The Ultimate 1-10 Days Beijing Itinerary: How Long to Stay in Beijing

Beijing, China’s ancient capital, has a way of pulling people in. From the legendary royal architecture of the Forbidden City to the everyday buzz of Wangfujing Street, the city feels layered, lived-in, and full of stories. So, when planning a Beijing tour, especially if you are visiting Beijing for the first time, you may wonder how long to stay in Beijing. Here are the well-planned Beijing itineraries with days turning into a memorable trip.

How Long to Spend in Beijing

Generally, 3–5 days are required for a well-paced Beijing tour. On the one hand, this timeframe lets you cover the must-see attractions in Beijing without rushing from place to place. On the other hand, it still leaves room to slow down, taste local food, and experience Beijing’s hutongs at a relaxed pace. If you have one week or more, your Beijing itinerary can be more flexible.

For a 1–2 day stay in Beijing, it would be better to put your focus on the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and a hutong tour. With 3–5 days, you can add the Great Wall, the Summer Palace in Beijing, and a more balanced city experience. Once you’ve got 7–8 days, you can explore Beijing’s museums, food, and neighborhoods.

And if you’re lucky enough to have 10 days or more, you can take Beijing as your base and extend your trip to Shanghai, Xi'an, and other parts of China.

1 Day Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: The Imperial City Essentials (Tiananmen & Forbidden City)

If you only have one day in Beijing, you can still follow this Beijing trip itinerary covering several major sights. To begin, head to Tiananmen Square and walk across the open plaza before your Forbidden City tour. As you move through its main halls and courtyards, the layout of the imperial complex becomes easy to understand. 

From there, continue to Jingshan Park, where the short climb leads to a wide view of the palace rooftops. End your day by visiting Nanluoguxiang, a straightforward place to explore hutongs, street snacks, and small shops that show a more everyday side of the city.

>> Recommended 1-day Beijing City Walking Tour

Option 2: The Great Wall Adventure (Badaling Day Trip)

As the saying goes, “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero”. Hence, for many first-time visitors, the Great Wall naturally becomes the focus of a one-day Beijing itinerary. Among the accessible sections, Badaling stands out because of its scale and well-maintained structure. As you follow the path upward on your Great Wall of China tour, the incline gives a direct sense of the terrain and the effort behind the original construction.

>> Recommended 1-day Private Beijing Great Wall Day Tour

2-Day Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: Imperial Beijing & the Central Axis

If you’re spending two days in Beijing, you can explore along the central axis of the city. This 48-hour Beijing itinerary takes you to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Jingshan Park. The next day, you’ll have the opportunity to see a different side of the city. Pray at the Lama Temple for good luck, and visit the Summer Palace to admire its beautiful landscapes.

Option 2: Museums, Temples & a Quieter Side of Beijing

However, if you’d rather slow things down and avoid the busiest areas, this Beijing itinerary is for you. On the first day of your Beijing trip, instead of palaces and giant squares, it sends you to museums and spiritual sites that locals actually visit, like the Capital Museum and the Temple of Heaven. 

For the second day, you can head out for Mutianyu Great Wall, the longest section of the Great Wall of China, which is among the best things to do in Beijing for a 2-day itinerary. On your trip back, don’t miss the Ming Tombs, the site of the tombs of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. 

>> Recommended 2-day Beijing Tour with the Great Wall

3-Day Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: Classic Beijing itinerary

In three days, you can explore more about the city as you wish. Simply follow this classic Beijing itinerary to discover Beijing’s hutongs, royal palaces and gardens, and well-known universities like Tsinghua and Peking University. Also, during this Beijing city tour, you’ll learn how old and modern Beijing coexist.

Option 2: Beijing Cultural Itinerary

If you’re interested in Beijing’s history and culture, then take this Beijing tour itinerary. Instead of rushing between famous landmarks, it focuses on beliefs, rituals, literature, and everyday traditions that still shape the city today. Also, you can watch a Peking Opera performance, the national opera of China, at Huguang Guild Hall.

>> Recommended 3-day Classic Beijing Layover Tour

4–5 Days Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: City Highlights + The Great Wall

With 4–5 days, you can stop rushing. Aside from the city tour, this Beijing itinerary for 4-5 days smartly dedicates a stress-free day to the Great Wall, which allows you to catch a glimpse of the city’s history as well as breathe the mountain air. 

