Beijing travel guide
The Perfect 3-Day Beijing Itinerary
Three days in Beijing: day one for the Forbidden City, Jingshan and the hutongs; day two for the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace; day three for the Great Wall at Mutianyu. Book the palace and Wall tickets ahead, start every day early, and keep evenings for duck and hutong bars.
Before you start
Book the Forbidden City online as soon as your dates are firm — tickets are passport-linked and sell out days ahead in season. Carry your passport everywhere; it is your entry credential. Base yourself in Dongcheng or the Gulou hutongs to keep mornings short. Budget ¥300–500 per person per day including sights, food and metro (lodging excluded).
Day 1 — The imperial axis
8.30am: enter the Forbidden City from the south (Tiananmen side, ¥60) and walk the central axis north — three hours minimum, four if you detour to the treasure galleries. 12.30pm: exit north and climb Jingshan Park (¥2) for the rooftop panorama. Afternoon: wander the hutongs around the Drum and Bell Towers, then circle Houhai lake as the bars wake up. Evening: roast duck dinner — casual duck houses run ¥100–150 per person; book or go early.
Day 2 — Temples and the Summer Palace
8am: the Temple of Heaven (combined ticket ~¥34) at tai chi hour, when the surrounding park is full of dancers, musicians and card players. Late morning: metro to the Summer Palace (¥30); walk the lakeside corridors and cross by boat. Afternoon: back to town for the Lama Temple (¥25) and the Confucius Temple lane, or the 798 art district if you prefer contemporary. Evening: skewers and beer on Guijie (Ghost Street).
Day 3 — The Great Wall
7am start for Mutianyu (90 minutes by tourist bus, hired car or bus 916 + transfer; entry ~¥40 plus shuttle). Take the cable car up, walk the ridge between towers 14 and 20, and toboggan or walk down. Back in the city by mid-afternoon — keep the evening free for a final hutong wander and dumplings. If you are flying out tonight, choose the wall section with luggage storage at the base (Mutianyu has it).
Itinerary tips
Museums close Mondays — if day 1 or 2 falls on a Monday, swap days. In summer start an hour earlier and retreat indoors at midday; in winter everything shifts later and the wall is cold but empty. Didi covers any gaps in the metro for ¥20–40 across the centre.
Also in China
Beijing itinerary — FAQs
Is 3 days enough for Beijing?
Three days covers the essentials: Forbidden City and hutongs, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, and a Great Wall day. Add a fourth day if you want the 798 art district, a cooking class or a slower pace.
Which Great Wall section should I choose for a day trip?
Mutianyu — restored, scenic, cable car and toboggan, 90 minutes from town and far calmer than Badaling. Hikers with a full day should consider Jinshanling instead.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.