The 15 Best Xi’an Tours & Excursions

1.Mini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,320 reviews · from $49Our pick

Spend about 9 to 10 hours exploring Xi'an with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, transport, museum tickets, and a Chinese buffet lunch advertised as included. Visit the Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, ancient City Wall, and Muslim Quarter with a group of about 12. Guides such as Lily, Roger, Rita, Tracy, and Carol are frequently assigned.

“Unique and Unforgettable Moment in the Terracotta Warriors Xi’an and our guide Roger I recommend him!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Terracotta Army Mini Group or Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 926 reviews · 2.5 - 8 hours · from $36

Visit Xi’an’s Terracotta Army with a small group or private guide. Meet at the museum or choose hotel pickup, then explore the three main pits with a guide such as Jade, David, Becky, or Elith. Skip-the-line tickets, headsets, bottled water, and multilingual service are included. Private tours let you set the pace.

“We very liked this trip. Our guide David was very professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Xi’an Evening Food Tour by TukTuk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 715 reviews · from $73

Start at 6 p.m. near Xi’an’s city wall and ride by tuk-tuk through narrow lanes to four or five local food stops. Expect biang biang noodles, dumplings, gourd chicken, family-run eateries, and a final stop at a Xi’an brewery. Guides such as Amber, Buren, Michelle, and Jane add food stories and practical advice.

“Amazing tour by Lost your Plate. Great guide, Amber was knowledgeable and fun, bringing us to very good food places.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Terracotta Army Ticket & Guided Bus Tour with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 579 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $28

Travel from Xi’an to the Terracotta Army Museum by coach or private vehicle, with an English-speaking guide such as Linda, Josh, Lucas, Nana, or Cherry. You’ll see the famous pits, horses, bronze chariots, and weapons, stop at a replica workshop, and return after lunch. Ticket-only and private options are also available.

“Excellent day trip. Linda was a wonderful guide. Showed us the best way around the Terracotta Army, best areas for photos, and was able to give interesting insight to the history. Very comfortable transport. Linda also took us to an excellent local restaurant and helped advise on which dishes to try.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Customized Private Day Tour of Terracotta Warriors and Xi’an

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 513 reviews · from $109

Start with the Terracotta Warriors, then choose two Xi’an sights such as the City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter, or Huaqing Palace. Wendy, Becky, Agnes, or another English-speaking guide leads your private group, with a driver, hotel pickup, and time for local food. Entrance fees and shows cost extra.

“Great experience provided by lovely people, relaxed, informative and a fantastic way to spend a day in Xian.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Exclusive Terracotta Army Tour & Local Family Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 484 reviews · 6 hours · from $24

Visit all three Terracotta Army pits with guides such as Andy, Min, or Willow, using included tickets and hotel transport on selected options. Afterward, drive to Lintong for a homemade Shaanxi lunch at a local family home. Choose a small-group or private tour, or buy a ticket-only option without guiding, transport, or lunch.

“Traveling with Andy felt like traveling with a friend. Communication was super easy as Andy speaks excellent English. He was very knowledgeable and answered all questions. Another highlight was lunch at his family's place, cooked with love by his Dad. They also considered all dietary restrictions. We had so much fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Half-Day Mini Group Xian Tour to Terracotta Warriors Museum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 467 reviews · from $49

Travel from central Xi’an by air-conditioned minivan to the Terracotta Warriors Museum with an English-speaking guide and a group of about 12. You get museum entry, headsets, bottled water, and a Chinese buffet lunch. Guides such as Rita, Carol, and Celine have been praised for clear explanations and helpful local advice. The tour ends near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

“Rita was a fantastic guide. Always aware of our interests and provided great historical info for our day. We loved how she shared the highlights and what to look for away from the entrances and then let us find these things ourselves. Perfect! Thus was a highlight of our China trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Terracotta Army Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 334 reviews · from $28

Visit the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses independently with an entrance ticket arranged by Ms Li of Authentic China Tours. Bring your overseas passport, follow the arrival instructions sent by WhatsApp, and explore Pits 1, 2, and 3 without a guide or fixed group schedule. Transportation and golf cart rides are not included.

