I’ve been to the Great Wall six times now – so I’m either an expert or I need my head checked. Once upon a time you could call me a Beijing resident, student, worker and intern but my favourite will always be tourist.
This 3-day travel guide covers exactly where to stay, the best things to do and the travel tips no one else tells you, straight from someone who’s been there done it and got the t-shirt (just you wait until you see those at The Great Wall).
Just here for the 3-day itinerary? Scroll to the bottom, no judgement.
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Where to Stay
Wangfujing 王府井/ Dongcheng 东城 — the classic choice
- Best for: First-timers, history lovers, anyone who wants to walk to the action
- Main attractions such as: The Forbidden City (故宫), Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) and the hutongs (胡同) are all walkable. Trade-off? Higher prices and you’re in the thick of the crowds. Worth it if you want to wake up and be there.
Sanlitun 三里屯 — the nightlife spot
- Best for: Young travelers, bar hoppers, people who want international vibes
- Tree-lined embassy district by day, neon bars and clubs by night. Tons of international restaurants, boutiques, and brunch spots. The metro connects you everywhere but you’ll probably just stay local. More expensive and polished, less traditional.
Houhai 后海 / Shichahai 什刹海 — the local favourite
- Best for: Return visitors, people who want to actually live in Beijing, night owls
- Lakeside bars, hutong courtyards and some of the best people-watching in the city. Bike friendly, residential, more atmospheric and the depth of old Beijing is here. The drum and bell towers (钟鼓楼) are your neighbors.
Zhongguancun 中关村 — practical and underrated
- Best for: Budget travelers, students, people who don’t need the postcard view
- Not glamorous because it’s the tech district, but the metro gets you to the Forbidden City in 30 minutes.
My Pick: First trip? Wangfujing (王府井). Second trip? Houhai (后海) all day. Want nightlife? Sanlitun (三里屯).
For the iconic hotels to budget hostels, you can find my Top 10 Beijing Stays here!
10 Best Things to Do in Beijing
- The Great Wall 长城 at Mutianyu 慕田峪
A less crowded section of the wall that’s more scenic and you can toboggan down! Cable chair lift up, walk the wall, slide down on a metal sled. Summer is too hot, winter is snowy and slippery — pack accordingly. The views are unreal and your legs will hate you tomorrow. - Summer Palace 颐和园
Half a day minimum. Massive lake and imperial gardens where you can rent a paddle boat, walk the Long Corridor and pretend you’re royalty for an afternoon. Grab a ticket without a tour and wander to your hearts content or if you’re looking for the history book the tour in advance! - Beihai Park 北海公园
Imperial garden with a white dagoba, lake views and way fewer tourists than the Summer Palace. Locals come here to escape — you should too. - The Forbidden City 故宫
The largest palace complex in the world. 999 rooms, imperial history and architecture that will humble you. Closed on Mondays, book 7 days in advance. Go early, wear comfy shoes and prepare to walk for hours. - Lama Temple 雍和宫
The most important Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. The 18-meter Buddha carved from a single sandalwood tree is genuinely mind-blowing. One of the smaller temples, can get in and out within the hour. - Temple of Heaven 天坛
Stunning temple with georgous garden grounds where locals do tai chi and play cards in the park at dawn — go early to see real Beijing life unfold. The archictecture is one of a kind, grab an audio guide and wander. - Hutongs 胡同
Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) is the famous one, touristy but so worth it. For the real deal, wander the lanes around Houhai (后海) or Dashilar (大栅栏) without a map. Some of it’s overpriced, some of it’s magic – it’s all fun. - Tiananmen Square 天安门广场
Largest public square in the world with a whole lot of history. If you want to see the flag-raising at sunrise get there early, bring ID, and expect security. Book tickets in advance but if it was me I’d do it first thing as part of a full or half day tour to get it out of the way. - Wangfujing Snack Street 王府井小吃街
Scorpions on sticks, stinky tofu (臭豆腐), lamb skewers (羊肉串) and bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) everywhere. - Universal Studios Beijing 北京环球影城 .
Potter heads and Kung fu panda addicts unite, not forgetting fans of Transformers and Jurrasic World. For around 600RMB per ticket, I have to say if you have a spare day this is worth it and if you’re looking to skip the queues, the vip pass is worth it.
More fun ideas for activites in the capital can be found in my Beijing Top 20 Activities Guide!
