Pacific Grove Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove featuring rugged coastline
Pacific Grove featuring rocky coastline and a coastal town
Pacific Grove showing shopping
Pacific Grove which includes rugged coastline

Soak up the old-style charm of this small seaside city, which is famed for the monarch butterflies that stop here on their great migrations.

Visiting Pacific Grove is like taking a delightful step back in time. Once a summer retreat for church groups, today it still emanates a sense of tranquility. Victorian houses dot the 2.5-square-mile (6.5-square-kilometre) city, deer wander through the streets and, in fall, the skies fill with thousands of monarch butterflies. Amble along the pretty streets, walk along the seafront boulevard and search for wildlife in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Pacific Grove is best enjoyed on foot, so put on your most comfortable footwear and stroll in the sunshine. Walk along the 3-mile-long (5-kilometre) Ocean View Boulevard, a cliff-top promenade where you can spot plants and dozens of species of birds. Sit on one of the benches and enjoy the views of Monterey Bay. Spend some time in the pretty little Marine Gardens Park.

Walk to the end of the boulevard, marked by the Point Pinos LighthouseOpens in a new window. Famed as one of the oldest continually operating lighthouses in the country, it has guided ships to safety with its 50,000-candlepower beacon since the mid-1800s. Visit the interesting little museum inside the lighthouse.

Pacific Grove is perched on the edge of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a haven for wildlife and nature. Venture to Lovers PointOpens in a new window to glimpse sea otters diving for abalone. Go rock-pooling to spot crabs, starfish and limpets.

In autumn, the skies above Pacific Grove fill with tens of thousands of orange-and-black monarch butterflies as they pass through on one of the world’s most astounding migrations. See them hanging in great bunches from eucalyptus trees in Monarch Grove Sanctuary and George Washington Park. To learn more about the region’s nature, visit the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

Pacific Grove is 42 miles (67 kilometres) south of Santa CruzOpens in a new window and 113 miles (181 kilometres) south of San FranciscoOpens in a new window. Navigate this tiny city easily on foot or by bicycle.

Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages
Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages
2.5 out of 5
1100 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
The price is £123 per night from 6 Jul to 7 Jul
£123
6 Jul - 7 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this golf motel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free parking, a garden and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,006 reviews)
"The inn was away from the main area but it was quiet and we were able to find three different restaurants that were locally owned and the food and service was good. I wanted a receipt of the bill for the hotel but they didn’t give me one and said it would be emailed but I haven’t received one ..."

Reviewed on 29 Jun 2025

Sea Breeze Inn And Cottages
Olympia Lodge
Olympia Lodge
3 out of 5
1140 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove, CA
The price is £95 per night from 3 Jul to 4 Jul
£95
3 Jul - 4 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and cable TV channels. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,013 reviews)
Great value
"Peaceful, quiet and great location. Good service, comfy beds and clean room and bathroom."

Reviewed on 30 Jun 2025

Olympia Lodge
Lovers Point Inn
Lovers Point Inn
2 out of 5
625 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA
The price is £130 per night from 24 Jul to 25 Jul
£130
24 Jul - 25 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,048 reviews)
"Great place to stay. Parking, elevator for easy luggage moving, great staff. Amazingly close to the ocean and the restaurant across the street"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2025

Lovers Point Inn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
3946 Listen to the Waves - Oceanfront, Bay View
3946 Listen to the Waves - Oceanfront, Bay View
2 out of 5
Pacific Grove, California
Stay at this holiday home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities and tennis courts. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17-Mile Drive ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (12 reviews)
Perfect View
"What a beautiful location! Can’t imagine a better view!The lodging is very attractive, clean, and stocked with all the amenities. I’ll be back."

Reviewed on 23 Jun 2025

3946 Listen to the Waves - Oceanfront, Bay View
Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt
Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt
Pacific Grove, CA
Stay at this holiday home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (265 reviews)
Fantastic stay!
"Great house for our family of 4 with a toddler and infant. The location was perfect, right in town, walking distance to food, groceries, shops, the beach, and we even walked along the beach trail to the aquarium! Would definitely stay again!"

Reviewed on 19 Jun 2025

Walk to Beach, Downtown! Spa & Private Deck Updated Historic Home @ Lovers Pt
Birdies, Beaches and Butterflies in Pacific Grove! Pet Friendly-Premier location
Birdies, Beaches and Butterflies in Pacific Grove! Pet Friendly-Premier location
Pacific Grove, CA
Stay at this golf holiday home in Pacific Grove. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a water park and a garden. Popular attractions Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17-Mile Drive are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (112 reviews)
Great location and lovely place to spend time.
"We were down with family for the Big Sur Marathon. The home fit 6 of us very comfortably (4 adults and 2 kids) and would have been fine with the 2 more adults that were expected to come but could not make it. The kids loved running around in the backyard and we enjoyed an evening around the fire ..."

Reviewed on 9 May 2025

Birdies, Beaches and Butterflies in Pacific Grove! Pet Friendly-Premier location
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Pacific Grove

4.6
Top destination
5 - Excellent
17
5 - Excellent 71%
4 - Good
4
4 - Good 17%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 13%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful town and incredible beach walking

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely little town We enjoyed the 17 mile drive and the views

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Monterey is a fantastic town and the whale watching was superb

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful..Must visit

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Beautiful area

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Pacific grove is ok but I would stay in Carmel or Monterey if I came back

Cities near Pacific Grove