Stand at the foot of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in the late afternoon and the whole city arranges itself in front of you: the beach running north, the Queen Mary's three funnels across the harbour, and Signal Hill rising behind the oil fields. Long Beach rewards the traveller who is happy to move between waterfront and neighbourhood, ship deck and garden path.
It suits people who want a coastal city with a working port's texture rather than a resort strip, and who are willing to plan around a few timed entries and reservations. This guide covers the sights and experiences the city is known for, with practical notes on what to combine and when to go.
Top things to do in Long Beach
1. Queen Mary
The Queen Mary is a historic Cunard White Star ocean liner, an Art Deco structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, whose past includes service as a troop transport in World War II. Several tours are offered, including a Ghosts and Legends tour, and the ship also holds a hotel, restaurants and bars, a shopping promenade and a wedding reception hall. The Art Deco Bar is a good place for a cocktail in vintage surroundings while you watch the harbour.
General admission includes your choice of one of several tours, plus the Self-Guided Queen Mary Shipwalk Tour and access to all open exhibit areas; a second guided tour costs extra. A combo ticket with the Aquarium of the Pacific is available. You can pay for parking or take Passport C.
2. Aquarium of the Pacific
At 100 Aquarium Way, the Aquarium of the Pacific takes visitors through three regions of the Pacific Ocean: Southern California/Baja, the Tropical Pacific and the Northern Pacific. Its nearly 1,000 species fill 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits, making it one of the largest aquariums in the United States.
It is open 9AM-6PM daily except December 25 and the weekend of the Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. A combo package with the Queen Mary is offered, and you can pay for parking or take Passport C. Pair it with the Queen Mary on the same day, since the two sit close together on the harbour.
3. Long Beach City Beach
The city beach stretches four miles along Ocean Boulevard between Alamitos Avenue and 72nd Place, with access points every few blocks and parking lots at Junipero, Termino, Granada, La Verne and 72nd Place. Concrete bike and skating lanes run along the sand, and the water is usually fine for surfing or swimming.
It is open from dawn to 10PM and free to use, with parking from $2 to $16. Lifeguard services are limited, and no lifeguard is guaranteed outside of peak hours or specialised, supervised areas, so plan accordingly. At Grand Avenue you reach the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.
4. Naples Island
Take Ravenna Drive south from 2nd Street to reach this district in the southeast corner of the city, where canals lined with walkways run past the houses. It is a place for an unhurried walk beside the water.
At Christmas, residents decorate their homes extravagantly and crowds of pedestrians come to admire the results, so expect company if you visit in December. Take Passport A or D.
5. Gondola Getaway
A gondola boat ride along the canals in Naples, departing from 5437 E Ocean Blvd. It runs 11AM-11PM daily, closed holidays, and the reservation office is open 10AM-5PM daily.
Make reservations at least one day in advance, though three weeks is recommended. Fares run from $100 for two passengers, plus $20 for each additional person up to six, or $350 for groups of seven to ten. Pair it with a walk around Naples Island, since the canals are the same water you see on foot.
6. Russian Foxtrot Submarine: SCORPION
This former Soviet Union submarine is moored adjacent to the Queen Mary at 1126 Queens Hwy. Due to safety issues with the submarine, visitors are no longer allowed inside, but it can be viewed from the dock.
It is worth a few minutes as part of a harbour visit, and it costs nothing to look at from the dock. Combine it with the Queen Mary, which it sits beside.
7. Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Adobe
A two-story Monterey-style adobe home built in 1844 at 4600 Virginia Rd, and a National, State and Long Beach Historic Landmark. The site includes historic gardens and a research library, with docent-led tours on every hour from 1PM to 4PM.
It is open Wed-Sun 1PM-5PM except holidays, and as of 2020 only outdoor spaces were open with reservations recommended. Admission is free, with donations welcomed. Groups of more than ten should reserve two weeks ahead.
8. Rancho Los Alamitos Museum
A museum of the old Bixby Farmhouse and gardens at 6400 E Bixby Hill Rd, entered through the residential security gate at Anaheim and Palo Verde. It is open Wed-Sun 1PM-5PM and free to visit.
As of 2020, only outdoor areas were open and a reservation was required, so book before you go. Its afternoon hours pair naturally with Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Adobe earlier the same day.
9. Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
At 628 Alamitos Ave in the East Village Arts District, MOLAA is the only museum in the western United States that exclusively features contemporary Latin American art, using its permanent collection, travelling exhibitions and programs to educate.
It is normally open Wed, Thu, Sat and Sun 11AM-5PM and Fri 11AM-9PM, closed January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25; as of 2020 it was temporarily closed, so confirm before travelling. Adults $10, seniors and students $7, children under 12 free.
10. Long Beach Museum of Art
A small art museum at 2300 E Ocean Blvd featuring 20th-century art and decorative pieces with a focus on California artists. It is open Thu 11AM-8PM and Fri-Sun 11AM-5PM, closed January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving and December 25.
Every Thursday evening from 3PM-8PM admission is free for all ages, which makes Thursday the economical day to visit. Adults otherwise pay $7, seniors and students $6, and children under 12 are free. Take Passport A or D.
11. Signal Hill Hilltop Park
At 2351 Dawson Ave in Signal Hill, this park sits in the small suburban city within Long Beach and offers views that take in the beaches of Orange County, the Queen Mary, the Palos Verdes Hills and even Downtown Los Angeles. There are walking trails and monuments honouring indigenous people.
It is open 6AM-10PM and free. If you are coming from Pacific Coast Highway, drive up Cherry and turn right onto Skyline Drive. Go late in the day for the clearest light over the harbour.
12. Catalina Express
Boat service to Catalina Island departing from 320 Golden Shore in downtown Long Beach, with daily departures that vary with the season. Reservations are recommended.
Each passenger may bring two pieces of luggage no larger than 37x23x23 inches and no heavier than 50 pounds each, plus one carry-on bag. Round-trip fares are $74.50 for adults, $67.50 for seniors 55 and over, $59 for children 2-11 and $6 for infants under 2, with bikes and surfboards at $7. It makes a full-day outing, so give it its own day rather than folding it into a city itinerary.
13. Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden
A 1.3-acre Japanese garden on the campus of California State University Long Beach at 1250 Bellflower Blvd, with a traditional tea house and koi ponds. A self-guided tour book is available for $1.
It is normally open Tue-Fri 8AM-3:30PM and Sun noon-4PM, closed Monday and Saturday, and as of November 2020 it was closed until further notice, so call to verify hours as university events sometimes require early closures. Admission is free, and you can take Passport D. Groups of ten or more can arrange tours by calling the garden office.
14. Long Beach Firefighter's Museum (Old Station 10)
A collection of historic fire equipment ranging from leather water buckets to a 1965 fire engine, at 1445 Peterson Ave. It is open Wed 8AM-noon and the second Saturday 10AM-3PM, and admission is free.
The limited hours mean it works best as a short stop slotted into a Wednesday morning rather than a centrepiece of the day.
15. Historical Society of Long Beach
A small exhibit space at 3490 Atlantic Ave with rotating exhibits on the history of the city, plus a publicly accessible research archive on site. It is normally open Tue, Wed and Fri 1-5PM, Thu 1-7PM and Sat 11AM-5PM, and as of 2020 it was temporarily closed.
Confirm it is open before making the trip. The Thursday evening hours are the latest of the week if you want to fit it in after other sights.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Aquarium of the Pacific when it opens at 9AM, working through the Southern California/Baja, Tropical Pacific and Northern Pacific galleries. If you would rather be outdoors, walk the Long Beach City Beach instead, entering at Grand Avenue where the beach meets the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.
Afternoon: Cross to the Queen Mary and take the Self-Guided Queen Mary Shipwalk Tour plus one of the guided tours included with general admission. On the way in or out, look at the Russian Foxtrot Submarine: SCORPION from the dock beside the ship. If you have time left, drive up to Signal Hill Hilltop Park for the view over the harbour and the city.
Evening: Head to Naples Island for a walk along the canals, then take a Gondola Getaway ride from 5437 E Ocean Blvd, which runs until 11PM. Finish with a cocktail at the Queen Mary's Art Deco Bar if you are still near the harbour.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Aquarium of the Pacific closed?
It is open 9AM-6PM daily except December 25 and the weekend of the Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. Plan around those dates if the aquarium is central to your trip.
Can I visit the Russian Foxtrot Submarine: SCORPION?
You can see it, but not go inside. Due to safety issues with the submarine, visitors are no longer allowed inside, though it can be viewed from the dock where it is moored adjacent to the Queen Mary.
How far ahead should I book a Gondola Getaway ride?
Make reservations at least one day in advance, and three weeks is recommended. The reservation office is open 10AM-5PM daily.
When is the cheapest time to visit the Long Beach Museum of Art?
Every Thursday evening from 3PM-8PM admission is free for all ages. At other times adults pay $7, seniors and students $6, and children under 12 are free.
Decide which harbour sights matter most to you, check the hours and reservations for the day you have in mind, and start building your Long Beach itinerary around them.