Best things to do
- Walk a quieter stretch of the Great Wall
- Explore the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park
- Slow down in the hutongs around the old city
How long to stay and when to go
3–4 days is a useful starting point. Consider spring & autumn for your first plan, then check the weather for your exact dates. Public holidays can change crowd levels and availability.
Getting around
Split imperial sights and the Great Wall across separate days. The wall is an out-of-town excursion, so leave a full day rather than squeezing it between city visits.
Where to stay
A central base near a subway station works well for sightseeing. Check walking distance to the station rather than relying on a district name. For each area compared, see where to stay in Beijing.
What to budget for
Budget separately for your hotel, intercity travel, local transport, meals, attraction admissions and optional guiding. Private transport and guides are often priced for the group, while admission tickets are usually per traveler. Request a dated, itemized quote: hotel category, season and group size make a single city-wide price misleading.
A suggested itinerary
Day 1: old Beijing and a gentle hutong walk. Day 2: the Forbidden City area and Jingshan. Day 3: a Great Wall excursion. Add a fourth day for the Summer Palace.
The Forbidden City sells no tickets on the day and is closed on Mondays, so book as soon as your date opens. See Forbidden City tickets: how to book as a foreigner.
These are planning suggestions, not a fixed departure or confirmed booking. Attraction opening times, ticket availability and transport schedules should be checked before paying.