Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours
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September 2026
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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
4.9/5
Based on 111 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours worth booking?
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours is a 1-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $3 per person. It scores 87 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 111 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 87 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (111)
- Duration
- 1 hours
- From
- $3 per person
The Forbidden City is also known as Palace Museum, it was the imperial residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The palace as a UNES
What you get
- Entry ticket
- Tour Guide Service (For Forbidden City Group Tour Option)
About this experience
The Forbidden City is also known as Palace Museum, it was the imperial residence of 24 Ming and Qing dynasty Emperors, and the center of political power in China for over 500 years from 1420 to 1924. The palace as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. The Forbidden City is arguably the most famous palace in all of Chinese history, and is the largest and best preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world. Due to the numbers of tourist restrictions in the Forbidden City every day, a very limited ticket available daily and can be booked on the app 7 days in advance. Most of the time, tickets to the Forbidden City are hard to buy. Through our booking service, we can save you time and energy.
What's included
Included
- Entry ticket
- Tour Guide Service (For Forbidden City Group Tour Option)
Not included
- Lunch
What you'll see and do
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square is free‑entry for all visitors, yet advance real‑name reservation is required with daily visitor capacity limits. Overseas travelers may encounter difficulties navigating the official Chinese‑language reservation system. Our service offers on‑site support and cultural interpretation for international guests. As the world’s largest urban central square, Tiananmen Square stands as an iconic symbol of Beijing and China’s political‑cultural heart. Located right at the core of Beijing, it can host grand mass gatherings of up to one million people and ranks high on every visitor’s must‑see list. Surrounding the square lie landmark national sites: the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong and Tiananmen Rostrum. Major national celebrations broadcast nationwide are frequently held on this very square. ✅ Upgrade Option: Professional English‑speaking tour guide service available
60 minutes here · Admission included
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
The Forbidden City is the largest and the best preserved of ancient royal palaces in the world, and was once the royal residence of 24 Chinese emperors and countless concubines. It has a history of 600 years old. The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, is a must visit attraction for visitors to Beijing. Attracting countless tourists from all over the world every day. Due to numbers of tourists restrictions every day, it is necessary to book visiting tickets in advance. It is recommended to make a reservation at least 8 days in advance. We will send you a successful ticket purchase email 7 days in advance, and then you only need to bring your passport to enter directly. So, make sure to provide the correct passport number is necessary.
Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Tiananmen Square
West Changan Street, Beijing, 100051, China
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 5 minutes before departure.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Ends at
Tiananmen Square · West Changan Street, Beijing, 100051, China
Options you can book
SQ+ Forbidden City ticket
Self-guided Tour: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours. Please plan your time in advance. Passport details required: Provide valid passport names, numbers, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Note: Please download the reservation screenshot we send you 3‑4 days prior to your tour.
Tiananmen Square ticket only
Self-guide Tour: Security checks in the Tiananmen Square area can sometimes take 1–2 hours. Please plan your time in advance. Passport required: Provide valid passport name, number, age, and nationality. Scan your passports to enter directly. Note: Please download the reservation screenshot we send you 3‑4 days prior to your tour.
Forbidden City Tour only
Guide+entry ticket: English speaking tour guide+ticket. Orders within 7 days are only applicable to tourists holding foreign passports. Duration: 3 hours: Tour duration: 3‑4 hours. No Tiananmen Square security screening required for this tour. Meeting point: Meet infront of Kapok Hotel （东华门木棉花酒店)，ADD: No.16th. Donghuamen road, Dongcheng district Note: Visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are only accepted for bookings of 8 days in advance or longer. Pickup included
SQ+Forbidden City Tour
English speaking tour guide: Meet at Grand Hotel Beijing(贵宾楼楼饭店） Add: 35 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing 中国北京市东城区东长安街35号 For foreign guests only: We recommend booking your tour well in advance. During peak travel season, visitors may expect 1‑2 hours of waiting time for Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 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
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- 1. Easy to book, provided with the correct passport name and passport number.
- 2. Upon receiving a ticket confirmation letter from the local supplier, you only need to present your passport to enter through security checks to the Forbidden City.
- 3. Explore the Forbidden City at your own pace. You can freely choose to travel in the morning or afternoon.
