Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.03 Days in Beijing: The Classics — Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven & Peking Duck
Three days through Beijing's imperial core: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, with hutong lanes, temple mornings and Peking duck in between. Climb Jingshan for the palace panorama, stroll Nanluoguxiang and finish evenings at the Houhai lakes. The plan re-plans itself around how you travel — your pace, budget and interests reshape every day.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
9 stops · 6 meals · 1 hotelThis is the editor’s pick.
3 days
Each day takes one part of Beijing, kept close so you walk more than you ride. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
The world's largest imperial palace complex. Give it half a day for the halls and the Palace Museum's Ming and Qing art collections — the scale rewards slow, early walking.
- Book tickets online in advance — the 80,000 daily visitor cap sells out.
The vast square at Beijing's symbolic heart. Combine it with the flag-raising ceremony and the museums flanking the square.
- The flag-raising happens daily at sunrise — arrive 30–45 minutes early for a viewing spot.
Nearly 300 years old — the laozihao institution for shaomai, northern China's open steamed dumplings. Founded 1738.
- A certified time-honored brand — baskets of 8 shaomai are the signature order.
The hilltop park behind the Forbidden City. Climb to Wanchun Pavilion for the classic panorama over the palace's golden roofs — Beijing's single best photo.
- Late afternoon light is best for the Forbidden City panorama.
Traditional Chinese restaurant on the Houhai South Bank with a lake-view terrace and private dining rooms, a short walk from Shichahai's sights.
A 300-year-old courtyard home turned heritage hotel — traditional Chinese furniture and underfloor heating, hidden on a quiet Nanluoguxiang back alley.
- 9.1/10 from verified ratings — bike rental on site.
The imposing Ming-dynasty gate tower guarding the Forbidden City's southern approach. A quick, worthwhile stop at the south end of Tiananmen Square.
Beijing's 130-year-old pastry brand — traditional Beijing-style cakes, pastries and mooncakes. A classic Qianmen souvenir stop.
- Look for the 'Eight Treasures of Beijing' gift boxes.
Ming-dynasty imperial sacrificial complex with the iconic triple-gabled Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Mornings are best, when locals fill the park.
- The park opens at 6:00 but the monuments open at 8:00 — get the ¥34 combined ticket.
- After the temple, stop at Daoxiangcun on Qianmen — Beijing's 130-year-old pastry brand and a classic souvenir stop.
A stretch
The original 1864 Peking duck institution — tableside carving in the grand Qianmen flagship.
- Founded 1864 in the Qing Dynasty — the flagship of the world's most famous Peking duck chain.
Restored 570-year-old pedestrian shopping street south of Tiananmen, lined with time-honored Chinese brands. Ride the vintage Dangdang tram.
- Branch off west to Dashilan for century-old shops like Neiliansheng cloth shoes and Ruifuxiang silk.
- Lunch or dinner at the 1864 original — Quanjude's tableside-carved flagship sits right on the street.
The hutong institution — a rustic courtyard house roasting ducks over fruit wood, the anti-Quanjude local favorite.
- Reservations essential — arrive at 11am to beat the queues.
Stay put: ~26 min by taxi back from Qianmen Street tonight, 8 min walk to the Bell and Drum Towers in the morning.
Cult hutong dumpling house by the Drum Tower — 50+ boiled and fried dumpling varieties, English picture menus, courtyard vibe.
- Open daily 10:30am–11:30pm — look for the sign on Baochao Hutong.
Ming-era timekeeping towers rising over the hutongs. Climb the Drum Tower for views across the old-city rooftops and catch a drum performance.
- Both towers can be climbed for panoramic old-city views — the Drum Tower hosts performances.
Three scenic lakes ringed by hutongs, willow-lined paths and lively evening bars and restaurants. Best on foot or by rickshaw.
- The lakeside is liveliest in the evening — go at dusk.
- Climb the Drum Tower for old-city rooftop views, then walk down to the Houhai lakes — liveliest at dusk.
Beijing's OG craft brewery, opened 2010, in a hutong courtyard — brews with Sichuan peppercorns and Tieguanyin tea.
- Try the Honey Ma Gold or the Banana Wheat.
Beijing's best-known hutong lane — an 800-meter strip of cafes, boutiques and snack stalls in old courtyard houses.
- Weekday mornings are calmest — evenings and weekends get very crowded. Plan 1–2 hours.
