🗺️ Beijing in a week: itinerary, metro and tickets online

Beijing can be seen in a week without rushing and without a tour company. The key is to plan your days by district in advance and buy tickets online.

The city is enormous. The imperial center, the parks in the northwest, and the markets in the south are separated by dozens of kilometers. If you go at random, you will spend half a day on the metro and in lines.

Below is a seven-day plan: prices, opening hours, and how to get to each site. We double-checked the figures on the official websites of the parks and museums.

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Beijing in a week: how the route works

💡 In short:

Day one and two: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Beihai and Yiheyuan parks.
Day three and four: the Temple of Heaven, the Grand Theater, the zoo, and the Olympic metro line.
Day five and six: the 798 Art Zone and the Great Wall of China.
Day seven: markets, souvenirs, and evening bars in the hutongs.
Book tickets for the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Wall online in advance. Some museums are closed on Mondays.
Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official Beijing parks website.

The route is organized by district so you don't waste time on transfers. Day one takes place in the historic center. Day two is set aside for the parks in the northwest, and the Wall is best left for the end of the week.

Some sites require reservations. The Forbidden City sells tickets by time slot and is closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, museum calendar). Yiheyuan and the Temple of Heaven also accept advance bookings.

Day	Main sights	Book tickets in advance	Walking, km
One	Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Beihai Park	Forbidden City	7-9
Two	Yiheyuan and Yuanmingyuan	Yiheyuan	5-6
Three	Temple of Heaven and Grand Theater	Temple of Heaven	4-5
Four	Zoo, observatory, Olympic line	no	5-7
Five	798 Art Zone	no	3-4
Six	Great Wall of China	tour or train	4-6
Seven	Markets and shopping streets	no	6-8

Distances are approximate, based on the map: part of the route you will cover by metro.

Visa and entry: what to check in advance

Citizens of Germany and other EU countries can enter China visa-free for up to thirty days. The rule is in effect until December 31, 2026 (as of 09/2026, Auswärtiges Amt). The week described in this route is more than enough.

The conditions are simple. Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of the trip, and the purpose of the visit must be tourism. At the border, they sometimes ask to see your hotel booking and return ticket, so keep them handy on your phone.

If you are staying longer or planning to work or study, apply for a visa in advance at a PRC visa center. Processing times and fees depend on the country of application, so check them on the center's website before submitting.

How to get to Beijing

Direct flights from Germany and Austria exist, but there are not many of them. It is often cheaper to fly with one stopover via Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai.

The flight is long, so count on a full day of travel. Take an overnight departure: you will arrive in the morning and start the first day of the route right away.

Beijing has two airports. Capital is located northeast of the center, Daxing is far to the south. Choose your flight based on which one is more convenient for getting to your hotel.

Finding flights to Beijing is easy on Kiwi.com: compare direct flights and options with a stopover.

How to get from the airport to the center

From both airports, high-speed rail links run into the city. From Capital, the train takes you to Dongzhimen station, and a ticket costs 25 yuan (as of 09/2026, Beijing metro guide). From Daxing, the train runs to Caoqiao, and the fare is higher: 35 yuan (as of 09/2026, Beijing Transport Committee).

Trains run from early morning until late evening, with short intervals. Keep your ticket until you exit: the exit turnstile reads it.

Beijing Suburban Railway platform at Beixinqiao Station in Beijing

If you arrive at night, taxis are your only option. The ride to the center costs noticeably more than the express train, and the taxi stand line at night is long. Book a car through the DiDi app and link your card in advance.

Ignore offers from unofficial drivers at the exit. The price is higher, there are no guarantees, and haggling is pointless. The cheapest option is the city bus, but figuring out the routes without Chinese is difficult.

Print out your hotel address in Chinese characters in advance or show it on your phone screen. Drivers rarely speak English, and a hotel business card solves this problem faster than anything else.

How to get around Beijing

The metro covers almost every route you need. The fare depends on distance and ranges from three to nine yuan (as of 09/2026, metro fares). You can pay with a transit card or a QR code in Alipay, where you can link a foreign Visa or Mastercard.

Keep a line map handy. Pay attention not only to the line number but also to the right exit: transfer hubs in Beijing are enormous.

During rush hour, the cars are packed. Plan your trips for the morning or after lunch. In the evening, taxis and DiDi are more convenient, especially if you are coming back from 798.

Without internet, Beijing is inconvenient: maps and messengers do not always work. Get an eSIM for China before you fly so you do not have to hunt for a SIM card on arrival.

Where to stay in Beijing

We recommend staying inside the Second Ring Road, near metro lines. That way you can reach the main sights in twenty to thirty minutes.

Wangfujing is convenient for a first visit: you can walk to Tiananmen and the Forbidden City. Qianmen is south of the square and has more budget options. Sanlitun has a lively nightlife, but the historic center is a longer ride away. The quiet hutongs around Gulou appeal to those who want the atmosphere of old alleyways.

Look at reviews and the distance to the metro station, not the hotel category. Hotel prices in Beijing on Trip.com are easy to compare by district.

Where to eat: what to try in Beijing

Beijing feeds you on any budget. From stalls near the metro to restaurants serving Peking duck prepared by all the rules.

AIIllustrative image: AI-generated

Bar Beetle In a Box in Dongcheng is small but noticeable. Besides coffee and sandwiches, they pour strong drinks, and the owners put the interior together themselves.

A little further on the same side is Alba Café. It has good breakfasts, attentive service, and Wi-Fi, which is still a plus in Beijing.

F1 First Floor in Sanlitun is popular in the evenings, so it is better to book a table in advance. On Mondays, the whole menu is discounted.

For a budget lunch, look for chifan, small family-run eateries. Portions are huge, and free snacks and beer often come with your order.

The easiest place to grab a bite between sights is near the metro. Vendors sell stuffed wraps, sweet pancakes, and flatbreads with greens and ham. Fans of the exotic go for fried scorpions on a skewer, and for dessert, candied hawthorn in sugar syrup is worth trying.

For familiar food, head to Pizza Hut or KFC, of which there are plenty in the center. You will definitely not go hungry in Beijing.

Day one: Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Start day one early, while the air is cooler and there are fewer people. The tour usually begins at Tiananmen Square: it is one of the largest squares in the world and a convenient starting point.

Tiananmen Gate with Mao's portrait on the square

Be careful on the square itself. Scammers operate here: they approach tourists first and offer help. Politely decline and keep walking.

Next to the square stands the National Centre for the Performing Arts, a glass dome surrounded by water. In the evening it is lit up, and that is the best shot of the day. Day one is already packed, so the tour of the theater's interior is moved to day three. You will find ticket details there.

Forbidden City

A ticket to the Forbidden City costs 60 yuan in high season and 40 yuan in winter (as of 09/2026, ticket guide). Entry is by time slot and passport only, and the museum is completely closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, opening hours). Book a week before your trip.

Inside, follow the central axis: from the Wumen gate to the Shenwumen exit. This way you will see the main halls and stay on route.

The crowds make it hard to see the imperial chambers up close. Come at opening time or at the end of the day, when it is less crowded near the windows.

Beihai Park and Jingshan Park

To the north of the Forbidden City lie two parks worth visiting in one go. Beihai Park is calmer: there is a lake, an island with a pagoda on top of a hill, and long alleys along the water.

Jingshan Park is very close, just beyond the northern gates of the palace. The climb to the top takes about fifteen minutes, but from there you get the best view of the Forbidden City rooftops.

The place is also known for its history: in the 17th century, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty took his own life here. A quiet park with a powerful backstory.

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These three places are easy to cover in one day if you leave your hotel before nine in the morning.

Day two: Summer Palace and Yuanmingyuan

Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)

Longevity Hill and the Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace above the lake

Yiheyuan, known as the Summer Palace, is in the northwest of the city. Arrive at opening time: by noon the main pavilions are packed, and it is hard to appreciate the beauty of the place.

The easiest way to get there is by subway. You need line four, Beigongmen station; the exit leads straight to the park gates.

The park is divided into three zones. Near the East Gate are the palace buildings, on the southern slope of Longevity Hill stands the Tower of Buddhist Incense, and behind the hill a Suzhou-style canal street has been restored.

Tickets are sold at the park ticket office; you can book them a few days in advance through the official account (as of 09/2026, official Beijing parks website). Bring your passport: you will not be allowed in without it.

Yuanmingyuan (Garden of Perfection and Purity)

Ruins of Haiyantang at Yuanmingyuan in winter

Next to the Summer Palace is Yuanmingyuan, the Garden of Perfection and Purity. Here you can take a leisurely walk along lakes and hills and see the ruins of the palace complex.

The place is noticeably quieter than the neighboring Summer Palace. Allow a couple of hours for the walk; you do not need more here.

Day three: Temple of Heaven and the Grand Theater

Temple of Heaven (Tiantan)

Temple of Heaven on a stone terrace on a clear day

The Temple of Heaven complex includes temple halls and a large park area in the south of the center. The park is open from six in the morning to ten in the evening, while the pavilions themselves are open from eight to six and are closed on Mondays (as of 09/2026, official Beijing parks website).

Get a through ticket to all three sites: a separate park entrance ticket will not let you inside the main buildings. A through ticket costs about thirty-five yuan in high season (as of 09/2026, Temple of Heaven guide).

You can get there by metro: take line five, Tiantandongmen station. Then follow the signs, the park is large.

