Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour
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September 2026
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Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour worth booking?
Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour is a 2-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $6 per person. It scores 65 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 65 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (13)
- Duration
- 2 hours
- From
- $6 per person
Ticket -booking service or experience the grandeur and beauty of the Summer Palace with your tour guide in group at the fixed meeting point. summer Palace used to be the imperial Garden for the emperors in the Qing Dyna
What you get
About this experience
Ticket -booking service or experience the grandeur and beauty of the Summer Palace with your tour guide in group at the fixed meeting point. summer Palace used to be the imperial Garden for the emperors in the Qing Dynasty.
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Organization
2 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Traveler reviews
13 verified traveler reviews for Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Very unhappy with Service
I have never provided a negative Viator review before but unfortuntely need to do so here. I had an 8 am tour scheduled but then received an email at 9:47 pm the night before telling me the tour had been cancelled due to lack of participation. I was surprised to receive a cancellation on such short notice but realized these things happen. At the same time though, it absolutely was an inconvenience as I obviously didnt have time to make alternative plans on my travel day. But what really infuriated me was the lack of proactivity on the refund. I couldn’t get clear instructions from the tour provider on the refund process and midway through the email exchange, she just stopped responding. If you fail to deliver a service, surely you need to provide clear proactive steps to assure the customer that that they will get their money back. For whatever reason, this didn’t happen here and I was left frustrated and upset by the whole experience.
via Tripadvisor
Do not reccommend
Did not provide me with the correct QR code for entry, so upon arrival, I had to buy an entirely new ticket. I contacted the service provider, and they could not find me or my booking in the system and were no help. Do not reccommend. If you want to buy tickets ahead, make sure you receive a QR code for entry not an E-ticket.
Response from the operator: We are deeply sorry for the terrible experience you had—this is absolutely not the service standard we strive to provide, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the incorrect QR code and the issue with your booking in our system. We didn't get any call today for the Summer Palace tickets problem. Please contact us at your convenience, and we will promptly refund the cost of the additional ticket you purchased. We will also strengthen our internal training to ensure our team can quickly locate bookings and resolve such issues efficiently in the future. Once again, we apologize for letting you down. We value your feedback, as it helps us improve and avoid similar mistakes. We hope you can give us a chance to make it right.
via Viator
Everything went smooth
Booked entrance tickets only and received the QR code a few days before. Everything went well. Just keep in mind that the Tower of Buddhist Incense is not included, a quite cheap ticket can be purchased at the direct tower’s entrance.
via Viator
Amazing local with an equally amazing guide
Our tour guide Jenny was amazing! She was very knowledgeable and charismatic. The summer palace was awe inspiring. The architecture and art work in this setting can't be beat, truly a once in a lifetime experience. Once the tour was over, Jenny was kind enough to help us get where we were going next. She was great! 100 percent would recommend.
via Viator
Great experience with exclusive tour
James was very professional, thoughtful and humble. The route was well designed, made sure we covered all the spots that are worth seeing, and we had an exclusive tour with just the three of us, my colleagues were also very pleased with the whole experience, and told me they’d like to book another tour with James next year when they visit China!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Booked in 30 days
- 5
- Verdict
- Solid Choice
Why this scores 65
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour cost?
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Prices start at $6 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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour 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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 65 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 13 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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour?
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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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour 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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour?
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Around 5 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 Summer Palace Ticket with optional Guided Tour 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 Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour with Summer Palace Options, Beijing: Top 6 Highlights All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour, Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With English-Speaking Driver. 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.
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