The cozy Jiaodaokou branch of Beijing's beloved hole-in-the-wall Sichuan restaurant — chaotic, always packed, some of the city's cheapest authentic Sichuan food.
- The menu is in Chinese only — a party of 4 ate 5 dishes plus drinks for 96 yuan.
- After the hutong lane, dive into Jiaodaokou's beloved Sichuan hole-in-the-wall — a party of four ate for 96 yuan.
Closer: Dali Courtyard, 10 min out of your way
Stay put: 10 min walk back from Nanluoguxiang tonight, 8 min walk to the Bell and Drum Towers in the morning.
Where to stay in Beijing
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Courtyard 7
A 300-year-old courtyard home turned heritage hotel — traditional Chinese furniture and underfloor heating, hidden on a quiet Nanluoguxiang back alley.
Double Happiness Beijing Courtyard Hotel
A 500-year-old courtyard house in the Dongsi hutongs — 31 rooms of silk canopies and mahogany, red lanterns, a beloved breakfast and Travellers' Choice 2026.
Nostalgia Hotel Beijing Yonghe Lama Temple
Courtyard-style boutique hotel on Fangjia Hutong by the Lama Temple — traditional Beijing atmosphere at a budget price.
Flights to Beijing
Fly into PEK (PEK)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around Beijing
How to actually move around the city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Public transit
The Beijing Subway is the fastest way across the city: 27 lines, ~490 stations, running roughly 5:00am–11:30pm. Buses fill the gaps but are slower in traffic.
- Beijing Subway
27-line metro network (~490 stations) covering the center, both airports, the Olympic Park and the Summer Palace. Base fare ¥3 for trips up to 6 km, distance-based beyond that. Security checks at station entrances; expect crowds 7:30–9:30am and 5:00–7:30pm.
Tip: Lines 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8 cover the main sights. Pay with a Yikatong/BEIJING PASS card, a metro QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay, or contactless bank card.
- BEIJING PASS (visitor transport card)
Rechargeable transport card issued for foreign visitors by the Beijing Municipal Government. Works on the subway, buses, and suburban rail in Beijing plus public transport in 300+ Chinese cities. Buy at airport kiosks, subway service counters, or Yikatong offices (Dongzhimen, Xidan) with a passport; recharge in multiples of ¥10 up to ¥1,000.
Tip: If you prefer no physical card, activate a metro QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay (Transport/Transit Code) before you reach the gates — fares are deducted automatically on exit.
Rideshare
Didi is China's Uber-equivalent and the default way to book a car in Beijing. It has an English interface and accepts international credit cards.
- Didi Chuxing
China's dominant ride-hailing app: Express (budget), Premier (upscale), shared Express Pool, plus Didi Bike e-bikes. Base fare around ¥10–15; a 20-minute 8 km ride in Beijing runs roughly ¥30–40 in Express. English version available; link an international credit card or pay with Alipay/WeChat Pay. Also bookable from inside Alipay.
Tip: Avoid 7–9am and 5–7pm on weekdays when surge pricing can double fares. The driver will ask for the last digits of your phone number to verify the pickup.
Bikes
Dockless bikeshare bikes are everywhere in central Beijing and ideal for short hops (hutongs, subway station to hotel). Unlock via Alipay or WeChat mini-programs — no separate app needed.
- HelloBike / Meituan Bike (dockless bikeshare)
The two big dockless platforms: HelloBike (white/blue, via Alipay mini-program) and Meituan Bike (orange/yellow, via Meituan app or mini-program). Roughly ¥1.50 for 30 minutes; no deposit. Scan the QR code on the bike to unlock, end the ride in the mini-program and lock the rear wheel. Most main roads have dedicated bike lanes.
Tip: Foreign passport holders can take longer to verify — set up the mini-program and payment before you need a bike. End trips inside the service zone shown on the map or face a relocation fee.
Taxis
Licensed taxis are cheap for groups of 3–4 but slow in traffic. Always insist on the meter; tipping is not expected.
- Beijing licensed taxis
Metered taxis (roof TAXI sign, license plate starting 京B, driver ID displayed). Flag on the street, use taxi stands at airports/stations/hotels, or book via Didi. Pay by cash, WeChat Pay, or Alipay; international cards generally not accepted. A 5 km ride can take 30 minutes at rush hour. No tipping — pay what the meter shows plus any legal fuel surcharge or tolls.
Tip: Have your destination in Chinese characters — most drivers don't read English street names. Always ask for a receipt (fapiao); it records the taxi number.
