Beijing is China’s imperial heart — palaces, temples, and the Great Wall, all reachable on a tight schedule. Here’s how to see the best of it in one to three days, no tour group required.

Where to stay

Base yourself near the Dongcheng / Wangfujing area to be walking distance from the Forbidden City and on a direct subway line. Browse Beijing hotels on Booking.com or Agoda (affiliate).

Getting there

Beijing has two airports and is a major high-speed rail hub. Book trains and flights in English on Trip.com (affiliate) — the rail station from most southern cities is Beijing South.

Day 1 — Imperial core

• Tiananmen Square early to beat the crowds
• Forbidden City (book tickets online in advance — they sell out)
• Jingshan Park at sunset for the classic view over the palace rooftops

Day 2 — The Great Wall

• Mutianyu is the best section for first-timers: cable car up, toboggan down, fewer crowds than Badaling
• A guided half-day trip handles transport for you — compare options on Viator or Klook (affiliate)
• Back in the city, dinner of Peking duck

Day 3 — Temples & hutongs

• Temple of Heaven in the morning (watch locals doing tai chi)
• Wander the Houhai lake hutongs by foot or rickshaw
• Optional: Summer Palace if you have extra energy

Short on time? An 8–10 hour layover plan

With China’s 240-hour visa-free transit, even a long layover is enough for a taste of Beijing.

• Airport ↔ city: about 45 minutes each way from Capital Airport (PEK) via the Airport Express + metro or Didi; allow ~60 minutes from Daxing (PKX).
• Buffer: ~1 hour for immigration on arrival, and be back at the airport ~3 hours before an international flight.
• That leaves ~4–5 hours in the city. Suggested loop: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City (2–3 hrs), then a quick Peking duck lunch nearby before heading back. (Skip the Great Wall — it’s too far for a layover.)

Quick tips

• Get your payment apps and VPN sorted before you arrive
• The subway is cheap, clean, and signed in English
• Bring your passport — it’s required to enter major sights