Fisherman's Wharf

Located in the city of Monterey, Fisherman’s Wharf has two wharves situated in front of the Monterey Sports Center. The Old Fisherman’s Wharf is also known as Wharf#1 and is a fun tourist attraction site featuring souvenir shops, art galleries, whale watching tours, boating tours, fishing trips, and sea lions sleeping on the buoys and moored boats in the bay. The Monterey Municipal Wharf, also known as Wharf#2, is longer than the Old Fisherman’s Wharf and has a wholesale fish market and restaurants. Fisherman’s Wharf is a great spot for fishing and boating.  Fisherman’s Wharf offers a couple of amenities including restrooms and boat ramps. 

There are many fun activities at Fisherman’s Wharf including fishing, boating, walking, and photography – it is a perfect destination for Instagram-worthy pictures. 

To access Fisherman’s Wharf, drive down to a large paid parking lot at 101 Washington Street and walk a few yards north. Visitors can also reach here by bus as there is a bus stop named Fisherman’s Wharf nearby.

If you are looking for attractions near Fisherman’s Wharf, you can drive five minutes to Monterey Bay Aquarium that is home to many incredible sea creatures including jellyfish, great white sharks, captive killer whales, rockfishes, African penguins, and the Pacific Sea nettles.  The historic and first surfing museum in the world Santa Cruz Surfing Museum features photographs, videos, and surfboards related to 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz, exhibitions, and Mark Abbot Memorial Lighthouse – an awesome vista point to watch the surfing culture and click Instagram-worthy pictures. Another great attraction near Fisherman’s Wharf is Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a lively and famous seaside promenade featuring street performers, bodybuilders, amusement parks, restaurants, tourist shops, a great skateboard park, and kayak and boat riding facilities.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a five-minute drive of Fisherman’s Wharf. The seafood restaurant Rocky Point Restaurant offers surf ‘n’ turf, oysters, fish tacos, and margaritas. If you like Italian cuisine, Il Vecchio has a nice bar and features gelato, pizza, pasta, brodetto, polenta, and risotto. Another good restaurant near Fisherman’s Wharf is Mission Ranch Restaurant that serves American comfort food in a farmhouse with pastoral views that was restored by Clint Eastwood.

If you are looking for a hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf, you can drive 15 minutes to upscale 4-Star oceanfront hotel Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Overlooking Big Sur Coast & Highlands Inn, A Hyatt Residence Club that features a pool, lounge, restaurant, fitness center, and hiking and diving tours. The 4-Star Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa has many amenities including a lounge, spa, sauna, restaurant, and fitness center. La Playa Carmel is a historic stone-fronted hotel that offers 75 beautiful rooms and suites with an ocean view – and has a nice pool and bar. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf, the 2-Star pet-friendly hotel Carmel Resort Inn has two restaurants and a café.