How many days do I need?
Two to four full days cover the highlights at a comfortable pace for most travellers.
🇨🇳 China travel guide
Asia · Eastern AsiaCity BreakHistory & Culture
Beijing Travel Guide
Things to do in Beijing — Forbidden City gates, hutong alleys and Peking duck rituals
Why visit Beijing
Beijing layers imperial grandeur onto everyday hutong life — dawn tai chi beside Temple of Heaven, afternoons inside the Forbidden City's vermilion walls, and evenings of Peking duck carved tableside in century-old restaurants. Great Wall day trips, contemporary art in 798 District and some of China's most refined regional cuisines make the capital far more than a political centre.
Beijing is a stop in China, not a country-in-a-weekend. Plan about 3 days. If time is short, prioritise Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Badaling), Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square instead of racing the whole list. Mid-range ground costs are about 50–130 USD per person per day, excluding international flights. Best time: April–May and September–October for clear skies and mild temperatures. Rankings, stay length and cost bands on this page come from Global Itinerary’s trip-planning models.
Best time
April–May and September–October for clear skies and mild temperatures
Weather
Continental monsoon — hot humid summers; cold dry winters; spring sandstorms possible
Airport
Beijing Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX)
Getting around
Yikatong transit card; metro covers most sights; hire car/driver for Great Wall
Experiences
Things to do in Beijing
1
Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Badaling)
2
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
3
Tiananmen Square
4
Temple of Heaven
5
Summer Palace
6
Hutong rickshaw or walking tour
7
Lama Temple (Yonghe)
8
798 Art District
Budget travel
Free things to do in Beijing
Tiananmen Square
Temple of Heaven
Hutong rickshaw or walking tour
Lama Temple (Yonghe)
798 Art District
Confucius Temple & Imperial Academy
Mostly free or pay-what-you-like — always double-check opening times and any seasonal fees before you go.
Plan your trip
Beijing itinerary (3 days)
- 1
Day 1
Icons & landmarks
- Visit Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Badaling)
- Visit Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
- Visit Tiananmen Square
- 2
Day 2
Culture & neighborhoods
- Visit Temple of Heaven
- Visit Summer Palace
- Visit Hutong rickshaw or walking tour
- 3
Day 3
More highlights
- Visit Lama Temple (Yonghe)
- Visit 798 Art District
Prefer a full 5-day trip with costs and FAQs? Read the Beijing itinerary guide.
Budget
Beijing trip cost
Budget
USD 25–45
per person / day
Mid-range
USD 50–130
per person / day
Luxury
USD 150–245+
per person / day
Typical on-the-ground spend in Beijing, China. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury. Figures exclude international flights.
Trip budget estimator
Typical mid-range for Beijing
Estimated total (USD)
$2,145
≈ $1,073 per person · $306 per day group total
Ground costs ≈ $90/person/day (lodging + food + transport + activities)
Defaults match Beijing mid-range ground costs (budget 25–45 · mid 50–130 · luxury 150–245+ USD/day). Edit freely — flights vary by origin.
Where to eat
Local favourites
- $$$$
Jing Yaa Tang
Peking duck · Opulent duck ceremony at The Opposite House
- $$
Dali Courtyard
Yunnan · Hutong courtyard favourite for cross-bridge noodles
- $$$$
TRB Hutong
Modern European · Temple-restaurant fine dining near Forbidden City
- $$$
Duck de Chine
Peking duck · 1949 The Hidden City duck specialist
Where to stay
Tourist favourites & top-rated
- $$$$
The Peninsula Beijing
Wangfujing · Classic luxury on the Golden Resources shopping strip
- $$$$
Aman at Summer Palace
Summer Palace · Imperial garden resort beside UNESCO palace grounds
- $$$$
Hotel Éclat Beijing
Parkview Green · Private-art-collection boutique in avant-garde pyramid
Shopping
- Wangfujing Street
- Silk Market
- Panjiayuan Antique Market
- Sanlitun Taikoo Li
Nightlife
- Sanlitun bar street
- Houhai lake bars
- 798 art district openings
- Acrobatics at Chaoyang Theatre
Museums & culture
- Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
- National Museum of China
- Capital Museum
Local foods to try
- Peking duck
- Jianbing street crepe
- Zhajiangmian noodles
- Mongolian hot pot
Hidden gems
- Drum and Bell Towers hutong views
- Confucius Temple & Imperial Academy
- Mutianyu Great Wall (less crowded)
Travel tips
- Book Forbidden City tickets online — daily capacity limits apply
- Download VPN before arrival if you need Western apps
- Air quality varies — check AQI and plan outdoor days accordingly
In pictures
Beijing gallery
Photos: N509FZ, Han Zheng, xiquinhosilva, Reinhold Möller Ermell — via Wikimedia Commons
Good to know
Beijing travel FAQs
What are the best things to do in Beijing?
Top picks in Beijing include Great Wall of China (Mutianyu or Badaling), Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven. See the full list and itinerary on this Beijing travel guide.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
April–May and September–October for clear skies and mild temperatures.
How many days do I need in Beijing?
Plan at least 3 days in Beijing for the highlights on our suggested itinerary; add more time for day trips.
Where should I stay in Beijing?
Popular stays in Beijing include The Peninsula Beijing, Aman at Summer Palace, Hotel Éclat Beijing. Book central areas if you want to walk to major sights.
How much does a trip to Beijing cost?
On the ground in Beijing (excluding international flights), budget travellers often spend about 25–45 per person per day, mid-range about 50–130, and luxury about 150–245+ (USD). Typical on-the-ground spend in Beijing, China. Hostel/guesthouse + local meals ≈ budget; comfortable hotels + mix of dining ≈ mid-range; luxury hotels and fine dining ≈ luxury.
Keep exploring
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