Carmel-by-the-Sea home rentals

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Popular amenities for Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals

Stay near Carmel-by-the-Sea's top sights

Carmel by the sea354 locals recommend
Carmel Mission76 locals recommend
Vesuvio Restaurant68 locals recommend
Dametra Cafe67 locals recommend
La Bicyclette Restaurant59 locals recommend
Mission Ranch Restaurant59 locals recommend

Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals

Guest favorite

Bungalow in Upper Seabright

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 289 reviews

2 bdrm Bungalow 3 blocks from the Beach

RennaRating, 5 stars1 month ago
we were amazed at how beautiful this little home is. everything about it was beyond our expectations. Abundant amenities, everything we needed in all the rooms, very cozy and comfortable. Everything easy to access, operate, find and enjoy. incredibly well stocked home. we had a wonderful breakfast outside on the beautiful porch surrounded by blooming flowers. Hosts super responsive. we just wished we had booked it for a longer stay and will in the future! we will definitely be returning this winter.
Guest favorite

Condo in Aptos

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 116 reviews

Seascape Resort Villa Beautiful Ocean View Sleep 6

JenniferRating, 5 stars1 month ago
Everything was perfect in this Villa in Aptos. I would highly recommend this spot to any family looking for a spacious and clean place to stay. The location is also perfect, as it offers pool/ beach amenities.
Guest favorite

Condo in Watsonville

4.94 out of 5 average rating, 281 reviews

2B/2B Pajaro Dunes with Dunes and Ocean View

KatherineRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
Great spot for a fun weekend at Pajaro Dunes! We would absolutely go again. Everything was just as expected.
Guest favorite

Home in Aptos

4.94 out of 5 average rating, 248 reviews

Blue Whale Bungalow

LesaRating, 5 stars1 month ago
We had an amazing experience staying at The Blue Whale! The house was exactly as described—clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. Miriam was incredibly responsive and helpful, making check-in and communication smooth and easy. The location was perfect, close to the beach and local coffee shops and restaurants. The soft touches and beach decor added an extra touch of comfort to our stay. Overall, I highly recommend this Airbnb for anyone looking for a cozy and convenient place to stay. We’ll definitely be returning in the future!
Guest favorite

Condo in Aptos

4.85 out of 5 average rating, 178 reviews

Beach Front Villa at Seascape Resort

KateRating, 5 stars3 months ago
Staying at Seascape was the perfect kid-friendly vacation. The pool was easy to access from our condo and the views were beautiful. The condo's set-up with two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a half bath downstairs was great for our family of 5. The private beach was beautiful - we saw otters, whales, and my son found two perfect sand dollars walking down the beach. It was a little bit of a trek to get down to the beach with three little kids and all the beach gear, but once we were there no one wanted to leave. Several near-by restaurants were delicious, especially the newly opened Dos Pescados. It was fairly easy to get into Santa Cruz too, but we did have to time traffic or it would double the drive time (to almost 45 minutes).
Superhost

Townhouse in Capitola

4.89 out of 5 average rating, 118 reviews

Vista Cortile - Unique Townhouse

SamanthaRating, 5 stars4 months ago
Great spot! Parking garage was small (as described) but having the permit pass was extremely helpful. Perfect spot for our family with 2 kids! Excellent communication with host. Would use Surf City rentals again in a heartbeat.
Guest favorite

Townhouse in Santa Cruz

4.8 out of 5 average rating, 541 reviews

Boardwalk Beach Oasis|2min wlk to Beach | 3bd3bth

TarzemRating, 5 stars2 months ago
Laura’s place was spot on for our short stay. Beach was a stones throw away, which is where the kids wanted to spend their time. The place was perfect, it was clean, spacious, and well equipped. Detailed instructions for the apartment to go alongside the stay and useful local information.
Guest favorite

Condo in Aptos

4.91 out of 5 average rating, 154 reviews

Seascape Oceanv hot tub, pool, EV, Aptos, Cruz

CathyRating, 5 stars1 day ago
Sally's condo has the most amazing ocean views! It took my breath away as I walked into her place. I loved being able to hear the ocean waves too. I have stayed at many other Seascape units before, but this was my favorite! Sally was very easy and flexible to communicate with. Her condo had everything that we needed. Thank you Sally. We will be back!

