Beijing

Imperial courtyards and city parks

Last reviewed: 13 September 2026

Recommended stay: 3–4 days
Best time to visit: April to June and September to October
Airports: PEK · PKX

Beijing at a glance

Beijing is a vast capital of imperial courtyards, hutong lanes and planned wall days. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Jingshan Park, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, hutongs, Qianmen, Wangfujing, Mutianyu Great Wall and the National Stadium sit on subway clusters, with day trips to Mutianyu, Jinshanling, the Ming Tombs and the Summer Palace area. Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) are the catalogue airports. Reservations, walking distances, local mobile payments and offline maps shape the day more than a single landmark list.

Quick information

Recommended stay3–4 days

Best time to visitApril to June and September to October

AirportsPEK · PKX

Budget travelAccommodation and reserved wall days drive costs most strongly. Check current prices close to travel instead of relying on a fixed estimate.

Spring and early autumn suit courtyards, hutongs and wall paths. Summer is hot; keep indoor hours for museums and the stadium area. Winter is cold and can be windy on Jingshan and Mutianyu.

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Airport express and train

Capital Airport Express toward Dongzhimen and onward subway

Check the current airport-express or metro fareTransport

Must-see sights

Forbidden City

Tiananmen Square

Jingshan Park

Sights

One-day itinerary

Morning: reserved Forbidden City visit.
Afternoon: Tiananmen Square and Jingshan Park.
Evening: Qianmen without stacking the Temple of Heaven.

Itineraries

Best areas to stay

Qianmen / hutong edge
Qianmen
Central and practical. The Summer Palace needs a planned hop.
Best for
Walking to the square and Forbidden City
Wangfujing
Busy and well linked; Jingshan is a short hop.
Best for
Shopping and a first-night stay
Houhai / hutongs
Houhai
Useful with children in the evening; the Temple of Heaven needs a subway hop.
Best for
A quieter lane stay
Olympic Green edge
Olympic Green
Needs a subway hop for the Forbidden City.
Best for
The National Stadium and a north-city stay

Approximate budget

Budget
Varies
per day, per person
Simple rooms, snacks and subway; excludes travel to Beijing.
Mid-range
Varies
per day, per person
Comfortable room, restaurants, metro and selected palaces.
Comfort
Varies
per day, per person
Central stays, frequent dining, private transfers and a reserved wall day.

Airports

Last reviewed: 13 September 2026

PEK
Beijing Capital International Airport
28 km from city centre
PKX
Beijing Daxing International Airport
48 km from city centre

Airport to city transport

Last reviewed: 13 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

PEK

Airport express and trainPEKUsually the most practical public option from PEK. Confirm the current line and last services.
Capital Airport Express toward Dongzhimen and onward subway
Check the current airport-express or metro fare
Details
Usually the most practical public option from PEK. Confirm the current line and last services.
Airport busPEKUseful for luggage when a current stop suits the hotel better than a subway change.
Airport coaches toward selected city stops
Check the current operator fare
Details
Useful for luggage when a current stop suits the hotel better than a subway change.
TaxiPEKUseful for families, late PEK arrivals and hutong hotels. Use an official rank.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with traffic
Confirm the current official fare
Details
Useful for families, late PEK arrivals and hutong hotels. Use an official rank.
Private transferPEKUseful for groups, child seats and Mutianyu departures. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups, child seats and Mutianyu departures. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

PKX

Airport express and trainPKXUsually the most practical public option from PKX. Confirm the current line and last services.
Daxing Airport Express toward Caoqiao and onward subway
Check the current airport-express or metro fare
Details
Usually the most practical public option from PKX. Confirm the current line and last services.
Airport busPKXUseful when a current stop suits luggage better than the express interchange.
Airport coaches toward selected city stops
Check the current operator fare
Details
Useful when a current stop suits luggage better than the express interchange.
TaxiPKXUseful for families and south-city stays. Use an official rank. Journeys are longer than from PEK.
Door-to-door journey; time varies with traffic
Confirm the current official fare
Details
Useful for families and south-city stays. Use an official rank. Journeys are longer than from PEK.
Private transferPKXUseful for groups and child seats. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.
Pre-booked door-to-door journey
Confirm the complete quoted price
Details
Useful for groups and child seats. Confirm meeting point and delay terms.

Getting around

Last reviewed: 13 September 2026

OptionTimePrice

Subway and walkingThe Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan are a long walking day. The Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace each need their own hop. Download an offline map before you rely on a familiar international app.
Best for the Forbidden City cluster, hutongs, Qianmen and Wangfujing
Check current metro fare rules
Details
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan are a long walking day. The Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace each need their own hop. Download an offline map before you rely on a familiar international app.
TaxiA car is unnecessary between Qianmen and Wangfujing. Recheck last subway services.
Useful for hutong edges and late returns
Confirm the current official fare
Details
A car is unnecessary between Qianmen and Wangfujing. Recheck last subway services.

Beijing at a glance

Quick information

Plan your visit

Airport to centre

Must-see sights

One-day itinerary

Best areas to stay

Qianmen / hutong edge

Wangfujing

Houhai / hutongs

Olympic Green edge

Approximate budget