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

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Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Ideal for history, culture, architecture, and museum enthusiasts, this tour embodies the popular saying: "70% of visiting the Forbidden City is learning its stories, 30% is seeing the palaces". Over this 4-hour walking experience, you’ll pause at key spots for engaging "story time"—gaining deep insights into its rich culture—while exploring major buildings and courtyards. With small group size, you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide. Entrance fees are included. Alternatively, you may opt for our Forbidden City ticket-only service and explore independently at your own pace.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Your passport name and number are required at time of booking (for all participants)

Please don't forget to bring your passport, you may be refused entry without it.

0-3 Years old infant is free, children have to purchase tickets as well

Tian'anmen Square might close without advance notice due to government activity, if this happens you will skip the Square

Tour departs punctually. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Once the tour left, you are unable to join the tour, and this tour is not refundable.

Chinese citizens, including customers from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, need to reserve the tickets for the Palace Museum 7 days in advance. Once the tickets for the Palace Museum are sold out, it will be impossible to participate in this itinerary. In addition, according to the regulations of the Palace Museum, Chinese citizens can only choose to reserve tickets with their ID cards. Therefore, when making a reservation, it is necessary to submit the Chinese name and ID card number, and on the day of the tour, the submitted ID document must be presented to join the tour group.

In case of peak travel seasons and when all the tickets reserved online for the scenic area are sold out, tourists are required to go to the ticket office of the scenic area by themselves under the guidance of the tour guide to handle the purchase of paper tickets on-site. Please be informed.

Since this is a small - group itinerary, your punctual arrival at the meeting point is essential for a seamless travel experience. Tiananmen Square and the Palace Museum have strict regulations and procedures. If you are late, it may unfortunately prevent you from joining the tour and entering the Palace Museum. Due to the unique nature of the itinerary arrangements, in the event that lateness causes you to miss the tour, we regret that we will not be able to process a refund. We highly recommend that you communicate with your hotel in advance to accurately confirm the travel time from the hotel to the meeting point and make sufficient preparations. This way, you can embark on your journey with ease and enjoy every moment of it.

In Peak season, the security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds one hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Given the sweltering heat, waiting in line for an extended period increases the risk of heat - related illnesses. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.

This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.

This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

1

Beijing

Please note that we have three different tour packages available. Please choose according to your needs, and check carefully the different meeting points and times for each option. You must bring your actual valid passport for this tour. Option 1 Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 10:00 am Meeting point: In front of Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall Option 2 Forbidden City & Coal Hill Park Group Tour (without Tian’anmen Square) Start time: 8:00 am & 13:00 pm Meeting point: In front of Donghuamen (East Gate of the Forbidden City) Option 3 Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 7:30 am & 12:00 pm Meeting point: In front of Laoshe Teahouse

Admission Not Applicable
2

Tiananmen Square

For Option 1 & 3: You will visit Tian'anmen Square first. Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters. Followed by your expert and professional guide, a very informative introduction of the Tian'anmen square and surrounding buildings will be given to your group, as everyone moves along towards to the Forbidden City. (Note: In peak season security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds 1 hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.)

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

If you choose the Coal Hill Park option then entry ticket is included

Group tour includes a professional guide

Fobiddden city entrance fee

If you choose the Tian'anmen Square option entry ticket is included

Hotel pick up and drop-off

Gratuites

If you choose option: Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City, you will not visit Coal Hill Park

If you choose Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park option, you will not visit Tian'anmen Square

Please note: For ticket-only bookings, visit independently (no guide, no meeting point)

Options

May 4th:Square+Forbidden City

May 4th: Square+Forbidden City: The Forbidden City is open on Mondays during public holidays, and this tour covers both Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City

Tian'anmen & Forbidden City

Tian'anmen & Forbidden City: Available at 7:30AM and 12:00PM, including entry to Tian’anmen Square (free)&the Forbidden City. Meet at Laoshe Teahouse.
Duration: 3 hours
Starting point:
Lao She's Teahouse, China, Bei Jing Shi, Xi Cheng Qu, Qian Men Xi Da Jie, 正阳市场3号楼 邮政编码: 100031

May 4th: Forbidden City+Coal

May 4th: Forbidden City+Coal : The Forbidden City is open on Mondays during public holidays, and this tour covers both the Forbidden City&Coal Hill Park

