Photo by Jason Hogan on Unsplash
The 5-day plan, rearranged for 6 days: every place stays and a few more are added, and each day keeps to one part of town.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A small park on a rocky point in Pacific Grove, with a sheltered beach, grass to sit on and tide pools along the edge. A calm start to the morning.
Go when Morning, when the water is calm and the park is quiet.
Local tip Walk the path along the shore toward the lighthouse side, and look into the rocks at low tide for small sea creatures.
A stretch of white sand and rocky shore on the Pacific Grove side of the peninsula, with a boardwalk through the dunes. A quiet last walk by the sea.
Go when Morning, with no plan for the hours after.
Local tip Follow the boardwalk through the dunes, and keep to it, since the dune plants are fragile.
A bowl of creamy clam chowder, often served in a hollowed-out loaf of sourdough bread, is a classic on this stretch of coast. Look for it on a menu near the water.
Local tip Share a bowl if you want to leave room for dinner.
One of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast, at the tip of the peninsula. Look at it from the grounds and watch the water.
Go when Late morning, on a clear day.
Local tip The grounds are a good place for a short sit. Look across the golf links to the dunes and the sea.
A large aquarium on the bay, famous for its tall kelp forest tank. It is indoors, which makes it a good choice when the fog sits low. Choose a few rooms and leave the rest.
Go when Midday, then leave before you are tired.
Local tip Start with the kelp forest and stay longer in the rooms you enjoy. There is no need to see every gallery.
Monterey Bay is a working fishing coast, and local fish, calamari and crab are on many menus near the water. Ask what is freshest today.
Local tip A table near a window gives you the sunset over the bay.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A wide beach of pale sand at the bottom of Ocean Avenue, with cypress trees along the edge. Sit on the sand or walk the path above it and watch the waves.
Go when Late morning, or around sunset (about 7:14 PM) for the light on the water.
Local tip The water is cold and the currents can be strong, so most people walk and sit instead of swimming.
An old wooden pier with fishing boats, sea lions in the water and benches at the end. A calm place for a last look at the bay.
Go when Late morning, before you drive home.
Local tip Walk to the end of the pier and sit on a bench. Sea lions are often in the water, and you can hear them before you see them.
A last meal with the bay in view: fish, a cup of chowder or a plate of calamari, eaten without a clock.
Local tip Have it before you set off, so you are not hungry on the road.
A single windswept cypress tree on a granite cliff above the ocean, along the scenic drive that winds through Pebble Beach.
Go when Midday, with the sea behind it.
Local tip The tree is fenced for its own protection, so look from the viewing area. Check ahead for how the scenic drive is reached.
The old waterfront street of former sardine canneries, now lined with cafes, shops and views over the bay. Walk to the water and watch for sea otters in the kelp.
Go when Late afternoon, when the light softens over the bay.
Local tip Walk to the water at the end of the street and look into the kelp for sea otters floating on their backs.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A small village of storybook cottages, tucked courtyards and quiet lanes that run down toward the water. Walk Ocean Avenue slowly, then wander a side street.
Go when Morning, when the lanes are quiet and the light is soft.
Local tip The village has no street numbers for the houses, and many have names instead. Take a side lane and read the signs on the gates.
A peaceful old Spanish mission with gardens, a courtyard and a stone church, founded in the seventeen hundreds. Come for the quiet and the garden benches.
Go when Afternoon, when the courtyard is calm.
Local tip Sit in the garden for a while before you go into the church. The courtyard is the quietest part.
Pick up bread, cheese, fruit and something to drink from a deli or market in the village, and carry it down to the sand.
Local tip Bring a layer for the breeze, which often picks up at the water.
A small stone house and tower on a rocky point in Carmel, built by a poet for himself. It is shown on guided visits, so check ahead before you go.
Go when Afternoon, on a gray or wet day.
Local tip The house is small and visits are guided, so check ahead and plan a quiet hour with the view of the sea.
Many restaurants in the village sit in small courtyards off the lanes. Choose one by the menu in the window and take a table outside if the evening is warm.
Local tip Put your name down early and walk the lanes while you wait.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A rocky headland of cypress trees, coves and clear water, with short, easy trails along the edge. Check ahead for how visitors are let in, and choose one trail to walk.
Go when Morning, when the water is still and the cypress trees are calm.
Local tip Pick one short trail along the water and stop often. Check ahead for how visitors are let in, because it can change.
An open stretch of coast just south of Carmel, with headland trails, wildflowers and wide views. Walk a little way out onto the headland and sit with the view.
Go when Midday, with a layer in your bag for the breeze.
Local tip Park at a pullout beside the highway, walk out to the headland and sit where the view opens up.
Carmel has delis and small cafes where you can pick up a sandwich to eat on a bench, a short drive from the reserve.
Local tip Eat outside if the fog has lifted, and in a cafe if it has not.
A quiet beach at the mouth of a small river, with a lagoon behind it where birds gather. A gentle place to walk.
Go when Late afternoon, when the beach is quiet.
Local tip Walk to the lagoon end and watch the birds. Keep a little distance from them, and from the water, which can be rough.
The farmland inland of Monterey Bay grows artichokes, strawberries and lettuce, and they show up in many dishes around the peninsula. Order the vegetables first.
Local tip Ask for artichokes as a starter, and share them with the table.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A park of tall redwoods and a quiet river, with easy forest paths beneath the trees. A cool, shaded place to rest.
Go when Morning, when the light comes through the trees.
Local tip Take a short, flat path among the redwoods and sit by the river for a while. Check ahead for what is open.
A waterfall that drops from a cliff onto a small beach in a bay, seen from a short, level trail. Take your time at the overlook before heading back.
Go when Afternoon, when the light falls on the cove.
Local tip The trail is short and level, but the cliff edge is steep. Stay on the path and look from the overlook.
Eat the lunch you brought on a dry stretch of beach, out of the wind if you can. There is nothing quite like eating beside the waves, and nowhere to rush to afterward.
Eat on the way back, or when you reach the peninsula, depending on how the light looks. A simple meal of roasted vegetables and fish is enough after a day of driving.
Local tip Have dinner early, so you are not driving a winding road after dark.
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
A tall concrete arch bridge over a deep canyon, one of the best-known views on the coast. Park at a pullout and look at it from the side, then stay as long as you like.
Go when Morning, when the light is clear and the pullouts are open.
Local tip Use a pullout on the north side for the classic view, and pull off completely before you stop to look.
A beach of dark sand and big sea rocks at the end of a narrow road off Highway 1. Check ahead for access and conditions, then walk down and sit by the water.
Go when Midday, when you are ready for a long rest on the sand.
Local tip The road in is narrow and winding, and the beach can be windy. Bring a layer, and check ahead for access.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, January and April to December are the most comfortable months for walking around Big Sur. This plan is built for late September, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 6 days in Big Sur, planned for late September. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 1.9 to 15.9 miles between its stops, and 55.2 miles in all across 6 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days in San FranciscoAbout 90 miles awayAn easy add-on
3 long lunches in Napa ValleyAbout 140 miles away
5 days in Yosemite and SequoiaAbout 150 miles awayOther guides with a page about Big Sur. Each one opens in a new tab.
Photo: Joyce Cory on Flickr as d…, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Jason Hogan on Unsplash
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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