Forbidden City
The Ming-Qing imperial palace. Book 1-2 weeks ahead; closed Mondays.
North China · Běijīng
Beijing Travel Guide
Beijing is the political and cultural heart of China and the city first-time visitors most often start with. It holds the country's two most famous sights — the Forbidden City and the Great Wall — and its rail hub makes it the natural first stop on any multi-city route. For a first China trip, Beijing is less a question of whether to visit than of how many days to give it.
The verdict
If you can only visit one city in China, make it Beijing. Give it three days, not two.
Beijing
Forbidden City and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
Quick facts
Beijing at a glance.
Region
North China
Best months
Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Suggested stay
3 days
Daily budget
$65-120
Travel style
history, family, photography
Top attraction
Forbidden City and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall
Rail access
Fast links to Xi’an, Shanghai, and Tianjin
Best for
First-time visitors who want imperial history and iconic landmarks.
Why visit
What makes Beijing worth the trip.
Beijing packs the highest concentration of world-famous sights into one city, is the easiest city for English speakers to navigate, and is the best rail hub for starting any multi-city route.
Best for: First-time visitors who want imperial history and iconic landmarks.
Skip Beijing if: You have already seen the Great Wall or dislike large, spread-out capitals with heavy traffic.
Season guide
When to go.
Beijing is best in April-May and September-October, when temperatures sit between 15-25°C and the sky is clearest. Summer (June-August) is hot and humid, with afternoon downpours and heavy domestic tourism. Winter (December-February) is dry, cold, and often hazy, but it brings the lowest crowds and cheapest hotels — the Forbidden City is genuinely pleasant on a quiet winter morning. Spring dust storms are rare but possible in March, so a mask is a sensible packing item.
Sweet spot
Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Budget
What Beijing costs per day.
A mid-range day in Beijing runs $65-120 per person: $45-70 for a decent hotel room, $10-20 for meals, $15-25 for attraction tickets, and $5-10 for the metro. The big ticket is the Mutianyu Great Wall combo ($25-35 with cable car). Budget travelers can cut this to about $45 by choosing hostels and street food; luxury stays near Wangfujing push past $150.
Mid-range day
$65-120
Suggested stay
3 days
Getting there
Arriving in Beijing.
Beijing has two international airports: Capital (PEK) for most international routes and Daxing (PKX) for many domestic and new international services. The Airport Express rail links both to the city center in 30-50 minutes. For overland travel, Beijing South station is the high-speed rail hub: about 4.5 hours to Xi'an, 4.5-5 hours to Shanghai, and 1 hour to Tianjin. The city metro (about $1 per ride) covers every major sight; buy a transit pass or use mobile payment at the gates.
Rail links
Fast links to Xi’an, Shanghai, and Tianjin
Getting around: The subway covers every major sight for about $1 a ride. Use a transit app or contactless phone payment; avoid taxis during rush hour.
Top attractions
The sights you came for.
Mutianyu Great Wall
Quieter than Badaling, with a cable car up and a toboggan ride down.
Temple of Heaven
Where emperors prayed for harvest; go early to see locals doing tai chi.
Summer Palace
A lakeside imperial garden on the city’s northwest edge.
Jingshan Park
Climb the hill behind the Forbidden City for the classic rooftop panorama.
Hutongs
Narrow alley neighborhoods; wander Nanluoguxiang or take a rickshaw ride.
Day by day
A realistic 3-day plan.
Paced so you see the headline sights without rushing. Times are estimates; book the Forbidden City and Terracotta Army slots ahead.
Day 1
Day 1: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, then Jingshan Park for the sunset view over the palace roofs.
Day 2
Day 2: Mutianyu Great Wall in the morning, back for a Peking duck dinner in the evening.
Day 3
Day 3: Temple of Heaven at sunrise, then a high-speed train to your next city.
Where to stay
Wangfujing for first-timers (walk to major sights), Qianmen for a historic feel, or Sanlitun for nightlife.
What to eat
Peking duck is the must (Siji Minfu or Quanjude), plus jianbing breakfast crepes and zhajiang noodles. Douzhi, a fermented bean drink, is the local dare.
Food highlights
Peking duck, jianbing, zhajiang noodles
Quick answers
Beijing FAQs.
The questions travelers ask about Beijing most, answered straight.
Which Great Wall section should I visit?
Mutianyu is the best choice for most first-time visitors: restored, less crowded than Badaling, with a cable car up and a toboggan down. Badaling is the most famous and most crowded section. If you have a full day and want fewer crowds plus wilder scenery, Jinshanling is the photographer's pick, about 2.5 hours from the city.
Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?
Yes. Book your timed entry slot 1-2 weeks ahead during peak season (April-October), and at least a few days in advance in winter. The palace is closed on Mondays. Bring your passport — it is checked against your booking.
How do I get around Beijing as a tourist?
The metro is the fastest and cheapest way: about $1 per ride, with English signs and announcements on all lines. Use a transit QR code via Alipay or WeChat Pay, or buy a single-journey ticket. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap but stuck in traffic at rush hour, so avoid them between 8-9am and 6-7pm.
Where should I stay in Beijing?
Wangfujing is the classic first-timer choice — walk to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen, and Jingshan Park. Qianmen offers a historic hutong feel with courtyard hotels, and Sanlitun is the pick for nightlife and restaurants. All three sit on the metro network, so any works well for a 3-day itinerary.
Keep the route going
Pair Beijing with these cities.
Still deciding?
Not sure Beijing is the right first stop?
Compare all 15 cities by budget, season, and rail links on the homepage, or take the two-minute city match quiz.