Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 2,207 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs worth booking?
Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs is a 2-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $22 per person. It scores 89 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 2,207 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 89 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (2,207)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $22 per person
Embark on an unforgettable imperial tour with flexible daily departure times. You can choose to add Tian'anmen Square sightseeing or explore only the Forbidden City upon booking. This 2-3 hour excursion includes all entry tickets, letting you skip ticket procedures and focus purely on sightseeing. Led by seasoned guides with over 15 years of experience, immerse yourself in captivating royal tales and magnificent ancient architectures, and delve deep into the timeless heritage of the Forbidden City. Feel free to wander and explore the palace at your own pace after the guided tour ends.
What you get
About this experience
Embark on an unforgettable imperial tour with flexible daily departure times. You can choose to add Tian'anmen Square sightseeing or explore only the Forbidden City upon booking. This 2-3 hour excursion includes all entry tickets, letting you skip ticket procedures and focus purely on sightseeing. Led by seasoned guides with over 15 years of experience, immerse yourself in captivating royal tales and magnificent ancient architectures, and delve deep into the timeless heritage of the Forbidden City. Feel free to wander and explore the palace at your own pace after the guided tour ends.
What's included
Included
- If you choose 2 Hour Forbidden City Tour, you will only visit Forbidden City
- Group tour includes a professional guide
- Fobiddden city entrance fee
- If you choose the Tian'anmen Square option entry ticket is included
Not included
- Hotel pick up and drop-off
- Gratuites
- Meals
What you'll see and do
Beijing
Please note that we have two different tour packages available. Please choose according to your needs, and check carefully the different meeting points and times for each option. You must bring your actual valid passport for this tour. Option 1 Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 7:30 am & 9:30am & 11:30am Meeting point: In front of Laoshe Teahouse Option 2 2 Hour Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 8:30AM, 10:30AM, 12:30PM & 2:00 PM Meet at Meridian Gate (the main entrance of the Forbidden City)
Pass by without stopping
Tiananmen Square
For Option 1: You will visit Tian'anmen Square first. Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters. Followed by your expert and professional guide, a very informative introduction of the Tian'anmen square and surrounding buildings will be given to your group, as everyone moves along towards to the Forbidden City. (Note: In peak season security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds 1 hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.)
30 minutes here
The Palace Museum
Once enter the Forbidden City, your guide will find a quite sitting area and introduce you to the palace, making you feel immersed in the history of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. People always say: when visit Forbidden city, 70% is to learn the stories and 30% is to see the palace.During the walking tour, you will stop at different locations to have the "Story time" and gain the insight view to the fascinating culture.This detailed tour to the Forbidden city also including the visit to the important museums to discover the treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
10 minutes here · Admission included
Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
You'll be walking pass the most notable buildings during the tour as well as the west and east chambers. Check the Itinerary for the full list of sights. Stroll around the courtyards and halls of the Forbidden city with your tour guide, and learn the histories and stories about this massive palace. You will visit these buildings inside the Forbidden City.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian)
Including the Hall of Supreme Harmony (for grand imperial ceremonies), the Hall of Central Harmony (for the emperor's pre-ritual rest and preparation) and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (for royal banquets and the imperial examination).
20 minutes here · Admission included
Palace of Heavenly Purity
Then continue to explore the imperial living quarters in the palace: the Hall of Heavenly Purity (the emperor’s bedroom and office), the Hall of Union (a symbolic hall for imperial couples), and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity (the empress’s residence). Our knowledgeable tour guide will share fascinating stories and intriguing historical facts behind these magnificent buildings throughout the tour.
20 minutes here · Admission included
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
If you choose Option 2, you will only visit the Forbidden City. The tour includes entry ticket and guided service, lasting about 2 hours. Please arrive on time; late arrivals cannot join the tour.
20 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Beijing
Looking for the panda bear flag 7:30AM/9:30AM/11:30AM Tour : Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Tour Reach by taxi: Laoshe Teahouse, 请带我去前门老舍茶馆. Reach by subway: line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit C, then walking 300 meters along the Qianmen West Street.
Meeting point
Beijing
Facing Meridian Gate-On your right side, by east entrance of the square 1: From Tian’anmen Square:You need to reserve entry to Square by yourself. Security check queues may take 1–3 hours(NOT recommend) 2: Taxi: Donghuamen(东华门-景山前街4号)15‑min walk along moat 3: Subway:Line 8 Jinyu Hutong→25+mins walk
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Tour will end at the north gate of the Forbidden city
Options you can book
1 Hour Forbidden City Quick To
1 Hour Forbidden City Quick To: Includes your Forbidden City entry ticket&professional guided commentary, all in a quick one-hour visit. Starting point: China, Bei Jing Shi, Dong Cheng Qu, Nan Chi Zi Da Jie, 53号内院 邮政编码: 100006
2 Hour Forbidden City
Duration: 2 hours 2 Hour Forbidden City: Meet in front of Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City at 8:30/10:30/12:30/14:00. Visit Forbidden City with tickets included 2‑hour Forbidden City: 2‑hour Forbidden City‑only tour with entry ticket and English‑speaking guide. Meeting point: Meridian Gate (main entrance) Starting point: China, Bei Jing Shi, Dong Cheng Qu, Nan Chi Zi Da Jie, 53号内院 邮政编码: 100006
Tian'anmen & Forbidden City
Duration: 3 hours TiananmenSquare&Forbidden City: Meet at Laoshe Teahouse: 7:30AM & 9:30AM &11:30AM. Tour including entry to Tian’anmen Square&the Forbidden City. Starting point: Lao She's Teahouse, China, Bei Jing Shi, Xi Cheng Qu, Qian Men Xi Da Jie, 正阳市场3号楼 邮政编码: 100031
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 30 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Discover Beijing Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Your passport name and number are required at time of booking (for all participants)
- Please don't forget to bring your passport, you may be refused entry without it.
