Beijing Travel: 3-Day Itinerary, Sights, Transport & Booking Guide
Beijing rewards a plan and punishes winging it: the Forbidden City sells no same-day tickets, the Wall eats a whole day, and the city has two airports with different trains into town. This page is the plan — what to see in three days, how to get around, and what to book before you fly.
Give Beijing three full days: Day 1 the Forbidden City and Tiananmen area, Day 2 the Great Wall, Day 3 the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. Book Forbidden City tickets seven days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time — there is no same-day sale — and check which airport you land at, because Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) use different express trains into the city. Stay central, ride the subway, and keep the Wall as a full day trip.
Before you book: entry, tickets and timing
Three things decide whether the trip runs smoothly, and all three are settled before departure. First, entry: many nationalities can enter China visa-free for short stays, and travellers transiting onwards to a third country or region may qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy through Beijing Capital or Daxing airports — but both schemes have nationality lists, port lists and conditions, so check China visa-free entry and 240-hour transit for your passport before you book. If neither scheme covers you, you need an L tourist visa in advance.
Second, the one ticket you cannot leave to chance: the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets, online or at the gate. Tickets for each date go on sale at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days before, booked under your real name with the passport you will carry to the gate, and the museum is closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Build Day 1 around that release, not around a Monday. General admission is ¥60 from April to October and ¥40 from November to March, as published by the museum — recheck its booking pages for your dates, since hours and gallery closures change.
Third, connectivity and cover: sort out mobile data before landing (see China eSIM) and travel insurance before departure. Both are easier from home than from the arrivals hall.
The 3-day itinerary
This is the order that works: the centre first, the Wall on its own day, and the two big parks last, when you know the subway. It assumes you sleep centrally — see where to stay below.
| Day | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — The centre | Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, hutongs | Morning at the Forbidden City (pre-booked tickets, enter at the Meridian Gate and follow the south-to-north route), then climb Jingshan Park behind the palace for the rooftop view over the golden roofs. Evening wandering the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang for dinner. |
| Day 2 — The Wall | Mutianyu or Badaling | A full day trip. Mutianyu is the quieter pick, with a cable car up and a toboggan down; Badaling is the most visited section and the easiest to reach. Book transport or a guided day trip in advance and go early — the Wall is a long, steep walk, not a photo stop. |
| Day 3 — Parks and temples | Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, 798 Art District (optional) | Morning at the Temple of Heaven, where locals practise tai chi and dance in the park around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Afternoon at the Summer Palace, walking the lakeside and the Long Corridor. If time and energy remain, finish at the 798 Art District for galleries and cafés. |
Slow down rather than adding another big sight: revisit a hutong neighbourhood in daylight, add the National Museum of China by Tiananmen Square (also advance booking), or take a second Wall section. A fourth day also absorbs a Monday closure or a sold-out Forbidden City date without breaking the trip.
The sights, in the order that matters
The Forbidden City (Palace Museum). The Ming and Qing palace complex at the city's heart, entered from the south through the Meridian Gate. Allow a full morning, follow the one-way south-to-north route past the three main halls to the Imperial Garden, and remember the booking rules above: seven days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time, passport in hand, no Monday visits except on public holidays.
The Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling. Both are restored, walkable sections within day-trip range. Mutianyu suits first-timers who want the Wall experience with fewer crowds; Badaling suits travellers who want the simplest logistics. Wear proper walking shoes — the steps are steep and uneven — and carry water, because the Wall has long stretches with no shade and no shops.
Temple of Heaven. The Ming-era sacrificial complex in the south of the centre, famous for the circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Come in the morning, when the surrounding park fills with locals exercising, singing and playing games — that park life is half the visit.
Summer Palace. The Qing summer retreat around Kunming Lake in the north-west, with the Long Corridor, the Marble Boat and the Hill of Longevity. It is a half-day on its own; pair it with the Temple of Heaven only if you are comfortable with a long day.
Hutongs and the 798 Art District. The old alley neighbourhoods around Nanluoguxiang and the Drum and Bell Towers are where Beijing feels lived-in rather than monumental — courtyard houses, small restaurants and bars. The 798 Art District, in a converted factory zone in the north-east, is the contrast: contemporary galleries, street art and cafés.