Carmel-by-the-Sea vacation rentals near the ocean

Guest favorite

Townhouse in Castroville

4.94 out of 5 average rating, 327 reviews

28 Seconds Walk to Beach

EmanuelRating, 5 stars3 days ago
We loved this place! Amazing amenities and family friendly. Lisa was responsive and thoughtful. We could not have been more satisfied and look forward to returning to this perfect house on the beach. Thank you Lisa!
Guest favorite

Rental unit in Capitola

4.9 out of 5 average rating, 335 reviews

180°OceanviewCondo-Surfboards-Bikes

NatalieRating, 5 stars3 weeks ago
Perfect place for a 4 day trip to Capitola. I could sit on the balcony with my book and wine, and watch my husband surf. The beds were extremely comfortable and I appreciate that there was starter ice, a picture of cold filtered water when we arrived. There was coffee and filters available, and it was extremely clean. Met a couple of the neighbors in the condo unit as they were sitting on the balcony, and they were all very nice and chill. Having a place with parking was perfect. Would opt to stay here again.
Guest favorite

Home in Monterey

4.9 out of 5 average rating, 146 reviews

Monterey Bay Oasis on the Ocean!

PattyRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
We enjoyed every minute of our stay at Monterey Dunes. The unit is beautiful and exactly as described. Watching the whale spouts across the bay was amazing as we sat both on the deck and in the full-windowed living room...there is not a bad seat in the house for enjoying the bay and the sunsets! Shelli provided us with great recommendations both locally and throughout the rest of our trip. We did a whale watching trip with Sea Goddess during our stay and saw so many varieties of whales and other sea creatures, truly a highlight and one we highly recommend as Monterey Bay is a hot bed of activity. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us! We hope to be back one day from Delaware! Patty+Larry Sinkus
Guest favorite

Townhouse in Watsonville

4.96 out of 5 average rating, 164 reviews

KingBed Suite Oceanfront steps to sand & fireplace

KRating, 5 stars1 week ago
A wonderful place to rest and relax! Felt right at home. Wonderfully decorated. Being steps away from the beach and being able to walk right down to it every day was wonderful! Thank you for sharing your piece of paradise with us! We hope we can return some day.
Guest favorite

Guest suite in Carmel-by-the-Sea

5 out of 5 average rating, 233 reviews

On the Ocean with unbelievable views

JackieRating, 5 stars1 week ago
Beautiful views, thoughtful design, tastefully decorated, luxurious bedding, all essential supplies plus more. Clean, comfortable, homey. Private, easy access to the beach. Open the bedroom window and listen to the ocean all night. Ron and Donna are gracious and responsive hosts. Truely, an exceptional experience. Thank you, Ron and Donna!
Guest favorite

Home in Aptos

4.92 out of 5 average rating, 533 reviews

Relax Watch Waves Crash Chic + Modern 3BD

DavidRating, 5 stars4 days ago
This place truly exceeded our expectations! The setting is amazing (we saw pods of dolphins and some whales from the deck!!!!). Highly recommend the property, excellent hosts, and value of the stay! We will be back in 2025!
Superhost

Townhouse in Moss Landing

4.91 out of 5 average rating, 250 reviews

Oceanfront Beach House

SamaraRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
Book this place for the view alone. We saw dolphins, whales, sea otters and a large variety of shorebirds while enjoying our coffee in the morning. Quick drive to Monterey Bay Aquarium - also really enjoyed Salinas for the pumpkin patch (Borchard Farms), an AMAZING Mexican restaurant Villa Azteca (featured on Bay Area Check Please), and the John Steinbeck museum. Downtown was surprisingly cute!!! Hosts were great communicators and the beds were comfortable.
Superhost

Home in Aptos

4.81 out of 5 average rating, 108 reviews

Jaw-Dropping Beach-Front Retreat!

AnthonyRating, 5 stars1 month ago
We’ve been coming to Aptos for a few years now and always stay somewhere along the beach. This spot is a nice three story home that was great for two families of four with young children (ours were all three and under) Overall it’s clean and is a good location. There were a few ants around, but I think that’s just the nature of the location. The only issue, which doesn’t have anything to do with the host, is the neighbor to the west of the house has decided to rather aggressively assert that their porch is their own property and cannot be crossed. This cuts off the porch of this property from the rest of the beachfront porches. No other property has neighbors this aggressive about their property line. These neighbors also have multiple cameras, so it’s pretty clear that they are a certain type of individual. We didn’t use the porch at all because it’s essentially impossible to tell children to stay on the porch directly in front. Great place overall, too bad about the neighbors.

