Beijing
First time in Beijing? What to know before you go
First-timers should give Beijing 4–5 nights, book Forbidden City tickets online before arrival, and put the Great Wall on a separate full day. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and an eSIM before you fly; neither can be fixed at the airport. Go April–May or September–October, and shift to indoor sights on the worst air days.
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GuideBeijing
Key facts
- Nights needed
- 4–5 nights minimum for the core sights plus one Great Wall day
- Best months
- April–May and September–October; winter is cold and dry, summer hot and wet
- Book ahead
- Forbidden City tickets sell out; reserve online with your passport number
- Payments
- Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card; cash works but is slow
- Getting around
- Subway is the default; fares are low, signs and announcements are in English
- Air quality
- Winter and spring can bring haze; check the daily AQI and keep an indoor backup
- Tap water
- Not for drinking; bottled or boiled
- Visa
- Many nationalities use visa-free or 240-hour transit entry; confirm your own case
Top picks for a first visit
These are the things that repay a first trip most, ordered by how much they change your plan rather than by fame. Each entry gives a 2026 estimate for cost and time, plus how to get there.
The Forbidden City and the Great Wall are the two fixed points. Everything else can move around weather, energy and jet lag.
- Book Forbidden City tickets in advance; walk-up entry is not reliable.
- Do the Great Wall on a clear, low-haze day if you can choose.
- Keep one indoor half-day spare for rain or bad air.
| Place | Price (2026 estimate) | Hours | Time needed | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbidden City | CNY 60 in high season, CNY 40 low | Morning to late afternoon; closed Mondays | 3–4 h | Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmen East, then walk |
| Great Wall at Mutianyu | CNY 45 entry plus cable car or toboggan | Daylight hours | Full day | Tour bus or private car, 1.5–2 h each way |
| Temple of Heaven | CNY 15 park, CNY 34 through ticket | Early morning to evening | 2 h | Subway Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen |
| Summer Palace | CNY 30 in season, CNY 20 low | Morning to late afternoon | Half day | Subway Line 4 to Beigongmen |
| Tian'anmen Square | Free, but reserve a slot online | Daylight hours | 45 min | Subway Line 1 to Tian'anmen East |
| Hutong walk (Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai) | Free | Any time | 2–3 h | Subway Line 6 or 8 to Nanluoguxiang |
| Jingshan Park | CNY 2 | Morning to evening | 1 h | Walk north from the Forbidden City |
| Lama Temple | CNY 25 | Morning to late afternoon | 1.5 h | Subway Line 5 or 2 to Yonghegong |
| 798 Art District | Free to enter, galleries vary | Late morning to evening; many galleries close Mondays | 2–3 h | Subway Line 14 to Wangjing South, then taxi |
Prices and hours are 2026 estimates and change with season and policy; re-check before you go.
Map and orientation
Beijing is a grid inside ring roads, with the Forbidden City at the centre and Tian'anmen Square directly south of it. Most first-trip sights sit within or just outside the second ring, which makes the subway the fastest way between them.
The main traveller areas are Wangfujing and Dongcheng near the centre, Sanlitun for bars and restaurants, and the hutongs around Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang for atmosphere. The airport is far northeast of the city; the express train and taxis both take roughly 45–60 minutes to the centre depending on traffic.
Coordinates below are approximate.
- Subway signs and announcements are in English; buy a stored-value card or tap with your phone.
- Taxis are cheap but traffic is heavy; the subway beats them at peak hours.
- Keep your passport with you; some sights and hotels ask for it.
| Area | Why stay or go | Approx. location |
|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing / Dongcheng | Walk to the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen | 39.9150, 116.4100 |
| Shichahai / Nanluoguxiang | Hutongs, lakes, evening walks | 39.9370, 116.3930 |
| Sanlitun | Bars, restaurants, nightlife | 39.9330, 116.4550 |
| Olympic Park | Bird's Nest and Water Cube | 39.9930, 116.3900 |
| Capital Airport | Arrivals and departures | 40.0800, 116.5850 |
Practical tips
Set up payments before you land. Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign cards and are used for almost everything, from subway gates to street stalls. Cash is accepted but change can be awkward. Carry your passport, since hotels and some attractions register it.
Download an eSIM or arrange roaming before departure, and install a VPN if you rely on services that are blocked locally. Public Wi-Fi exists but often needs a local phone number to log in.
Tap water is not for drinking; hotels provide kettles and bottled water is cheap. Tipping is not expected. Queues at major sights are long on weekends and Chinese public holidays, so shift the big sights to weekdays where you can.
- Book timed tickets for the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square online.
- Learn a few phrases; English is limited outside hotels and major sights.
- Check the daily air quality index and keep an indoor plan ready.
- Public holidays such as National Day week fill every sight; avoid if you can.
When to go
April to May and September to October give the mildest temperatures and the clearest skies, and they are the months most first-timers should aim for. Spring can bring dust and wind; autumn is usually the most stable.
Summer is hot, humid and wet, with the heaviest rain in July and August. Winter is cold and dry, often below freezing, but crowds thin and hotel prices drop. Haze is most likely in winter and early spring, so build in flexibility if clean air matters to you.
If your dates are fixed, plan around the weather rather than cancelling: indoor sights such as the museums and the 798 galleries cover a wet or hazy day well.
| Season | Weather | Crowds and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mar–May | Mild, windy, some dust | Rising; book ahead |
| Jun–Aug | Hot, humid, wettest | Peak domestic holidays; high |
| Sep–Oct | Mild, clearest | Busiest and priciest |
| Nov–Feb | Cold, dry, possible haze | Quietest; lowest prices |
Questions people ask
First time in Beijing? What to know before you go?
Give it 4–5 nights, book Forbidden City tickets online in advance, and keep one full day for the Great Wall. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and an eSIM before you fly. Aim for April–May or September–October, and keep an indoor backup for rain or haze.
How much does it cost in Beijing?
A mid-range day runs roughly CNY 400–800 per person (about USD 55–110) for a hotel room, subway and taxis, two meals and one paid sight. Hostels and street food cut that sharply; the Forbidden City, Great Wall and Summer Palace are the main ticket costs.
What is the best time to visit Beijing?
April–May and September–October for mild weather and clearer skies. Summer is hot, humid and wet; winter is cold and dry with fewer crowds and lower prices. Haze is most likely in winter and early spring, so check the daily air quality.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check