Traveling to Beijing with kids? Stick to this Beijing family itinerary. It covers the must-see attractions in Beijing but still leaves enough time for visiting the Beijing Zoo and taking activities in the Bird’s Nest or Water Cube.

>> Recommended 4-day Beijing Highlights Tour

Option 2: The "Wild Wall" Adventure (Best for Hikers)

Alternatively, for travelers who love hiking, you can spend 2 days trekking the Gubeikou and Jinshanling sections. Instead of climbing the crowded sections, this Beijing photography itinerary allows you to walk a quieter yet more challenging part to sense the history and enjoy the beautiful views as well. 

>> Recommended 5-day Beijing Great Wall of China Hiking Tour

6–7 Days Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: Beijing Highlights Tour

In a week or so, you can not only take a Beijing history tour to explore the city’s past but also dive deeper into Beijing’s culture and current life. Beyond visiting the landmark spots, food, crafts, and local traditions are also key parts of your one-week Beijing itinerary. You can taste Peking Duck at Quanjude, international foods at Wudaokou, and snacks at Huguosi Snack Street.

FIf possible, plan a Beijing food itinerary and spend 1 day exploring tasty foods in the city. 

Option 2: Beijing to Shanghai Itinerary

If spending a full week in one place feels too static, this route keeps things moving. The Beijing to Shanghai itinerary is designed to show the country's full spectrum—linking the political heart directly to its financial engine. For the first three days, stay in Beijing and experience the city like a Beijinger, then take a high-speed train to Shanghai.

Take a Shanghai tour to admire its historical buildings on the Bund and Former French Concession, and explore the Yu Garden for its elegant architectural layout. For modern skyscrapers, head to Lujiazui, where you’ll see the towering Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

>> Recommended 7-day Beijing Shanghai Highlights Tour

8-Day Beijing Itinerary

Option 1: Beijing Life & Leisure Experience

Beyond the usual places of interest, you can also take a day to shop in Beijing, where you can source keepsakes and explore the capital’s retail extremes. Instead of sticking to standard souvenirs, this Beijing itinerary encourages a deep dive into the chaotic energy of antique markets as well as the bustling high streets.

Option 2: Golden Triangle Tour (Beijing, Xi’an & Shanghai)

Alternatively, eight days also happens to be an ideal timeframe for discovering the famous Golden Triangle: Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. Rather than going deep in one city, this Beijing travel itinerary gives you a strong overview of China’s past, present, and future. Meanwhile, the travel distances stay reasonable, so you’re not constantly on the move. 

10-Day Beijing Itinerary

If you have ten days, your Beijing itinerary can be more flexible. It allows you to include culture, cities, and landscapes all in one journey on China tours. Instead of stopping at the Golden Triangle, extending south allows you to enjoy the natural scenery of China that contrasts beautifully with northern cities. Meanwhile, places like Guilin and Yangshuo slow the pace with rivers, hills, and small-town evenings. 

>> Recommended 10 Days Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai

Beijing Travel Tips

1. Getting Around: Stick to the subway. It’s cheap, fast, and English-friendly.

2. Food & Dining: Peking Duck is a must, but don't sleep on zhajiangmian (noodles). Want to dine in popular spots? Make a reservation in advance.

3. Language Tips: Don't rely on English outside your hotel. Download a translation app. Always show taxi drivers the address in Chinese characters.

4. Tickets: You cannot just show up; booking tickets in advance should also be covered when planning the Beijing tour itinerary. Tickets for top sites like the Forbidden City are online-only and sell out seconds after release (usually 7 days prior). No booking = no entry.

>> More Beijing travel tips

Plan a Beijing Tour with ETC

Planning a Beijing itinerary can be complicated, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. At ETC, we run a variety of China tours, and our Beijing packages are designed to mix history, culture, and food in a way that actually makes sense. 

Whether you want to wander the city’s famous streets, climb the Great Wall, or add other nearby cities to your trip, we can help you put it all together smoothly. You can take a look at our ready-made Beijing tour packages for inspiration.

No suitable itinerary yet? Just contact us now, and we’ll customize a Beijing private tour itinerary that fits your travel style perfectly.