Where to Stay in Beijing: Best Areas and Hotels (2025)

Quick Summary

💰 Luxury Budget: $150+ per night
👍 Mid-Range: $50-$150 per night
🏠 Budget: Under $50 per night
🌟 Our Top Pick: Jen Beijing by Shangri-La
📍 Best Area: Guomao
⭐ Best Value: Beijing Guomao Jingsongqiao Ruibeiting Apartment Hotel
📷 Best Instagrammable: The Puxan Hotel and Spa
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Pick: Kerry Hotel
🏯 Best Heritage Hotel: Beijing Qianmen Courtyard Manxin Mansion

My top recommendation for Beijing is to stay near Guomao, a financial area with modern shops and spectacular views of Beijing's most famous building.

Our by far favourite hotel in Beijing is Jen by Shangri-La. It is perfect for first time visitors who want to ease in into their trip and hang out with the upper class Chinese and local expats.

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By now Beijing feels almost like home to us. Every adventure we had so far starts and ends there and on our last few trips, we've found ourselves returning to the same hotel.

Our absolute favourite is Jen By Shangri-La — not because it is objectively the best, but simply because it was the first hotel there we absolutely enjoyed and saw no reason to find a different one.

Looking for a hotel in a big city like Beijing can be daunting — which is why I want to save you the work I had to do so many times.

In this blog post, I combined a „Best of“ list based on my comprehensive Trip.com research, and I hope it can help you to find your „perfect one“.

Our Recommendation

Best Areas to Stay in Beijing

Best Luxury Hotels

Best Mid-Range Hotels

Best Budget Hotels

Best Hotels for Families

Where to Stay for First-Time Visitors

Tips for Booking Hotels

FAQs

Our Recommendation

1. Jen Beijing by Shangri-La ★★★★

We simply love this hotel — it feels like home to us by now. A combination of hip young vibe, great fitness facilities (swimming pool and gym), outstanding breakfast buffet, English speaking staff and location, makes it a place we love returning to.

Jen by Shangri-La

A combination of hip young vibe, great fitness facilities (swimming pool and gym), outstanding breakfast buffet, English speaking staff and location, makes it a place we love returning to.

Check rates and availability

Breakfast buffet - fresh Jianbing pancakes and traditional Beijng yoghurt

Quick Facts:

Price Range: From $150/night
Area: Guomao CBD
Metro: Guomao Station

What We Love:

Perfect location connected to mall and subway
Modern, well-designed rooms
Excellent gym and pool
Great breakfast with Western and Asian options
English speaking staff
Nearby %Arabica coffe in World China Mall

Room Tip: If you can afford it, I highly recommend one of the top floor rooms with panorama views.

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Best Areas to Stay in Beijing

While Beijing is a huge city, it is relatively easy for getting around — as you can see on the map below, it has a well-defined center with circural roads going around it (many Chinese cities are more spread out in one directions making getting around quite painful).

For that reason, if your budget allows you, I recommend staying as central as possible, close to the main attractions.

Depending on what kind of Beijing you want to experience more, you can pick between modern districts with high-rise buildings (like Guomao) or a low-key relaxed hutongs (e.g. near XiSi metro station).

1. Chaoyang District - Best for First-Time Visitors & Families

Why Stay in Chaoyang

Chaoyang is Beijing’s modern side. Here you’ll find tall office buildings, big shopping malls, and many embassies. It feels more international than the old hutongs and is very popular with expats.

Inside Chaoyang, I recommend Guomao, the Central Business District. It’s one of the best bases if you want comfort and convenience.

Guomao works well:

Direct access to Line 1 and Line 10 of the subway
Easy to reach Wangfujing, the Forbidden City, and the train stations
Hotels with larger rooms, good service, and international food options
Shopping and dining at your doorstep – China World Mall with high-end shops and lots of restaurants and cafes

👉 Best for: families, business travelers, and anyone who prefers a modern environment with easy transport.

Things to Do in Chaoyang

Sanlitun Bar Street – the main nightlife area in Beijing.
Taikoo Li Sanlitun – open-air shopping district with international and local brands.
798 Art District – modern art galleries and exhibitions in an old factory zone.
Chaoyang Park – large park with lakes, playgrounds, and bike rentals.

Pro Tips

Families will love the Kerry Hotel, one of the best hotels in Beijing for kids.
Sanlitun is lively but can be noisy at night. Guomao is quieter and better for sleeping.
Hotels in Chaoyang often have international breakfast buffets, which is useful if you’re traveling with children or want more choice.

