More about: Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles Tickets
If you are visiting the West Coast of the United States with your family, one of the best things to do in Los Angeles is to visit the Long Beach Aquarium, one of the largest in the country and a natural reserve of marine fauna from the icy waters of the North Pacific Ocean.
Located in Long Beach, 32 kilometres from downtown Los Angeles and in the metropolitan area of the city, it is also noted for its exhibits on the coral reefs of the tropical Pacific, the shark pond of the Shark Lagoon exhibit and the friendly Magellanic penguins.
Los Angeles Aquarium of the Pacific Tickets
A skip-the-line tour of all the exhibits at California's largest aquarium
On a family-friendly, interactive journey, you'll experience the tropical coral reefs, the sharks of Shark Lagoon and Magellanic penguins, and the underwater realms of Pacific Visions.
You can tour the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles on a skip-the-line tour with access to all the interactive exhibits, including 4D movies and tickets to Pacific Visions, an immersive theatre with a 10-metre-high screen and 300 seats to immerse yourself in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Definitely one of the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids
The Long Beach Aquarium also includes the Culmination Gallery, where you can explore and learn about marine wildlife in temporary exhibits and at game tables for visitors of all ages.
Recommended if... You're visiting Los Angeles with family or kids and are looking for alternative plans in the city.
How much do tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium cost in Los Angeles?
General admission tickets for adults over the age of 12 cost approximately 38 euros, while children between the ages of 3 and 11 cost approximately 27 euros, as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
Children under the age of 3 are free and adults over the age of 62 pay an entrance fee of approximately 34 euros.
You can also opt for the aquarium ticket with the 45-minute Long Beach harbour tour, where you can take a boat ride in Los Angeles. These tickets cost approximately 49 euros for adults, 32 euros for children and 43 euros for adults over 62.
If you choose the option that includes entrance to the Long Beach Aquarium and a boat trip to see dolphins, whales and sharks, the entrance fee for adults is 72 euros, 57 euros for children and 68 euros for adults over 62.
The most complete option and the best value for money is the combined ticket to the Long Beach Aquarium and the Los Angeles Zoo. It costs 50 euros for adults over 12 and 38 euros for children between the ages of 3 and 11. You do not need to visit both attractions on the same day.
Details of interest
- Approximate general admission to the aquarium... 38 euros for adults over 12, 27 euros for children aged 3-11 and 34 euros for adults over 62.
- Approximate price of admission to the aquarium with Long Beach Harbour Tour... 49 euros for adults over 12 years old, 32 euros for children between 3 and 11 years old and 43 euros for adults over 62 years old.
- Approximate price of the entrance to the aquarium with whale watching boat trip... 72 euros for adults over 12 years old, 57 euros for children between 3 and 11 years old and 68 euros for adults over 62 years old.
- Approximate price of admission to the aquarium together with the Los Angeles Zoo ticket... 50 euros for adults over 12 years old and 38 euros for children between 3 and 11 years old.
- Aquarium opening hours... Open daily from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.
- Aquarium location... 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, Los Angeles.
What kind of tickets are available for the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles? Are there skip the line tickets?
You can choose between different types of tickets, which will be combined with other activities. In addition to the general admission ticket, which gives you access to the aquarium only, you can also choose the aquarium entrance ticket along with a 45-minute tour of Long Beach Harbour.
If you want to cruise the open water, you can choose the option that includes entrance to the Long Beach Aquarium and the boat ride for whale, shark and dolphin watching. Please note that whale watching is not guaranteed on these tours, although you will have a better chance if you are visiting Los Angeles in the summer.
The most value for money type of ticket is the one that includes access to the Long Beach Aquarium as well as admission to the Los Angeles Zoo, at a price that will save you time and money.
Plus, you don't have to visit both places on the same day, so you can take your time at each and plan your visit by organising an itinerary that fits your travel schedule.
Are tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles included in any of the city's sightseeing passes?
Tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific are included in the Go City Los Angeles Tourist Pass , with which you can visit, in addition to the aquarium, more than 40 attractions in the 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days pass in the All Inclusive mode or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions in the Explorer mode in a period of 60 days.
With this tourist card you can also visit other central attractions in the city, such as Legoland California or take a tour of Warner Bros Studios in Los Angeles.
The price of the tourist pass depends on the chosen mode but it has an initial cost of 99 euros.
Keep in mind that to get the most out of your Go City Los Angeles tourist pass, you must be willing to make an intensive tour of the city or it will also be useful if you have planned a tour of a few days. If that's the case, here's a list of things to do in Los Angeles for a 3-day stay.
Are there tickets that include a guided tour of the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles and is it worth it?
There are no tickets that include a guided tour of the Long Beach Aquarium, but you don 't need to hire a guide to visit the exhibits either as all exhibits are signposted and interactive, so you can explore the facility on your own.
