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.
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 16 °C, and the highest can go up to 19 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 5 °C, with an average temperature of 10 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 97 mm. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Monterey, with an average rainfall of 0 mm.
How to Get to Monterey
Plane
When flying to Monterey, you’ll arrive at Monterey Regional (MRY), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Monterey from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 12h 05m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Monterey. The train journey from Monterey to Sacramento takes 1h 38m and costs around $48 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $40 for a 3h 59m trip.
Car
Another option to get to Monterey is to pick up a car hire from San Francisco, which is about 140 km from Monterey. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Monterey, including FlixBus, Busbud and Greyhound. From Sacramento, the bus ride to Monterey takes 201 km and will cost you around $48. From Sacramento, the ticket costs about $48 for a journey of 241 km. The most popular bus station is Monterey Transit Plaza, located 0.3 km from the city centre of Monterey. Monterey Fremont / Abrego Street is also a commonly used station, and is 0.6 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Monterey
Where to stay in Monterey
Average rates range from around $452 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $416 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn Monterey and Hi Monterey Hostel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Monterey
Most booked hotels in Monterey
Hiring a car in Monterey
Alamo, Budget and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Monterey is the Hertz branch at 200 Fred Kane Ste 104, which is 4 km from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.74 per litre in Monterey (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.77 and $27.69. The most frequently booked car type in Monterey is Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Scion FR-S or similar) is, on average, 71% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.