Tours/Beijing/Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Tour with Private/Group Options
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Tour with Private/Group Options
4.9(528)Beijing3–4 hours
VIATOR4.8(95)TRIPADVISOR5.0(433)
+26 photos
At a glance
Duration
3–4 hours
Price from
$28 / person
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 528 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 15
Cancellation
Free cancellation
Meeting point
By taxi: 35 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing 中国北京市东城区东长安街35号
By Metro: Line 1 / 8 → Wangfujing Station Exit: C (Southwest) Walk 3 minutes west.
This ultimate Forbidden City small group tour will take you to see 18 palaces. It will provide you a deeper understanding of what the Forbidden City looks like and the culture behind it in 4 hours. The Forbidden City now limits daily ticket sales. With this tour, no worries about tickets.
Tour Options
Forbidden City Tour Only
Group Tour : This is a group tour covering only the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is not included.
Meet at the meeting point: Meeting piont：Kapok hotel Add: No. 16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing.
木棉花酒店北京东华门大街16号
Duration: 3 hours
Note: Bookings from foreign tourists are accepted within 7 days. You need to queue up and collect tickets with real names on site.
Tiananmen SQ + Forbidden City
Group tour : Group tour covers the Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City. Entry tickets are included.
Meeting point: Grand Hotel Beijing (北京贵宾楼饭店）
Address: No.35 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
By subway: Take Metro Line 1 or Line 8 to Wangfujing Station, exit via Exit A/B/C for easy access. Please arrive at least 5 mins early.
Duration: 3 hours
Note: Bookings from foreign tourists are accepted within 7 days. You need to queue up and collect tickets with real names on site.
Private tour+Hotel pickup
Private tour option: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City. Hotel pickup, professional guide and entrance tickets are all included.
Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included
Itinerary
Pass by
You can either join the tour at the designated meeting point or enjoy morning pickup from your Beijing hotel lobby. Take a comfortable tour vehicle with your guide to Tiananmen Square first.
As the world’s largest urban public square, it sits right on Beijing’s central axis. The iconic Tiananmen Gate stands on its northern edge, directly facing the Forbidden City. Surrounding the square are landmark buildings: the Great Hall of the People to the west and the National Museum of China to the east. At the centre rises the Monument to the People’s Heroes. This symbolic site carries profound modern Chinese history, offering wonderful photo opportunities.
Important reminder: Tiananmen Square sees massive visitor volumes during China’s summer vacation (July & August), May Day Holiday and National Day Holiday (1st–7th October. Please prepare yourself for lengthy waiting times in security queues.
Note: Valid passport/ID is required to pass security checks for entry.
Admission included120 min
Then you will walk to the Forbidden City, one of Beijing’s top landmarks.
Also known as the Palace Museum, it houses roughly 10,000 rooms. For over 500 years, it served as the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Your professional guide will share its profound history. The tour covers a total of 18 palaces; please refer to the itinerary for full details.
Please be aware the tour finishes inside the Forbidden City. Return transfer back to your hotel is at your own arrangement.
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Admission included5 min
Passby
Pass by
pass by
Admission included5 min
Passby
Highlights
Forbidden City entrance ticket
Hotel pickup(if you choose the hotel pickup option)
Professional historian guide
Local taxes
What's included
Included
Forbidden City entrance ticket
Hotel pickup(if you choose the hotel pickup option)
Professional historian guide
Local taxes
Not included
Gratuities
Hotel drop-off
Food and drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
For the private tour option, we will offer the downtown hotel pickup service.
Traveller Ratings
4.9
528 reviews
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Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
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
Passport name, number is required at time of booking for all participants, Please make sure to carry the same valid ID document throughout your trip, otherwise you may be denied entry to the scenic spots.
Please note that Chinese nationals including visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must book tickets 7 days in advance for the Forbidden City. We cannot accept any bookings made within 7 days of the visit date.
Forbidden City tickets require real-name reservation 168 hours (7 days) in advance and often sell out quickly. We highly recommend you book your tour as early as possible. Otherwise, international visitors may need to queue at the entrance to purchase tickets on site.
