Beijing Travel Guide: Plan Your Trip to China’s Capital

Last updated: February 2026

Beijing is one of the best starting points for a China trip — it's home to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and some of the country's best street food, while being surprisingly easy to navigate independently.

Plan 3–4 days to see the highlights at a comfortable pace: one day for the historic center (Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven), one for hutong walks and local life, and one for a Great Wall day trip to Mutianyu.

Stay near Guomao for the most convenient metro connections, or in Dongcheng's hutong area for a more atmospheric experience. Spring and autumn offer the best weather, but Beijing rewards visitors year-round.

Beijing is a city of contrasts — ancient temples meet futuristic skylines, and hidden hutongs sit beside palaces and parks.

This guide covers everything you need to plan your trip smoothly: how to get around, where to stay, when to visit, and practical tips for traveling independently or with kids.

Why Visit Beijing

If you are planning a trip to China you might be wondering whether you should start in Beijing or Shanghai. While both are good starting point, Beijing remains our one of our favourite cities in China, which is why I highly recommend starting your trip there.

Some reasons you might want to visit Beijing:

• Home to world-famous landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall
• Rich history, vibrant food scene, and family-friendly attractions
• Excellent transport connections — a perfect starting point for any China trip

👉 See What to Do in Beijing for top sights and Beijing Itinerary for ready-made day-by-day plans.

Best Time to Visit

We visited Beijing in different seasons, unfortunately never in the „perfect time“.

While I encourage you to use weather as an important factor in making your decision — heat can be daunting in the summer, trust me — from our experience we have found that you can enjoy the city any time of the year.

• Spring (April–May): Mild weather, blooming parks
• Autumn (Sept–Oct): Clear skies, perfect for photos
• Winter: Cold but fewer crowds
• Summer: Hot, humid, busy — plan early starts

🌟Tip: The National Day week (Oct 1–7) and Chinese New Year are peak domestic travel periods.

How to Get to Beijing

• ✈️ By air: Beijing Capital (PEK) and Beijing Daxing (PKX) airports connect to major global hubs
• 🚄 By train: High-speed trains link Beijing with Xi’an, Chengdu, and Shanghai
• 🚕 By DiDi or metro: get to the city from airport/train station

Getting Around Beijing

Beijing has the most extensive metro system in the world, so majority of points of interest are easiest accessed by metro. However, sometimes it might be more convenient to use DiDi (Chinese Uber) — always worth checking in advance.

• Metro: Fast, cheap, easy; use AliPay QR for tickets
• DiDi app: English interface for taxis
• Walking: Many attractions are clustered near Tian’anmen
• Public transport card: Rechargeable via app — convenient for families

💡 Don’t forget: Always carry your passport for ticket checks at attractions.

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Where to Stay in Beijing

Different neighborhoods suit different travelers:

• Wangfujing / Dongcheng: Central, walkable, great for first-timers
• Chaoyang: Modern, international hotels, family-friendly
• Hutong areas (Nanluoguxiang): Boutique stays with local charm
• Xicheng: Near parks and temples, quieter vibe

👉 Full hotel guide → Where to Stay in Beijing

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What to Eat in Beijing

Unlike Chongqing and Chengdu where delicious food is simply staring at you at every corner, finding food spots to eat is more challenging.

When walking around hutongs, you will find a lot of street food options — if you don‘t see anythig interesting I recommend using Amap — you can simply type the name of food you want to eat in the search function in the app and it will find eateries near by with reviews and photos.

Our favourite Beijing foods:

• Peking Duck: We tried in a random restaurant near Qianmen Pedestrian street (which was quite tasty anyway!), but research and book in advance for a perfect experience!
• Jianbing: Breakfast crepes from street vendors
• Zhajiangmian: Very popular Beijing noodles with thick sauce and fresh veg

Top Experiences in Beijing

Beijing is a big city with plenty of things to do for every taste.

Things you shouldn‘t miss:

• Lively parks
• Gentrified hutongs
• Beijing Opera
• Modern side of Beijing

Main tourist attractions in the city include:

• Forbidden City
• Temple of Heaven
• Summer Palace
• Great Wall at Mutianyu
• Hutong walks
• Houhai Lake
• Kung Fu or acrobatics show
• Local markets & tea houses

For more things to do beyond the standard guidebook recommendations, read my article about things to do in Beijing:

📍 Full attraction list → Things to Do in Beijing

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Beijing Itinerary Ideas

How long you spend in Beijing depends on your pace and interests — even one day offers a taste of the city’s charm, but three to four days let you experience its full rhythm.

• 1 Day: Focus on atmosphere rather than sightseeing. Take a hutong walk from Houhai Lake to Lama Temple, then explore Qianmen Street and try local street food in the evening.
• 2 Days: See Beijing’s highlights — Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, and Jingshan Park — then unwind in Ritan Park or the 798 Art District.
• 3 Days: Add a Great Wall day trip (Mutianyu is the easiest section to reach) or visit the Summer Palace for classic imperial scenery.
• 4 Days: Spend your extra time exploring Chaoyang Park, the Lama Temple, and the Financial District skyline by night.
• 5+ Days: Slow down and explore neighborhoods at your own pace, or take a side trip to Tianjin, Qingdao, or stay overnight near the Great Wall.

