How to get around Long Beach for a day downtown? Combine walks between central attractions with Long Beach Transit for farther stops. Start at the Museum of Latin American Art, continue to the Aquarium of the Pacific, then choose the Long Beach Museum of Art or a waterfront loop.
The Museum of Latin American Art is about a 14-minute walk or a 3-minute drive from the Inn at 50 Long Beach Convention Center.
- Morning: Begin at the Museum of Latin American Art.
- Midday: Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific at 100 Aquarium Way.
- Afternoon: Choose the Long Beach Museum of Art’s Ocean location or follow the downtown walking loop.
- Getting around: Walk in the central area, or use Long Beach Transit and its First Street Transit Gallery to connect with other routes.
MorningStart with a Downtown Museum
The Museum of Latin American Art makes a practical first stop for a downtown Long Beach itinerary.
Give the museum the first part of your day, then head toward the waterfront for the aquarium. The walk to the museum gives you a straightforward starting point without needing to begin the day with a transit connection. For background on the visit and what to expect, see this guide to the Museum of Latin American Art.
The route facts support a walk to the museum, but do not establish a specific travel time between the museum and the aquarium. Check the route that suits your plans before setting out between them.
MiddayAquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. Its galleries include sea otters, sharks, sea jellies and frogs, as well as exhibits in the Tropical, Northern and Southern California galleries.
General admission costs $49.95 for adults, $34.95 for children ages 3–11 and $46.95 for seniors ages 62 and older. Reservations are required on weekends and holidays. Parking is available in two structures a short walk away, at a price of $8. Before you go, check the official site for the aquarium’s current admission and visit details.
Leave room in the day for the waterfront after your visit. The aquarium is one of the stops on the Downtown walking loop, which also connects to Shoreline Village and other downtown areas. The Aquarium of the Pacific visitor guide covers the attraction in more detail.
AfternoonChoose a Museum or Waterfront Stop
For an afternoon art visit, head to the Long Beach Museum of Art’s Ocean location at 2300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90803.
The campus includes oceanfront gardens, an exhibition pavilion with two floors of gallery space, and the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson house and carriage house, built in 1912. Admission costs $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors over age 62 with current ID; members and children under 12 enter free.
Hours are listed as Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., though listings differ on Thursday. Check the museum’s official site before planning around its hours. Long Beach Transit route 121 stops directly in front of the Ocean location.
If you would rather keep the afternoon outdoors, follow the Downtown walking loop. It connects the Promenade, The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, Shoreline Drive, the waterfront, the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village.
That makes it easy to pair a waterfront stroll with the aquarium area without adding another museum stop. For collection and visit details, read this guide to the Long Beach Museum of Art.
Getting Between Stops and Adjusting the Route
Walking works well for the central stops, while Long Beach Transit can help you reach locations farther along the coast or connect across downtown. The First Street Transit Gallery sits on First Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, connects with most Long Beach Transit routes and links with the Metro A Line.
A single Long Beach Transit bus fare is $1.25, payable with exact cash or a preloaded TAP card. For the Long Beach Museum of Art’s Ocean location, route 121 stops directly in front.
Routes 181 and 182 run between Downtown Long Beach and Wardlow Station, while routes 91, 92, 93 and 94 run between Downtown Long Beach and 7th Street. Route 121 serves Ocean, CSULB and Outer Circle; route 151 serves 4th Street and Colorado Lagoon.
On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the free Passport bus serves downtown stops including Pine Avenue, Shoreline Village and the Queen Mary. It runs every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Long Beach Transit provides current route schedules and service alerts.
To adjust the day, keep the morning museum and aquarium together, then choose either the Ocean museum or the walking loop for the afternoon. The route options let you tailor the plan without trying to fit every stop into one day.
FAQs
Can you explore downtown Long Beach on foot?
Yes. The Downtown walking loop connects central waterfront spots, including the Promenade, The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, Shoreline Drive, the aquarium and Shoreline Village.
Does Long Beach Transit serve the Long Beach Museum of Art?
Yes. Route 121 stops directly in front of the museum’s Ocean location.
When does the free Passport bus run?
The Passport runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check Long Beach Transit for current service information.
Do you need aquarium reservations?
Reservations are required on weekends and holidays. Check the aquarium’s official site for current visit details.