Updated on California, Central Coast, Destinations, USA

The Perfect Day Trip to Carmel: A Complete Itinerary

Stunning outdoor experiences, incredible restaurants, an ultra-cute and walkable town…Carmel-by-the-Sea has a ton to offer! While you certainly can’t see all of Carmel with just a day, you can experience the top activities in the area during a short and sweet day trip. 

I’ve spent plenty of time exploring this beautiful coastal town during my many visits over the years, and have created the perfect itinerary for a day trip to Carmel, CA. You’ll get a chance to see the town’s fairytale architecture, dine out at some amazing restaurants, explore gorgeous Point Lobos, and more.

A bicycle in front of La Bicyclette in Carmel
A flower-lined passageway with different storefronts in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Waves rolling in on the rocky coast on a sunny day in Carmel

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The Ultimate Carmel-by-the-Sea Day Trip Itinerary

This itinerary is full of some of the best things to do in Carmel, CA. At the end of this guide, I’ve included a few more ideas on things to do in the area so that you can personalize this itinerary to fit your interests!

Grab Breakfast

Fuel up for your day with breakfast in town. Here are a few recommendations:

  • Carmel Belle: This casual eatery (pictured below) has a great selection of coffee drinks and breakfast dishes, including breakfast sandwiches and burritos, hot polenta bowls, pastries, poached eggs, and much more. I really like their tofu scramble! There are also options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets. 
  • Stationæry: This popular restaurant serves brunch daily in a modern, welcoming environment. Some menu highlights include chilaquiles, potato pancakes, shrimp and grits, avocado toast, and much more. 
  • The Little Swiss Cafe: For a classic breakfast experience, you can’t go wrong with The Little Swiss. They are known for their buttermilk pancakes and blintzes, but there are plenty of other traditional breakfast dishes on the menu, as well.  
An indoor firepit with seating surrounding it at Carmel Belle restaurant
An avocado toast next to a latte in a white mug at Carmel Belle. There is a tofu scramble in the background.

Enjoy a Low-Key Nature Walk at Point Lobos

You can’t miss Point Lobos State Natural Reserve while visiting Carmel. There are tons of easy walking paths with minimal elevation gain throughout the reserve – meaning you can enjoy incredible views without too much effort. 

There are miles of trails that take you through the area, with one 6.4-mile loop that leads around the entire perimeter of the reserve. However, since you have limited time in Carmel, you’ll just want to hit some of the highlights. 

I recommend first parking at the Cypress Grove and Sea Lion Point Parking lot. From there, you can walk along the beautiful Cypress Grove Trail, which is just under a mile. You’ll walk underneath a stunning forested area while getting picture-perfect views of the rocky coast. After that, walk over to the Sea Lion Point Trail (which is less than half a mile long) for more gorgeous coastal views. 

Once you finish that loop, head back to your car and make the short drive down to the Bird Island Trail Parking Lot (if it’s full, you may have to park at this lot). From there, follow the Bird Island Trail to get breathtaking views of China Cove. This full out-and-back trail is 0.8 miles, but if you are short on time, you can just walk until you see the cove (about a quarter of a mile in). 

Note: you can choose to walk over to China Cove from Sea Lion Point, which I do recommend if you have the time. There is a gorgeous and easy walking path (called the South Shore Trail) right along the coast. It’s about a mile to get from the Sea Lion Point trail to China Cove, which will take about 20 minutes. This means you’ll walk about two miles to get to the cove and then head back to your car. If you got an early start to your day, this is completely doable – just be mindful of your time!

A trail leading through a forested area in Point Lobos
The view of a large rock in the ocean, with yellow flowers in the foreground
The view of China Cove from the trail above at Point Lobos

Stroll Down Ocean Avenue & See the Town’s Fairytale Architecture 

Next up on your Carmel day trip itinerary is a walk down Ocean Avenue – the main artery that runs through town. This road stretches from Highway 1 all the way down to the water, but the main shopping and dining area sits between Junipero Street to the east and Monte Verde Street to the west.

Ocean Avenue (and the surrounding streets) is chock-full of cool art galleries, fun boutiques, and plenty of cafes and eateries. Take a leisurely walk and stop in whatever shops pique your interest. The town is also famous for its picturesque courtyards and passageways, which you’ll see plenty of as you stroll around town. 

If you need a coffee while you explore, I suggest stopping by either Cafe dal Mare (on Dolores Street) or Mad Dogs & Englishmen Coffee Bar (on Mission Street).

While wandering through Carmel-by-the-Sea, be sure to take a look at the fun, fairytale-inspired homes and public buildings in town and the surrounding neighborhoods. Many of Carmel’s most famous buildings were built in the 1920s and 1930s, under the direction of architects Hugh Comstock and Michael J. Murphy. 

A few architectural gems worth bookmarking include Tuck Box (built in 1927), the Hansel and Gretel Cottages (built from 1924 to 1925), the Storybook Cottage (built in 1926), and the Obers House (built in 1925). 

If you prefer a guided experience, book a 2-hour walking tour of Carmel-by-the-Sea! A knowledgeable guide will show you the highlights of the town as you learn more about Carmel’s history.

A small courtyard in Carmel with pink bougainvillea on one side and a potted spiral shrub
A tree lined sidewalk on Ocean Avenue. There are storefronts on the right, an an oil lamp on the building.
A cottage-style building with a green arched door in Carmel.