👉 For detailed daily plans and route suggestions, read my full Beijing Itinerary.

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Family Travel Tips

From personal experience, Beijing is a fantastic family destination — one of the best we've found anywhere.

Beijing is a distinctively Chinese city with plenty opportunities for kids to learn about the culture. Getting around the city is easy, and there are plenty of things to enjoy for the whole family.

Some points that are worth highlighting:

• Public toilets are free and easy to find, but they vary in in cleanness — best to look for one in shopping malls, main tourist attractions and metro stations
• Locals are very friendly to families and helpful — and they love babies. They might want to take pictures of your kids or with them so if you or your kids are uncomfortable with that you need to indicate it strongly
• Metro stations vary in accessibility so if traveling with a baby or toddler, consider swapping a stroller for a carrier
• Consider allowing some downtime in parks or indoor playgrounds

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Practical Information

• Visa: Check entry requirements or 144-hour visa-free transit rules
• Money: Cards rarely accepted; use WeChat Pay or AliPay with foreign card setup
• SIM/eSIM: Airalo or China Unicom
• VPN: Recommended for Google, WhatsApp, Instagram
• Apps: WeChat, Didi, Maps.me, MetroMan

FAQs

Q: Is Beijing worth visiting? 
A: Absolutely. Beijing is one of the world's great capitals — home to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and centuries of history. But what makes it truly special is the everyday life: morning tai chi in parks, street food in hutong alleyways, and a modern city that's changing at incredible speed. We've visited multiple times and it remains our favorite city in China.

Q: How many days do you need in Beijing? 
A: 3–4 days is ideal for first-time visitors. That gives you one day for the historic center (Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven), one for hutongs and local life, and one for a Great Wall day trip. With 5+ days you can explore neighborhoods at your own pace or add day trips to Tianjin. Even 1–2 days is worthwhile if you focus on atmosphere over sightseeing. See our detailed Beijing itinerary for day-by-day plans.

Q: Is Beijing safe for tourists? 
A: Very safe. Beijing has low crime rates and well-monitored public areas. The main nuisance is persistent street vendors near tourist sites. Public transport is clean and efficient, and locals are generally helpful — especially to families with children. We've traveled there with our young daughters multiple times and always felt completely safe.

Q: Can I visit the Great Wall from Beijing in one day? 
A: Yes. Mutianyu is the best section for a day trip — it's well-restored, less crowded than Badaling, and offers a cable car up and toboggan down. Leave early (around 7 AM) and plan to spend 3–4 hours at the wall. Badaling is the easiest to reach but very crowded. Jinshanling offers dramatic photography but requires more travel time.

Q: What is the best area to stay in Beijing? 
A: For first-time visitors, Guomao in the Chaoyang district offers the best mix of comfort, metro connectivity, and dining options. For a more historic experience, Dongcheng near the Forbidden City puts you walking distance from major landmarks. See our full Beijing hotel guide for neighborhood comparisons and hotel recommendations.

Q: Do I need a visa to visit Beijing? 
A: Many nationalities can now visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under the expanded visa-free policy (as of 2025). Beijing also offers 144-hour visa-free transit for travelers continuing to a third country. Check the latest requirements for your nationality in our visa-free travel guide.

Q: Is Beijing good for families with kids? 
A: It's excellent. Parks and playgrounds are everywhere, locals adore children, public transport is clean and accessible, and there are plenty of kid-friendly activities from indoor playgrounds to museum exhibitions. The main challenge is managing energy on hot summer days — plan indoor activities during peak heat. Read our full Beijing with kids guide for specific recommendations.

Q: What food should I try in Beijing? 
A: Don't leave without trying Peking Duck (book a restaurant in advance for the best experience), jianbing (savory breakfast crepes from street vendors), and zhajiangmian (thick noodles with soybean paste sauce). For food hunting beyond the obvious, use the Amap app to search for nearby restaurants with local reviews and photos.

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Where to Go Next from Beijing

Beijing connects easily to other destinations by high-speed train, making it a natural starting point for a multi-city China itinerary.

🚄 Xi'an — 4.5 hours The Terracotta Warriors, ancient city walls, and the buzzing Muslim Quarter make Xi'an the most popular second stop after Beijing. It's a natural pairing and the route most first-timers follow.

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🚄 Shanghai — 4.5 hours China's most cosmopolitan city. Great skyline views and international food scene, though we found it less distinctively Chinese than Beijing.

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🚄 Chengdu — 7.5 hours (or 2h flight) Giant pandas, incredible Sichuan food, and a relaxed pace of life. Perfect if you have 2+ weeks in China.

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🚄 Tianjin — 30 minutes An easy day trip with European-style architecture and riverside walks.