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Major city · United States

Long Beach

Give Long Beach 2 nights if you want the aquarium and Queen Mary; 1 night works as a port or cruise stop. Skip it as an LA base unless you have a car.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat, coastal fog), Grand Prix weekend in April
Airports
LGB · LAX · SNA
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Long Beach is a port and coastal city at the southeast edge of Los Angeles County, about 35 km from LAX and 37 km from John Wayne Airport. It has a world-class aquarium, the Queen Mary, a cruise terminal and a walkable downtown waterfront. It is not a substitute for Los Angeles sightseeing: the two are separate trips, and a car makes the difference.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Long Beach, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Sit-down mealDinner, mid-range$25–45
  • Beerdraught$7–10
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing at peak times.$15–25
  • Metro or bus rideMetro A Line ride$1.75 (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketAquarium or Queen Mary entry$40–50 (check)
  • Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomUS$200
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomUS$400

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Aquarium of the PacificQueen MaryLong Beach Grand PrixCambodia TownNaples canals
Airports
LGB Long Beach Airport (In the city, about 40 daily flights, mostly Southwest; Route 111 bus to downtown runs hourly) · LAX Los Angeles International (About 35 km; Metro A Line plus transfer, or taxi/rideshare) · SNA John Wayne, Santa Ana (About 37 km; car or shuttle is easier than buses)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Long Beach: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

19°C

8°C

6 rd

Feb

19°C

9°C

6 rd

Mar

20°C

11°C

5 rd

Apr

22°C

12°C

3 rd

May

23°C

14°C

1 rd

Jun

24°C

16°C

1 rd

Jul

27°C

18°C

0 rd

Aug

28°C

19°C

0 rd

Sep

28°C

18°C

1 rd

Oct

25°C

15°C

2 rd

Nov

23°C

11°C

3 rd

Dec

19°C

8°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the most convenient way to reach the beaches, Belmont Shore and the neighborhoods north of the 405. Downtown and the waterfront are walkable, and the free Passport bus links the Queen Mary, Aquarium, Pine Avenue, Shoreline Village and downtown hotels. Metro's A Line runs from downtown Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Catalina Island

go

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h crossing

Ferry from Long Beach

Book ahead; a full day or an overnight.

Los Angelesgo

Door to door: About 1 h

Metro A Line from downtown Long Beach to Union Station

Avoid late-night trains; no guards on every car.

Disneyland, Anaheim

caution

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

OCTA Route 50 bus along Katella Avenue, or car

Bus is slow; a car is easier.

Santa Ana / Orange County

go

Door to door: About 45 min by car

Car via the 405, or OCTA Route 1 along PCH

Buses need multiple transfers.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown Long Beach

Convention center, Pine Avenue, Pike and City Place; walkable to the aquarium and waterfront.

Shoreline Village / Rainbow Harbor

Closest to the Aquarium of the Pacific and the lighthouses; pay parking.

Belmont Shore

Beachside east of Redondo, 2nd Street bars and restaurants; a car or bus ride from downtown.

Bixby Knolls / California Heights

Quieter residential north of the 405, near the airport; good for longer stays with a car.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–240 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$200US$400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160US$640
Aquarium of the Pacific entry2 × US$45 · checkUS$90
Queen Mary entry2 × US$45 · checkUS$90
Metro A Line ride2 × US$2 · checkUS$4
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$126
Trip total≈ US$348 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,390

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Casual lunch$12–20
Dinner, mid-range$25–45
Beer, draught$7–10
5 km taxi or rideshareSurge pricing at peak times.$15–25
Metro A Line ride$1.75 (check)
Aquarium or Queen Mary entry$40–50 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Long Beach is a large city with everything from industrial areas to quiet suburbs; downtown and the waterfront are fine by day, and Belmont Shore's 2nd Street has had a crime wave in the early 2020s. Avoid the A Line late at night and keep to lit streets.
  • Downtown and shoreline parking is mostly paid; most other areas have free parking.
  • The A Line passes through Compton and Watts and has no guards on every train; avoid it late at night.
  • Belmont Shore's 2nd Street has had a crime wave in the early 2020s; watch your bag at night.
  • The 710 freeway is a heavy freight corridor and can fog over; allow extra time.
  • The Los Alamitos Traffic Circle is a complicated roundabout where PCH and Lakewood Blvd meet.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Long BeachLong Beach

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

Most countries have consulates in Los Angeles; check the address before you go.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • LGB → downtown, Route 111 bus: about $1.25, hourly (check)
  • LGB → downtown hotel, taxi: $30–40 one-way (check)
  • Metro A Line, downtown Long Beach → LA Union Station: $1.75, about 1 h (check)

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry (excuse me)
  • Thank you — Thank you (thank you)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (how much is it)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (can I pay by card)
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (where is the toilet)

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Long Beach. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat, coastal fog), Grand Prix weekend in April · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LGB: Route 111 bus times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: downtown waterfront, Shoreline Village, Pine Avenue, East Village.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, El Dorado Regional Park) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Grand Prix and cruise-ship arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources