15 City Highlights Tours in Beijing to Build a Day Around

1.Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7,974 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $4Our pick

Choose a small-group or private visit to Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City, led by experienced English-speaking guides such as Mina, Miko, Maria, or Jay. Palace Museum entry is arranged for you. Longer options add the Clock and Treasure museums or Coal Hill Park, while a private booking can include hotel pickup.

“Our guide Susan spoke perfect English and had a fantastic knowledge of Chinese history. It was exactly why we booked private tour. There is no way we could navigate through tiananmen square so quick by ourselves. Lots of different queues in different places. Susan was absolutely incredible.”

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2.Mini Group Discovery Forbidden City Tour with Hotel Pickup option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 512 reviews · from $36Top rated

You’ll spend about four hours touring the Forbidden City with a small group of up to 15 people and a professional guide such as Sofia, Lucy, Marco, or Jeffrey. Hotel pickup, admission, and the Antiquarium are included. Expect substantial walking, no hotel drop-off, and a passport check at entry.

“Our tour guide, Sofia, was excellent. She had an amazing amount of knowledge about the Forbidden City and all of the dynasties. I would recommend this tour for anyone looking to visit the Forbidden City and to learn about Chinese history.”

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3.Mini Group: Beijing Forbidden City Tour with Great Wall Hiking at Mutianyu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 344 reviews · from $159

This roughly eight-hour Beijing tour pairs Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with two hours at Mutianyu Great Wall. Expect central hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, bottled water, and a group capped at 15. Cable car or toboggan tickets and lunch cost extra.

“A wonderful way to spend the day. Our guide was informative and we were able to see a lot in a short period of time. Our guide was nice but a very fast walker which made it hard to stop and take pictures other then the basic tourist images.”

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4.2-Day Private Classic Beijing City Sightseeing Tour Package

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · from $368

You’ll explore Beijing with a private guide and driver over two full days, visiting the Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, and Summer Palace. Guides such as Coco and Susan are praised for clear English, humor, and thoughtful help. Lunches, admission, and hotel transfers are included, but cable car and toboggan tickets cost extra.

“We truly enjoyed our days with Coco - she was knowledgeable, fun to be around, perceptive and sympathetic to any needs we had and ultimately a wonderful guide. We felt like we saw and did all that we had hoped to in Beijing - at a pacRead more”

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5.Beijing Highlights Tour: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 59 reviews · from $200

Start with hotel pickup around 8 am, then cross Tiananmen Square and explore the Forbidden City before lunch and a two-hour visit to Mutianyu. Your English-speaking guide, private vehicle, Chinese meal, and round-trip cable car tickets are included. Some schedules also add jade, tea, or medicine stops, so confirm the day’s plan.

“very nice day trip! even though the tour guide might slow down a little, but it was probably due to holidays and traffic jam.”

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6.Great Wall&Forbidden City Tour(Mini Group/Private Option)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $142

See Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall in one long Beijing day. You get a private vehicle, guide, lunch, admission, and cable car or chairlift access. Guides such as Lucy, Susan, Jack, and Bella have led past departures, with airport pickup available at PEK or PKX.

“Great history lesson of China. Our tour guide Jack (Tao) was extremely knowledgeable about Chinese history and architecture. Excellent lunch from a traditional Chinese restaurant. The entire day was well planned. Highly recommend.”

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7.All Inclusive Private City Tour to Temple of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square Forbidden City and Summer Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $198

Meet your private guide at 8:30 a.m. for a full day through Beijing’s essential sights. Guides such as Felix, Lily, Coco, Angela, and Sherry lead the route in English or Chinese, with private transport, entry fees, lunch, and hotel pickup included. The Forbidden City ticket must be secured in advance and is not guaranteed.

“Kelly was excellent. We had a wonderful time with her. She knew her information and it was lovely to spend the day with her.”

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8.2-Day Beijing Highlights Tour with Peking Duck

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 2 days · from $278

This private two-day Beijing tour pairs the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, Temple of Heaven, hutongs, Great Wall, and Summer Palace with Peking Duck and Chinese lunches. An English-speaking guide such as Lucy, Susan, or Sherry can adjust the pace, while a private driver handles city traffic, airport transfers, and the long ride to the Wall.

