Beijing has worn many names—Zhongdu, Dadu, Beiping—yet its role as China’s political and cultural heart has endured for dynasties. Today, the city melds imperial grandeur with a fast-evolving modern pulse: neon-lit districts beside serene lakes, centuries-old alleys opening into design boutiques, and ancient temples within reach of world-class coffee.

Across five days you’ll stand in the world’s largest public square, walk the red-walled corridors of the Forbidden City, and ride a toboggan off the Great Wall at Mutianyu. You’ll sample Beijing’s culinary canon—Peking duck, hand-pulled noodles, lamb hotpot—plus small-batch brews and breakfast classics in quiet courtyards.

Practical notes: the Forbidden City is closed Mondays and requires real-name, timed tickets. Have your passport for attractions and trains. Cashless payments are common, but international cards now work more widely in apps and taxis; keep some RMB for small vendors. Tap water isn’t potable; use bottled or boiled water.

Beijing

Beijing is a study in contrasts: imperial axes and glass towers, tranquil parks and bustling hutongs. Its top sights—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace—anchor any itinerary, but the city’s soul thrives in teahouses, courtyard homes, and late-night snack stalls.

• Top sights: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, 798 Art District, Olympic Park, hutongs near Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai.
• What to eat: Peking duck (try Siji Minfu or Da Dong), zhajiangmian (bean paste noodles), lamb hotpot (Dong Lai Shun), jianbing (savory crepe), Beijing yogurt, and northern-style dumplings.
• Good to know: Subway is fast and reliable; get a Yikatong transit card. The Airport Express to Dongzhimen takes ~30 minutes from PEK, and the Daxing Express reaches Caoqiao in ~20 minutes from PKX.

Where to stay (handpicked options)

• Design-forward luxury in the Sanlitun/Taikoo Li scene: The Opposite House.
• Old-World service near Wangfujing and the Forbidden City: The Peninsula Beijing.
• Excellent value with a central location: New World Beijing Hotel or Novotel Beijing Peace.
• Budget social hub close to Qianmen: 365 Inn Beijing (see also 365 Inn Beijing Qianmen).

Browse more stays: VRBO Beijing | Hotels.com Beijing

Getting in and around

• Flights: Compare fares to PEK (Capital) and PKX (Daxing) on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop times: 3–6 hours from major East Asian hubs, 9–11 hours from Europe, 11–13 hours from the U.S. West Coast.
• Trains within China (e.g., Xi’an–Beijing ~4.5–6 hours, Shanghai–Beijing ~4.5–5.5 hours): check schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Featured tours (easy, vetted bookings)

• MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall ENG/ESP/RUS Guided Bus Tour — fast-track access, guides in multiple languages, and ample Great Wall time.

  

• Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking — secure real-name admission in advance and avoid day-of sellouts.

  

• Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour — nibble through lesser-visited alleys and family-run eateries.

  

Day 1: Arrival, Wangfujing Flavors, and a Golden-Hour Skyline

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. If you’re staying near Wangfujing or Dongcheng, stretch your legs along Wangfujing’s pedestrian street. Pop into APM Mall’s food floors for quick bites (skewers, sesame noodles, Beijing yogurt). For coffee, try % Arabica or a local roastery kiosk in the side streets. If energy allows, walk to Jingshan Park and climb the hill for a sweeping view over the Forbidden City—sunset lights its vermilion roofs beautifully.

Evening: Kick off with Peking duck. Reservations help at Siji Minfu (crispy skin served with warm pancakes, scallion, sugar dips) or contemporary-leaning Da Dong (lighter roasting style). Nightcap ideas: Jing-A Taproom (craft ales; try Flying Fist IPA) or lakeside stroll around Shichahai for lantern-lit views. Early night is wise to be ready for tomorrow’s palace morning.

Day 2: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, and Old Hutongs

Morning: Start at Tiananmen Square (arrive by 8–8:30 a.m.; bring your passport for security). Then enter the Forbidden City via Meridian Gate with a timed ticket. Prebook using this Forbidden City ticket to avoid day-of scarcity. Walk the central axis—Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Imperial Garden—then detour onto side halls where crowds thin and carved stone balustrades shine. Note: the palace is closed Mondays.

Afternoon: Lunch nearby at Li Qun (rustic duck in a courtyard) or quick northern noodles—zhajiangmian topped with crisp cucumber—at a small hutong shop. Wander north into the hutongs: Yandaixiejie, around the Drum and Bell Towers, and the quieter side alleys off Nanluoguxiang. For a temple pause, step into the Confucius Temple and Imperial College neighborhood for stone stele and ancient gingko trees.

