Places to know
Eight to ten stops, with the neighborhood and why you would go. Hours and ticket prices change, so check them before you queue.
Museum
Forbidden City
The palace museum at the center of the city. It needs a long morning, not a quick look.
Landmark
Tiananmen Square
The square south of the palace. Security checks are normal. Build in time.
Viewpoint
Jingshan Park
The hill just north of the palace, for a view back over the roofs.
Park
Temple of Heaven
A large temple park south of the center. Good after a palace day, not instead of a rest.
Park
Summer Palace
Lake, covered walkways, and gardens in the northwest of the city. Give it a half day.
Day trip
Mutianyu Great Wall
A restored section of the Great Wall northeast of the city. It is a full day, not an evening add-on.
Neighborhood
Nanluoguxiang
A hutong lane of shops north of the palace. The side alleys are quieter than the main lane.
Temple
Lama Temple
A Tibetan Buddhist temple in the north of the old city, easy to pair with the hutongs.
Park
Beihai Park
A lake park just west of the palace. A walk here is a calmer palace-day ending.
Neighborhood
798 Art District
Galleries in old factory halls in the northeast. Worth it if you want a non-palace afternoon.
Three days
A sample, not a booking. Each day stays in one part of town. Move a stop if you are tired.
Day 1
Palace and the hill behind it
One historic core. Do not add the Great Wall.
- MorningTiananmen Square
Start at the square, then go north into the palace.
- MorningForbidden City
Stay through the middle of the day. The complex is larger than it looks on a map.
- AfternoonJingshan Park
Exit north and go up the hill for the roof view.
- EveningBeihai Park
A lake walk if your feet still agree. Otherwise stop for dinner in the hutongs.
Day 2
Temple of Heaven, then the northwest
Two parks, on opposite sides of the center. Use the metro between them.
- MorningTemple of Heaven
Walk the park before you commit to the northwest.
- AfternoonSummer Palace
The lake and the long corridor. Leave time to get back.
- EveningLama Temple
Only if you are not already done. It pairs more naturally with day 3 if this day ran long.
Day 3
Great Wall day
Mutianyu takes the day. Keep the evening light.
- MorningMutianyu Great Wall
Go out in the morning and plan to be back before you are hungry and tired.
- EveningNanluoguxiang
An easy hutong dinner back in Dongcheng. Side lanes beat the main strip.
Getting around
Beijing has a large metro. Major stations show names in Chinese and English. Save the Chinese station name in Amap as well, and use Alipay or WeChat if you want a QR code at the gate. The metro does not run all night.
DiDi works for the hops the metro makes annoying, and for the ride out toward the Great Wall if you are not on a tour bus. Show the driver the Chinese name of the gate or hotel.
The Forbidden City and the Great Wall should be on different days. Putting both on one date is how people remember Beijing as a queue.
Food to try
Peking duck is the set-piece meal. Book or go early. For everyday eating, look for zhajiangmian (noodles with soybean paste), jianbing (savory crepes), and jiaozi (dumplings).
Hutong streets around the Drum Tower and Nanluoguxiang have plenty of small places. The busiest doorway is not always the one you want.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for walking. Summers are hot. Winters are cold and dry, which is beautiful at the palace and harsh on a Wall day if you are not dressed for it.
Spring can be windy. That is a reason to pack a layer, not a reason to skip the trip.
Stay connected
A stable, hassle-free connection, where your apps work like they do back home.* Maps, DiDi, and payments all need data the moment you land.
- Alipay. Pay in shops and taxis, and open transit codes. Set it up before you fly.
- WeChat. Messages and pay. Most people in China use it.
- Amap. Transit and walking directions. Save the hotel address in Chinese.
- DiDi. Ride hailing. It also opens inside Alipay and WeChat.
- Trip.com. Trains and hotels, alongside the official 12306 app.
A plan for this trip
Three days is a short trip. China 5GB is the one to start with: 5 GB high-speed, 30 days, $9.90. Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). Launching soon · checkout opens with the store
* How apps work depends on the network route and isn't guaranteed. Your data is routed via Hong Kong, according to our network provider. Services and networks can change.
FAQ
What is the best time to visit Beijing?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking. Summers are hot and winters are cold and dry.
How do you get around Beijing?
Use the metro in the city. Use DiDi when you are out late or heading to the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Keep Chinese names of stations and hotels on your phone.
Will a haalaan eSIM work in Beijing?
Yes. Beijing is in mainland China. Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). A 3-day trip is a good fit for the China 5GB plan.
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