Beijing travel guide
Where to Stay in Beijing: Best Areas & Hotels
First-timers should stay in Dongcheng (around Wangfujing and the Forbidden City’s east side) for walkable sights and metro access. For character, pick a courtyard guesthouse in the Gulou hutongs; for nightlife and international hotels, choose Sanlitun.
Beijing’s best areas at a glance
Beijing is vast and traffic is real — the right base saves hours. All prices below are typical mid-season ranges for a double room; ¥100 is about AU$21.
Dongcheng & Wangfujing — best for first-timers
The district east of the Forbidden City puts the palace, Jingshan and the National Museum within walking distance, with metro lines 1, 5 and 6 crossing the area. International five-stars cluster along Wangfujing (¥1,000–1,800), mid-range chains sit on the side streets (¥400–700) and hostels hide in the hutong fringes (dorms ¥70–120).
Gulou & the hutongs — best for character
North of the Forbidden City around the Drum Tower and Houhai lakes, courtyard guesthouses and boutique hotels occupy renovated siheyuan. Rooms run ¥300–800; you trade lobby polish for lanes, lakes and some of the city’s best small restaurants. Metro lines 2 and 8 serve the area.
Sanlitun & Chaoyang — best for nightlife and business
The embassy district and bar streets of Sanlitun suit travellers who want Western restaurants, craft cocktails and international hotel brands (¥700–1,500, luxury beyond). Further east, the CBD around Guomao has the big business hotels. Line 10 links both to the rest of the city.
Qianmen & Dashilar — best on a budget
South of Tiananmen, the restored Qianmen street and the Dashilar lanes mix cheap chains, old-style inns and hostels (doubles ¥250–450, dorms from ¥60) with unbeatable access to the square and the Temple of Heaven. It is touristy but genuinely central.
Xidan & Xicheng — best for families
West of the Forbidden City, Xidan is a shopping district with big mid-range hotels (¥400–800), easy metro access and a calmer, more local feel than Wangfujing.
Booking tips
Book directly through international platforms or Trip.com — all list foreigner-friendly properties, which matters: not every Chinese hotel is licensed to host overseas passport holders, so filter or confirm before paying. Prices spike during Golden Week (1–7 October) and May Day; book weeks ahead then. Check the nearest metro station, not just the map pin — Beijing blocks are huge.
Also in China
Beijing hotels — FAQs
What is the best area to stay in Beijing for a first visit?
Dongcheng, around Wangfujing and the Forbidden City’s east gate — the main sights are walkable, three metro lines cross the district, and every price band from hostel dorms (¥70–120) to five-stars (¥1,000+) is covered.
Can foreigners stay in any hotel in Beijing?
No — hotels need a licence to register foreign guests, and some small budget properties lack it. Booking platforms let you filter for foreigner-friendly properties; when in doubt, confirm with the hotel before paying.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.