Oceanfront home rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Guest favorite

Home in Upper Seabright

4.96 out of 5 average rating, 341 reviews

Santa Cruz Beach Cottage Getaway

GinaRating, 5 stars1 day ago
Our stay at Yvonne's place was fantastic. The location is perfect. a block from the beach and a short walk to the beach boardwalk, restaurants and coffee shops. The home is clean and has everything you need for a great stay. The front and back yard sitting areas are super charming too! We will be coming back!
Guest favorite

Home in Watsonville

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 131 reviews

Copper Nest beach retreat with stunning views

NicoleRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
Copper’s Nest was a tranquil, beautiful place. Our family of 4 enjoyed being together without the craziness of the world around us. The amenities were fantastic! The kitchen was very well stocked with coffee and spices. The coffee frother was a nice treat. It is a little far away from town, so make sure to get your grocery shopping done first. The land around the complex is agricultural. Lots of farming going on. It was very chilly for early October and we enjoyed having a fire a night. It was incredibly foggy almost the entire time we were there. Once that fog cleared, we made sure to get out to the beach. The house was equipped with plenty of beach chairs and lots of beach toys. We enjoyed our stay very much.
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.9 out of 5 average rating, 134 reviews

Santa Cruz Beach House with Pool & Spa

RebecaRating, 5 stars2 months ago
Ken and Brigit have a lovely beach home. Perfect for relaxing in the nice pool and spa - or conveniently located to beaches, boardwalk and restaurants. The inside of the home is very peaceful with all amenities provided as advertised. There is a beautiful yard that has a dining area as well as lots of room around the pool for lounging. The hosts were very responsive and kept in contact with us prior to our arrival which made the experience very enjoyable. We hope to return to this property as frequently as our family schedule permits. We recommend this property highly. R Peters
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.94 out of 5 average rating, 140 reviews

Spacious 3-Story Home Close To SC Beach Boardwalk

AlexRating, 5 stars4 days ago
Kim's place was a great location, walkable to both downtown and the boardwalk/beach in a nice part of town. The house was well equipped for a family trip and she had nice touches including some sweet treats ready upon arrival. She was very responsive and accommodating to requests. We would stay again!
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.97 out of 5 average rating, 124 reviews

Beach Suite

KateRating, 5 stars2 months ago
Such a peaceful and beautiful pocket of Santa Cruz! I loved how the beach was within walking distance. The cottage was such a cute and cozy place to stay.
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 236 reviews

Luxury Beach House - Game Room & Hot Tub

ChristineRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
What a beautiful, we'll equipped and comfortable home! 7 of us had a lovely stay. My husband and I are still raving about how comfortable the bed was in the master suite. The only unfortunate part was that we were busy with a family wedding and didn't have enough time to enjoy all the wonderful amenities. We'd love to come back some day!
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.98 out of 5 average rating, 459 reviews

Wave House by the Beach for Two!

JenniferRating, 5 stars1 week ago
Enjoyed our stay here. Great location! Close to the Boardwalk but really quiet at night. Looked just like the photos. Very clean and comfortable. We especially liked the beautiful garden in the enclosed front yard.
Guest favorite

Home in Santa Cruz

4.8 out of 5 average rating, 173 reviews

Pet Friendly, Bright, Beach View, 1 Min to Sand 🏖

TraceyRating, 5 stars2 weeks ago
Great weekend stay for our family. Excellent location, steps to the beach, close to everything we needed. Easy check-in, great communication, and very clean. Thank you!

Quick stats about vacation rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea

  • Total rentals

    220 properties

  • Total number of reviews

    6.8K reviews

  • Family-friendly rentals

    150 properties are a good fit for families

  • Pet-friendly rentals

    110 properties allow pets

  • Rentals with dedicated workspaces

    90 properties have a dedicated workspace

  • Wifi availability

    210 properties include access to wifi

Your guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea

All About Carmel-by-the-Sea

Situated on California’s scenic Highway 1, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a charming town filled with art galleries, boutique shops, and cottages that look like they came straight out of a fairy tale. For more than 100 years, the town located just outside of Monterey has attracted creatives from all over, contributing to its distinctly bohemian, laid-back vibe. Besides its gorgeous beaches, Carmel boasts a lively downtown where you’ll find big-name stores alongside specialty, family-owned businesses. Stop by an independent cafe located in a European-style courtyard from the 1920s, or sample locally made wines in a Tudor-style home-turned-tasting room.