5 Top Travel Tips for Beijing
- Major Attractions Close on Mondays
The Forbidden City, the National Museum (国家博物馆) and several other major sites shut their doors every Monday for maintenance. Book your tickets 7 days in advance on the official WeChat mini-programs — they release at 8pm sharp and sell out in minutes, on holidays in seconds. - Hutong Courtyards Are Real People’s Homes
Those narrow alleyways and red doors? People live there. Generations of families, laundry hanging, bikes parked, lives happening while tourists pose at their doorsteps. Be respectful, keep your voice down and maybe don’t peer into open courtyards like you’re at a zoo. - Beijing’s Air Has Consequences
The city has cleaned up its act but bad air days still happen, especially in winter. The AQI (空气质量指数) app is your friend — anything over 150 and you’ll feel it in your throat. Pack a proper N95 mask, not the flimsy surgical ones and frankly it’s worth having insurance in case you ever need to see a doctor, my personal go to is always SafetyWing. Better to be safe than sorry, right? - Your Hotel Registration Matters More Than You Think
Every hotel in Beijing is legally required to register you with the local police station (派出所) within 24 hours. Most hotels do it automatically at check-in — you won’t even know it happened. - Give Yourself a Spa Day
This might sound specific but I’m telling you: you will be exhausted and run off your feet from day one. China has a ton of 24-hour all-inclusive spas — bathhouses, massages, saunas, nap rooms, the works — and they’re stupidly cheap. If there’s a place you’re gonna need rest and recovery, I promise you it’s Beijing.
Looking for the essential travel tips for China as a whole – the apps, the gadgets and everything else you’re gonna need to optimise your time? You can read my first-timer guide here.
3-Day Beijing Itinerary
Day 1: The Icons
Morning: Start at Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) for the flag-raising or just to soak in the scale. Go early for security checks. Then walk straight into the Forbidden City (故宫) aim to get there before 8am. Give yourself 2 hours minimum. The imperial architecture is insane and the history is heavy.
Afternoon: Exit the north gate and hike up Jingshan Park (景山公园) for the panoramic view over the Forbidden City rooftops. Then wander the hutongs around Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷) — narrow lanes, courtyard houses, weird snacks. Grab bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) from a local shop and just explore. Save yourself and don’t rely on wifi for the map, grab an esim before you fly (personally recommend trip.com as you may not need a VPN to access your apps).
Evening: Beijing roast duck (北京烤鸭) is non-negotiable. Quanjude (全聚德) is the historic name, Da Dong (大董) is the modern icon or Siji Minfu (四季民福) for the local favorite. Crispy skin, thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and cucumber. Order the whole duck, don’t share if you don’t want to. After dinner, walk Wangfujing Snack Street (王府井小吃街) for scorpions on sticks, stinky tofu (臭豆腐) and whatever else looks terrifying.
Day 2: Temples & Palaces
Morning: 7am wake-up, you’re going to the Temple of Heaven (天坛) at opening. Watch locals do tai chi, play cards and sing opera in the park. The temple itself is stunning and let me know if you think the Echo Wall actually works. Then metro to the Lama Temple (雍和宫) for a spiritual reset before the crowds hit.
Afternoon: Head to the Summer Palace (颐和园) walk the Long Corridor, rent a paddle boat on Kunming Lake (昆明湖) and find the marble boat that makes no nautical sense but looks incredible. Pack snacks and water as everything inside is overpriced.
Evening: Beihai Park (北海公园) at dusk — the white dagoba, the lake, the Nine-Dragon Wall. Way fewer tourists than the Summer Palace and the sunset hits different here. Dinner in the Houhai (后海) hutong courtyard restaurants and lakeside bars.
Day 3: The Wall & The Markets
Morning: Wake up early for an empty Great Wall (长城) at Mutianyu (慕田峪). Budget option: Bus 916 from Dongzhimen (东直门) to Huairou (怀柔), then local bus to the wall. Group option: If you’re 4+, book a Didi (滴滴) round trip — splits cheap, way less than a private guide and you set the schedule. Book the entrance ticket, cable chair lift up and toboggan down in advance. Pick up tickets at the entrance, take the shuttle bus, walk to the chair lift and enjoy!
Afternoon: Back in the city, hit the Silk Market (秀水街) or Pearl Market (红桥市场). Electronics, clothes, souvenirs – you name it, it’s there. Haggle hard, start at 30%, walk away and let them chase you. It’s a sport and you’re here to win.
Evening: Final dinner in the hutongs (胡同) — find a courtyard restaurant with no English menu and point at what looks good. Zhajiangmian (炸酱面) (noodles with soybean paste), jiao zi (饺子) (dumplings), or one last round of Peking duck (北京烤鸭) if you’re not sick of it yet. Walk the lakes at Houhai (后海) one more time, take one final photo of the drum tower (鼓楼) and call it a trip.
Where to Next? Your China City Guides
To help you decide your next Chinese adventure, I’ve written detailed guides for every city I’ve loved and hated from my very own archives. Including where to stay, the best hotels, top things to do, eat and a 3 day itinerary, check them out below.
