Beijing Attractions 2026: 20 Must-See Places to Visit in Beijing

Beijing is a city where imperial history and modern entertainment sit side by side. Whether you have two days or a week, the list below helps you choose what to see first and how long to allow at each stop.

Use this table to shortlist the Beijing sights that match your interests and schedule. Every entry is covered in detail below, grouped by area and theme.

Most of the Beijing sights that first-time visitors want to see are inside or just outside the Second Ring Road. Plan two full days here and keep the evenings free for hutongs and lakeside walks.

The Palace Museum, better known as the Forbidden City, is the one Beijing attraction almost everyone books first. It was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties, and its red walls, yellow roofs and treasure halls now hold one of the world's great collections of Chinese art. Allow at least three hours, and enter from Meridian Gate in the south and exit at the north gate.

Address: 4 Jingshanqian Street, Dongcheng District
Hours: 08:30-17:00 (April-October), 08:30-16:30 (November-March); closed Mondays
Tickets: sold online only, with a daily cap, so book ahead

Book tickets: compare Palace Museum tickets and opening hours on Trip.com.

For route options, gate maps and ticket steps, see our full Forbidden City guide.

The Temple of Heaven is where Ming and Qing emperors prayed for good harvests. Its round blue-tiled hall, built on the idea of a round heaven and a square earth, is one of Beijing's most photographed buildings. The surrounding park is full of old cypress trees and is a favorite morning spot for locals doing tai chi.

Address: 1 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District
Hours: park 06:00-22:00; the main halls keep shorter hours

The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in Beijing, built around Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill. Walk the Long Corridor, climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense for the lake view, and take a boat across the water if the weather is good. It is a relaxed half-day that works well with children.

Address: 19 Xinjiangongmen Road, Haidian District
Hours: 06:00-20:00 in peak season, shorter in winter

Book a timed ticket with commentary to skip the ticket window and get context as you walk.

Our Summer Palace guide covers tickets, the best route and which gate to use.

Prince Gong's Mansion is the largest Qing dynasty princely residence in Beijing, a compound of courtyards, gardens and a private theatre. The saying goes that one Prince Gong's Mansion holds half the history of the Qing. It is a short walk from Shichahai, so pair the two in one afternoon.

Address: 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District
Hours: 08:30-17:00

Tickets, transport and the garden layout are covered in our Prince Kung's Palace Museum guide.

Yonghe Temple is Beijing's most important Tibetan Buddhist temple and one of the most atmospheric religious sites in the city. The halls rise one behind another, each with its own Buddha image, and the incense smoke and prayer wheels make it a memorable stop even for visitors who are not religious.

Address: 12 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District
Hours: 09:00-17:00

Jingshan Park sits directly north of the Forbidden City, and the climb to Wanchun Pavilion gives you the classic view over its golden roofs. Come late in the afternoon, walk up in 15 minutes, and stay for sunset. It is the best-value viewpoint in Beijing.

Address: Jingshanqian Street, Xicheng District
Hours: 06:00-21:00

See our Jingshan Park guide for ticket details and the best photo spots.

Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang are the easiest places to see old Beijing at street level. Browse the shops in the day, then come back after dark for the lakeside bars and snack stalls. The lanes are flat and walkable, and the area links naturally with Prince Gong's Mansion and the Drum Tower.

Address: around Di'anmenwai Street, Xicheng District
Hours: open all day

Beijing is a good city for children: the big parks are flat, the museums are free or cheap, and the metro is easy to use with a stroller outside rush hour.

Universal Beijing Resort is the biggest theme park in the city and a full-day attraction for families and thrill seekers. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Transformers Base, Kung Fu Panda Land and Jurassic World are the headline areas. Arrive at opening, ride the most popular attractions first, and expect peak-season queues in July and August.

Address: Universal Beijing Resort, Tongzhou District
Hours: typically 09:00-21:00, check the day you visit

Ticket types, dates and express passes are explained in our Universal Studios Beijing ticket guide.

Beijing Zoo is the most convenient animal park for families staying in the center, and the giant pandas are the main draw. Go early, when the pandas are most active, and allow two to three hours for the main exhibits.

Address: 137 Xizhimenwai Street, Xicheng District
Hours: 07:30-19:00

The Natural History Museum is a free, indoor option that works well on hot or rainy days. Dinosaur skeletons, fossils and animal halls keep children busy for about two hours. Book the free timed ticket online before you go.

