PALACE TOURS · CHINA PALACE TOURS

The 15 Best Palace Tours in China

52 tours  ·  from $2 a head

The Forbidden City caps entry daily and sells against a passport; the Summer Palace is an afternoon with no queue at all. These 15 compare guided runs, ticket-included days and the Great Wall pairings.

Beijing: Forbidden City Tour(Group/Private)-Tickets Included - Tiananmen Square and the first security wait
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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 small-group or private Beijing tour led by an English-speaking guide such as Mina, Miko, Maria, or Jay. Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, then add Coal Hill Park, palace museums, hotel pickup, or a hutong lunch depending on your package.

“Everything went perfect, from organization, to great guide and stories about site, to beautiful weather.”

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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 through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with guides such as Tony, Gary, Michael, or Song, depending on your language and option. Choose a three-hour Forbidden City visit, a four-hour group tour, or a private day combining major sights, with ticket help and several extension options.

“I went on that trip with my boyfriend and we used to travel a lot, and I can higly recommend that trip and even more out tour guide Tony, we had great time with him, and he examined us a lot about the history but in a very interesting way. That we even didn't realize and trip came to the end. But was a fantastic experience. He was taking care about us all the time. I would definitely go with him for a trip so better you request him and go to explore the Forbidden City with Tony. 🇨🇳👌🏼”

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All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Lunch between the palace and the wall
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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 a full day with a private guide such as Lucy, Wendy, or Jerry 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.

“Multiple expierence in just a day, really wonderful and our guide Bobo have been fascinating with history and details”

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4-Hour Small Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets - Tiananmen Square adds scale and modern political context
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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 from Tiananmen Square into the Forbidden City with a small group of up to 15 people. Your guide explains Ming and Qing court life, leads you through the main halls and Imperial Garden, and ends at the north gate. Add Tiananmen Square or Jingshan Park when booking.

“Li Qingshan is a very good guide. He responds to your needs, gives you time, and makes suggestions during the trip”

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Beijing Full Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall - Passing through the Forbidden City
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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

This 10 to 11-hour small-group tour links Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall. Your English-speaking guide, often Helen or Rocky, handles transport, tickets, lunch, and the cable car or toboggan option. Expect a full day, lots of walking, and roughly 12 people.

“Our tour was impacted by a military parade & some sites were closed. However, other sites were added. Helen was fantastic. She shared so much knowledge & answered thousands of questions from all members of the tour. She was able to tell us about the sites, but also answered other questions about travelling in China.”

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Beijing: Tianmen Square, Forbidden City & Royal Museum Tours - Meeting near Donganmen and getting through the gates
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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

Choose a Forbidden City ticket, small-group tour, or private visit in English or Spanish. Meet near the Bank of China Donganmen Branch, then explore Tiananmen Square and the imperial palace, with guides such as Linda, Vanessa, Mary, Snow, and Icy leading the way.

“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: The Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace Entry Ticket - What the QR entry actually does
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Beijing: The Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace Entry Ticket

7.The Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,286 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $7

Choose a self-guided entry ticket for Beijing’s Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace. You receive the working QR code by email or WhatsApp, often from Andy, then scan it at the gate. Some options include the Summer Palace’s four inner sights, while guides such as Tony or Joe may be available with selected arrangements.

“The summer palace is Just great. So many beautiful buildings and the lake by boat (not included in the entry ticket) is relaxing and very enjoyable. Really really Hot and humid in August”

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Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service) - The Outer Court: grand halls and imperial ceremony
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Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

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

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

Reserve your Forbidden City admission with your passport details, then enter for a self-guided visit of about three to four hours. You can add a guide such as Bobo, Summer, Marco, or Maggie, or choose the Treasure Gallery option. Expect long walks, major imperial halls, courtyards, and the Imperial Garden.

“I had an amazing tour of the Forbidden City with Summer. She was knowledgeable, patient, and explained the history in a way that was easy to understand and truly engaging. Summer knew all the best spots for photos and helped make the experience smooth and enjoyable. I highly recommend her if you want a well-guided and memorable visit.”