- 0-3 Years old infant is free, children have to purchase tickets as well
- Tian'anmen Square might close without advance notice due to government activity, if this happens you will skip the Square
- Tour departs punctually. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Once the tour left, you are unable to join the tour, and this tour is not refundable.
- Chinese citizens, including customers from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, need to reserve the tickets for the Palace Museum 7 days in advance. Once the tickets for the Palace Museum are sold out, it will be impossible to participate in this itinerary. In addition, according to the regulations of the Palace Museum, Chinese citizens can only choose to reserve tickets with their ID cards. Therefore, when making a reservation, it is necessary to submit the Chinese name and ID card number, and on the day of the tour, the submitted ID document must be presented to join the tour group.
- In case of peak travel seasons and when all the tickets reserved online for the scenic area are sold out, tourists are required to go to the ticket office of the scenic area by themselves under the guidance of the tour guide to handle the purchase of paper tickets on-site. Please be informed.
- Since this is a small - group itinerary, your punctual arrival at the meeting point is essential for a seamless travel experience. Tiananmen Square and the Palace Museum have strict regulations and procedures. If you are late, it may unfortunately prevent you from joining the tour and entering the Palace Museum. Due to the unique nature of the itinerary arrangements, in the event that lateness causes you to miss the tour, we regret that we will not be able to process a refund. We highly recommend that you communicate with your hotel in advance to accurately confirm the travel time from the hotel to the meeting point and make sufficient preparations. This way, you can embark on your journey with ease and enjoy every moment of it.
- In Peak season, the security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds one hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Given the sweltering heat, waiting in line for an extended period increases the risk of heat - related illnesses. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.
- This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.
- This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 2,198 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
8 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Traveler reviews
2,198 verified traveler reviews for Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
History and wonder
We really enjoyed the guided tour with Jimmy. He gave us a lot of history and explained the important meanings of the different sites. He was good at helping us appreciate all the history that occurred in the Forbidden City. He also suggested where we should explore further after the tour was over. We really enjoyed that too.
via Tripadvisor
Forbidden City Tour
Jimmy was great! Good explanations, stories, answered all our questions. 谢谢！
via Tripadvisor
Outstanding - Tour and Guide!
An Exceptional Guide – Jimmy Made Our Beijing Experience Unforgettable! Jimmy was absolutely fantastic and, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our trip to Beijing! From the very first moment, he was incredibly friendly, professional, knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about showing us his city. He went far beyond simply being a tour guide — he made the entire experience feel personal, relaxed and enjoyable. His knowledge of Beijing’s history, culture and landmarks was impressive, and he explained everything in a way that was interesting and easy to understand. Whether we were visiting the Great Wall or exploring the city, Jimmy was always attentive to every detail and made sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. What we appreciated most was his flexibility and willingness to adapt to what we wanted. He was always ready to help, give great recommendations, take photos, answer our questions and make sure we had the best possible experience. Jimmy has a wonderful personality, a great sense of humor and an incredibly positive attitude. By the end of our time together, it felt like we were traveling with a friend rather than simply a guide. We could not have asked for a better guide for our time in Beijing. Jimmy was truly sensational and played a huge part in making our trip unforgettable. We highly recommend him to anyone visiting Beijing — you will be in excellent hands! Thank you, Jimmy, for making our Beijing adventure so special! 🇨🇳❤️
via Tripadvisor
Nice!
Very nice! It was beautiful and well organised
via Tripadvisor
Amazing trip
Jimmy - many thanks for the amazing trip! Lots of trivia and jokes along the way kept it fun yet informative. Well recommended!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 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
- $22 to $30
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 772
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Who runs this experience
Operated by Discover Beijing Tours, who run 82 experiences we rank across 5 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 52.7.
See everything Discover Beijing Tours runsWhy this scores 89
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs cost?
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Prices start at $22 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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs take?
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Plan for about 2 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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 89 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 2,207 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most popular in Beijing, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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Around 772 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 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs 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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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Included: If you choose 2 Hour Forbidden City Tour, you will only visit Forbidden City; Group tour includes a professional guide; Fobiddden city entrance fee; and If you choose the Tian'anmen Square option entry ticket is included. Not included: Hotel pick up and drop-off; Gratuites; and Meals. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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Looking for the panda bear flag 7:30AM/9:30AM/11:30AM Tour : Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Tour Reach by taxi: Laoshe Teahouse, 请带我去前门老舍茶馆. Reach by subway: line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit C. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs 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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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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 Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; 0-3 Years old infant is free, children have to purchase tickets as well; and This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility re. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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Across 2,207 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, photo opportunities. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
What booking options are available for Forbidden City Guided Group Tour with Entry Tickets|Multi‑Departs?
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There are 3 options to choose from, including 1 Hour Forbidden City Quick To, 2 Hour Forbidden City, Tian'anmen & Forbidden City. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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