You can also take a stroll around the Comstock Historic Hill District, which features a collection of storybook cottages full of odd angles and quirky architecture, and each month there is an Art Walk when local artists showcase their work. Head to the late 18th-century Carmel Mission at the edge of town and admire its creamy exterior and richly decorated rooms. While the town of Carmel is certainly idyllic, the best way to explore the area is to get out of it through a scenic drive along the coastline.


The best time to stay in a vacation rental in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Fall is one of the best times to visit Carmel, thanks to the warm, sunny weather that is perfect for exploring the nearby nature reserves and beaches. The temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much throughout the year, but it does take a little bit of a dip in winter, and you will see more rain from December to March, but this is the perfect time to visit if you’d like to explore the area with fewer people around. In the spring, the skies clear and bougainvillea blooms throughout town. The summer is the busiest season, and, though it never gets too hot, you will see almost no rain during this time. No matter what time of year you book your Carmel vacation rental, it is important to bring plenty of layers of clothing, as the weather can change quickly here.


Top things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

This beautiful coastal reserve lies along the headlands of the Monterey Peninsula, home to rocky cliffs, white sand coves, and an array of hiking trails. The park has an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna, including more than 20 species of land mammals, such as pocket gophers, bobcats, and grey foxes, as well as sea lions, red-shouldered hawks, and alligator lizards.

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

Just over 15 minutes north of Carmel-by-the-Sea, this enthralling sanctuary is one of the main southbound migration spots for Monarch butterflies. As you walk along the sanctuary's pathways, you can catch a glimpse of these fluttering orange and black beauties resting in the trees. The migration season generally lasts from mid-October until mid-May, but the Monarch Grove Sanctuary is a wonderful, tranquil place to visit all year round.

17-Mile Drive

Connecting Carmel to Monterey, 17-Mile Drive is one of the most scenic drives in California that features rugged seaside cliffs against the dark blue backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Along the rocky coastline of the Monterey Peninsula, you’ll pass by the cities of Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach, as well as luxurious seaside abodes and the 250-year-old Lone Cypress that stands all by itself on a rocky outcrop.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How is the weather in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Carmel-by-the-Sea has a mild Mediterranean climate. During summer, temperatures average around 68°F (20°C), and in winter, it's about 57°F (14°C). Rainfall is common from November to April, and fog often blankets the town, especially in the mornings and late evenings.

  • What are some of the best things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Popular activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea include strolling through the local art galleries, visiting the historic Carmel Mission Basilica, exploring the unique boutiques and shops, or relaxing on the pristine Carmel Beach. Nature lovers can also enjoy bird watching at Carmel River State Beach.

  • What is the best time of year to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    The most popular time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea is between April and October. During these months, the Carmel Art Festival in May and the Carmel Bach Festival in July are frequently suggested events for tourists.

  • What are the best places to stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Downtown Carmel, known for its charming cottages and bustling boutiques, is a popular area to stay. The beachside area, with its close proximity to Carmel Beach, is also often recommended. The outskirts of the town offer a quieter, more secluded setting.

  • What are the best places to visit in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Visitors frequently explore the quaint Carmel Village, the historic Tor House, and the beautiful Carmel Mission Basilica. Other popular places include the Carmel Art Association Gallery, and the breathtaking Point Lobos State Natural Reserve.

  • What are some hiking trails in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    For lovers of nature, Carmel-by-the-Sea has several trails to explore. Point Lobos State Reserve provides trails with ocean views, while the Mission Trail Nature Preserve offers woodland walks. There's also the Scenic Bluff Path that showcases the beautiful coastline.

  • What are some family activities to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Families can explore the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, take a scenic drive along the 17-Mile Drive, or spend a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. A trip to the Carmel Beach or a picnic at the Devendorf Park are also popular activities.

  • What are some of the best day trip ideas in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Popular day trips from Carmel-by-the-Sea include visiting the historic city of Monterey, exploring the world-renowned Big Sur coastline, or touring the vineyards in Salinas Valley. A boat trip to see the marine life around Monterey Bay is also often suggested.

  • What are the most popular amenities for House Rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Enhance your stay in our House Rentals with the most popular amenities: over 20 homes with self check-in, over 40 homes with a bbq area, over 120 homes with wifi, and more. Indulge in the ultimate retreat, tailored to your preferences.

  • How much does it cost to stay in house rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

    Experience the best of Carmel-by-the-Sea with our house rentals, starting at about $140 per day, before taxes and fees. Embrace comfort and style while staying within your budget in your home away from home.

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