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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour - Meeting at Hepingxiqiao and getting to Mutianyu
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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

9.Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,004 reviews · from $29

Spend a full day with an English-speaking guide such as Yoyo, Lee, Jackie, or Amy, visiting Mutianyu and the Summer Palace. You get about four hours at the wall, three hours in the royal garden, optional cable car or toboggan rides, and no shopping stops.

“Lee was amazing, he has great english, a depth of knowledge, and has great enthusiasm. Very well organised and we got to the wall before the crowds so it was a more relaxing experience!”

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Beijing: Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour - Temple of Heaven: a quieter start with a different purpose
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Beijing: Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour

10.Forbidden City and Tian’anmen Square Waking Tour

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

You can visit Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City with an English-speaking guide such as Huang or Alice, then add the Temple of Heaven or Jingshan Park. Expect several hours of walking, identity checks, advance ticket reservations, and plenty of palace stories, photo stops, and practical help.

“Huang is a great guide, very kind and knowledgeable. A very good tour !”

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Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide) - Entering through the Forbidden City’s north gate
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Forbidden City&T-Square Small GroupTours w/ ticket(Eng/Esp Guide)

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

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

Spend about 4.5 hours at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City with a guide such as Vanessa, Linda, Snow, or Icy. The tour includes palace entry, the Treasure Gallery, an earpiece, and a group of up to 15 people. Expect long walks and a full dose of imperial history.

“I really enjoyed the Forbidden City tour and it was especially great thanks to our tour guide Snow. Her knowledge, explanations and friendly attitude made the experience super nice. She brought the history to life and made the tour botRead more”

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

12.The Forbidden City or Tiananmen Square Entry Ticket

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

Choose a morning or afternoon entry to Beijing’s Forbidden City, with self-guided or guided options and possible Tiananmen Square or Mutianyu add-ons. Your passport serves as the entry ticket. Communication with Andy and guides such as Anson and Mina helps keep the visit organized.

“Although it was extremely busy (due to the anniversary parade) once in it was an extraordinary tour, I enjoyed most the palaces and the explanation from our tour guide Mina of the buildings, their symbolism, purposes and history. Definitely bring lots of drinks and snacks!”

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Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options - Mutianyu Great Wall, the morning highlight
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Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options

13.Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 816 reviews · from $124

Spend 8 to 9 hours with a guide such as Sherry, Lucy, Aurora, or Cindy, combining the quieter Mutianyu Great Wall with Beijing’s Summer Palace. Ride up by cable car or ski lift, hike at your pace, and choose the toboggan for the way down. Lunch, tickets, and hotel transfers are included.

“We had a fantastic time, thanks to the expert guidance of Sherry and the seamless driving of Li. Sherry’s proactive approach stood out—she reached out the night before our tour to suggest an earlier departure, a decision that saved us valuable time and allowed us to visit additional sites. Her deep knowledge and enthusiasm made every stop more engaging, as she went above and beyond to explain details and answer all our questions. Meanwhile, Li ensured a smooth and comfortable journey, efficiently transporting us to each destination. The well-maintained car made travel between locations a relaxing experience, allowing us to fully enjoy the day without any stress. This tour was…”

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Beijing: Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour - Using the ticket-only option
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Beijing: Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour

14.Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 810 reviews · 3 hours - 1 day · from $12

Choose a self-guided ticket, a boat-and-entry package, a group day with guides such as Yan or Gary, or a private tour combining the Summer Palace with Beijing sights. You receive entry help and an English PDF guidebook, while some options add transport, lunch, or a royal boat ride.

“the place is beautiful. the contact was very attentive when I needed some help he replied quickly.”

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Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights - The Forbidden City rewards a focused visit
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Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

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

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

This two-day small-group tour pairs Beijing’s imperial highlights with the Mutianyu Great Wall, a hutong rickshaw ride, and hotel pickup within the Third Ring Road. An English-speaking guide such as Helen, Rocky, or Lisa may lead your group of about 12. Expect early starts, long days, included entrance fees, and practical transport between far-flung sights.

“We had a terrific day with Lisa Liu as our guide to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall at Mu Tian Yu. She kept us informed and gave us a lot of flexibility to determine meal options. We hope to see her again on future trips!”

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