Located in Los Angeles County, about 20 miles south of Downtown LA, Long Beach, California, is a historic, culturally rich destination with a bustling waterfront, incredible eateries, and a laid-back beach town vibe.
Though Long Beach is a city many people drive through, it’s absolutely worth stopping by to explore. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway, a date night, or a day with friends or kids, the scenic city has plenty to offer.
Keep scrolling for a roundup of the best things to do in Long Beach.
Things to Do in Long Beach on and Near the Water
With coastal shorelines, a marina, and the Los Angeles River, the coastal Southern California city has lots of water-related destinations.
1. Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific
One of the largest aquariums in the United States, the Aquarium of the Pacific boasts upwards of 100 exhibits, with 19 major habitats. It’s a great anchor for a full day in downtown Long Beach.
This maritime museum is more than a tourist trap—it’s genuinely worth visiting. The jellyfish exhibit and shark lagoon are particular standouts, but if you’ve got a few hours to kill, you’ll have plenty to see.
2. Tour the Queen Mary
One of Long Beach’s most famous stops is the retired RMS Queen Mary. The historic ocean liner is permanently docked and currently operates as a museum, hotel, and convention center.
The ship is on the National Register of Historic Places. Guided tours cover the wartime history, engineering significance, and haunted lore of the transatlantic icon. While you’re there, the surrounding waterfront area has ample dining options and year-round events.
3. Walk Shoreline Village and the Marina
Shoreline Village overlooks the stunning Rainbow Harbor, Long Beach’s marina. This walkable, photogenic waterfront strip has shopping, dining, and activities for all ages, day and night. If you’d like to hit the water, kayaks and paddleboard rentals are available.
This downtown-adjacent stop sits right at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. It’s a good orientation point for first-time visitors. The path extends north and south, allowing you to stroll or jog for as long as you’d like.
4. Spend the Day at Belmont Shore Beach
Long Beach’s Belmont Shore is an intimate seaside community with sandy beaches, canals, and lagoons, plus boardwalks, the Belmont Pier, and multi-use oceanfront paths. There’s also Second Street, a walkable strip with excellent restaurants and bars.
People come to Belmont Shore for the local feeling. You’ll get the true California beach experience without the tourist density.
5. Explore Alamitos Bay and Naples Island
Naples Island is in the picturesque Alamitos Bay neighborhood of Long Beach. Throughout the area, you’ll find canals with arching Venetian-style bridges and walking paths lined with lush greenery. Visitors can take gondola rides, go paddleboarding, or walk or bike the shoreline path.
Arts, Culture, and Things Worth Slowing Down For
Long Beach has a rich arts scene and cultural destinations galore. Here’s what you might want to add to your itinerary.
6. Visit the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
The Museum of Latin American Art is located in the center of downtown Long Beach’s East Village Arts District. It’s the only museum in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to modern and contemporary Latin American art and houses a legitimately world-class collection. The sculpture garden is a sight to behold, and the rotating exhibits are consistently strong.
7. Walk the East Village Arts District
While you’re over by the MOLAA, mosey around the East Village Arts District. It’s full of galleries, murals by local artists, gorgeous art deco architecture, and independent shops, all within a walkable grid.
The Second Saturday Art Walk, held every second Saturday of the month from 12 to 5 p.m., brings out the food neighborhood energy. There are also eateries, boutiques, coffee shops, and lots of other small businesses. If you ask us, the Arts District is best explored on foot with no agenda.
8. Explore 4th Street Retro Row
Full of character, culture, and diversity, 4th Street Retro Row is the city’s most distinctive commercial strip. Running along 4th Street from Walnut to Temple Avenue, the corridor is full of local coffee roasters, independent restaurants, vintage clothing stores, and quaint bars.
Spend the day there, or stop by for a solid afternoon-into-evening activity to get a taste of Long Beach’s community feel and California vibes.
9. Visit Rancho Los Alamitos
Rancho Los Alamitos is a working ranch and historic adobe dating back to California’s Spanish land-grant era. It opened to the public in 1970 and is now a free museum with interactive exhibits, educational programming, and hands-on explorations.
The ranch gardens are beautifully maintained, and the guided tours are truly interesting. This is an excellent choice for history enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking for something to do in Long Beach that’s off the beaten path.
10. Eat on the Cambodian Food Corridor on Anaheim Street
Long Beach has the largest Cambodian community in the U.S. It’s part of what sets the city apart from others in California, and the food scene reflects that.
Located on Anaheim between Junipero and Atlantic Avenues, the Cambodian Food Corridor is the place to go for authentic eats. It’s got tons of restaurants serving comfort foods and specialty dishes, along with shops, temples, and many other Khmer-owned stops.
Active Things to Do in Long Beach
For those who like to stay active when they’re away from home, there’s a plethora of fitness- and wellness-focused activities in Long Beach.
11. Bike the Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath
The Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath is right along the water’s edge, offering views of and access to Alamitos Bay’s main beach. Just over three miles long and a generous 17 feet wide, the concrete trail has two bicycle lanes and one for foot traffic.
You can rent bikes, skates, longboards, and other equipment near Shoreline Village, as well as beach chairs and umbrellas if you want to take a break on the sand. It’s best in the morning before crowds arrive but is a lovely experience any time of day.
12. Explore El Dorado Regional Park
El Dorado Regional Park is an inland destination with multiple lakes and an extensive trail network. The Nature Center section has a duck pond and a surprisingly good area for birdwatching.
There’s disc golf, soccer fields, and a community center. The park was used for the 1984 Summer Olympics archery competitions, and the archery range is still there. It’s popular with locals for good reason—El Dorado feels removed from the city despite being centrally located.
13. Stop by the Long Beach Museum of Art
The Long Beach Museum of Art is a nationally recognized art destination with a permanent collection of over 4,000 works of myriad media and makers. There’s also a great variety of rotating exhibits, often showcasing California-based art and women artists.
It’s small but expertly curated with modernist, local, and international pieces. This iconic museum sits on a clifftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the cafe offers coffee to enjoy with the view.
14. Train or Recover at Chuze Fitness Long Beach
If you want to keep up with your training routine while visiting Long Beach or are looking for ways to recover after a long day of biking or walking, Chuze Fitness has what you need.
Our clean, friendly, wellness-led gyms in Long Beach have top-notch equipment and group fitness classes. You can also stop by the in-house Recovery Studio for a sauna, HydroMassage, or red light therapy session. (Amenities vary by location.)
Find your nearest Chuze Fitness location, and explore what’s included with a membership.
15. Plan by Neighborhood
Long Beach is more spread out than it looks on a map. It can feel overwhelming to hit up every hotspot—that’s why grouping activities by area can make itinerary-building much easier.
Downtown, the waterfront strip, Belmont Shore, the East Village, and El Dorado neighborhoods are the most popular, and you can realistically explore one or two in a day.
For instance, the Los Angeles Metro light rail A Line connects Long Beach to downtown LA, making the journey a viable day trip without driving. Parking tends to be easiest near El Dorado and the marina, while the downtown core has paid parking structures and street parking that fills up faster on weekends.
One last thing: The waterside location of Long Beach makes it cooler than people often expect. Bring an extra layer to wear in the evenings, even during the summer.
Sources:
Aquarium of the Pacific. Aquarium Exhibits. https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/exhibits
The Queen Mary. Guided Tours. https://www.queenmary.com/guided-tours.htm
Shoreline Village. Things to Do in Long Beach. https://shorelinevillage.com/play/things-to-do-in-long-beach/
Visit Long Beach. Belmont Shore & Naples. https://www.visitlongbeach.com/neighborhoods/belmont-shore-naples/
California Beaches. Belmont Shore Beach. https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/belmont-shore-beach/
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine. Alamitos Bay. https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/alamitos-bay/
Long Beach Neighborhoods. Naples Island and Alamitos Bay waterfront. https://www.longbeachneighborhoods.com/take-a-neighborhood-tour-of-long-beach/naples-island-and-alamitos-bay-waterfront/
The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA). About. https://molaa.org/about
Long Beach East Village Arts District. Welcome to the East Village Arts District. https://www.eastvillageartsdistrictlb.com/about
Long Beach East Village Arts District. Events. https://www.eastvillageartsdistrictlb.com/events
Fourth Street Retro Row. About 4th Street. https://www.4thstreetlongbeach.com/about-4th-street
Rancho Los Alamitos. About Us. https://www.rancholosalamitos.org/about-us.html
Visit Long Beach. Cambodia Town. https://www.visitlongbeach.com/neighborhoods/cambodia-town/
Visit Long Beach. Long Beach Bike Paths. https://www.visitlongbeach.com/blog/long-beach-bike-paths/
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine. Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath. https://www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation-programs/sports-and-athletics/bike-paths/
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine. El Dorado East Regional Park. https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/directory/el-dorado-east-regional-park/
Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA). About LBMA. https://lbma.org/about
