Beijing Travel Guide (2026)
Capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties. China's political and cultural heart, home to World Heritage sites like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, where 600 years of imperial weight coexist with a modern metropolis.
- Recommended stay
- 4 days / 3 nights recommended
- Budget feel
- About USD 380–680 per person (excl. flights, 3-star hotels & local meals)
💰 As of 2026, a 4-night Beijing trip for two costs about $830–$2,030 in total, $415–$1,015 per person. See full cost breakdown →
Food & dining
The home of northern Chinese cuisine. Its signature is Peking duck (kaoya), crisp duck skin wrapped in thin pancakes with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce. Wheat dishes like noodles, dumplings and zhajiangmian also developed here in the northern style.
Getting around
Connected to the city from Capital International Airport (PEK) and Daxing Airport (PKX) by airport rail and subway. The city has a dense subway network.
Highlights
Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Great Wall (Mutianyu section), Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace.
Places to visit
Peking Duck (Beijing Kaoya)
Beijing's signature dish, crisp duck wrapped in thin pancakes.
Great Wall: Mutianyu Section
The best-preserved and least crowded section of the Great Wall near Beijing.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum)
Imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties. One of the world's largest museums, drawing 20 million visitors a year.
Itineraries
Trip cost
Good to know before you go
When is the best time to visit Beijing, and when should I avoid it?
Late April to May and September to October are Beijing's sweet spots, with clear skies and comfortable 16-27°C days. Skip March to early April for sandstorm season, and July-August for 35°C heat with sudden downpours. Also avoid China's National Day Golden Week on October 1-7, 2026, when the Forbidden City and Great Wall hit peak crowds.
How do I get from Beijing's airports (PEK and PKX) into the city?
From Beijing Capital (PEK), the Airport Express train runs from T2/T3 via Sanyuanqiao to Dongzhimen in about 20-25 minutes for a flat 25 yuan. From Daxing (PKX), the Daxing Airport Express reaches Caoqiao in 19-22 minutes for 35 yuan, where you transfer to Metro Line 10 or 19. As of 2026 both trains stop by around 23:00-23:30, so use a taxi or DiDi for late-night arrivals.
How do foreigners pay for the Beijing subway? Do I need a Yikatong card?
The easiest option in 2026 is Alipay's Transport section: activate the Beijing Metro QR code with a linked foreign Visa or Mastercard and scan at the gates, with distance-based fares from 3 yuan charged automatically. The physical Yikatong transit card is sold at station counters for a refundable 20-yuan deposit. Direct tap-in with foreign contactless bank cards is also being rolled out at Beijing gates.
Do I need a VPN in Beijing? What SIM or eSIM should I get?
Google, Instagram and WhatsApp are blocked by the Great Firewall on any Chinese local SIM or hotel Wi-Fi in Beijing. A roaming-style travel eSIM avoids this without a VPN because its data is tunneled to a gateway outside mainland China before reaching the open internet, so the firewall cannot filter it. Install the eSIM before you land, VPN and eSIM sites are blocked inside China, and note most phones since the iPhone XS (2018) support eSIM as of 2026.
Do I need a visa to visit Beijing? (2026 rules)
As of 2026, citizens of 40-plus countries, including most of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia, can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, under a policy extended through December 31, 2026. Travelers from the 55 countries on the transit list, including the US, UK and Canada, can instead use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country, and both Beijing airports are approved entry ports. Rules change often, so confirm your passport's current status with an official Chinese embassy source before booking.
How do payments work in Beijing? Is cash still accepted?
Beijing runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes, and in 2026 both apps let foreigners register with a passport and link an international Visa, Mastercard or JCB, no Chinese bank account needed. Payments under 200 yuan carry no fee, larger ones add about 3%, and single transactions are capped around USD 5,000. Cash is legal tender and technically cannot be refused, but small shops often lack change, so carry some yuan while defaulting to the apps.
More city guides
Plan this trip in Tripop
One sentence and AI builds your itinerary, checklist, and budget