The game activities, 4D movies and immersive theatre have a pre-orientation room so you can get the most out of your visit.
There are also Aquarium staff at the entrances to the exhibits, but you won't need them to learn about the site, as is the case with guided tours of downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood tours.
On special occasions, the Long Beach Aquarium organises immersive experiences where visitors can interact with penguins, sea lions, sharks and stingrays for an extra charge. In these cases, visits to the special spaces will be conducted by the keepers, although guided tours will also not be offered.
Are there discounted tickets for the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles?
Discounted tickets are available for children between the ages of 3 and 11, paying approximately ¤27 for general admission, and for adults over the age of 62, for a starting cost of ¤34.
If you are planning to visit Los Angeles over Christmas, you can also access discounted rates on Christmas Eve.
These discounts are also available for tickets for the aquarium and Long Beach harbour tour, for tickets for the aquarium and whale-watching boat tour, and for combined tickets to the aquarium and the Los Angeles Zoo, although with some special features.
In the case of the Long Beach Aquarium/Los Angeles Zoo combo ticket, adults over 12 years of age pay a single fee. Discounts are only available for children between the ages of 3 and 11.
Are there special children's tickets?
There are no special children's tickets for activities, as the aquarium is a family-friendly attraction, although children between the ages of 3 and 11 receive discounts on all types of tickets available.
Children also receive discounted tickets for special activities such as interacting with penguins, sea lions, rays and sharks, as well as for the temporary exhibits you can visit at the Aquarium if you plan to travel to Los Angeles in the winter
Children under 3 years old can enter the Aquarium for free, although please note that all children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Why is it worth buying tickets online rather than at the ticket office?
If you are planning to visit Los Angeles during the summer or peak season months and have already decided to visit the aquarium, I recommend that you book your tickets in advance online to avoid delays at the box office and last-minute price increases.
The Long Beach Aquarium also requires visitors to indicate on their reservation the time of visit on their chosen date, so booking in advance will ensure that you can secure the time you want to visit that best suits your travel plans.
This option may be ideal if you are combining a visit to the aquarium with a tour of LA's celebrity homes or a helicopter tour of the city.
Opening hours of the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles
The aquarium is open daily from 9am to 6pm, with the last entrance at 5pm.
During the aquarium's opening hours you can visit all exhibits and participate in immersive experiences with no maximum length of stay.
Aquarium hours do not change during the summer or winter seasons, so if you are planning your trip to the city, the time of your visit to Los Angeles will not alter your itinerary.
Please note that if you are travelling to the city during the Christmas season, the Long Beach Aquarium will be closed on December 25th.
How much time do you need to visit the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles?
The answer depends on the number of activities you want to do at the aquarium, the type of ticket you buy - if it includes the tour of the vast Long Beach harbour it adds up to almost an hour - and the time you spend in the interactive activities, but with general admission you can tour the aquarium in about 3 hours.
Visiting time also depends on the pace of your tour. The Los Angeles Long Beach Aquarium occupies an area of over two hectares, so you will have to walk along the way and almost certainly stop for a break.
When is the best time to visit the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles?
The aquarium has a microclimate where tropical coral reefs coexist with Magellanic penguins, but if you plan to travel to Los Angeles during the summer, one of the best times to visit the city, you can enjoy a pleasant boat ride in clear skies and pleasant weather.
If you visit Los Angeles during the winter and opt for the aquarium ticket, which also includes whale watching, you will have a better chance of encountering sharks or blue whales, as this is the time of the annual migration.
How to get to the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles?
The Long Beach Aquarium is located 20 miles from downtown, so you'll need to opt for public transportation or Los Angeles hop-on-hop-off tour buses.
If you choose the public bus, you can use the 28, 33, 44 or 76 lines and then combine with the Red, Purple and Blue Metro lines to the Downtown Long Beach station. The most direct option with the fewest public transport combinations is to take the 51 bus and then the Metro Blue line to Downtown Long Beach.
If you opt for the tour buses you can get on at stops in downtown suburban Los Angeles and get off at the Long Beach Aquarium station.
What you can't miss at the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles
The Long Beach Aquarium is one of the largest in the United States and also one of the most important in California, so you can discover in its facilities from tropical coral reefs that are endangered in nature to a pond full of sharks or Magellanic penguins.
You can't miss the immersive theatre with its 4D films, 10-metre screens and 300 seats that perfectly recreate the atmosphere of the underwater fauna in an unmissable experience with 360° images and surround sound.
Tips for visiting the Long Beach Aquarium in Los Angeles
If you are planning to visit Los Angeles during the summer months or high season, I advise you to book early to avoid delays and last-minute price increases.
If you plan to travel with children, don't miss out on the immersive theatre and the combo that includes a visit to the city zoo, as you can complete the experience while saving time and money. If you want to include another natural adventure, you can visit the Echo Park in Los Angeles.