
Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
Traveler rating
4.5/5
Based on 55 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace worth booking?
Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace is a 8-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $172 per person. It scores 62 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.5/5 rating across 55 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 62 / 100
- Rating
- 4.5/5 (55)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $172 per person
Make full use of your time in Beijing and explore the ancient capital’s highlight attractions in one day: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Well-trained English-speaking tour guide, Chinese lunch (optional), hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
What you get
About this experience
Make full use of your time in Beijing and explore the ancient capital’s highlight attractions in one day: the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Well-trained English-speaking tour guide, Chinese lunch (optional), hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
What's included
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off services are available within the 4th Ring Zone of Beijing City.
- All admission tickets as mentioned in the itinerary.
- English-speaking tour guide
Not included
- Gratuities
- Any meals
What you'll see and do
Tiananmen Square
Your full-day tour of classic Beijing begins with a visit to Tian’anmen Square after being picked up at your hotel at around 8 AM. Tian’anmen Square, the largest city square in the world, holds the Monument of the National Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Please note that during peak travel season, the wait time for entry may extend to over 1 hour.
30 minutes here
The Palace Museum
You will then enjoy a short walk from Tian’anmen Square to the Forbidden City. At 8:30-10:30, you will visit this magnificent imperial palace. The Forbidden City, with over 500 years of history, is the largest and best-preserved ancient palatial structure in the world. Duration: approximately two hours.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Temple of Heaven
At 11:00, on the way to your next destination, the Temple of Heaven, considered the holiest place in Beijing, is the largest ancient imperial architectural structure for worship in the world. The visit to Temple of Heaven takes about 1.5 hours.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Summer Palace
After lunch, take a 30-minute drive, you will reach the Summer Palace, the best preserved and largest imperial garden in the world. The Summer Palace is regarded as a museum of gardens in China. Duration: 2 hours. At 18:00, you will be transferred to your hotel.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 1 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Trippest Travel
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- You will receive details about tour guide and exact pickup time in your voucher the day before. And the tour guide will also call you via hotel or leave a message for you about pickup time the night before tour.
- The Forbidden City opens for booking 7 days in advance, and could be sold out very soon during peak season. For the last-minute booking, we will contact you for a backup plan if ticket is sold out.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 55 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
9 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
4 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Photo opportunities
2 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
55 verified traveler reviews for Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Trippest (aka China Highlights) - great value and makes life easy
Naturally I was nervous about using a guide service that I had never used before. But I found Trippest (aka China Highlights) ideal for adding onto our self-booked holiday in China. Their guided tours (we also did a day trip to Jinshanling Great Wall, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an) are half the price of booking through a luxury hotel concierge, and make it super-easy and efficient to visit multiple sites in one day. It’s also interesting to meet and talk to a local English-speaking Chinese person. The company was also good at dealing with an error I made with ID details during booking. I would definitely recommend them, though I would equally say that it’s not as hard as you might imagine to visit Chinese sites on your own (equipped with Alipay/WeChat/Google app for translation, a guide book, and using Didi, the Chinese Uber). But if you want to make your life easy, go with these guys without hesitation.
Response from the operator: Dear Trippest Customer, Thank you for choosing Trippest for your travel needs and for sharing your positive experience. We're thrilled to hear that you were satisfied with our itinerary and guide service. Our commitment is to provide the best fragmented travel services in China, whether it's for one location, one day, or just a few hours activities. We aim to make your journey hassle-free, offering convenience and saving you time, ensuring a wonderful experience with us. We truly appreciate the opportunity to serve you and are grateful for your trust amidst many options. We cherish each chance to provide you with professional and satisfying service. We look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure! Have a nice day! Best regards, Trippest Customer Service Team.
via Tripadvisor
Our tour guide, David was...
Our tour guide, David was very nice and knowledgable. He made our trip very interesting. Viator kept us informed before our arrival and the convenience of just showing your passport to enter was great. Forbidden City bucket list check off..
Response from the operator: Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for sharing your experience of the Beijing Full-Day Tour. We're thrilled to hear that David made your trip interesting with his knowledge and friendliness. It's wonderful that you found the entry process convenient and could check the Forbidden City off your bucket list. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you on another tour soon! Best regards, Trippest Customer Service Team
via Viator
Great tour of Beijing main attractions
The guide (Thomas) was very knowledgeable and keen on answering my questions. The tour was very well organize, I could see all the main highlights of Beijing, and the guide recommended a very good local restaurant, also suggesting the most typical dishes. Highly recommended!
Response from the operator: Dear Martina, Thank you very much for positive review of the Beijing Full-Day Tour. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found our guide, Thomas, knowledgeable and helpful. It's great to know that you appreciated the organization of the tour and the local restaurant recommendation. We are grateful for your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back on another tour in the future. Have a nice day! Best Regards, Trippest Customer Care.
via Viator
Amazing
The tour was excellent. My tour guide Amber did an outstanding job. Everything was very well planned. I can highly recommend both the tour and the organizer.
Response from the operator: Dear Julian, Thank you very much for taking your time to write us with a positive review. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the guide, Amber, and the entire itinerary. We strive to ensure that every guest visiting Beijing has a satisfying and memorable trip, even if it's just for 1 day :) Thank you again for choosing our one-day tour in Beijing among many options. We will continue to provide satisfactory and excellent service to all our guests. Wishing you a wonderful day! Best Regards, Trippest Customer Care.
via Tripadvisor
Nice guide, helpful and thoughtful.
Nice guide and tour, Mei was our guide, decent english, even helped with other reservations. In general a nice a lovely guide and tour! Glad we booked this and her.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
- Price range
- $172 to $278
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 19
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Who runs this experience
Operated by Trippest Travel, who run 152 experiences we rank across 26 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 52.6.
See everything Trippest Travel runsWhy this scores 62
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace cost?
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Prices start at $172 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Beijing usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace take?
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Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Beijing is not rushed.
Is Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 62 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.5/5 across 55 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Beijing, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace?
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Around 19 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Beijing can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Beijing and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Beijing within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Beijing?
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On Outty we rank every Beijing experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Temple Heaven, Lama Temple, Summer Palace & Peking Duck Bus Tour, Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Sightseeing Full-day Group Tours, Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour with Summer Palace Options. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Beijing?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace?
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Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off services are available within the 4th Ring Zone of Beijing City; All admission tickets as mentioned in the itinerary; and English-speaking tour guide. Not included: Gratuities; and Any meals. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 34 listed pickup locations in and around Beijing. Be ready about 1 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Beijing. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Beijing Full-Day Tour: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace?
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Across 55 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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