Evening: Join a hutong food crawl to decode regional dishes and snacks; book the Hutong Food Walking Tour for a curated, small-venue route. Prefer DIY? Try Mr. Shi’s Dumplings (pan-fried crescents), Huguosi Snacks (old-Beijing staples like pea-flour cake and donkey roll), then a tea tasting at a traditional teahouse. End at the Drum Tower square as it empties and the city hum softens.

Day 3: Full-Day—Mutianyu Great Wall Adventure

Head for the Great Wall at Mutianyu, a scenic and less-crowded section with Ming-era watchtowers cresting forested ridgelines. A convenient option is the MuBus Guided Tour to Mutianyu (about 1.5–2 hours each way; typically includes fast-track entry and a lunch stop). Expect 2.5–3.5 hours on the Wall—ride the cable car up to Tower 14 or the chairlift to 6, then hike the crenellations between Towers 6–14 for grand panoramas. The toboggan down is a fun finale. Bring layers (windy on the ramparts), water, and sun protection.

Back in the city, reward yourself with Beijing-style hotpot at Dong Lai Shun—thin-sliced mutton swished through copper-pot broth with sesame paste dip—or go casual with clay-pot braises and skewers near your hotel. If you’re still energized, stroll the Olympic Green for a lit-up view of the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.

Day 4: Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Classic Stage

Morning: Arrive early at the Temple of Heaven Park to see locals practicing tai chi, flying kites, and playing erhu. Visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests—its triple-eaved blue roof is a symbol of Beijing. Breakfast ideas nearby: warm jianbing (egg-stuffed crepe) from a street griddle, or a sit-down bowl of beef noodles at a Lanzhou shop.

Afternoon: Head to the Summer Palace (allow 3 hours). Walk the Long Corridor’s painted beams, climb to the Tower of Buddhist Incense, and, in warm months, take a boat across Kunming Lake for views back to Longevity Hill. For lunch, try lakeside homestyle dishes—stir-fried lotus root, vinegar-scented cabbage—or café fare by the east gate. Time permitting, swing by the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) ruins for evocative stonework and reed-fringed ponds.

Evening: Choose a classic performance: Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre (colorful face paint, stylized singing) or the Red Theater’s Kung Fu show (athletic choreography)—both are accessible even for first-timers. Dinner before the show: contemporary Chinese at TRB Hutong (refined tasting menus) or casual skewers and cold sesame noodles in Qianmen’s backstreets. For a late drink, try Great Leap Brewing #45 for Honey Ma Gold (Sichuan peppercorn kiss) and a laid-back courtyard.

Day 5: Lama Temple, Wudaoying Coffee, and 798 Art District (Departure Day)

Morning: Begin at the Lama Temple (Yonghe), a living Tibetan Buddhist monastery scented with sandalwood. Walk the boutique-lined Wudaoying Hutong for coffee at Metal Hands or a pour-over at Voyage Coffee, then hop to the 798 Art District. Explore galleries in old Bauhaus-era factory spaces, snap street sculptures, and break for lunch at Moka Bros 798 (bowls and smoothies) or a burger and ale at a 798 taproom.

Afternoon (departure): Collect your bags and head to the airport. From central Beijing, allow ~50–70 minutes by car to PEK, 60–90 minutes to PKX depending on traffic. By rail, the Airport Express to PEK takes ~30 minutes via Dongzhimen; the Daxing Express to PKX reaches Caoqiao in ~20 minutes. Check flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com and arrive 2.5–3 hours ahead for international departures.

Dining short list to bookmark

• Peking duck: Siji Minfu (classic), Da Dong (lighter style), Quanjude (historic brand).
• Noodles and dumplings: Mr. Shi’s Dumplings; zhajiangmian at neighborhood spots; hand-pulled beef noodles (Lanzhou-style).
• Hotpot: Dong Lai Shun (mutton), local copper-pot specialists near Wangfujing.
• Cafés: Metal Hands, Voyage Coffee, % Arabica; in 798, Moka Bros and indie espresso bars.
• Drinks: Jing-A Taproom, Great Leap Brewing; lakeside bars around Shichahai for a mellow evening.

Beijing rewards curiosity: step off the main drag and every lane offers a story—guardian lions on doorsteps, rickshaw bells, and the scent of sesame paste at dusk. With palaces, parks, the Great Wall, and generous tables, this 5-day itinerary balances the bucket-list with the everyday rhythm locals love.