3 Days in Carmel, Monterey & Big Sur – A Fairy-Tale Stop on the California Coast

Honestly, Carmel is one of the loveliest towns we’ve ever visited.

It somehow manages to feel fancy and cosy at the same time - fairytale cottages, flower-lined streets, little hidden courtyards, sea air drifting through the town…the whole place feels slightly made up.

Add in Monterey’s wildlife and Big Sur’s ridiculous coastline views, and it turns into a very strong three-day stretch of a California road trip.

Day 1 – Exploring Carmel-by-the-Sea

We spent our first full day soaking up all the charm of Carmel itself - and there’s a lot to soak up.

Start your morning wandering through the storybook streets. Every building looks like it’s been plucked from a fairy tale. No street numbers, just names and hand-painted signs like “Sea Breeze Cottage.” It’s whimsical, peaceful, and full of character. And probably really annoying if you're a delivery driver.

You simply have  to stop by the Carmel Bakery for what we’re declaring the best chocolate chip cookie ever made. And we feel qualified to make this declaration; we’ve done the research. And by that we of course mean we've tested a lot of cookies. Purely for research.

Grab lunch and a cocktail at A.W Shucks and then make your way to Carmel Beach.

It’s one of the few beaches in California where you can legally enjoy a drink on the sand. So yes, we cracked open a cold beer and watched the sun sink into the ocean. The sky turned from gold to deep pink, and it was honestly one of the most beautiful moments of our whole trip. And maybe one of the best sunsets we've ever seen.

There are lots of lovely places for dinner in Carmel. A favourite it Casanova, and it does look absolutely amazing tbh. But it's really expensive so we didn't choose there in the end. We were on a budget, but if you're not you should definitely head there! We ate at at the Treehouse Cafe and it was lovely. We got a table outside on the balcony and overlooked the charming Carmel street below.

After dark, head to The Star Bar at Vesuvio for cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for a post-sunset drink; warm lighting, great atmosphere, and the kind of place where you could happily lose track of time.

Day 2 – Monterey & 17-Mile Drive

For day two, we headed north to Monterey - about a 15-minute drive from Carmel.

This coastal town is known for its incredible marine life, and you don’t have to visit an aquarium to see it (though there is one there!). Just walk along the waterfront and you’ll spot sea lions lounging on the rocks, pelicans swooping low over the water, and otters floating near the shore. But the main event was the whale watching tour. We went with Chris' Fishing and Whale Watching and we had an amazing experience.

On the way back toward Carmel, we took the scenic 17-Mile Drive. This stretch is absolutely breathtaking - the most stunning beaches, forest, golf courses, dramatic cliffs, and the famous Lone Cypress. You’ll probably stop for photos every few minutes (we definitely did).

Back in Carmel for the evening, grab dinner in town and stroll back to the beach for another sunset. It’s just as stunning the second time.

Day 3 – Big Sur Adventure

Our third day was all about Big Sur, which might just be the most dramatic stretch of coastline in the U.S. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Carmel, but you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time, because the views are unreal.

We made the rookie mistake of heading there way too early in the morning - meaning we saw…fog. Lots of fog. But once it cleared, the cliffs, waves, and wild beauty of Big Sur made it totally worth it.

Make sure to stop at Bixby Bridge for the iconic photo, and grab lunch at Nepenthe - a cliffside restaurant with incredible ocean views (once the mist decides to lift).

If you’ve got time, continue a bit further along Highway 1 to explore more overlooks and beaches. Every bend in the road reveals a new “wow” moment.

Then, head back to Carmel for one last evening in this dreamy little town, or carry on to your next location!

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Coachman’s Inn, and absolutely loved it.

The rooms were cozy, the location was perfect, and they even had a daily cheese and wine hour. Yes, really. It was as wonderful as it sounds, and the ideal way to end a day of exploring.

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