Last updated: July 2026
Book Tours & Activities in Forbidden City
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hours and prices can change — always confirm on official sources before you visit.
The Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved palace complex on Earth, and it is the single must-see of any Beijing trip. For nearly 500 years this was the home of China’s emperors — a walled city of nearly a thousand buildings that ordinary people could not enter on pain of death. Today it is the Palace Museum, and walking its central axis from the Meridian Gate to the Imperial Garden is like reading the whole of imperial China in stone, timber, and gold-tiled roofs.
It is also one of the trickiest major sights to get into, because tickets are limited, timed, and must be booked online in advance. Here is how to do it right.
A Little Context
Built between 1406 and 1420 under the Ming dynasty’s Yongle Emperor, the Forbidden City served as the imperial palace for 24 emperors across the Ming and Qing dynasties until the last emperor, Puyi, was expelled in 1924. The name reflects its old role: this was the “Purple Forbidden City,” off-limits to all but the imperial household and court. The complex covers about 72 hectares and is organized along a single north–south axis, with an outer court for ceremony and state and an inner court where the emperor and his family actually lived. UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1987, and it remains one of the most visited museums in the world.
Quick Facts for 2026
The Palace Museum is open 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM in peak season (April–October) and 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM in low season (November–March), with last entry roughly an hour before closing. It is closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Admission is inexpensive — around ¥60 in peak season and ¥40 in low season — but the catch is the booking system.
Tickets must be reserved online in advance through the official Palace Museum platform, and you will need your passport number to book and the physical passport to enter (it doubles as your ticket). Daily visitor numbers are capped and popular dates sell out days ahead, so book as early as you can — typically a week or more out for peak season and weekends. The optional Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery require small extra tickets.
Please read before you book: The prices, hours and rules below are from the official Palace Museum site (intl.dpm.org.cn), checked 12 July 2026. The museum sells no same-day tickets and caps daily entry at 40,000 — book online in advance (passport required). Prices can change; reconfirm on the official site or the booking widget.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Admission — high season (Apr 1 – Oct 31) | ¥60 (≈ $8.8) | Timed entry; enter Meridian Gate (south) |
| Admission — low season (Nov 1 – Mar 31) | ¥40 (≈ $5.9) | Exit Gate of Divine Prowess (north) |
| The Treasure Gallery | ¥10 (≈ $1.5) | Palace of Tranquil Longevity area |
| The Gallery of Clocks | ¥10 (≈ $1.5) | Hall for Ancestral Worship area |
Book Forbidden City entry (live prices):
Forbidden City (Palace Museum) ticket on Klook — check price →
Guided Tours of the Forbidden City
The palace covers 720,000 m² with limited English signage, so many first-timers book a guided tour to bring the halls to life and skip the booking hassle — most tours include your timed entry ticket. A focused Forbidden City visit runs about 3–4 hours. Live prices are shown in the widget below.
Book a Forbidden City guided tour (live prices):
Private walking tour of the Forbidden City — check price →
Forbidden City small-group tour with entry ticket — check price →
How to Get There
The Forbidden City sits at the heart of Beijing, just north of Tiananmen Square. Take the Beijing Subway to one of the nearby stations and walk in. You enter only from the south, through the Meridian Gate (Wumen), and you exit only from the north, at the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) — the route runs one way. Allow time to walk through the Tiananmen Gate area and security to reach the Meridian Gate; the security checks here are thorough, and you will pass through more than one.
| Getting there (central Beijing) | Details |
|---|---|
| Subway | Line 1 to Tian’anmen East or Tian’anmen West, then walk north through the Tiananmen Gate area to the Meridian Gate (south entrance) |
| Entrance / exit | Enter: Meridian Gate (Wumen, south) · Exit: Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen, north) — one-way route |
| Address | 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng, Beijing 100009 |
| Good to know | Thorough security (allow extra time). No same-day tickets — book online in advance. |
What to See
The Meridian Gate and Outer Court
You enter at the imposing Meridian Gate and cross a vast paved courtyard with five marble bridges over the Golden Stream. Ahead lie the three great ceremonial halls of the Outer Court, raised on a triple-tiered marble terrace.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony
The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) is the largest wooden structure in the complex and the ceremonial heart of the empire — the setting for coronations, imperial weddings, and the most important state occasions. Inside sits the Dragon Throne. Behind it stand the smaller Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony.
The Inner Court
Cross into the Inner Court, the private living quarters of the emperor, empress, and concubines. The Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and Palace of Earthly Tranquility line the central axis, smaller and more intimate than the great halls but rich in domestic detail.
The Imperial Garden
At the far north, just before the exit, lies the Imperial Garden (Yuhuayuan) — a compact, elegant space of ancient cypress trees, rockeries, and pavilions where the royal family relaxed. It is a calm finish to the long walk through the axis.
The Treasure and Clock Galleries
In the northeastern section, the Treasure Gallery displays imperial jewelry, jade, and gold, and includes the famous Nine-Dragon Screen. Nearby, the Clock Gallery shows the emperors’ astonishing collection of ornate mechanical clocks. Both require small separate tickets and are well worth the add-on for the extra time they buy you away from the crowds.
When to Go
Beijing’s best weather is in autumn (September–October), with clear skies and mild temperatures — ideal for a day of walking, though also peak tourist season. Spring (April–May) is pleasant too. Summer is hot, humid, and crowded with domestic tour groups, while winter is cold but quiet, and a dusting of snow on the golden roofs is unforgettable.
Whatever the season, book the earliest morning slot you can. Arriving at opening lets you reach the central halls before the tour groups, and you will be walking with the one-way flow rather than against the densest part of it. Plan for at least three hours, ideally half a day, and wear good shoes — the distances are large and the ground is hard stone throughout. And remember the Monday closure.
Where to Stay Near the Forbidden City
Central Beijing puts you within reach of the palace, Tiananmen, and the old hutong neighborhoods.
Around Wangfujing and Dongcheng, you are walking distance from the Forbidden City and on top of a famous shopping street and good transit — the most convenient base for sightseeing.
In the Qianmen and Dashilan area, just south of Tiananmen, you get restored old streets, hutong character, and an easy stroll to the palace’s southern approach.
Combine It with the Rest of Central Beijing
The Forbidden City anchors a full day in the historic core. Just south is Tiananmen Square; just north, climb Jingshan Park for the classic postcard view looking down over the palace’s sea of golden roofs. The Temple of Heaven and the hutong lanes around Houhai are short rides away — see our things to do in Beijing guide for a full itinerary. Beijing is a place where a good payment app and a charged phone matter all day: bring a for the long sightseeing hours and a so you can keep everything topped up at the hotel.
Practical Tips
- Book online days ahead with your passport number — same-day tickets are rarely available, and peak dates sell out.
- Bring the physical passport you booked with; it is your entry ticket.
- Enter south at the Meridian Gate, exit north — the route is one way, so see everything as you go.
- Closed Mondays (except some holidays).
- Wear comfortable shoes and pace yourself; the complex is enormous.
- Add the Treasure and Clock galleries for richer detail and a break from the main-axis crowds.
- Always confirm current hours, prices, and booking rules on the official Palace Museum site before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Forbidden City tickets?
Around ¥60 in peak season (April–October) and ¥40 in low season (November–March). The Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery cost a small amount extra.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. Tickets must be reserved online ahead of time, daily numbers are capped, and popular dates sell out. Book as early as you can with your passport number.
What are the opening hours?
8:30 AM to 5:00 PM in peak season and to 4:30 PM in low season, with last entry about an hour before closing. Closed Mondays except on public holidays.
How do I get in and out?
You enter only from the south at the Meridian Gate and exit only from the north at the Gate of Divine Prowess. The visit follows a one-way route.
How long should I spend there?
At least three hours; half a day is better if you add the galleries and want time to explore the side courts.
What is the best view of the Forbidden City?
Climb the hill in Jingshan Park, directly north of the exit, for the famous elevated view over the entire palace.
Final Word
The Forbidden City is the grandest sight in Beijing and one of the great palace experiences on Earth — but only if you plan ahead. Book your timed ticket early, bring your passport, arrive at opening, and walk the central axis from the Meridian Gate to the Imperial Garden. Then climb Jingshan for the view that puts the whole golden city at your feet.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hours and prices can change — always confirm on official sources before you visit.
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