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

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 groups limited to 15 people, 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.

Cancellation Policy

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

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)

What To Expect

Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

Please note: You must bring actual passport for this tour. This tour have two options Option 1: Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 10:00am Meeting point: In front of Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall Option 2: Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park Group Tour (Tour without Tian'anmen Square) Start time: 8:00am and 13:00 Meeting point: In front of Donghuamen (East gat of the Forbidden City) Itinerary: Option 1: Forbidden Cit Tour with Tian'anmen Square Meet your group in front of Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, then follow your tour guide to go through travel agency passage to enter Tian'anmen Square (Tiananmen Square may be closed by the government at any time, so entry isn't guaranteed, since Tian'anmen Square is free so there is no refund ).

10 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

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 (about 109 acres).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. (Please note: In peak season 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.)

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Options

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 Entry Ticket

Forbidden City Entry Ticket: This option to book your Forbidden City Ticket-No Tour-No Guide. You will enter Forbidden City by scan everyone's passport
No meeting point : Forbidden City ticket booking only. Visit independently:Go straight to Meridian Gate, scan passport to enter,no meeting point
Starting point:
Donghuamen, China, Bei Jing Shi, Dong Cheng Qu, 景山前街4号邮政编码: 100006

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

Reviews

4.90

1,775 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1678

Amazing experience! Anson is an amazing guide!
fesumaquero,
Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour and lots of knowledge. Amazing experience with Anson, who is a great guide and photographer! If possible, choose Anson to be your guide.
It was a great tour. A...
Tomasz S,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
It was a great tour. A lot of running around to be the first to get in before all other tours but once inside it was good. At the end the tour ends inside the Forbidden City so you can spend as much time as you want in there.
Super Tour
timmys756,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience. Highly recommend to anyone interested in Chinese history particularly during the days of the Ming and Qing Empires.
Amazing group tour to take as first activity
Isabelle L,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great tour with a small group! Because of the language barrier, and for easier access as well as more historical context, I highly recommend joining this tour. We were given detailed highlights of the history as we walked through the Forbidden City, including Tiananmen Square. The square is huge, and having a guide helped us make the most of the visit. We had plenty of opportunities to take photos while listening to the audio guide, with short breaks in between. The time flew by because everything was so informative and interesting. After the 4-hour tour, we were free to continue exploring on our own. The tour ends in the beautiful garden of the Forbidden City, which is a different exit from the main entrance and leads you to even more attractions to discover. There are hop-on options available as you exit, or you can head up to Jingshan Park—located right across from the north entrance—for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City.
Excellent tour
C3452LYaudreyl,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mike was awesome! We’re so glad we booked this tour because navigating the security at Tiananmen and just the geography of the Forbidden Palace would have been very stressful and time consuming otherwise. Hearing about the history of the structures from Mike made the amazing sights so much more interesting. The tour felt streamlined and just the right length.
Amaizing tour with the best tour guide
Bladimir R,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was just perfect. The time spent in both Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City was enough to see and understand these amazing places. Anson, our tour guide, was excellent. He explained everything clearly and made the tour fun and informative.
Definitely worth it!
Seaside770401,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great experience at the tour, with Anson, the tour guide introducing the rich history of both the Ming and Qing Dynasties. He has been extremely approachable and makes effort to recommend good photo angles and assist with the family shots. A tour guide who explains well make the tour of the palace meaningful. Highly recommended tour!
Great tour to Forbidden City
BV 0763,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a wonderful tour on September 30. Mike, our tourguide, spoke English very well and provided us with lots of in-depth information about the palace, its history and Chinese culture. However, he was not just knowledgeable and professional, but also very relatable, and we had a great time. He took great care to avoid overcrowded areas and to find spots where it was a bit cooler on that hot day. Four hours sound long, but it was never boring. The tour was definitely worth its money. Thanks a lot, Mike, and all the best for you! Bernhard, Franziska, Rosa and Xaver
100% Recommended
Explore30225998311,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide, Mike, was very punctual, funny and wise. The experience was wonderful. We were a group of 7 people and they all gave it a 10. Mike answered all our questions. It has been a pleasure to have a guide in this category. Thank you so much!
Great experience
andreaskF4851BB,
Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Super experience, perfectly organized by our tour guide Mina. Very friendly, competent and pleasant. Tour is also customized there is no time pressure. Can only recommend to everyone!