“Excellent service: Li helped us and writes us all the infirmations we needed. Very accurate and very kind. Thank you Li !”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Private Customizable Terracotta Warriors Day Tour with Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 324 reviews · from $108

Start with the Terracotta Warriors Museum, then choose two Xi’an sights such as the City Wall, Muslim Quarter, Banpo Museum, or Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Private guides including Linda, Tina, Lisa, and Eddie tailor the day to your pace. Pickup, a driver, and station or airport transfers depend on the option selected.

“The guide arranged by Viator was enthusiastic and very well informed on the Terra Cotta Warriors as well as the Muslim Market and Banpo Museum. Each of the tours we took with Viator went well and the tour begins as soon as you seat yourself in the car for the ride to the tour site. The site itself was all it's made out to be and everything we expected.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.8-Day Small-Group China Tour to Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 318 reviews · from $1,619

Travel from Beijing to Xi’an and Shanghai in a small group of no more than 18 people. You’ll visit the Forbidden City, Mutianyu Great Wall, Terracotta Army, Yu Garden, and the Bund with English-speaking guides. Candy, Tracy, and Emily are praised for helpful service, though the published transport details deserve confirmation.

“Perfect organization,perfect hotels, perfect tour guides, perfect new friendships.We recommended this tour 1000.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Xi’an in A Day: Terracotta Army+City Highlights+Family Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 304 reviews · 1 day · from $24

See the Terracotta Army, Xi'an City Wall, and Giant Wild Goose Pagoda in one full day with an English-speaking guide such as Andy, Willow, Min, or Maryam. The highlight is lunch at a local family's home near Lintong. Choose carefully between the $24 ticket-only option and the fully guided tour with transport, lunch, and entrance fees.

“Best tour I’ve ever taken in China so far. Andy is amazing, he’s very knowledgeable, always ready to answer any questions, he also knows the right and good spots for photos. The lunch at his parent’s house was incredible, authentic and delicious, we also got the chance to meet with his wife and kids. I truly recommend this tour. Everything was perfect!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Xian Terra Cotta Warriors Ticket Only

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 268 reviews · 1 day · from $31

Visit the Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum near Xi'an with a one-day admission ticket. Send your full name and passport number before arrival, then use your passport at the North Gate. This option skips the ticket line but includes no guide, meals, hotel transport, or sightseeing beyond the museum.

Check availability →Read our full review

13.2-Day Customized Warriors Tours & Xian Top Attractions

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 216 reviews · from $369

Spend two days exploring Xi’an with a private English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle. Visit Hanyangling, the Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Ming City Wall, Muslim Quarter, and Great Tang All Day Mall. Guides such as Carol, Tracy, and Lily are praised for clear English and strong local knowledge. Airport and station transfers are included.

“Arriving by train from Guilin we were greeted at the train station by our Travel China Guide Carol and our driver Mr Han .On route to our hotel for our overnight stay Carol outlined our itinerary and gave us a detailed description of Xi’an culturaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Private Half-Day Tour of Xi’an Terracotta Warriors

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 201 reviews · from $145

Spend about five hours with a private guide and driver at Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors Museum. You will see Pits One, Two, and Three, hear the story behind more than 7,000 figures, and eat at a local restaurant. Afternoon bookings can add a Shaanxi dumpling feast and Tang Dynasty music and dance show.

“It was a great experience, are guide Lin give us the best excursion and explanation about the whole history of Terracotta Warriors. Then she take us to an amazing lunch with a local meal. Definitely were very lucky to have Lin and her driver.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Great Tang Dynasty Night Show & Dumpling Meal Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 177 reviews · 1.5 - 3 hours · from $34

Spend an evening at Xi’an’s Great Tang Dynasty Show, a one-hour production about Empress Wu Zetian, Tang culture, religion, and military life. Choose show-only, dumpling dinner, transfer, or combined options. English and Chinese screen text helps you follow the story, and hotel pickup is available in central Xi’an.

“Such a great evening. Well worth the trip, and would recommend to all travellers to Xi’an. The dumpling dinner prior to the show was also exceptional. Great seat given to me by Lenna.”

Check availability →Read our full review