Forbidden City Beijing: Entry Ticket & Guided Tours

Four ways to walk through Beijing's Forbidden City, starting whenever you choose

You get reserved entry to the Forbidden City and choose how to experience it: solo with a map, in a small guided group at fixed times, with a private English-speaking guide on your schedule, or with that guide plus round-trip hotel transfer included. All four packages include the main entrance ticket. Passport is required for entry scanning.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Forbidden City with guided options

• Provide full name and passport number
• Present passport at Meridian Gate
• Choose entry option
• Enter Forbidden City
• Explore independently or join guided tour
• Complete 2-hour tour if guided
• Return to hotel if transfer included

The experience

You're standing at Meridian Gate with your passport scanned, and the Forbidden City opens in front of you. The choice is already made: go alone and move at your own rhythm, or have someone walk you through the 980 buildings and 24 emperors' worth of history. The ticket is reserved. The gate is open. What happens next depends on which of the four packages you picked before you landed.

If you booked just the entry ticket, you walk straight through and navigate the courtyards yourself: morning sessions run 8:30am to noon, afternoons from 11:30am to 3:30pm. No guide talking over the sound of your own thoughts, no group waiting while someone takes a photo. The Forbidden City stays yours. But if you wanted someone to point out why the roof tiles are yellow, or which courtyard the concubines crossed, the shared group tours leave Meridian Gate at 9:00am and 2:00pm with an English-speaking guide included, groups stay small enough that you're not herded. The 2-hour walk covers the main halls and the layout that made sense to the people who lived here, not just the Instagram angles.

The private tour option gives you a guide at whatever time works: no fixed departure, no waiting for a group to assemble. You pick the hour, meet at Meridian Gate, and the guide is there. If your hotel is downtown Beijing and you'd rather not navigate the subway with luggage or figure out which gate to enter from, the fourth package adds a driver who picks you up, drops you at the Forbidden City, waits through your 2-hour tour, and takes you back. The price is set before you get in the car, so there's no negotiation at the curb. Bring your passport. It's scanned at entry, no exceptions. Leave the tripod, drone, and large bags at the hotel. They're not allowed inside.

What’s included

• All packages include your reserved official Forbidden City entry ticket and access during your chosen time slot.
• Shared group tours and private tours add an English-speaking guide for 2 hours.
• The private tour with transfer adds hotel pickup and drop-off in central Beijing, with the driver waiting during your tour.
• Your passport is required for entry scanning.

Options for this experience

5 options

Option 1: Ticket booking service09:00 and 12:00This is a ticket booking service, with morning entry between 8:30 and 12:00 and afternoon entry between 11:00 and 15:30.

Express tour lasting 1 hour15:00Spend 1 hour exploring the highlights of the Forbidden City. Since one hour is short and tight, please do not be late.

Option 2: Ticket plus group tour08:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 14:00Choose this option to include Forbidden City entry tickets and a 2-hour group tour. Meet at the Meridian Gate, marked by the Panda Bear Flag.

See 2 more options

Ticket plus a 2-hour private guide5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:30Includes the Forbidden City entrance ticket and a 2-hour guided tour. Meet the guide in front of the Meridian Gate (main entrance). Duration: 2 hours.

Option 4: Ticket, guide and transfer5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 14:30Choose this option for the ticket, a 2-hour guided tour, and round-trip hotel transfer by private vehicle.

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday12 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Unique Beijing Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to skip the ticket line and entry hassle. Your reservation is confirmed and you choose whether to explore alone, join a small group, or have a guide walk you through the layout and history. The transfer option removes the navigation step if you're traveling with luggage or prefer not to use the subway.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What time can I enter the Forbidden City?

Morning sessions are 8:30am–12:00pm, afternoon sessions 11:30am–3:30pm. Shared group tours depart at 9:00am and 2:00pm. Private tours can start at any time you arrange with your guide.

Do I need a guide, or can I explore alone?

You can book entry only and explore independently at your own pace. Guides are optional add-ons available as shared group tours or private tours.

What's included in the private tour with transfer?

Hotel pickup from central Beijing, 2-hour private guided tour with English-speaking guide, Forbidden City entry ticket, and hotel drop-off. The price is fixed in advance.

How long does a guided tour take?

Both shared group tours and private tours last 2 hours and cover the main halls and courtyards.

Do I need to bring my passport?

Yes. Your passport must be presented on the day of your visit: entry is only allowed via passport scanning at Meridian Gate.

What can't I bring into the Forbidden City?

No luggage, drones, or camera tripods are allowed inside.

Is the Forbidden City accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Strollers and prams are also permitted.

Can I use public transportation to get there instead of the transfer?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the Forbidden City. The transfer is optional and included only in the fourth package.