Tiananmen Square+ForbiddenCity

Tiananmen Square+ForbiddenCity: This option including Entry Tickets to Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City. Please arrive before 9:50am
Beijing Planning Exhibition: You can reach here by taxi: 请带我去北京城市规划馆前门东大街20号, subway line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit E2, then walking 400 meters.
Starting point:
Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall, 20 Qian Men Dong Da Jie, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100051

Forbidden City+Coal Hill Tour

This option including entry ticket to the Forbidden city&Coal Hill park. Tour start at 8:00 or 13:00without Tian'anmen square
Meeting point: Donghuamen: You can reach here by taxi 请带我去故宫东华门, by subway line 8 at Jingyu Hutong Station, exit C, then walking 700 meters
Starting point:
Donghuamen, China, Bei Jing Shi, Dong Cheng Qu, 景山前街4号 邮政编码: 100006

Tiananmen Square+Forbiddencity

This option including Entry Tickets to Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City. Please arrive before 9:50am
Beijing Planning Exhibition: You can reach here by taxi: 请带我去北京城市规划馆前门东大街20号, subway line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit E2, then walking 400 meters.
Starting point:
Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall, 20 Qian Men Dong Da Jie, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100051

Forbidden City&Coal Hill Park

Forbidden City&Coal Hill Park: This option including entry ticket to the Forbidden city&Coal Hill park. Tour start at 8:00 or 13:00without Tian'anmen square
Meeting point: Donghuamen: You can reach here by taxi 请带我去故宫东华门, by subway line 8 at Jingyu Hutong Station, exit C, then walking 700 meters

May 4th: Square+Palace

May 4th: Square+Palace: The Forbidden City is open on Mondays during public holidays, and this tour covers both Tian’anmen Square&the Forbidden City

Reviews

4.90

1,934 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1833
63
12
5
21
  • Being Forbidden city tour

    222bettab,Mar 20, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Very good experience Jimmy is very skilled and kind guide. To be repeated

  • Great Tour

    ramachandrans2026,Mar 20, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Miko was a great host & he had very good knowledge on the history. He tried to cover maximum number of places within the Forbidden City with the limited time available. Nice memories.

  • Nice tour with Mike

    845onurk,Mar 20, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Thanks to Mike I had a really nice 4 hours tour 👌

    845onurk's photo 1
  • Super!

    sean e,Mar 20, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Mike was the best tour guide!!

  • Mike the tour guide

    darrenb361,Mar 20, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Mike, our tour guide, was very good when explaining things and was very friendly. The tour went by very quickly 😀

  • Good experience with Miko

    zmT259GD,Mar 19, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Miko is a great tour leader. He speaks a fluent English and even uses his body language and funny examples and explanations to share the story of historic places you visit.

  • Forbidden City with John

    O1749XAjanb,Mar 17, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    John was an excellent guide who made the tour thoroughly enjoyable. He was very easy to understand.

  • Dissappinted

    emmar222017,Mar 17, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    2.00

    The 4 hour tour included waiting time at the forbidden city and tiannamen square which were an hour each. We met at 9.30 and were finished by 2pm. At the end of the tour we were told to fill out a 5 star review which the guide would take a screenshot of to send to his boss. I’ve since compared my experience to others who took a tour with a different company and I learned very little about the people who lived in the forbidden city other than the women had to be beautiful. I really wanted to learn more about the lives of the emperor and empress but feel like I was duped into booking a trip based on pressured5 star reviews

  • Fun and educational

    Adrew B,Mar 15, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Visiting the Forbidden City was fun and very educational. Jimmy, our tour guide, was clear, patient, and very knowledgeable. He explained the history in a simple and engaging way, which made the whole experience enjoyable. Highly recommend touring with him.

    Adrew B's photo 1
    Adrew B's photo 2
    Adrew B's photo 3
  • Exzellent access of forbidden city

    Thomas S,Mar 15, 2026

    - Review from Viator

    4.00

    Very good organization, profunde knowledge, nice experience- our guide was George. Access possible even tickets to forbidden city were sold out.

    Thomas S's photo 1

From US$27.50

4.90
(1,934 reviews)
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