How many days · Beijing · China
How many days do you need in Beijing?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
5 days is the sweet spot for Beijing, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and a Great Wall trip. Five days adds the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, hutong walks and a night at the Peking opera; a week leaves time for the Ming Tombs or a high-speed train to Tianjin or Chengde.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 5 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 7
- Daylight
- 9.4 h (Dec) to 15 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Great Wall at Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace |
| 2 days | Rushed | Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) |
| 3 days | Good | Jingshan Park, Beihai Park and National Museum of China |
| 5 days | Ideal | The highlights plus a day trip to Badaling Great Wall |
| 7 days | Relaxed | A slow trip with day trips such as Badaling Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Beijing add up to roughly 24–32 hours of visiting time — about 3–5 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Great Wall at Mutianyu (Full day including travel), Forbidden City (Palace Museum) (Half a day) and Summer Palace (Half a day).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Forbidden City (Palace Museum) | Half a day | Wangfujing and Dongcheng |
| Great Wall at Mutianyu | Full day including travel | Huairou District |
| Temple of Heaven | 2–3 hours | Qianmen and Dashilar |
| Summer Palace | Half a day | Haidian |
| Tiananmen Square | 1 hour | Wangfujing and Dongcheng |
| Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) | 1–1.5 hours | Yonghegong and Wudaoying |
| Jingshan Park | 45 minutes | Wangfujing and Dongcheng |
| Beihai Park | 1.5–2 hours | Shichahai and Houhai |
| National Museum of China | 2–3 hours | Wangfujing and Dongcheng |
| Shichahai lakes and hutongs | 2 hours | Shichahai and Houhai |
| Drum and Bell Towers | 1 hour | Gulou and Nanluoguxiang |
| Nanluoguxiang | 1–2 hours | Gulou and Nanluoguxiang |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 5 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Forbidden City (Palace Museum) and Great Wall at Mutianyu |
| With children | 6 days | Slower days and time for Great Wall at Mutianyu |
| With day trips | 7 days | Add Badaling Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.4 hours of daylight) than in June (about 15 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Beijing with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Beijing?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 5 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and a Great Wall trip. Five days adds the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, hutong walks and a night at the Peking opera; a week leaves time for the Ming Tombs or a high-speed train to Tianjin or Chengde.
+Is a week too long in Beijing?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Badaling Great Wall and Jinshanling Great Wall.