.
This itinerary takes you to some of Monterey’s most significant historic sites. Begin your day with a visit to Portola Plaza, home of the Custom House and Pacific House museums in Monterey State Historic Park, and step back in time as the day unfolds, revealing stories from the past that have shaped Monterey’s present. Feel free to swap morning and afternoon suggestions, depending on your tour times.
Wear comfy shoes for the day, as you will be walking a lot! (But there are ample routes for those with mobility challenges; check with the state park rangers.)
Monterey State Historic Park, Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA, USA
Colton Hall Museum and Jail, Pacific Street, Monterey, CA, USA
Old Monterey Café, Alvarado Street, Monterey, CA, USA
Crepes of Brittany, Alvarado Street, Monterey, CA, USA
Presidio of Monterey Museum, Corporal Ewing Road, Monterey, CA, USA
Alta Bakery and Cafe, Munras Avenue, Monterey, CA, USA
Paluca Trattoria, Fishermans Wharf, Monterey, CA, USA
The Original Monterey Walking Tours - guided tours of historic Monterey and Cannery Row, Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA, USA
Montrio, Calle Principal, Monterey, CA, USA
Stokes Adobe Restaurant, Hartnell Street, Monterey, CA, USA
Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa, Munras Avenue, Monterey, CA, USA
Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA, USA
Best Places for Breakfast in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Best Things To Do in the Morning in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Walk around Monterey State Historic Park on your own, or join a guided tour, either with state park rangers or the private Monterey Walking Tours (afternoon only). Schedules change seasonally and are offered only certain days, so be sure to check websites for current dates and times. See below for details.
Monterey State Historic Park
Visit a collection of significant historic houses and buildings. Highlights include the Custom House, the oldest government building in California, and the Pacific House Museum. Plan to spend around 2–3 hours exploring. You can pick up a map (or download a mobile phone tour) and follow the two-mile Walking Path of History. Or you can join a state park guided walk. Dates and hours vary by season, in summer 2023 they were offered Thursday–Sunday at 11, 1, and 3 (adults $10, kids 17 and under free). You can buy tickets at the Custom House in Portola Plaza. You can also reserve tours at Stevenson House and Larkin House within the park.
Best Places for Lunch in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Alta Bakery and Cafe
In the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe in the heart of downtown, Alta Bakery & Cafe creates all their dishes from scratch, in-house every day. Order a pizza, a quinoa bowl, spinach salad, or avocado toast — everything’s made with fresh, mostly local ingredients. Alta also serves breakfast and excellent coffee and tea drinks.
Paluca Trattoria
Situated on Fisherman’s Wharf, the family-owned Paluca Trattoria offers a seafood-centric, Italian-inspired menu. Try the acclaimed seafood pasta, made with whatever the boats brought in that day, or a daily special, also determined by the daily catch or what’s sourced from local purveyors. Or Sicilian meatballs. Freshness rules here!
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in Monterey Bay, Carmel & Pebble Beach
Presidio of Monterey Museum
Explore Monterey’s military history from Spanish to present day at the compact but informative Presidio of Monterey Museum. Starting with the Indigenous people who inhabited the region long before Spanish soldiers stepped ashore, exhibits follow a timeline to the present; most show how common soldiers worked and lived. Plan for a 1-hour visit. Only open Saturday and Sunday. Note: as of summer 2023, the museum was open ONLY Saturday and Sunday; check the website for current days and times.
