China · FORBIDDEN CITY TOURS

Forbidden City Tickets & Tours: The 15 Best Ways In

174 tours  ·  from $2

Entry is capped, sold in advance and tied to your passport, so the booking is the hard part and the visit is the easy one. These 15 cover plain tickets, registration help and guided mornings, with prices and how far ahead each one needs to be bought.

Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included - Tian’anmen Square: important, formal, and sometimes slow
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Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

1.Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 7,974 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $4Our pick

Choose a 3 to 8 hour Beijing tour with an English-speaking guide, Forbidden City admission, and several route options. Mina, Miko, Jay, Susan, and other guides explain the palace, help with strict entry procedures, and can add Tian’anmen Square, lunch, museums, or Coal Hill Park.

“This tour was amazing! Our guide Lily was extremely nice and shared with us insightful information. We were very lucky to be alone with her so we got to visit a lot inside the Forbidden city, while increasing our knowledge about the past. We are leaving with an unforgettable experience and recommend this tour to everyone! Thank you Lily”

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Beijing: T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour - Tiananmen Square, one hour of scale and symbolism
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Beijing: T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour

2.T-Square & Forbidden City Group or Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4,446 reviews · 3 - 8 hours · from $17

Walk Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with an English, Spanish, French, German, or Italian-speaking guide. Choose a small group or private tour, then add the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, hutong dumpling class, or Great Wall. Guides such as Tony, Michael, Gary, and Song are praised for clear stories and crowd control.

“We had a tour on a really cold -9° Celsius day, so despite that, everything went great. Our tour guide spoke English really well, interesting stories. The tour time was punctual, and He payed attention to everyone to not loose each other. He was really nice, I even asked him if we can go inside one of the houses, and he rerouted us to see a house from the inside. He is really nice to the tourists, and with him you get a nice trip. (His name was Tony) The place itself was amazing, 4 hours was enough to look around the place. If it's your first time in China,…”

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All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Tiananmen Square and Beijing’s ceremonial center
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All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

3.All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,873 reviews · from $128Top rated

Spend 9 to 11 hours with a private guide such as Lucy, Wendy, Jerry, or Bobo, visiting Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Hotel pickup, lunch, entrance fees, bottled water, and your choice of cable car or chairlift and toboggan are included.

“Lucy is very well educated on the history of the sites we went to see. Lunch was delicious. Had a memorable day seeing one of the wonders of the world. Thank you.”

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4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets - Meeting up in central Beijing
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4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

4.4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,863 reviews · from $15

Walk through Beijing’s Forbidden City with a guide such as Jimmy, Maria, Miko, or Vivian, hearing stories of the Ming and Qing emperors as you visit the great halls and Imperial Garden. Choose Tian’anmen Square or Jingshan Park, and bring your passport for entry.

“Moko is a great tour guide. He’s very organized, knowledgeable, patient and helpful. It was an extreme cold day but he kept his energy up and we had a good time. It’s not easy to lead the group tour in the busy areas like tiananmen sq ans forbidden city but Moko was excellent.”

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Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Entering the Forbidden City through Meridian Gate
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Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall

5.Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,634 reviews · from $99

Join a small group of about 12 for Beijing’s essential sights. Your English-speaking guide, often Helen, Rocky, Murphy, or Mary, handles tickets, transport, commentary, lunch, and the Mutianyu cable car or toboggan ride. Expect 10 to 11 hours, heavy walking, and an early start.

“This was the perfect trip to tick off some of the key sights in Beijing. With limited time in the city I wanted to make sure I found the right tour, and this didn't disappoint! Our guide Helen was fantastic and made the the trip smooth and enjoyable!”

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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours - Tiananmen Square sets the political stage
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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

6.Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,288 reviews · from $4

Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with ticket support or a guided group tour. English and Spanish guides such as Linda, Vanessa, Mary, Snow, and Icy lead 3 to 4-hour visits, with Royal Treasures Museum access included in selected options.

“The meeting point could be closer to the entrance, because it's a lot of walking inside the palace anyway.”

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Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service) - Crossing Into the Inner Court
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Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

7.Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,263 reviews · from $9

Reserve your Forbidden City ticket in advance and enter with your passport near Meridian Gate. Choose morning or afternoon admission, then explore the main halls, inner court, and Imperial Garden. Add a guide such as Bobo, Summer, Marco, or Maggie, or include the Treasure Gallery.

“Jun was very professional and his English was excellent! This tour did a great job at making everyone feel welcomed and understood. Great way to see the forbidden city! Don’t forget to book your Tiananmen Square tickets the day before so you can visit that after !”

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Beijing: Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour - The Temple of Heaven starts the longer route
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Beijing: Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour

8.Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,002 reviews · 8 hours · from $2Best value

Choose a small-group or private Beijing tour linking Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, and, on selected options, the Temple of Heaven or Jingshan Park. Guides such as Huang and Alice are praised for clear stories, thoughtful pacing, and helpful photos. Expect identity checks, long walks, and advance ticket planning.

“Joe it’s was really nice tour guy! He meet as in a hotel like 20 min from the place so we can go directly to the place, and then inside of the city he explain the man things”

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Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide) - Entering the Forbidden City with a planned route
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Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide)

9.Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 995 reviews · from $11

Spend about 4.5 hours with an English or Spanish guide at Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Treasure Gallery. Guides such as Vanessa, Snow, Linda, Ivy, and Icy explain palace rituals, imperial life, architecture, and modern history. Expect a small group of up to 15, timed entry, and plenty of walking.

“Wonderful tour that visited Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Our guide Vanessa was great, very knowledgeable and friendly. Would recommend.”