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Tour with Private/Group Options lasts about 3–4 hours. The itinerary has 11 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $28 per person for this Beijing experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. For the private tour option, we will offer the downtown hotel pickup service. Pickup points include MEET_AT_DEPARTURE_POINT, CONTACT_SUPPLIER_LATER, LOC-6eKJ+or5y8o99Qw0C8xWyH5BTPAFndK66IB/YW3NlJc=.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(528)
R
Reslimpan
September 6, 2026
Spent half of the tour in queues
The Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour is a Beijing must do. We opted for the 4 hour tour in order to get an in-depth experience. Our guide Edward was great and spoke good English, albeit spending less time on the phone and engaging with the customers when queuing would have been even greater. We had a 10 am departure from our hotel, which is probably the worst time of the day to start this tour. We spent an hour and 45 minutes queuing to get into Tiananmen Square, which was a major bummer. If you want to avoid this type of queue, leave early or skip the square (the square as such is not all that great to see unless you want to visit the museum or Mao’s mausoleum) entirely and do the Forbidden City with Jingshan park, the latter offering great views of the city as such.
Operator response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We truly appreciate your honest comments about the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City experience. However, we would like to kindly point out that **we do not have any tour guide named Edward within our team**. This suggests this review may have been posted against the wrong product listing.
Could you please help relocate this review to the correct tour link corresponding to your actual booking? This will help other travellers get accurate information, and also allow us to properly look into your experience.
We value every guest’s opinion and hope to hear back from you.
Best regards,
Lily
M
MB_O
August 31, 2026
Overcrowded and not very accessible
The Forbidden City must be a different experience if you don't go in August; everything was too overcrowded. The authorities do not allow entry into any building; you see the interior by peeking through the windows amidst the shoving.
Operator response
Dear Guest,
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback about your visit to the Forbidden City.
We fully understand your experience in August, when the site gets extremely crowded with tourists from all over the world. It is true that under current regulations, visitors cannot go inside most buildings, and you can only view interiors through the windows amid heavy foot traffic.
We appreciate you taking the time to leave these practical notes for other travellers. Thank you for joining our tour. Wish you pleasant remaining travels.
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
L
leilaaD2065VW
August 19, 2026
Very good experience
Bruce was very nice and competent. The tour was well organized and interesting. Would recommend. Thank you!
Operator response
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your kind review!
We are happy to hear Bruce was friendly and competent, delivering a well‑organized and interesting tour for you. We will pass your sincere thanks and compliments to Bruce.
Thank you for your recommendation. Wish you pleasant travels and we hope to welcome you back to Beijing.
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
M
Meander40449826652
August 14, 2026
Thanks Sally!
Sally was an amazing guide. She explained many interesting facts about the sites we visited. Moreover, since the place was very crowded, she was super good in being able to direct us in areas where there were much less people, finding hidden gems and places we wouldn’t expect. Of course we also visited the main areas. Highly recommended! Great value for money
Operator response
Dear Guest,
Thank you for your terrific review!
We’re overjoyed Sally brought you such a rewarding tour experience. It’s fantastic that she shared so many fascinating facts, and skilfully steered you away from heavy crowds to discover those delightful hidden spots, while still covering all the key landmarks. We are glad you found the tour great value for money. We will pass all your lovely compliments to Sally.
Hope to welcome you back to Beijing one day!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
S
Sun
August 7, 2026
Highly‑recommended Forbidden City and Tiananmen tour
We had an absolutely incredible day exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with our guide Jeffrey. From the very start, everything was perfectly organised, and we really appreciated the smooth ticket handling which saved us lots of waiting time. Standing on Tiananmen Square was such a powerful, moving experience; our guide shared valuable background stories that helped us truly understand the significance of this iconic landmark. Moving on to the Forbidden City, we were blown away by the grand scale, magnificent architecture and centuries‑old imperial history. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, patient and engaging, bringing ancient royal stories to life instead of just listing facts. They walked us through the main halls, pointed out hidden cultural details, recommended wonderful photo spots, and thoughtfully answered every single one of our countless questions. The pace was flexible, so we could stop to admire the views whenever we wanted. Without a knowledgeable local guide, we would have only seen buildings without grasping the rich history behind them. This tour far exceeded our expectations. It was one of the most memorable highlights of our trip to Beijing. We highly recommend this tour and our wonderful guide to anyone visiting the city.