Getting there and getting around
Two airports — check your ticket. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the closer airport, north-east of the centre; Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is the newer airport to the south. From Capital Airport, the Airport Express runs to Sanyuanqiao (Line 10) and Dongzhimen (Lines 2 and 13) for a ¥25 flat fare. From Daxing Airport, the Daxing Airport Express runs to Caoqiao (Lines 10 and 19) in about 20 minutes for ¥35. From either interchange, transfer to the subway to reach your hotel. If you land late, check the last train before counting on the express — otherwise take a taxi or ride-hailing car from the official rank.
Subway first, taxi second. The subway is the fastest way across central Beijing in traffic and it reaches every sight on this page except the Wall. Buy a transit card or use the subway app at the station; keep your passport on you, since real-name checks apply to some services. Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap by international standards and make sense late at night, with luggage, or for the last stretch to a hotel far from a station.
Onward by high-speed rail. Beijing is a rail hub: Beijing South station serves the high-speed network, and trains link the capital with Shanghai, Xi'an and other major cities. If Beijing is one stop on a longer China trip, see China trains: booking, stations and what to expect before choosing between flying and taking the train for the next leg.
Where to stay
Stay central and near a subway station — that one choice saves more time than any other. Wangfujing and Dongcheng, east of the Forbidden City, put you within walking distance of Day 1 and on Lines 1 and 5. Qianmen, just south of Tiananmen Square, is good for first-timers who want the old-city feel. Sanlitun in the east suits travellers who want nightlife and international restaurants, at the cost of a longer ride to the sights. Wherever you stay, book a room with free cancellation: it doubles as the accommodation proof some visa applications still ask for, and it lets you shift dates if a Forbidden City release sells out.
Find a cancellable hotel near a subway station
Central, cancellable and near a station beats a bargain on the outskirts. Book the room, then build the Forbidden City date around it — not the other way round.
Find cancellable hotels in BeijingWe may earn a commission if you book through this link. It does not affect what we recommend.
Practical tips that save a day
Before you fly
- Forbidden City tickets booked 7 days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time, passport details exact, never a Monday
- Entry route settled Visa-free, 240-hour transit, or L visa — checked for your passport, not assumed
- Airport identified PEK or PKX — the express train and the fare are different
- Great Wall day booked Transport or guided trip reserved; go early, wear walking shoes
- Data and insurance sorted eSIM before landing, insurance before departure
- Payment ready Mobile payment is the norm in Beijing — set it up before you arrive rather than relying on cash or foreign cards alone
- Hotel cancellable Central, near a subway station, free cancellation
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Beijing?
Three full days covers the essentials: the Forbidden City and Tiananmen area, one Great Wall day, and the Temple of Heaven plus the Summer Palace. A fourth day adds hutongs, museums and slack for a Monday closure or a sold-out date.
Do I need a visa for a short Beijing trip?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays, and eligible travellers transiting to a third country or region can use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy through Beijing Capital or Daxing airports. Check the visa-free page for the current rules; if neither scheme covers you, apply for an L tourist visa before travel.
Which airport should I fly into, Capital or Daxing?
Whichever your ticket says — Beijing has two international airports and you do not get to swap them. Capital (PEK) is closer to the centre, with the Airport Express to Dongzhimen for ¥25. Daxing (PKX) is further south, with the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao for ¥35. Both connect to the subway.
Do I need to book Forbidden City tickets in advance?
Yes — the Palace Museum sells no same-day tickets. Book at 20:00 Beijing time, seven days before your visit, under your real name with the passport you will carry to the gate. The museum is closed on Mondays except on public holidays.
Which Great Wall section should first-timers pick?
Mutianyu if you want the Wall with fewer crowds — cable car up, toboggan down. Badaling if you want the simplest logistics and do not mind the crowds. Either way, treat it as a full day trip, not a half-day add-on.
How do I get around Beijing?
Subway first: it reaches every central sight and beats traffic. From the airport, take the Airport Express (Capital) or the Daxing Airport Express (Daxing) and transfer to the subway. Taxis and ride-hailing cover late nights, luggage and the last stretch to your hotel.
Where to confirm all of this
Entry rules change, and transport fares and museum hours change with them. The sources worth checking for your dates are the Palace Museum booking pages at dpm.org.cn for Forbidden City tickets and closures, the National Immigration Administration's 240-hour transit notices for the current nationality and port lists, and the Beijing subway's own station information for airport express times and fares. For the rest of the trip, see China visa: everything you need and China trains.
If anything on this page conflicts with what an official source tells you for your dates, the official source is right.