Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Beijing?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Beijing?
Many visitors spend three to seven days in Beijing during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.
Beijing is the capital city of China and it has a long history that dates back thousands of years. It offers a mix of modern and every changing architecture combined with ancient landmarks and historic neighborhoods. Beijing is a world class city that has amazing music, cuisine, culture, and shopping.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Beijing? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Beijing?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time when it comes to exploring the main attractions. After all, Beijing holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. To fully embrace Beijing, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate at least 3 or as many as 7 days to browse the museums, enjoy the city's energy, taste delicious cuisine, and dance the night away. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Beijing
When visiting Beijing, you can't miss the Forbidden City as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
The delicious food of Beijing is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. The city has a number of iconic dishes that have put it on the culinary map. The most notable dish is Peking Duck, which is a delectable crispy roast duck that is usually served with cucumber, scallions, sweet bean sauce and pancakes or other steamed buns. Hot pots are another must-try experience in the city, and, of course, you have to experience the dumplings. A huge part of a visit to Beijing is experiencing its long running culinary history.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Experience Beijing: Chinese Cooking Class and Market Tour ($128)
- Online Cooking Class Handmade Noodles by Sunflower Li ($20)
- Online Cooking Class Orange Chicken by Sunflower Li ($20)
Public transit in Beijing is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The system can be crowded and confusing at first, but it's one of the most convenient and affordable ways to get around town. There's a subway system as well as buses, trolleybuses, and suburban rail.
Beijing is famous for it's world-class attractions, museums, and landmarks. You'll want to spend at least a day exploring one or more that you're interested in the most. The city is filled with iconic landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and The Temple of Heaven. It's also essential that you plan a trip outside of town to the world renowned Great Wall of China. The trip takes about an hour and you can organize a tour through almost any hotel or tour company.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Small-Group Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Tour with Lunch ($128)
- Private Full Day Tour: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Summer Palace ($128)
- Half Day Private Tour to Summer Palace in Beijing ($106)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. Live performances are popular in the city, and range from concerts to magic shows and acrobatics. There is also an active bar scene around town. Some of the most popular nightlife areas include Sanlitun and Houhai.
A few tour suggestions include:
- 4-hour Hutong Neighborhood Nightlife Tour Plus Dinner and Bar Street ($133)
- Dinner and Hutong Nightlife Tour with Dali Courtyard, Great Leap Brewing ($162)
With its diverse attractions, Beijing awaits with plentiful neighborhoods, attractions, and activities. Set aside a day to explore the city's historical and cultural sites as well as the special neighborhoods that give the city its own personality. This historic city is filled with hutongs, gardens, temples, restaurants, and iconic landmarks, making it one of the most fascinating cities that you can visit.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With Speaking-English Driver ($92)
- All Inclusive Private City Tour to Temple of Heaven, Tian'anmen Square Forbidden City and Summer Palace ($178)
- Private Day Tour to Longqing Gorge and Dingling at the Ming Tombs with Lunch and Boat Ride ($0)
Beijing is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The parks, gardens, palaces, and temples all offer a glimpse into the past, while also letting you enjoy the city and culture that exists today.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Great Wall at Gubeikou and Jinshanling Private Sunset Tour ($240)
- Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum ($138)
- Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour ($88)
Is 4 days enough time in Beijing?
As a popular and famous city, Beijing offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. Four days is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to see the main attractions of Beijing such as the museums and landmarks, the big city activities, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife. To thoroughly enjoy all that the city has to offer, you'll probably want more time. Most travelers schedule at least 3 or as many as 7 days to fully experience the cultural city. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit.
Beijing, China
How to spend 4 days in Beijing
With 4 days in Beijing, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.
Shopping in Beijing is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There are many unique handicrafts that you can purchase around town. Popular souvenirs include silk, pearls, and snuff bottles with pictures inside. The city has many shopping streets as well as markets and shopping malls that are worth visiting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Mutianyu Great Wall Group Bus Tour (No Shopping Steps) ($38)
- Mutianyu Great Wall Great Wall Bus Tour(NO SHOPPING) ($68)
- Private Beijing Shopping and Culture Day Tour including Panjiayuan Market ($82)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 5 days enough time in Beijing?
For many visitors, five days in Beijing would be just the right amount of time. In fact, lots of tourists spend roughly three to seven days in the cultural city to check out the amazing museums and landmarks and terrific big city activities. Below we have some suggestions on how to spend your time here.
Beijing, China
How to spend 5 days in Beijing
If you have more than 5 days in Beijing, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.
After you've explored most of Beijing, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Trip with Lunch ($218)
- Private All-Inclusive Day Trip to Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City ($216)
- Private Beijing Day Trip: Mutianyu Great Wall and Ming Tombs ($198)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Beijing.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Beijing, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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