Dongcheng
First-timersHutongs near the Forbidden City.
Beijing city guide
Things To Do In Beijing
The Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, hutong alleys and the Great Wall an hour away. The capital of six centuries of emperors, and the best Peking duck on earth.
29
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 4,822 reviews
1420
The Forbidden City completed
1 h
To the Great Wall
6
UNESCO sites in and around the city
Six centuries of emperors
Beijing has been the capital of China for most of the last eight hundred years, and the Ming and Qing emperors left it the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Great Wall runs through the mountains to the north.
Around the imperial core, the hutongs, narrow alleys of courtyard houses, still survive in pockets, and they are the best way to see how Beijing lives.
The city is huge, flat and well served by the metro. Four days is right, with a day for the Wall.
Where to stay
Dongcheng, around the hutongs north and east of the Forbidden City, is the most atmospheric base, with courtyard hostels in the lanes around Nanluoguxiang and Gulou. Wangfujing is central and convenient for the metro. Sanlitun, in the east, has the bars, clubs and international restaurants.
Wangfujing
Being centralShopping streets and the metro.
Sanlitun
NightlifeBars and clubs.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Beijing
Beijing has been China's capital for most of the last 800 years, and its imperial monuments are among the greatest in the world.
The Forbidden City, the palace of 24 emperors completed in 1420, has 980 surviving buildings; tickets must be booked online in advance with your passport, numbers are capped and it is closed on Mondays. Climb Jingshan Park, behind it, for the view over its golden roofs. Tiananmen Square, in front, needs a separate free reservation and security check.
The Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for good harvests, sits in a park full of people doing tai chi, dancing and playing cards in the morning. The Summer Palace, a lakeside imperial garden, and the Lama Temple, a working Tibetan Buddhist monastery, are other highlights.
Walk or cycle the hutongs, old alleyways of courtyard houses, around Houhai lake and the Drum and Bell Towers.
The Great Wall is about 1.5 hours away: Mutianyu is restored, with a cable car and toboggan, and Jinshanling and Simatai are wilder and less crowded. Go on a weekday, early.
More on things to do in Beijing
Free things
Free things to do in Beijing
The hutongs, Houhai lake and the morning life in the parks are free. Tiananmen Square is free with a reservation.
Jingshan Park, the Temple of Heaven park and Beihai Park charge only small entry fees, under €2, and are the best value in the city. Watching the flag-raising ceremony at dawn in Tiananmen Square is free with a booking.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Beijing
Peking duck, roasted until the skin is crisp and carved at the table, eaten with thin pancakes, spring onion and sweet sauce, is Beijing's signature; famous restaurants include Quanjude and Siji Minfu, and cheaper local places do it well too.
Jianbing, a crepe with egg, crispy cracker and sauce, is the street breakfast. Zhajiangmian, noodles with fermented bean sauce, and jiaozi, dumplings, are everyday food. In winter, try hot pot or lamb hot pot, shuan yangrou.
A street meal is €2 to €5; a duck dinner €15 to €30.
Nightlife
Going out in Beijing
Sanlitun has Beijing's main bar and club district, with craft beer and cocktail bars. The hutong bars around Gulou and Nanluoguxiang are smaller and more relaxed, and Houhai's lakeside bars have live music.
A beer is €2 to €6; craft beer more.
Getting around
Getting around Beijing
The metro reaches everywhere, with signs in English. Didi, the ride-hailing app, has an English version.
The Airport Express runs from Capital Airport, and the Daxing Airport Express from Daxing. High-speed trains reach Shanghai in about four and a half hours and Xi'an in about four and a half; book on the 12306 app or Trip.com with your passport.
For the Great Wall, buses run to Mutianyu, but a driver or tour is easier for Jinshanling.
Costs
What Beijing costs
Beijing is mid-priced. Dorms start around €12 and a careful day is €35 to €50.
The Forbidden City is about €7, the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace €4 to €8, and Mutianyu about €5 plus the cable car. A metro ride is under €1.
The currency is the yuan (CNY), at roughly 8 yuan to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. Almost everyone pays by phone: set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you arrive, and carry some cash as a backup.
Safety
Staying safe in Beijing
Beijing is very safe, with little street crime.
Watch for the tea-house scam, where friendly strangers, often posing as art students, invite you for tea and leave you a huge bill. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked; use an eSIM with international roaming, and Amap or Baidu Maps for directions. Carry your passport: it is needed for trains, hotels and many sights, which are booked by real name.
Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, under a scheme extended to the end of 2026, and 240-hour visa-free transit covers many more; check the rules for your passport before you travel.
Emergency: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.
Day trips from Beijing
The Great Wall, imperial tombs and a summer resort.
Mutianyu
The Great Wall with a cable car and toboggan.
Jinshanling
A wilder section of the Wall.
Chengde
The imperial summer resort.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Temple fairs fill the parks at Chinese New Year.
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30 Sep – 6 Oct
China Open Tennis Tournament
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18 October
Beijing MarathonCCC
The Beijing International Marathon is a prestigious annual race that has drawn runners from around the world since 1981. Starting at the iconic Tiananmen…
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17 October
World Triathlon Cup Beijing
The World Triathlon Cup Beijing brings elite triathletes from around the globe to China, for a thrilling test of endurance and skill over the…
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30 Oct – 8 Nov
Beijing Queer Film Festival
The Beijing Queer Film Festival, also known as Love Queer Cinema Week, is China’s longest-running grassroots LGBTQIA+ film event, founded in 2001. Navigating strict…
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1–6 December
World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)
The World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) brings together the world’s top swimmers for a thrilling showcase of speed and skill in a 25-meter pool.…
4–5 October
Zhou Chuanxiong
Steve Chou, known as the "Godfather of Love Songs," brings his upgraded "Unforgettable, Reunion Plus" stadium tour to Beijing. His catalog spans generations of…
6–7 October
F4
F4 was formed in 2001 following the success of the iconic Taiwanese series Meteor Garden, and now Jerry Yan, Vanness Wu, and Vic Chou…
11 October
Haidian Marathon
The Haidian Marathon 2026 invites runners to experience a full marathon that highlights the urban charm of Haidian, including classical gardens and tech zones.…
Hostels
Where to stay in Beijing
The top-rated places to stay in Beijing right now, live from Hostelworld.
The Great Wall Box House
Dorms from €20 a night
See dates and book
Kelly's Courtyard
See dates and book
Peking Station Hostel
Dorms from €24 a night
See dates and book
Peking International Youth Hostel
Dorms from €23 a night
See dates and book
P.Loft Youth Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
When to go
April, May, September and October are best. Summers are hot, winters cold and dry. Avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year if you can, when the whole country travels.
Jan
Cold and dry
Feb
Spring Festival
Mar
Spring
Apr
Excellent
May
Excellent
Jun
Hot
Jul
Hot and wet
Aug
Hot
Sep
Excellent
Oct
Golden Week crowds
Nov
Cold
Dec
Cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in yuan locally; these are euro equivalents.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Beijing travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need to book the Forbidden City?
Yes, online in advance with your passport; tickets are capped and it is closed on Mondays.
Which part of the Great Wall?
Mutianyu for restored wall with a cable car; Jinshanling for wilder views. Go early on a weekday.
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for 30 days until the end of 2026; check your passport.
How do I pay?
By phone, with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; carry some cash.
How many days do you need?
Four.
When is the best time to visit?
April to May and September to October.
What should I eat?
Peking duck, jianbing and zhajiangmian.
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