I couldn’t wait to finally visit Carmel-by-the-Sea. It had been on my California bucket list for years, so when we planned our road trip, I made sure to add it as a stop along the coast.

The little cottages, the old-fashioned architecture and the whole look of the town reminded me so much of the small European seaside towns I’ve visited over the years.

We spent two full days exploring Carmel and the surrounding area, and I really tried to fit in a bit of everything. We spent time at the beach, went looking for wildlife, explored the coastline and even did some wine tasting in Carmel Valley.

And we had such an amazing time here!

If you’re planning your own trip, I’ve put together this 2-day Carmel-by-the-Sea itinerary based on how we actually spent our time here. I’ll walk you through what we did during our 48 hours, including a few of my favorite spots, so you can use it as inspiration for your own California road trip.

My 2 Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea Itinerary – My Experience

First things first, I really loved Carmel-by-the-Sea. It’s such a cute, calm little town, with all these tiny cottages and old-fashioned buildings that really look like they belong somewhere in the UK or northern France. I just thought the whole place was adorable.

However, I also want to mention that Carmel is really small. We spent the better part of a day exploring the town, shopping, wandering through the little alleyways and, of course, checking out quite a few cafes and restaurants. But after that, I felt like I’d seen most of what I personally wanted to see in Carmel itself.

For me, the real highlight was everything around Carmel-by-the-Sea, which is why I think it makes such a great base for exploring this part of the California coast.

We drove out to Carmel Valley for a wine tasting at Folktale Winery, took the scenic 17-Mile Drive toward Monterey, where we had clam chowder and went whale watching, and headed south to Big Sur for some hiking and waterfall hunting.

So even though Carmel itself is small, there’s honestly so much to do once you start exploring the surrounding area.

And just to be clear, I don’t consider the town’s small size a negative at all. I just want you guys to come here with the right expectations!

Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Carmel-by-the-Sea

1. Stay Close to the Town Center

One of the things I loved most about Carmel-by-the-Sea was how walkable it was, but for me, that only really works if you’re staying somewhere central. I want to be able to walk straight out of my hotel and explore, rather than having to get in the car every time I want to grab a coffee or go out for dinner.

We stayed at Normandy Inn, which is super cute and right in the middle of town. We could walk pretty much everywhere, including down to the beach, which made exploring Carmel so much easier.

2. Carmel Doesn’t Have Traditional Street Addresses

This is one of those quirky little things about Carmel that I hadn’t come across before visiting. Instead of regular street addresses, many properties use an address that describes their location between two streets.

Apparently, this is part of how Carmel has maintained its old-world charm, and I actually think it’s pretty cool. So don’t be confused if your hotel address looks something like between Monte Verde Street and Casanova Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. That’s completely normal here!

3. No Big Chain Restaurants or Neon Signs

Another thing I really liked about Carmel is that the town has restrictions on chain businesses and neon signs, which helps preserve its old-fashioned look.

You’re not going to find the usual Starbucks or big fast-food chains taking over the town center. Instead, you’ll find little independent shops, family-run businesses and restaurants with their own character. Even the signs tend to be old-fashioned wooden ones rather than bright neon signs.

4. Use Carmel as a Base for Exploring the Surrounding Area

As much as I loved Carmel itself, it’s also a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding area. The town is beautiful, but it’s small enough that you can see most of the main sights in a day.

I’d definitely make time for some day trips while you’re here. My personal highlights were driving the scenic 17-Mile Drive and going wine tasting at Folktale Winery in Carmel Valley. We also explored Big Sur and visited Monterey, so there really is plenty to keep you busy beyond the town itself.

5. Be Prepared for June Gloom

Just like many other places along the Central California coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea can experience June Gloom, when the weather is overcast and cloudy during late spring and early summer.

And guess who got hit by it? Yep, me!

We visited in July, but we still had plenty of cloudy days without any blue skies. It didn’t ruin our trip, and Carmel was still gorgeous, but it was a little disappointing when I was expecting the amazing sunny California weather.

My Carmel-by-the-Sea Itinerary

Day 1: Explore Ocean Avenue, Carmel Beach & 17-Mile Drive

Morning: Explore Downtown Carmel & Grab Coffee

First things first, we spent our first morning in Carmel-by-the-Sea exploring the town center, starting with Ocean Avenue, which is basically the main street running through Carmel. Since we stayed at Normandy Inn, we were right in the middle of everything, which was awesome.

We headed out on foot and spent the morning wandering around, checking out as many cute little courtyards and hidden alleyways as we could find. And seriously, don’t be afraid to walk into these little courtyards! They’re part of what makes Carmel so special, and some of the coolest spots are tucked away just off the main streets.

After a bit of exploring, we stopped for coffee and croissants at Mad Dogs & Englishmen Coffee Bar, which, in my opinion, is one of the best cafes in Carmel. The coffee was great, and it was exactly the kind of place I wanted to start my morning.

We actually had breakfast included at our hotel, but if you’re looking for a proper breakfast spot in town, I’d also recommend checking out The Little Swiss Café.

Midday: Carmel Beach & 17-Mile Drive

After spending the morning exploring the town, we walked down to Carmel Beach, which is one of the things I was most excited about seeing here.

Unfortunately, we got pretty unlucky with the weather. Even though we visited in July, it was cold enough that I had to wear a jacket. Classic California coast, I guess! But the beach itself was absolutely beautiful, with its white sand and gorgeous coastline, so I’d definitely make time for a walk here regardless of the weather.