Inside, be sure to see the blue roof tiles of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. Check out the Echo Wall: it really works. Calligraphy masters often sit near the Circular Mound Altar, and their work is worth watching.

National centre for the performing arts

The building that stands near Tiananmen Square does not look like any theater in the world. The project by French architect Paul Andreu was built in the early 21st century, and the idea itself had been discussed for several decades.

Even if you do not like opera, there is plenty to do here. Restaurants and shops operate inside, and the foyer is pleasant to walk through: the building stands in the middle of an artificial lake.

Tickets for building tours are sold at the box office and on the center's website. The easiest way to get there is by metro: take line one, Tiananmen West station.

Day four: zoo, observatory, and Olympic venues

Beijing Zoo

Beijing Zoo was founded in the early 20th century and remains one of the largest in China. Several thousand animals live here, and the grounds still have ponds and buildings from the late Qing dynasty.

The main reason to come here: the Giant Panda House. It is the most popular with visitors, so head there first.

You can get there by metro: take line four, Beijing Zoo station. Allow half a day for the visit.

Beijing Ancient Observatory

Statue of Guo Shoujing in front of the ancient Beijing Observatory

The observatory was built in the 15th century and today operates as a small themed museum. The platform displays antique bronze astronomical instruments.

The visit takes less than an hour, but the place is rare: there are few working observatories with historical instruments left in the world.

The address is simple for a navigator: Jianguomen station, metro lines one and two. It is a few minutes' walk from the exit.

Olympic branch line and the Bird's Nest

Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing seen from the square

The Olympic branch line of the metro was opened for the 2008 Games, and it leads directly to the sports cluster. See the National Stadium, the Bird's Nest, and the National Aquatics Center, the Water Cube.

In the evening the venues are lit up, and that is a convenient time for photos.

Day five: 798 Art Zone

Exhibition hall in a former factory workshop with installations

The 798 Art Zone, also known as the Dashanzi art district, is occupied by galleries and exhibitions. The displays change often, so coming back a year later will still be interesting.

A factory used to operate on this site. The workshops were not demolished: galleries and studios are located right in the old buildings. This backdrop sets 798 apart from an ordinary museum.

Admission used to be free almost everywhere. Today most exhibitions charge a fee, and the largest projects require a separate payment.

The metro does not go to the art zone. You can take the metro to a station on line ten, then catch a taxi and show the driver the address from your hotel app (Dashanzi 798 Art Zone).

Day six: the great wall of China

Great Wall of China with a watchtower in the mountains

The easiest way to visit the wall is with an organized tour: you will be picked up from your hotel and brought back. This option is sold in almost every hotel and in apps.

For independent travelers, a tourist bus works well: it leaves early in the morning from Tiananmen and Xuanwumen. Buy your ticket in advance and confirm the exact meeting time with the guide.

The most determined travelers get to Badaling by train from the north railway station. Train tickets to Badaling on Trip.com can be booked online, but you will arrive at the wall along with the crowds.

Book a tour to the Mutianyu section, not Badaling. Multi-kilometer traffic jams lead to Badaling, and less time is left for the wall itself. Here is a comparison of the two sections.

Section	Entry	What makes it good	The catch
Mutianyu	45 yuan (as of 09/2026, source)	fewer people, cable car and toboggan	farther from the city, pricier trip
Badaling	ticket at the entrance	train from the north station	traffic jams and huge crowds

English-language tours are rare here. Guides speak Chinese, so download a description of the section in advance.

Bring a light snack: anything edible near the wall is expensive. Before heading out, note the bus number and confirm the group meeting time.

Day seven: markets and shopping

Shopping in Beijing is easy to combine with sightseeing. If you wear mainstream brands, stop by the U-Town mall: Uniqlo, Zara, H&M, GAP, and Bershka are common here. For local labels, check out Hot Wind.

The Place tower complex is home to that giant LED screen you have probably seen in photos. Nearby is Charterhouse, a bookstore with English-language titles.

For souvenirs for friends and colleagues, head to Nanluoguxiang. The nearby alleys lead to Houhai, where you can combine shopping with a walk by the water.

Keep in mind that this is a tourist area: prices here are higher than in regular neighborhoods. You can save money in the nearby hutongs, where the food is just as good.

For stone, porcelain, and bamboo items, as well as antiques, go to Liulichang Street. It has long been known for its shops selling traditional crafts.

For silk and fabrics, head to Xiushui Street. Brand-name goods are sold on Xidan, which is also home to large department stores.

Beijing's markets deserve their own route. The Wangfujing market is closest to the Forbidden City and works more like a shopping street with boutiques and souvenirs.

The Xiushui silk market is located in a multi-story building near Yonganli station. Bargaining is expected here, and vendors speak English.