“I strongly recommend that everyone book this tour. Very friendly guide and drivers. The car is very good and clean. About the restaurants, the guide took us to excellent local and traditional restaurants. This is a 5 star tour!”

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9.Small-Group Beijing City Highlights Tour With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 33 reviews · 9 hours · from $179

Spend nine hours touring Beijing’s main imperial sights with an English-speaking guide, Chinese lunch, hotel transport, and entrance fees included. The route covers the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, with added stops at a traditional medicine center, pearl or silk gallery, and tea house. Book at least seven days ahead for the best chance of entering the Forbidden City.

“We got 18 people in our group and we visited the forbidden city, summer palace, temple of heaven, a pearl gallery and medicine center for a while, Chinese lunch was included, The tour guide Lily was very nice. Everything was perfect and well organized.”

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10.Lama Temple E-Ticket or Full-Day Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · 2 hours - 1 day · from $12Best value

Choose a self-guided Lama Temple visit with an English PDF guide, or join a full-day group tour to the Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, hutongs, and Summer Palace. The guided option includes bus transport, entrance tickets, and an English-speaking guide, with a 5:30 p.m. return near Bird’s Nest Stadium.

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11.Beijing：Ancient & Modern City Tour by Sidecar(Day/Night)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 15 reviews · 2 hours · from $89

Ride through Beijing with a private English or Chinese speaking guide, often including John, in a sidecar built for one or two passengers. In two hours, you pass the Drum and Bell Towers, Shichahai, hutongs, CCTV Headquarters, and Ming City Wall Ruin Park, with local snacks and seasonal tea, coffee, soda, or beer.

“Our guide John brought along heat packs to keep us warm, snacks and hot tea for our break. He is a very careful rider which made us feel safe throughout. A great way to see the city at night and key parts of Beijing including some back alleys that we won’t know. Took photos and videos with his GoPro. Highly recommended for all !”

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12.Beijing：Forbidden City Tour—Temple, Summer Palace&Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 6 reviews · 8 - 9 hours · from $48

Visit Beijing’s Forbidden City with an English-speaking guide, then pair it with the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, or Mutianyu Great Wall. Group and private options cost from $48, with tickets and transport included. Private tours add lunch and a flexible itinerary. Guides such as Tony, Jenny, Gary, Mike, and Yutong have led recent departures.

“My guide Gary was the best. Spent nearly the whole day together. We had a great time. He is making history feel alive! 10/10 always again.”

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13.Temple of Heaven+Forbidden City Private City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 8 hours · from $139

Spend eight hours exploring Beijing with a private English-speaking guide, visiting the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Guides such as Phoebe and Linda have helped with history, photos, food ordering, and family needs. Tickets, DiDi transport, and a simple local lunch are included, but no private car.

“Było super. Przesympatyczna Pani przewodnik, zorganizowana. Bardzo mile spędzony dzień.”

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14.Private Transfer to Great Wall & City Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 6 - 9 hours · from $67

You get a private ride from your Beijing hotel to Mutianyu, about 1.5 hours away, with time to hike, use the cable car or chairlift, and ride the toboggan down. Then choose Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Ming Tombs, Hutongs, or Panda House. Drivers include Naomi, Mr Guo, Peter, and David.

“I had an excellent experience on my private tour to the Mutianyu Great Wall. Naomi, my driver, was wonderful. She not only drove me safely but also helped with the cable car tickets and even brought a small gift as a keepsake. She explained everything to me beforehand and was extremely kind and helpful throughout the day. Highly recommended!”

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15.Forbidden City Tour w/Traditional Costume Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $15

Choose a four to six hour private tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City, with optional Hanfu or imperial robe rental, hair and makeup help, and English guiding. Add the Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace for a longer outing. Guides such as Cindy and Aurora provide hotel pickup on selected packages, historical context, and help with costume arrangements.

“Cindy was fantastic, punctual and proactive. She was very helpful in getting us organized.”

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