Afterwards, we jumped in the car and headed out to the famous 17-Mile Drive, which was probably one of my highlights from the entire trip.

This scenic coastal drive takes you from the Carmel area toward Monterey, passing beautiful beaches, stunning rock formations, plenty of birds and sea lions, and, of course, the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Just a heads-up: 17-Mile Drive costs $12.50 per vehicle, so you’ll need to factor that into your budget.

Evening: Italian Dinner & Cocktails at La Playa Hotel

After a full day of exploring, we headed back to Carmel for dinner and drinks.

For dinner, we went to Nora’s, a really cute little Italian restaurant where I had some fantastic pasta. I can particularly recommend the carbonara and the salmon risotto, so definitely check it out if you’re in the mood for Italian food.

After dinner, we headed over to La Playa Hotel for cocktails at Bud’s, the hotel’s in-house bar. The hotel itself is pretty faaancy, but you can still pop in for a drink without staying there.

The cocktail bar has a really nice heated terrace, and the cocktails were excellent. Honestly, Bud’s was my favorite spot for an after-dinner drink in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Day 2: Point Lobos State Natural Reserve & Wine Tasting in Carmel Valley

Morning: Hike Through Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

We actually spent the morning hiking in Big Sur, which was incredible. We did the Timber Tops hike with some local friends who took us there, and I absolutely loved the experience. However, I’ll be honest, it was pretty challenging and definitely not a hike I’d recommend to everyone.

That’s why, for this itinerary, I’d suggest visiting Point Lobos State Natural Reserve instead. It’s just south of Carmel and is such a beautiful place to spend a few hours exploring the coastline.

You can wander through the stunning forests, follow trails along the cliffs and enjoy the famous incredible turquoise waters here. There’s also plenty of wildlife around, including sea lions, sea otters and, if you’re lucky, even whales out in the distance.

If you want to get out into nature and experience some of the gorgeous California coastline without committing to a particularly challenging hike, Point Lobos is a fantastic option.

Afternoon: Wine Tasting at Folktale Winery

After spending the morning outdoors, we headed back to our hotel to shower and get ready for something a little more elevated: wine tasting in Carmel Valley.

Carmel Valley is just inland from Carmel-by-the-Sea, and it’s a beautiful area for visiting wineries and spending a relaxed afternoon enjoying some local wine.

We went to Folktale Winery, and I absolutely LOVED it here. The setting is gorgeous, with a beautiful outdoor area where we were lucky enough to enjoy some actual sunshine for a change!

The whole experience was just so much fun. The staff were super friendly, the food was incredible, and we even ended up getting a bottle of orange wine on the house, which was definitely cherry on top.

I can highly recommend visiting if you’re into wine tasting. Just keep in mind that it can get pretty busy, so I’d recommend calling ahead to check availability or reserve a table, especially if you’re visiting on a weekend.

FAQs About How to Spend 2 Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! In my opinion, Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the cutest little towns in California, with beautiful architecture, adorable cottages and a gorgeous beach. But it’s also a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding area, especially Big Sur and Carmel Valley.

How Many Days Do I Need in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

If you’re mainly interested in exploring Carmel itself, I’d say one night is plenty. You can spend a full day wandering around town, shopping, visiting the beach and checking out some of the cafes and restaurants.

However, if you also want to explore places like Big Sur and Monterey, as we did, you could easily spend three or more nights here without running out of things to do.

What Is the Best Place to Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

We stayed at Normandy Inn, which was super cute and had a fantastic location right in the middle of town. We could walk pretty much everywhere, including down to the beach.

However, if you’re looking for something a little more upscale, La Playa Hotel is definitely one of the standout hotels in Carmel.

What Is There to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel has a really cute town center with plenty of little shops, hidden courtyards and alleyways to explore. The beach is gorgeous, too, and I’d definitely recommend taking a drive along the famous 17-Mile Drive through the Pebble Beach area toward Monterey.

And if you have a little more time, you can head to Carmel Valley for wine tasting or drive south to Big Sur for some hiking and incredible coastal scenery.

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive to Visit?

I’d say yes, at least compared to some of the nearby places we visited in California. Carmel has a slightly more upscale vibe, and I noticed that both hotel prices and restaurant prices were a little higher than I expected.

You can still visit on different budgets, of course, but if you want to stay right in the town center, I’d make sure to factor accommodation into your budget.

Final Thoughts on My 2-Day Carmel-by-the-Sea Itinerary

All in all, I think two days in Carmel-by-the-Sea is perfect if you want to explore the town itself and fit in a couple of activities nearby.

We stayed a little longer in the region and managed to do some incredible hiking around Big Sur, visit wineries in Carmel Valley, and even go whale watching in Monterey. So if you want to explore more of the surrounding area, you could easily fill four or five days here.

But if you only have time for a weekend, Carmel is still a fantastic choice. It’s a beautiful, laid-back little town that I think works particularly well for a romantic couples getaway.

I hope this 2-day Carmel-by-the-Sea itinerary gave you a better idea of what there is to do here and how I spent my time exploring this part of the California coast.

Check Out my Other Carmel-by-the-Sea Guides

Where to Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Favorite Hotels & Areas

Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

How Many Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea Do You Need: My Day Guide

2 Days in Carmel-by-the-Sea: How I Spent 48 Hours Here

Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Favorite Activities in Carmel

Coffee Shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea: My Top Cafes in Carmel