For the same goods at lower prices, try the Yashou market near Dongsishitiao station. The Hongqiao Pearl Market keeps prices moderate and quality good.

Where to go in Beijing in the evening

Evening panorama of Beijing with illuminated skyscrapers

In Beijing clubs, avoid hard liquor. Even familiar whiskey brands are not guaranteed to be original here, and the quality leaves much to be desired.

Mao Mao Chong bar is a pleasant exception. The interior is decorated with paintings by the owner himself, and they pay attention to what they pour. Try the house-infused liquor while you are there.

For a good beer, go to Great Leap on Gongti. According to guest reviews, they brew some of the best craft beer in the city.

Want live music and a lively crowd? Head to Salud in the evening. You definitely will not be bored, but book a table in advance.

For a quiet evening, an alternative is a bar in the Gulou area. Strolling through the hutongs after dinner is pleasant in any season.

Beijing itinerary on the map

All the points are collected on one map. Open it on your phone and check off what you have covered: this way you will not lose track of a site after moving around.

The order of points matches the day-by-day plan, so the map is convenient to show to a taxi driver.

What to see in Beijing in 7 days

Places on the map

Tiananmen Square One of the world's largest squares, the starting point of day one
National Centre for the Performing Arts A glass dome amid the water, the building is lit up in the evening
Forbidden City Entry by time slot and passport, 60 yuan in summer, closed on Mondays
Beihai Park A lake, an island with a pagoda and long alleys north of the palace
Jingshan Park A fifteen-minute climb for the best view over the Forbidden City's roofs
Summer Palace Beigongmen metro station, arrive at opening time, entry by passport
Old Summer Palace, Yuanmingyuan Ruins of a palace complex, quieter than the neighbouring Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven Combined ticket around 35 yuan, the Echo Wall and the Circular Altar
Beijing Zoo Home of the giant panda, Beijing Zoo metro station, half a day to see
Beijing Ancient Observatory 15th-century bronze astronomical instruments, under an hour to see
Bird's Nest Stadium On the Olympic metro line, the venues are lit up in the evening
798 Art Zone Galleries in an old factory's workshops, no metro, taxi from there on
Nanluoguxiang Souvenir alleys, next to Houhai Lake
Liulichang Shops with stone, porcelain, bamboo and antiques
Xiushui Silk Market A multistorey market by Yong'anli station, fixed prices

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to travel to Beijing?

Citizens of Germany and most EU countries do not need a visa: China allows them visa-free entry for up to thirty days, and the rule is valid until December 31, 2026 (as of 09/2026, entry rules). Your passport must be valid for the entire trip, and at the border they sometimes ask for a hotel booking and a return ticket.

How do I buy a ticket to the Forbidden City?

Tickets are booked online with your passport and by time slot, and available windows open one week in advance. The ticket costs 60 yuan in high season and 40 yuan in winter (as of 09/2026, booking rules). The museum is closed on Mondays, so plan your visit for another day of the week.

How much does the Beijing metro cost?

The fare depends on distance and ranges from three to nine yuan (as of 09/2026, metro overview). You can pay by card or QR code in Alipay with a linked foreign Visa or Mastercard. This is the fastest way to get around the city without traffic jams.

What to do in Beijing in the rain?

Move your museum days around and swap outdoor walks. Indoors you will find the National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Beijing Ancient Observatory, and the galleries of the 798 Art Zone. You can spend part of the day at the U-Town or The Place malls, which have cafes and cinemas.

When is the best time to visit Beijing?

The most comfortable time is spring and autumn, with mild weather and less smog. In summer it is muggy, and long walks are hard going. In winter it is cold and dry, but there are fewer tourists, and flights and hotels are cheaper. Chinese New Year brings crowds and high prices.

How do I get to the Great Wall of China without a tour?

Take the train from the North Railway Station to Badaling or board a tourist bus from Tiananmen and Xuanwumen. The Mutianyu section is easier to do with a transfer: it is farther, but noticeably less crowded. Bring water and snacks, as everything on site is expensive.

In short: what to book

Tickets to the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are sold by time slot and with a passport, so book them right after buying your flights. The metro will cover most of your travel, and leave the Wall for the end of the week.

If you are short on time: take a Mutianyu tour with transfer and do not spend a whole day on the road. If you are traveling with kids: set aside a day for the zoo and the Olympic line. If you want to save money: stay near the metro, have lunch at small local eateries, and buy souvenirs at the Yashou market.

Book your accommodation first: compare Beijing options on Trip.com. And GetYourGuide tours will come in handy if you want to cover the Wall in one day.

Set up an eSIM for China in advance: without internet, getting around the city becomes much harder.

Beijing in a week: day by day itinerary, metro and tickets online