Enjoy Lunch in Town

After strolling through town, stop at a local eatery for lunch. Here are some options that are all on or right around Ocean Avenue:

  • Rise and Roam: This bakery and pizzeria has a great selection of dishes. In addition to pizzas, you’ll find soups, salads, and sandwiches. There are also plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. 
  • Dametra Cafe: If you’re craving Mediterranean food, there’s no better spot than Dametra. The lunch menu includes dishes like kebab wraps, falafel wraps, gyros, lasagna, grilled salmon, and much more. 
  • Alvarado Street Brewery: This modern brewery is the perfect spot if you want to enjoy a beer alongside your lunch. I highly recommend their artichoke tempura sandwich, but if that’s not your speed, there are tons of other options, including salads, fish and chips, pizzas, burgers, and more. There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. 
The interior of Alvarado Street Brewery. There are high top shiny wood tables with bar stools.
Two plates of food and two beers on a table at Alvarado Street Brewery.
The modern interior of Rise and Roam. There are wood tables with black chairs, and a cash register in the background.

Alvarado Street Brewery (Left and Center) | Rise and Roam

Visit Carmel Beach & Walk Along Scenic Road

Once you’re done with lunch, it’s time to make your way down to the coast. I recommend walking if you can (it’s the best way to explore Carmel!), but you can also drive and park near the beach. 

Carmel Beach is a gorgeous, white sand beach. Of course, you can head down to the beach and dip your toes in the water. But if you’d prefer to stay out of the sand, you can enjoy the views from above along Scenic Road – a must-add to your Carmel-by-the-Sea itinerary. 

There is a walking path that goes along Scenic Road, starting at 8th Avenue and ending right by Martin Way. As you stroll down the cypress tree-lined path, you’ll get picturesque views of the crystal clear water. There are also plenty of stairways leading down to the beach.

While on the path, you’ll catch a glimpse of the Clinton Walker House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) sitting on the coastal cliff to the south. 

If you want to see another Carmel architectural landmark, you can walk about a third of a mile past the Clinton Walker House down Scenic Road to check out the Butterfly House, designed by Francis W. Wynkoop. Note that neither of these homes are open to the public.

The dirt path along Scenic Road. It is covered by Cypress trees, and you can see the water in the distance
The shoreline at Carmel Beach on a sunny day
Stone stairs leading down to the beach in Carmel. There are Cypress trees at the top of the stairs.

Choose Your Adventure: Go Wine Tasting or Drive the 17-Mile Drive 

After visiting the coast, it’s time to choose your next adventure: you can relax with a glass of wine, or enjoy the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach (a scenic road that takes you along the coast and through a beautiful wooded area). If you got an early enough start to the day, you may be able to do both! 

If you want to go wine tasting, you have two options: either go back into town to visit one of the local wine tasting rooms, or do the quick drive inland towards Carmel Valley to visit a winery. 

For the first option, there are a ton of different wine bars in Carmel to choose from – there are over 15! A few highlights to consider are De Tierra Vineyards, Blair Estate, Scheid Vineyards, and Galante Vineyards.  

If you’d prefer to go to a vineyard, make the 15-minute drive over to Folktale Winery. The idyllic winery is a beautiful place to enjoy a wine tasting while soaking up the sun. They also have live musicians on Fridays and Sundays. It’s popular, so definitely make a reservation in advance. 

If you want to drive the 17-Mile Drive, you can enter the drive at the Carmel Gate (where you’ll pay the vehicle entrance fee). You’ll get a map of the area when you enter, but a few spots that I recommend checking out include the Sunset Point Overlook, the Lone Cypress, and the Ghost Trees at Pescadero Point.

The exterior of the Folktale Winery building
Two glasses of wine on an outdoor patio table at Folktale Winery
View of the Lone Cypress Tree on a rock in the ocean on a sunny day

End the Day with Dinner

Finish your day trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea with dinner at an iconic restaurant in town. Consider stopping by one of these spots: 

  • Cultura Comida y Bebida: This upscale Mexican restaurant is a personal favorite. I highly recommend their plantain tacos, as well as one of their creative tequila or mezcal cocktails. Other standout menu items include the mole, chile relleno, yam enchiladas, and the esquites. They also have plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes.  
  • La Bicyclette: Perhaps one of the most popular restaurants in Carmel, La Bicyclette is a cozy spot offering French and Italian dishes. Think oysters, gnocchi, wood-fired pizza, and more. 
  • Toro Sushi: You can’t go wrong with Toro Sushi. You’ll find traditional, high-quality sushi dishes on the menu, as well as some fun specialty rolls (I love the geisha roll!). The restaurant is also vegan and vegetarian-friendly. 
The dining room at Cultura Comida y Bebida
The interior of Toro Sushi. There is a large decorative fan on the wall with pink floral detailing, and the sushi bar is in the foreground.

Cultura Comida y Bebida | Toro Sushi

Additional Things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea (and the Surrounding Area)

If you have a bit of extra time (or want to swap out any of the activities in the guide above), here are some other activities to add to your Carmel itinerary: 

Here are some additional guides to help you plan your Carmel-by-the-Sea visit:

If you’ll also be exploring Big Sur during your trip, take a look through these guides:

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Kyra is a travel writer and the founder of Sea to Sequoia, a site she launched in 2020. A California native who has lived in San Diego, the Bay Area, and now Los Angeles, she shares comprehensive itineraries and curated travel guides for the Golden State and dreamy destinations around the world. As a type A traveler and meticulous planner, she gives readers all they need to know to effortlessly plan their next adventure.

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