Tour Finder
  1. Home
  2. Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City(4 Options)

Private Tour

Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City(4 Options)

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

Craving an unforgettable Forbidden City experience? We’ve crafted options to fit your style—budget-friendly walking tours, private car-inclusive itineraries, packages with Hutong lunch, or deep tours covering the palace plus its museums or Jingshan Park.

Our private walking tour lets you soak up the Forbidden City’s true essence, centering on the imperial central axis—the very heart of the palace where China’s imperial history came to life. Start at Tiananmen Square, enter via the iconic Meridian Gate, tracing the same path emperors once took. Key spots along the axis hold stories of royal ceremonies and state affairs — all brought vividly to life by your dedicated guide.

No need to waste time navigating crowds or figuring out which spots matter most: we’ll help you make the most of every moment, so you can fully immerse yourself in the grandeur of the red walls, golden roofs, and timeless legacy of this historic site.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

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

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.

In Peak season, the security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds one hour, we recommend considering skip 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. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

For option 1+4: Hotel pickup included but not including the transportation fee to the attraction

Private round trip transfer if you choose the option 2 and 3

Professional guide

Lunch or Dinner in Hutong if you choose option 3

Entrance fee

Transportation if you choose option 1 or 4

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

1

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

We offer 4 distinct options for this tour—feel free to choose based on your preferences: Option 1: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour ( Transportation fees to the attractions are at your own expense) Option 2: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour (Including Round-Trip Private Car Transfer) Option 3: 6-Hour Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour (Including Chinese Lunch and Private Transfer) Option 4: 6-Hour In-Depth Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour (Self-Paid Transportation) Transportation fees are at your own expense. You will visit key attractions of the Forbidden City, as well as the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery. If you do not wish to visit the museums, you can choose to go to Jingshan Park instead where you can overlook the core buildings of Beijing’s central axis and enjoy a panoramic view of the Forbidden City—an ideal spot for photography and understanding Beijing’s urban layout.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable
2

National Museum Of China

Our first stop is Tiananmen Square. Please be aware that the Square may be temporarily closed without prior notice due to official events. In the event of such a closure, our team will promptly adjust the itinerary. We will guide you on a walk around the perimeter of the Square, providing in-depth commentary to ensure you gain comprehensive insights into this iconic landmark. Your tour guide will share relevant historical context as you view the following significant buildings from the outside: the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and the Flagpole.

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Option 4: 6 Hour In-depth Tour

Option 4: 6-Hour In-Depth Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour, Transportation fees are at your own cost
Duration: 6 hours
Pickup included

Option 3: Tour+Meal+ transfer

Option 3: 6-Hour Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour (Including Chinese Lunch and Private Transfer)
Duration: 6 hours
Pickup included

Option 2: Tour with Transfer

Option 2: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour (Including Round-Trip Private Car Transfer)
Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included

Option 1:Tour without transfer

Option 1:Tour without transfer: Option 1: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour ( Transportation fees to the attractions are at your own expense)
Duration: 4 hours
Pickup included

Reviews

4.95

656 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

636
13
2
2
3
  • Guide Jason gave us an unforgettable experience

    Ron R,

    Sep 15, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    We had a fantastic experience with our guide Jason, who was not only very knowledgeable but also a very nice person. Jason was very patient in answering the many questions we posed to him. I highly recommend our guide Jason.

  • A Local Companion for a Solo Traveler

    Jenny E,

    Sep 10, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    I booked the private walking tour of the Forbidden City with Lucia as my guide. She was extremely flexible. I experienced travel delays that impacted my original tour time. She effortlessly shifted our plans to accommodate my needs and allowed me to still have an amazing experience despite my flight delay - I didn’t miss anything! Lucia is very knowledgeable and shared interesting history and facts throughout our day. This helped add context that I would have missed traveling alone. She pivoted nicely when faced with external factors like traffic to ensure the best experience for me. We even rode bikes through Tiananmen Square which was such a fun and memorable way to see this landmark! As a solo traveler, I appreciated having a travel companion with local expertise. Highly recommended!

  • Cindy was a phenomenal...

    Swetha K,

    Sep 3, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Cindy was a phenomenal tour guide. Her English was very good and she was very passionate about the Forbidden city and Beijing history. She was great at letting us know all the best tips to make sure we had a great trip and even guided us in a few other stops in Beijing she thought we would be interested in. She did not rush our tour and we felt we got a good handle on the Forbidden City. She also helped us figure out how to navigate China better as tourists and was very kind in making sure we were doing ok in our travels through China even after our tour was over. Would recommend Cindy and this tour again to anyone interested in learning about the history of the Forbidden City.

  • Aurora the tour guide was great

    chrisbaradel,

    Jun 15, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Our tour guide AURORA was very friendly and informative. She helped guide us quickly through the security maze and told us many interesting facts and details about Tienaman Square and the Forbidden City. Our experience would have been much less enjoyable without her guidance

  • Amazing tour with an amazing guide!

    Scott A,

    May 31, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    This was the best tour I’ve ever taken, and I’ve been all over the world. Our guide Lilly was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, and spent time making sure we saw everything we wanted and had a great personal touch. The Forbidded City is an absolute must, and to have a great guide like Lilly is a true delight. She even took us to a great restaurant and made sure we enjoyed our traditional Chinese lunch. Simply the best! Thank you Lilly.

-10% off

From $84.60

Was $94.00

4.95
656 reviews
Check availability

Related Experiences

All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

4.97
Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall Cable Way Up & Toboggan Down

Private Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall Cable Way Up & Toboggan Down

4.98
Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking (Optional: guide service)

4.75
Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

4.41
Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest

Small Group Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace & Bird Nest

4.84
2-Day Beijing Highlights Small-Group Guided Tour

2-Day Beijing Highlights Small-Group Guided Tour

4.72
Beijing 10h Mini Group: Great Wall, Forbidden City,Tiananmen Sq.

Beijing 10h Mini Group: Great Wall, Forbidden City,Tiananmen Sq.

4.94
MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options from Beijing

MuBus: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options from Beijing

4.92
Forbidden City & Tian'anmen Square Tickets and Tours

Forbidden City & Tian'anmen Square Tickets and Tours

4.86
Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

Beijing to Xi'an See Terracotta Warriors with Bullet Train Round Trip Transfer

5.00
Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing

Jinshanling Private Tour with Night View of Simatai and Gubei Water Town from Beijing

5.00
Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With English-Speaking Driver

Private Mutianyu Great Wall Trip With English-Speaking Driver

4.98

Operated by Discover Beijing Tours

A product of Trip Social Group

Australia: Pavel Australia Pty Ltd

Việt Nam: Công ty TNHH Trip Social

top-50

Winner - HO CHI MINH INNOVATIVE STARTUPS IN TOURISM 2022.

Quick links

Destinations

Contact us

  • zalo
  • whatpsapp
  • messenger
Travelling effortlessly, together

© 2025 Trip Social Group. All rights reserved.

    Accepted Payment Methods

  • visa
  • visa
  • visa