3 days in Beijing: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 8 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:38 each day
- Start and finish
- Forbidden City → Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
- On foot
- ≈ 21 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 14 min
- Lunch
- around 13:00
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Beijing09:30–17:38 · 3 places · 8 h 10 min
Forbidden City
· 3 h 30 min · ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct
- Lunch · 1 h
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Beijing hutongs
· 1 h 30 min · Free
- 16 min on foot
Houhai Lake and Shichahai
· 1 h 30 min · Free
Day 2 · Beijing09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Great Wall at Mutianyu
· 4 h · ¥40–45 entry; cable car ¥100–140
Day 3 · Beijing09:30–16:42 · 4 places · 7 h 10 min
Temple of Heaven
· 2 h · ¥10–15, ¥28–34 with halls
- 33 min · transport or taxi
Nanluoguxiang
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy
· 1 h 15 min · ¥30, one ticket with the Guozijian
- 5 min on foot
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple)
· 1 h · ≈ ¥25, booked in WeChat
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 8 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Forbidden City | 61 | 3 h 30 min | ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Beijing hutongs | 42 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 3 | Houhai Lake and Shichahai | 38 | 1 h 30 min | Free |
| 4 | Great Wall at Mutianyu | 19 | 4 h | ¥40–45 entry; cable car ¥100–140 |
| 5 | Temple of Heaven | 52 | 2 h | ¥10–15, ¥28–34 with halls |
| 6 | Nanluoguxiang | 40 | 1 h | Free |
| 7 | Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy | 33 | 1 h 15 min | ¥30, one ticket with the Guozijian |
| 8 | Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple) | 36 | 1 h | ≈ ¥25, booked in WeChat |
| Total | 15 h 50 min | 3 of 8 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Forbidden City. The imperial palace, now the Palace Museum. 40 yuan November–March, 60 April–October, passport booking only; closed Mondays.
- 2
Beijing hutongs. The lanes of old Beijing between courtyard houses. Free to wander; a rickshaw is about 100–200 yuan.
- 3
Houhai Lake and Shichahai. The largest of the Shichahai lakes: a lakeside walk and bars, ice skating in winter. Free, open 24 hours.
Day 2
- 4
Great Wall at Mutianyu. The best Great Wall section for a first visit: ≈ 70 km from Beijing, towers above the forest. 40–45 yuan; shuttle and cable car extra.
Day 3
- 5
Temple of Heaven. The park where emperors prayed for harvests, with the round, blue-roofed Hall of Prayer. Park 10–15 yuan, with halls 28–34.
- 6
Nanluoguxiang. A 787 m pedestrian hutong from the Drum Tower: shops, cafés and snacks. Free.
- 7
Confucius Temple and Imperial Academy. The Confucius Temple and the Imperial Academy — one museum, 30 yuan; closed Mondays.
- 8
Lama Temple (Yonghe Temple). A working Tibetan Buddhist monastery with an 18 m Maitreya carved from a single sandalwood trunk. About 25 yuan, bought on WeChat.
Who this route is for
- A first trip of 3–4 days
- History and temples
- Independent, by metro
- The Summer Palace needs another half day
- Mondays: the palace and Confucius Temple are closed
Spring and autumn.
How the three days work
The first two days are the 2-day itinerary. Day three starts at the Temple of Heaven in the south, then heads north: the Lama Temple and Confucius Temple are five minutes apart, and Nanluoguxiang is close by.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
The Temple of Heaven
The park opens at 6:00, when locals come for tai chi, dancing and singing. The park is 10–15 yuan, 28–34 with the three main halls. The halls open Tuesday–Sunday from 8:00, last entry 17:00.
Is 3 days in Beijing enough?
Yes, for the highlights. With more time, the Summer Palace and the ruins of the Old Summer Palace make a half day in the north-west; the 798 Art Zone has galleries in old factory halls. Xi'an is 4.5–6 hours by high-speed train.
How to do it right
- Be at the Temple of Heaven at opening — the morning park life is the point.
- The Lama Temple is a working monastery: keep quiet, no flash.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- Keep a metro map and a translator app offline on your phone.
Questions
What is a good 3-day Beijing itinerary?
The Forbidden City and hutongs; the Great Wall; the Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Confucius Temple and Nanluoguxiang.
Is 3 days in Beijing enough?
Yes for the highlights. The Summer Palace needs another half day.
How much is the Temple of Heaven?
Park 10–15 yuan, with halls 28–34.
How much is the Lama Temple?
About 25 yuan, bought on WeChat with your passport.
When is the Confucius Temple open?
Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–17:00; closed Mondays.
How much do three days cost?
About 300–400 yuan in tickets with the Wall cable car, plus transport.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; day three is a lot of walking but with short hops.
Where to go after Beijing?
Xi'an for the Terracotta Army or Shanghai — 4.5–6 hours by train.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Beijing?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Temple of Heaven Park: hours and tickets
- Wikipedia: Temple of Heaven, Yonghe Temple