Address: 126 Tianqiao South Street, Dongcheng District
Hours: 09:00-17:00; closed Mondays

The China Science and Technology Museum is the best hands-on science stop in Beijing, with experiments, models and shows across several floors. It suits school-age children and takes two to three hours. It is next to the Olympic Park, so the two can be combined in one day.

Address: 5 Beichen East Road, Chaoyang District
Hours: 09:30-17:00; closed Mondays

Most of Beijing's national museums are free but require an online reservation, and many close on Mondays. Check the booking page the day before you visit.

The National Museum of China stands on the east side of Tiananmen Square and holds the country's most important collection. Highlights include the Simuwu Ding and the Four-Sheep Square Zun, along with painting and porcelain galleries. Give it half a day if you are serious about history.

Address: 16 East Chang'an Street, Dongcheng District
Hours: 09:00-17:30; closed Mondays; free with online booking

The Military Museum covers modern Chinese military history with aircraft, tanks, missiles and uniforms. It is free, rarely crowded, and easy to reach on Line 1. Two hours is enough for the main halls.

Address: 9 Fuxing Road, Haidian District
Hours: 09:00-17:00; closed Mondays; free with booking

The Geological Museum is a quieter alternative to the big national museums, with mineral specimens, gemstones and dinosaur fossils. It is a good stop for children who like rocks and dinosaurs, and it takes about 90 minutes.

Address: 15 Xisi Yangrou Hutong, Xicheng District
Hours: 09:00-17:00; closed Mondays

Yuanmingyuan is the ruined imperial garden north-west of the city center, famous for the stone remains of the Western-style palaces. The site is large and peaceful, with lakes and paths, and pairs well with the Summer Palace in one day.

Address: 28 Qinghua West Road, Haidian District
Hours: 07:00-19:00

The Ming Tombs are the burial site of 13 Ming emperors, set in a valley north of Beijing. The Sacred Way, Dingling and Changling are the usual stops, and the site combines well with a Great Wall visit on the way back to the city.

Address: Changchi Road, Shisanling Town, Changping District
Hours: 08:30-18:00

Two sections do most of the work for visitors: Badaling for convenience and Mutianyu for scenery. Both are World Heritage sites and both can be done as a day trip from the city.

Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall and the easiest to reach, with direct trains and buses from central Beijing. The restored walkway is wide and gently graded, which makes it a good choice for older travelers and families. It is also the busiest, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Address: Exit 58, G6 Beijing-Tibet Expressway, Yanqing District
Hours: 06:30-16:30

Mutianyu has more watchtowers, better mountain views and far fewer people than Badaling. Take the cable car up and the toboggan down if you want the full experience. It is the section most photographers and repeat visitors choose.

Address: Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District
Hours: 07:00-18:00

Our Mutianyu Great Wall guide covers tickets, the toboggan and transport from the city, and our Great Wall hiking guide compares the quieter sections.

Book the entrance ticket together with the shuttle bus to save time at the gate.

Gubei Water Town is a rebuilt canal town at the foot of Simatai Great Wall, about two hours from central Beijing. It is at its best in the evening, when the lights come on and the wall is illuminated above the rooftops. Stay overnight if you want to see the night view without a late drive back.

Address: Simatai Village, Gubeikou Town, Miyun District
Hours: 09:00-22:30

The Olympic Forest Park is a huge free green space at the north end of the Olympic axis, next to the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. It is best for an easy walk, a picnic or a break from sightseeing, and it combines well with the Science and Technology Museum.

Address: 33 Kehui Road, Chaoyang District
Hours: 05:00-22:00 (mid-March to mid-November), 06:00-21:00 in winter

If you only have a short stay, use one of these routes. They are ordered to keep travel time down and to put the busiest sights early in the day.

Most first-time visitors stay around Wangfujing, Dongcheng or the Qianmen area, where the Forbidden City, Tiananmen and the metro are within walking distance. The three hotels below are good bases for the sights in this guide; compare more options on the Beijing hotels page.

A comfortable base within walking distance of the Forbidden City and Wangfujing shopping street.

A design-led hotel on the east side of the old city, close to the National Art Museum and a short ride from Jingshan Park.

Good-value rooms near Jingshan Park, with some rooms looking over the Forbidden City roofs.

The metro is the fastest way between most of the attractions on this list; lines 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 cover the historic center. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are cheap by international standards but slow in rush hour. For day trips to the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, book a car or join a small-group tour.

Arriving by rail? Compare China train tickets before you travel. Flying in? Check flights to Beijing and airport transfers.

These guides go deeper on the individual sights mentioned above: