Beijing: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square Entry Tickets

Two of Beijing's Biggest Landmarks, One Booking That Actually Works

You get skip-the-line entry to both Beijing's most-visited landmarks in one booking. Enter the Forbidden City by scanning your passport, explore the imperial palace and its hidden gardens at your own pace, then head to Tiananmen Square to stand in the world's largest public square surrounded by monuments. No paper tickets, no separate reservations. Just book your preferred option (Forbidden City alone, Tiananmen alone, or both) and show up on your date.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Forbidden City3h
2. Tiananmen Square1h

Visit Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

• Enter Forbidden City with ticket
• Explore courtyards and halls
• Discover hidden gardens
• Visit Tiananmen Square
• Admire surrounding monuments

The experience

So you're standing in front of the Forbidden City and realizing you should've bought tickets online: except you're about to walk straight through because you did. That's the whole thing right there. The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square are the two stops everyone makes in Beijing, and trying to queue for both on the same day without a plan is how you end up spending half your time in line instead of inside. You get three options: just the Forbidden City, just Tiananmen Square, or both in one booking. The combo ticket is the move if you want to see both without the back-and-forth of separate reservations.

The Forbidden City, also called the Palace Museum, is where 24 emperors lived, and you can feel the weight of that the moment you walk through the gates. Grand courtyards open into more courtyards, golden-roofed halls sit behind walls you didn't know were there, and gardens hide in corners that most visitors miss because they're moving too fast. With your ticket, you skip the line and enter by scanning your passport at the gate. No QR code nonsense, no paper to keep track of. Tiananmen Square is a different kind of stop. It's the world's largest public square, and it's less about wandering and more about standing in the middle of it and understanding why it matters to China. The National Museum, the Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People's Heroes. They're all there, and your reserved entry means you're not fighting through the security queue that builds up by mid-morning.

One thing to know: the Forbidden City closes on Mondays, so if you're planning that day, you're down to Tiananmen Square only. And if the combo option doesn't show up when you search your date, it means Forbidden City tickets sold out, which happens. Book early enough and you won't hit that problem. Travel instructions for Tiananmen Square come by email the day before, so check your inbox. The whole experience is flexible because you choose which option fits your schedule, not the other way around.

What’s included

• Your booking includes admission to whichever option you select: Forbidden City entry alone, Tiananmen Square entry alone, or both. For the Forbidden City, you enter by scanning your passport at the gate.
• no QR code or printed ticket needed. For Tiananmen Square, travel instructions are emailed to you the day before your visit. The combo option lets you see both landmarks in one day with a single reservation.

Options for this experience

3 options

T-Square Reservation Service16:00Excludes the Forbidden City

Ticket for the Forbidden City only08:30, 11:00 and 13:00Excludes Tiananmen Square

Forbidden City+T-Square07:30, 11:00 and 13:00A single booking covers both attractions. Note: Getting into Tiananmen Square involves a security check and waiting in line. If that sounds like a hassle, you may prefer to choose a different option.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday5 departure times: the first at 07:30, the last at 16:00

Book up to15h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 89 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Your Beijing Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to hit Beijing's two most famous landmarks without juggling separate tickets or arriving early to beat the line: the skip-the-line entry and flexible combo option mean you spend your time inside, not waiting outside.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square on the same day?

Yes, the combo ticket covers both. You can visit them in either order, though most people do the Forbidden City first since it takes longer to explore.

Do I need to print my ticket?

No. You enter the Forbidden City by scanning your original passport at the gate. For Tiananmen Square, travel instructions are emailed the day before your visit.

What days is the Forbidden City closed?

The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays. If you're visiting on a Monday, only the Tiananmen Square ticket option will be available.

What if the combo ticket is sold out?

If the combo isn't showing on your date, Forbidden City tickets have sold out. You can still book Tiananmen Square separately, or try a different date.

How long does it take to see both sites?

The Forbidden City typically takes 2–3 hours depending on how much you explore. Tiananmen Square takes 30–60 minutes. Plan for a full morning or afternoon.

Is there a guide included?

No, these are entry tickets only. You explore at your own pace. Audio guides and guided tours can be arranged separately.

Can I use the ticket on a different date if I can't make it?

Check the terms of your booking. Most tickets are date-specific, so contact support if your plans change.

Is public transportation nearby?

Yes, both sites are well-served by Beijing's subway and bus network. Tiananmen Square is in the city center, and the Forbidden City is just north of it.