- 4, Tourists holding foreign passports can make reservations within 7 days (not applicable to Chinese tourists, including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)
- 5, Please note that mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan visitors must book Forbidden City tickets 7 days in advance. Bookings within 7 days of the tour date are not accepted.
- 6, If you choose the Forbidden City group tour option, please meet your tour guide at Kapok Hotel Donghuamen. If you only book the ticket reservation service, please enter directly through the Meridian Gate.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 111 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
6 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Organization
3 mentionsPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Small groups
2 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
111 verified traveler reviews for Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Bobo is amazing!
Bobo was great! She communicated a day earlier. She provided a lot of history.. took us to all important places! She is very friendly.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this lovely review! We are thrilled to hear Bobo delivered such a fantastic tour for you. It’s wonderful that her advance communication, rich historical knowledge and warm‑friendly service helped you cover all the key sights. We will pass your kind compliments to Bobo. Hope you enjoyed your time in Beijing and wish you a pleasant onward journey!
via Viator
Great experience
We had a wonderful time at the Forbidden City. It was fascinating to learn about the Chinese history and see the grand architecture. Sofia was a lovely and knowledgeable guide. We appreciate her taking us to good photo spots. She also gave us a good recommendation for lunch after the tour!
Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your trip to the Forbidden City and admired its profound history and magnificent ancient architecture. Sofia is truly delighted that her professional commentary and carefully picked photo spots brought you a fantastic experience, and we’re glad our lunch recommendation suited you well. We look forward to welcoming you back to Beijing again in the future!
via Tripadvisor
Forbidden city!!
Sofia was a very good guide very friendly. Wonderful visit with a small group of 4. She takes pictures of us and bé very kind. Thank you sofia, we will Come back.
Response from the operator: Dear Friend, Thanks for your nice review! Happy to hear Sofia gave you an amazing small-group tour and took lovely photos for you. We’ll share your praise with Sofia, await your next visit! Regards Lily's Beijing Team
via Tripadvisor
Great Forbidden City Tour
My family and I had the pleasure of joining a guided tour of the Forbidden City and it was truly an outstanding experience. Our tour guide, Marco did an excellent job bringing the history of the Forbidden City to life. Marco did an excellent job bringing the history of the Forbidden City to life. Marco guided us thoughtfully through the stories of the various dynasties and emperors, explaining not just historical facts but also the significance of the architecture, traditions and the power structures of imperial China. The explanations were clear, engaging and easy to follow. What stood out most was Marco's depth and knowledge. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Beijing, if Marco is the guide. It was informative and exceptionally well delivered.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this wonderful 5-star review and lovely recommendation! We are absolutely thrilled to hear you and your family had an outstanding Forbidden City tour with our guide Marco. It’s fantastic that his in-depth historical knowledge, vivid storytelling and clear explanations made your visit so engaging and informative. We greatly appreciate your kind recognition of Marco’s professional service. We hope you enjoyed your time in Beijing and look forward to welcoming you back on your next trip!
via Viator
In the Forbidden city with Summer
We went to the Forbidden City. It is a must if you are in Beijing, you can spend all day and still not see it all. Would go again. A mention to our guide Summer. She is fantastic. We booked the trip outside of our package trip. Summer's English was way better than that of our package tour guide. Turned up on time. She has obviously been to the Forbidden City lots of times, but used her knowledge of it to guide us through, allowing us maximum time to be there and still see all the places before they would close.
Response from the operator: Dear guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for sharing your experience at the Forbidden City. We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed exploring this incredible landmark and that you found it well worth a full day of discovery. It’s fantastic to know that Summer made your visit so memorable with her excellent English, punctuality, and in-depth knowledge of the Forbidden City. We greatly appreciate your kind words about her professional guidance, which helped you make the most of your time and see everything before closing. We hope to welcome you back to Beijing again soon for more unforgettable experiences! Best regards, Tony
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $3 to $36
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 39
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 87
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours cost?
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Prices start at $3 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 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours take?
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Plan for about 1 hour 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 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 87 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 111 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 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours?
+
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 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 1-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours?
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Around 39 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 1-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Tickets & Tours 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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