Operator response
Dear Guest,
Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review!
We are thrilled that you had an absolutely incredible day exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with Jeffrey. It is fantastic to know our well‑organised arrangements and smooth ticket handling helped you avoid long waiting times. We are glad Jeffrey brought the iconic landmarks and centuries‑old imperial history vividly to life through valuable background stories, cultural details and fascinating royal tales.
We really appreciate you mentioning the flexible tour pace, great photo‑spot tips and his patience in answering all your questions. It means a lot to us that the tour exceeded your expectations and became one of your trip highlights. We will happily pass all your warm praise to Jeffrey.
Thank you for choosing our tour. We would love to welcome you back should you visit Beijing again.
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
R
ranjeet40
June 20, 2026
Great experience with Sue
Sue from Leo's Private Tours was a very kind and knowledgeable guide who took us to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. She had a strong understanding of the history and significance of both sites, which made the experience very enriching.
She was also very thoughtful and attentive throughout the tour, and her restaurant recommendations were excellent. Overall, she made our visit smooth, enjoyable, and memorable.
Operator response
Dear Guest
Thank you for your heartfelt review!
We’re delighted Sue brought you such a rewarding tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. It’s wonderful that her deep historical insights enriched your sightseeing experience, and her thoughtful, attentive service alongside fantastic restaurant picks made your whole trip smooth and unforgettable. We truly appreciate your kind words!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Teamm
B
brunomachadods
April 28, 2026
Forbidden City with Marco Polo
My visit to the Forbidden City was excellent thanks to Marco Polo. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the history of this incredible place come alive with his explanations. The tour was well organized and enjoyable from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Beijing.
Operator response
Dear Guest
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We are delighted you had an excellent Forbidden City tour with Marco Polo. It’s great to hear he is knowledgeable and friendly, bringing the profound history of the Forbidden City vividly to life with his wonderful explanations.
We’re glad the tour was well-organized and enjoyable from start to finish. Thank you very much for your high recommendation to visitors coming to Beijing. We hope to welcome you back to explore more amazing sights soon!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
M
Maps14211329642
April 23, 2026
Good tour; would recommend!
Easy going tour, you get to avoid the long que and our guide Sofia was great!
Operator response
Dear Guest
Thank you for your lovely review!
We’re happy to hear you enjoyed this easy-going tour and skipped the long queues smoothly. Our guide Sofia did a fantastic job throughout the trip to ensure you had a relaxed and pleasant experience.
We will share your kind compliments with Sofia. Highly appreciate your recommendation, and we look forward to welcoming you again!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
S
samhM1594DC
April 21, 2026
Great
great tour & Leo is great. He helped us navigate the forbidden palace. Good explanation of things and help us understand the forbidden city. Good pace & considerate, very friendly to the senior in my family.
Operator response
Dear Guest
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the great tour and that Leo was wonderful. It’s lovely to hear he helped you navigate the Forbidden City, gave clear explanations, and helped you truly understand it. We really appreciate you mentioning his good pace, thoughtfulness, and kindness to the seniors in your family.
We’ll pass all your nice compliments to Leo!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
M
M7761GKyann
April 14, 2026
Five stars tour
I had fantastic experience. Leo made me great understanding of Chinese history and culture. I am very happy from such excellent tour.
Thank you very much.
Operator response
Dear Guest
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re delighted to hear you had a fantastic experience with Leo.
It’s great to know he helped you gain a deep understanding of Chinese history and culture.
We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another wonderful tour soon!
Best regards,
Lily's Beijing Tours Team
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Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Tour with Private/Group Options
