Beijing combines the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, hutong alleyways and sections of the Great Wall like Mutianyu and Jinshanling. April to May and September to October are best.
Month by month
Best: April, May, June, September, October, November, December
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
How long to stay
4–6 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 14h from the US East Coast, 10h from Europe, 6h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Book Forbidden City tickets online days ahead; passports required.
- Download Alipay or WeChat Pay and set up a travel-friendly SIM.
- Visit the Great Wall early to avoid midday crowds.
Plan a trip to Beijing
Pick your dates and Offdays builds a day-by-day itinerary from Beijing's best places.
Destination