🌟 Our Top Hotel Pick in Chaoyang:

Kerry Hotel - From $180/night

Why we love it: Amazing kids' club, family rooms, indoor pool
Best for: Families with young children
Notable amenities: Kids' pool, playground, babysitting service
🏨 Check rates and availability

2. Dongcheng District - Best for Culture & History

Why Stay in Dongcheng

Dongcheng is the heart of old Beijing. Many of the city’s most famous landmarks are here, including the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The district is also full of hutongs (traditional alleys), where you can see daily life in old-style courtyard houses.

Staying in Dongcheng means you can walk to many attractions and get a strong sense of Beijing’s history. It’s the best area if this is your first time in the city.

Dongcheng is a good choice:

Central location for sightseeing.
Walking distance to the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, and important museums.
Mix of luxury hotels, boutique courtyard stays, and budget hostels.
Plenty of restaurants, shops, and markets nearby.

👉 Best for: first-time visitors, history lovers, and anyone who wants to be close to the main attractions.

Things to Do in Dongcheng

Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square – Beijing’s most famous site, must-visit for all first-time travelers.
Jingshan Park – climb the hill for one of the best views over the Forbidden City.
Nanluoguxiang Hutong – lively hutong with cafés, shops, and street snacks.
Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong) – beautiful Tibetan Buddhist temple.
Confucius Temple & Imperial Academy – peaceful historic site with ancient cypress trees.

Pro Tips

Book Forbidden City tickets in advance (they often sell out).
Print your hotel address in Chinese for taxi drivers—many hutong hotels are hidden in small alleys.
Stay at least 2–3 nights in Dongcheng to enjoy the main sights without rushing.

🌟 Our Top Hotel Pick in Dongcheng:

Bejing Heyuanzhixin courtyard - From $150/night

Why we love it: Stunning Forbidden City views, luxury amenities
Best for: Luxury travelers, couples
Notable amenities: Rooftop bar, spa, fine dining
🏨 Check rates and availability

3. Xicheng District - Best for Local Experience

Why Stay in Xicheng

Xicheng is west of the Forbidden City and less touristy than Dongcheng. It’s a good place if you want to experience more of local Beijing life while still being close to the city center. The district has lakes, parks, historic temples, and many traditional hutongs. It feels quieter than Dongcheng but still very convenient.

Xicheng is a good choice:

Close to attractions but less crowded.
Famous for the Houhai Lakes and hutong nightlife.
Home to several cultural sites, including the Drum and Bell Towers.
Good mix of boutique hotels, courtyard stays, and local guesthouses.

👉 Best for: travelers who want a central location with a more relaxed atmosphere, couples, and repeat visitors.

Things to Do in Xicheng

Houhai Lake – walk around the lakes, rent a paddle boat, or enjoy the lively bars in the evening.
Drum and Bell Towers – climb up for views over the hutongs and catch the traditional drum performance.
Beihai Park – one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in Beijing.
Prince Gong’s Mansion – historic residence with gardens and courtyards.
Hutong walks – explore the smaller alleys around the lakes for cafés, street food, and local life.

Pro Tips

Houhai is lively at night, so choose a hotel a bit away from the bar street if you want quiet.
Xicheng works well for travelers who already saw the big attractions and want to enjoy a more local side of the city.

🌟 Our Top Hotel Pick in Xicheng

The Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street - From $190/night

Why we love it: Stunning Forbidden City views, luxury amenities
Best for: Luxury travelers, couples
Notable amenities: Rooftop bar, spa, fine dining
🏨 Check hotel availability

Best Luxury Hotels in Beijing

1. Aman Summer Palace ★★★★★

Perfect for luxury travelers who want to experience imperial Beijing

Quick Facts:

Price Range: From $620/night
Area: Summer Palace Area
Metro: Line 4, Beigongmen Station
Airport Transfer: 45 minutes by hotel car

Why Choose This Hotel:

Private access to Summer Palace before and after public hours
Traditional Chinese architecture and design
World-class spa with imperial healing treatments
Exceptional cultural experiences and tours

Best Room Types:

Deluxe Pavilion: Perfect for couples
- Size: 55 sqm
- View: Courtyard gardens
- Special features: Traditional Ming Dynasty-inspired décor
- Ideal for: Romantic getaways

2. Peninsula Beijing ★★★★★

Best luxury hotel in central Beijing

Quick Facts:

Price Range: From $290/night
Area: Wangfujing
Metro: Dengshikou Station
Airport Transfer: 40 minutes by hotel car

Why Choose This Hotel:

Recently renovated all-suite rooms
Perfect central location
Exceptional service
Amazing Cantonese restaurant