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Beijing: The Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket - Choosing morning or afternoon entry
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Beijing: The Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket

10.The Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 836 reviews · 40 minutes - 9 hours · from $4

Book a morning or afternoon entry to Beijing’s Forbidden City, with optional guided or self-guided touring and add-ons for Tiananmen Square, Mutianyu, and hotel transfers. Your passport is used at the gate. Guides may include Anson, Andy, Mina, Selina, or Yuly, depending on the option.

“it was very easy to enter. you can get a audio tour for 40yuen.”

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Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights - Mutianyu makes Day 1 a serious outing
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Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

11.Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 688 reviews · from $99

Spend two full days with an English-speaking guide and a group of about 12, visiting Beijing’s grand imperial sights and Mutianyu Great Wall. Helen, Rocky, Lucy, Kevin, Lisa Liu, and Tom are among the guides named in guest feedback. Hotel pickup within the Third Ring Road, transport, entrance fees, headsets, water, and Day 1 lunch are included in the stated mini-group option.

“Our 2-day mini trip in Beijing was absolutely unforgettable! From the majestic Great Wall to the Forbidden City and other iconic highlights, every moment was perfectly organized and full of insight. Both Helen and Rocky were truly exceptional Read more”

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Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options - Entering through the Meridian Gate
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Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options

12.Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 675 reviews · from $75

Walk Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with a private guide such as Lily, Jason, Cindy, or May. Choose a shorter palace visit, a longer six-hour route, or combinations with the Temple of Heaven, transport, and a hutong meal. Bring your passport.

“Had a great tour with Albert who was friendly, professional and considerate. I learnt a lot about the history of the Forbidden City and I want to revisit! Albert helped take photos and he also recommended an eatery for a traditional Beijing snack.”

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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven - Entering the Forbidden City through the imperial axis
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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

13.Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 610 reviews · from $99

You’ll cover Beijing’s four headline sights in about nine hours with an English-speaking guide such as Jenny, Mary, Lee, or Michael. Expect early hotel pickup, long walks, a Chinese lunch, and possible shopping stops at a pearl market, tea ceremony, or silk center.

“The trip included a lot of unannounced "shopping activities" i.e tea ceremonies, silk factory visit and a traditional chinese medicine visit (the latter one being a visit to a no-name center that claimed to be related to the official TCM- most probably a scam) which consumed a lot of time. As a result e only reached our last destination the Summer Palace late in the evening, with no enough light to enjoy the best part of the whole trip.”

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Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square - Tiananmen Square: Beijing’s monumental opening
Badaling Great Wall Tours, Beijing Tours, City Tours, Forbidden City Tours, Full-Day, Great Wall Tours, Tiananmen Square Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

14.Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 609 reviews · from $99

Cover Beijing’s three essential sights in about nine hours with an English-speaking guide such as Lee, Jenny, Murphy, or Michael. Walk through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, climb Badaling Great Wall, enjoy a Chinese lunch, and stop at Longdi Jade Factory. Central hotel pickup is included.

“Our tour guide Lee was very informative, he explained everything to us plus some extra background information about chinese culture. We also went to a tea making lesson/taster which was different and informative. Lunch was really nice and a large selection of options. Overall it was a brilliant day. We only had 1 day in Beijing and this tour covered everything we wanted to see and more”

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Mini Group Discovery Forbidden City Tour with Hotel Pickup option - Meridian Gate and the Gate of Great Harmony
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Mini Group Discovery Forbidden City Tour with Hotel Pickup option

15.Mini Group Discovery Forbidden City Tour with Hotel Pickup option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 512 reviews · from $36

Spend about four hours touring Beijing’s Forbidden City with a small group of up to 15 people. Hotel pickup is available, entrance is pre-booked, and guides such as Sofia, Lucy, Marco, and Jeffrey explain the palaces, imperial customs, and architecture. The tour ends at the north gate.

“We found this Trip as a Last Minute Solution to visit the forbidden City. Marco was an excellent tour guide paving our way through the masses of visitors.”

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New in Forbidden City Tours

★ 4.5Beijing’s Forbidden City with Special Viewing of Treasure Gallery and the Great Wall Ruins at BadalingFrom $19924 reviews
★ 5.0Ultimate Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great Wall Discovery with Airport TransferFrom $18625 reviews
★ 4.54-Hour Private Forbidden City Walking Tour with Bird’s ViewOptionFrom $10810 reviews
★ 5.0Private Layover Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Forbidden CityFrom $20815 reviews
★ 5.0Forbidden City TourFrom $11642 reviews
★ 5.0In-depth Forbidden City tour with Royal Icehouse LunchFrom $15015 reviews
★ 5.0Highlights of Forbidden City+Options TourFrom $309 reviews
★ 4.5Beijing Day Tour to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great WallFrom $1697 reviews
★ 4.0Quality Coach Day Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City plus Badaling Great WallFrom $13810 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour: Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square + EntryFrom $8810 reviews
★ 4.5Private Day Trip of Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer PalaceFrom $2103 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour to Lama Temple, Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden CityFrom $1083 reviews
★ 5.0Private 5-Hour Walking Tour: Forbidden City, Hutong&Parks NearbyFrom $1409 reviews
★ 5.0Forbidden City with Hutong Cuisine Private Walking TourFrom $1285 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Tour:Tiananmen Square,Forbidden City Temple of HeavenFrom $19016 reviews

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Tiananmen Square Tours53Summer Palace Tours115Temple of Heaven Tours66Lama Temple Tours29Beijing Hutong Tours56Museums32
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