Beijing

Hutong lanes, teahouse afternoons & imperial landmarks

Browse Beijing

Find hotels in Beijing Book tours & experiences

Beijing is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Wudaoying Hutong, Pearl Market (Hongqiao) and Nanluogu Alley. Food lovers should not miss Daoxiangcun Pastries and Siji Minfu. Below you will find 13 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Beijing at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Wudaoying Hutong and Pearl Market (Hongqiao)
Where to stay: Mutianyu and Chaoyang
Local picks: 13 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Beijing

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsBest Things to Do in Beijing: A Local’s GuideThe best things to do in Beijing, chosen by locals: top sights, where to eat, where to stay and the…

Where to stay in Beijing

Compare live hotel prices and availability on the map. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Old City

Beijing: Hutong Nightlife & Local Drinking Tour

★ 5.0

Mutianyu

Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Day Trip

★ 4.9

Old City

Beijing: Night Hutong Walk & Street Food Tour

★ 4.8

City centre

Beijing: Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City Tickets

★ 4.8

Beigou Village, Mutianyu

Brickyard Retreat at Mutianyu

Why it matters: American-Chinese couple Jim Spear and Liang Tang converted a derelict glazed-tile factory in Beigou Village into this 25-room retreat expressly to create jobs for their village neighbors, and roughly 80 percent of the kitchen’s ingredients come from local suppliers. The reclaimed-brick architecture is a quiet lesson in reuse, and rooms look straight up at the Mutianyu Great Wall. Stay the night instead of day-tripping: you get the wall at sunrise and a village breakfast before the tour buses roll in. Book one of the scattered village houses if you’re traveling as a family.

Dongcheng

Da Dong

The celebrated modern take on lean, crackling Peking duck.

★ 4.3

$$$

Dao Xiang Cun (稻香村)

It has the best native Beijing PASTRIES and DESSERTS that Beijingers have loved for more than 100 years. The store maintains our favorite flavors through generations while bringing new elements to their…

Dongcheng

Daoxiangcun Pastries

A Beijing institution for over a century, beloved for traditional pastries and desserts. Locals grab them for breakfast alongside porridge. Point at the counter to pick one of each and find your favourite – try the tao su cookie or the walnut he tao pai.

★ 4.8

Centre

Forbidden City

The vast, moated imperial palace at the very heart of Beijing.

★ 4.8

Old City

Great Leap Brewing

Mutianyu

Great Wall at Mutianyu Day Trip

A day trip to the restored, less-crowded Mutianyu stretch of the Great Wall.

★ 4.8

Chaoyang

Hotel Eclat Beijing

An art-filled luxury hotel dotted with Dali and contemporary works.

★ 4.5

$$$

Chaoyang

Janes + Hooch

Old City

Jing-A Brewing

Centre

Jingshan Park

The hilltop park with the classic postcard view over the Forbidden City.

★ 4.6

Sanlitun

Migas Mercado

Qianmen

Naga Tree Coffee

Why it matters: founded in 2024 by Ren Jiayi, an entrepreneur with disabilities, Naga Tree is China’s first fully accessible cafe — it employs staff with disabilities and doubles as a community hub where blind visitors borrow braille books and wheelchair users socialize in a genuinely barrier-free space. It hides in Sanjing Hutong near Qianmen, an easy add-on to a Dashilar wander. Order a hand brew and browse the coffee merchandise that helps keep the project running. Notice the details while you sip: wind chimes at the door to guide visually impaired guests, adjustable tables, and restrooms with automatic doors.

★ 4.2

Dongcheng

Nanluogu Alley

One of Beijing’s most famous hutongs – a lively lane mixing old courtyard homes (some former residences of Chinese celebrities) with handicraft shops and snack bars. Wander off into the side alleys for the real surprises, and try local treats like double-skinned milk and candied fruits.

★ 4.3

Before you go

Things we recommend sorting before any trip. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Travel medical insuranceSafetyWing's Nomad Insurance works like a subscription: pay by the month, cover in most countries worldwide, and you can sign up even after your trip has started.Check prices on SafetyWing

Data the moment you landAn Airalo eSIM gets your phone online in 200+ destinations before you even leave the airport - no SIM swap, no surprise roaming bill. Use code UNLIMITED4YOU for 15% off your first Unlimited eSIM (through Sept 30, 2026).Get an eSIM on Airalo

Book your trip to Beijing

Find the best hotels and book tours and experiences, all in one place.

Find hotels in Beijing Book tours and experiences

Beijing travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Beijing?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Beijing at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Beijing?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Beijing?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Beijing guide.

What is the best time to visit Beijing?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Beijing is worth visiting year-round.