
Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 1 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option worth booking?
Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option is a 3-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $35 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 1 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (1)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $35 per person
Breeze past the long entry lines to enjoy your pre-booked tour of the Forbidden City. Follow your tour guide to visit this huge palaces. Learn about the ancient history, culture, and traditions that helped shape the Forbidden City through your guide's engaging commentary. Entrance fees is included. Skip the line for express entry Guided tour of the Forbidden City and its palaces Learn about the ancient, mysterious history of the Forbidden City.
What you get
About this experience
Breeze past the long entry lines to enjoy your pre-booked tour of the Forbidden City. Follow your tour guide to visit this huge palaces. Learn about the ancient history, culture, and traditions that helped shape the Forbidden City through your guide's engaging commentary. Entrance fees is included. Skip the line for express entry Guided tour of the Forbidden City and its palaces Learn about the ancient, mysterious history of the Forbidden City.
What's included
Included
- Licensed tour guide
- Entrance tickets
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
The Palace Museum
From the meeting point Kapok Hotel Donghuamen, you can walk towards the Forbidden City (the biggest Imperial Palace in world). Begin your exploration of the world's largest imperial complex, also one of the best-preserved sites in the world. Also called the Palace Museum, this attraction boasts approximately 10,000 rooms in total, where 24 emperors lived for over a span of 500 years from the Ming to the Qing dynasty. Learn about the detailed, eclectic history of the site from your guide, an expert in Chinese culture, during your tour. Please see the Itinerary section for a full list of the 18 different palaces visited during the tour. Your tour ends in the Forbidden City; you are responsible for your own transportation back to your hotel. Please Note: all traveler names and passport number required required. You MUST provide your above info upon booking, in case the tickets are sold out. You MUST have your passport with you for attending this tour.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
Passby
10 minutes here · Admission included
Gate of Great Harmony (Taihe Men)
Visiting
20 minutes here · Admission included
Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
Visiting
20 minutes here · Admission included
Palace of Heavenly Purity
Visiting
20 minutes here · Admission included
Gate of Heavenly Purity
Visiting
10 minutes here · Admission included
Palace of Earthly Tranquility
Visiting
10 minutes here · Admission included
Hall of Union
Visiting
10 minutes here · Admission included
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Visiting
30 minutes here · Admission included
Gate of Divine Prowess
Passby
5 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Beijing
Option A, You can take a taxi to Kapok Hotel Donghuamen directly. Option B, Take subway Line 8 to Jinyuhutong station and go out from Exit C , and walk to the right side to Kapok hotel for around 8 minutes.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour will end at the North Gate of Forbidden City.
Options you can book
Forbidden City tour+Lunch
Guide+ticket+lunch: Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are only accepted for bookings of 8 days in advance or longer. Meet at Kapok Hotel Donghuamen: Take a taxi or subway Line 8 to Jinyuhutong station and go out from Exit C , and walk to Kapok hotel for around 8 minutes. Duration: 3 hours: Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are only accepted for bookings of 8 days in advance or longer.
Forbidden City group tour
Ticket+tour guide: For foreign guests only. English-speaking tour guide + entrance ticket. Only available for tourists with foreign passports. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes: Take a taxi or subway Line 8 to Jinyuhutong station and go out from Exit C , and walk to Kapok hotel for around 8 minutes. Meet at Kapok Hotel Donghuamen: Take a taxi or subway Line 8 to Jinyuhutong station and go out from Exit C , and walk to Kapok hotel for around 8 minutes. Note: Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are only accepted for bookings of 8 days in advance or longer.
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
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Lily's tour service
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Tourists holding foreign passports can make reservations within 7 days (not applicable to Chinese tourists, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)
Photos






Traveler reviews
1 verified traveler reviews for Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellent English and Perfect Pace Trip
Renny was our guide and she was amazing. She was very knowledgeable, and her English was perfect. when she isn’t giving a tour she is an English Teacher.
Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review and kind words about our half-day Forbidden City tour! We’re absolutely thrilled you had a fantastic experience with our guide Renny. It’s lovely to hear you praised her professional knowledge, fluent English and perfect tour pace. We truly appreciate your sincere compliment on her excellent service. We hope you keep enjoying your time in Beijing, and we warmly welcome you to join us again for more wonderful city tours in the future!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $35 to $68
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Lily's tour service, who run 6 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 59.2.
See everything Lily's tour service runsWhy this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option cost?
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Prices start at $35 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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option take?
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Plan for about 3 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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 1 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 Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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Around 0 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 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option 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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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Included: Licensed tour guide; and Entrance tickets. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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Option A, You can take a taxi to Kapok Hotel Donghuamen directly. Option B, Take subway Line 8 to Jinyuhutong station and go out from Exit C , and walk to the right side to Kapok hotel for around 8 minutes. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option 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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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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 Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Wheelchair accessible; Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Transportation options are wheelchair accessible; and All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option 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 booking options are available for Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch Option?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including Forbidden City tour+Lunch, Forbidden City group tour. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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