Monterey Municipal Beach(Monterey City Beach)

Located in the city of Monterey, Monterey Municipal Beach is a quarter-of-a-mile long, wide, and crowded beach situated on the right side of Old Fisherman’s Wharf#2 pier named The Monterey Municipal Wharf. Also known as Monterey City Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach is the most famous beach in the city. Monterey Municipal Beach is a family-friendly beach as the waters here are protected by the pier and are safe for children.  Monterey Municipal Beach is a great spot for biking, fishing, and walking.

Monterey Municipal Beach welcomes dogs on leash and offers many amenities including restrooms, volleyball courts, paved bike paths, a grass park, and a fishing pier. If you are looking for additional amenities, Monterey Bay Kayaks works on the beach and provides kayak rentals and tours. 

There are many fun activities at Monterey Municipal Beach including swimming, fishing, kayaking, biking, sunbathing, and hiking – Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail is behind the beach and is filled with bikers, walkers, and joggers.

To access Monterey Municipal Beach, drive down to a paid parking lot at 201 Municipal Wharf 2 situated next to the beach. 

If you are looking for attractions near Monterey Municipal Beach, 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 Monterey Municipal Beach 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 Monterey Municipal Beach. 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 Monterey Municipal Beach 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 Monterey Municipal Beach, you can drive 17 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 Monterey Municipal Beach, the 2-Star pet-friendly hotel Carmel Resort Inn has two restaurants and a café.