Big Sur

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Why visit Big Sur?

Big Sur is a rugged stretch of the central California coast, between Carmel and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains drop straight into the Pacific. Highway 1, which winds along the cliffs, is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world.

Stop at the Bixby Creek Bridge, the classic Big Sur view, and at McWay Falls in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where a waterfall drops onto a beach in a cove. Walk among coastal redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, look for the purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach and the rock arch at Keyhole Rock, and watch for sea otters and grey whales from the cliffs. Point Lobos, near Carmel, has beautiful coastal trails. Further south, Hearst Castle at San Simeon is a lavish hilltop mansion, and elephant seals gather on the beach at Piedras Blancas. Mobile reception is limited, petrol is expensive, and landslides sometimes close sections of Highway 1, so check road status before you go.

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Everything for your Big Sur trip

Book flights, stays, tours and more — all in one place

Hotels Flights Travel insurance Activities Tours & day trips Attractions Car rental eSIM Airport transfer Experiences Scooters & bikes Luggage storage Flight delay refund

More options: Kiwi.com · Oojo · seats.aero · Arangrant · eSky · lastminute.com · Megabon · QEEQ · AutoEurope · Hertz · GetTransfer · Suntransfers · Saily · Yesim · GigSky · Klook · EF Ultimate Break · EF Adventures · AirHelp Plus · CruiseDirect · Travelpro

Local partners in Big Sur: Club del Sole · ICON Collection · Baglioni · COMO · UNA Italian Hospitality

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Popular experiences in Big Sur

The things travellers book most here. You pay the same price as booking direct.

Food & drink toursCooking classesDay tripsSkip-the-line ticketsWalking toursEvening & night toursBoat trips & cruises

Top tours & activities in Big Sur

Find hotels in Big SurMore experiences on Klook

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When to go to Big Sur

The best months for Big Sur are April, May, September and October. Highs then sit around 18°C, crowds are medium at peak, and a week here is expensive.

Jan
15°
low 10°
9 wet days
Feb
15°
low 9°
6 wet days
Mar
14°
low 9°
11 wet days
Apr
15°
low 10°
4 wet days
May
17°
low 11°
1 wet day
Jun
19°
low 13°
1 wet day
Jul
20°
low 15°
0 wet days
Aug
21°
low 15°
0 wet days
Sep
21°
low 15°
2 wet days
Oct
20°
low 14°
3 wet days
Nov
18°
low 12°
5 wet days
Dec
15°
low 10°
13 wet days
Highlighted = best monthsNumber = average daytime highBar = how wet the month is

Temperatures and wet days are measured, not estimated: ERA5 reanalysis for 2021-2023, at Big Sur, California. Source: Open-Meteo.

Planning Big Sur

Best time to visit Big SurMonth by month, measuredWhere to stay in Big SurWhich area suits youHow many days you needWhat fits in a short or long stay

Big Sur — common questions

When is the best time to visit Big Sur?

The best months for Big Sur are April, May, September and October. Highs then sit around 18°C, crowds are medium at peak, and a week here is expensive.

What is the weather like in Big Sur?

August is the warmest month, with daytime highs around 21°C. March is the coolest, around 14°C by day and 9°C at night. December is the wettest, with about 13 wet days. Figures are measured averages, not estimates.

What is Big Sur known for?

Big Sur is best known for nature, adventure, romantic and beaches. The things people come for: Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach, Highway 1.

Who is Big Sur best suited to?

Big Sur works particularly well for couples, groups of friends and honeymooners. That is based on what there is to do there, not on who books it most.

What can you book in advance in Big Sur?

The experiences that sell out first are food tours, cooking classes, day trips, skip-the-line tickets, walking tours and night tours. You can check availability and prices on our booking partners below — you pay the same as booking direct.

Food toursCooking classesDay tripsSkip-the-line ticketsWalking toursNight tours

Do I need a visa for United States?

That depends on your passport and how long you are staying, so there is no single answer. TonyPlan has a visa and entry checker — put in your nationality and it tells you what applies to you.

Check visa requirements

Get the Big Sur guide as a PDF

Why to go, the best months with real measured temperatures, which area to stay in, and what flights cost right now — in one file you can read on the plane. Free.

We will also send new guides and itineraries as we publish them. No fixed schedule, and you can unsubscribe from any email.

Free tools for your Big Sur trip

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