Forbidden City Ticket: Explore Beijing's Icon

Get direct access to Beijing’s historic Ming Dynasty landmark, the Forbidden City. Explore the secrets hidden since the Ming dynasty and marvel at the 980 buildings and priceless Chinese artifacts.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Meridian Gate (Wu Men) - After booking with your passport name and number for all participants, you can enter the Forbidden City directly by passing through the security check and presenting your passport at the main entrance, Meridian Gate.
    Forbidden City Schedule:
    • Peak Season: April 1st to October 31st (Tuesday to Sunday) - Last Entry is at…
What's Included
  • Admission ticket included
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Secure your direct entry ticket to the Forbidden City and immerse yourself in this remarkable site during your visit to Beijing. Uncover the mysteries that have been concealed from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty (1420 to 1912). The city was built between 1406 and 1420 and features 980 buildings! Enjoy a day admiring invaluable Chinese…

Location
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
The Entrance Gates Of Gugong,
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(1463 Ratings)
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Nailen_m
Jun 9, 2026
I had a great time seeing... - I had a great time seeing the Forbidden City with Rita. I was the only person who showed up for my time slot, so I had a private tour all to myself! She shared lots of interesting stories about the history of the Imperial Palace, the succession of emperors, daily life inside the walls, political intrigue, and more. I feel like I learned a ton, more than I expected. There were a lot of interesting artifacts on display, and even though some spots were quite crowded, people cycled through fast enough that I was able to get a good picture of everything I wanted.
Review provided by Viator
Hope_p
Jun 6, 2026
Engaging tour! - Sofia was a great a guide — very knowledgeable and engaging, she really brought the city to life!!!!
Review provided by Viator
Mark_l
Jun 3, 2026
Skip the stress, book here - I can’t recommend Sophia enough for anyone visiting the Forbidden City. She was incredibly informative and detailed, bringing each hall and courtyard to life with historical context and little-known facts. Honestly, trying to navigate the Forbidden City without a guide would have been overwhelming – there’s very limited information on-site about each location, and you’d miss so much of the story. We were lucky to have a small group – just 6 people total, including my own group of 4. That made the experience feel personal and easygoing. Sophia also provided earpieces, so we could hear every word clearly even when there were crowds around. Communication before the trip was excellent too. She coordinated everything seamlessly – from confirming passport numbers to arranging the meet-up location. Everything went smoothly.
Review provided by Viator
Jane_c
Jun 1, 2026
Forbidden City Tours - Quite a lot of walking, possibly better in cooler weather. Sophia very knowledgeable. Small group tour.
Review provided by Viator
Diana
May 31, 2026
Excellent day with Sofia - Just did this today and we had Sofia as our guide. She was excellent and very knowledgeable about the whole site we learned a lot that we wouldn't have on our own. She was also well organized and made the whole trip seamless. I would recommend this tour with Sofia to anyone visiting. Thanks for a great time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sngranata
May 30, 2026
Forbidden City tours - We had the tour with Sofia. This was a small group and they bought the tickets for us at the entrance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U5443sydavidm
May 29, 2026
Forbidden city tours - Sofia, was a lovely tour guide. Went into great detail while being very interesting. Can recommend very much.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Timothy_c
May 29, 2026
Very interesting but... - Very interesting but quite a slog, it gets very hot and crowded. For the most part there is no access into the buildings themselves. Definitely bring water and a sun umbrella or hat. Our guide Sofia was very efficient at getting us through the crowds and had great knowledge of the history. Her English was very good although some of our group had difficulty with her accent.
Review provided by Viator
Annie_c
May 29, 2026
Forbidden City - Sofia is very knowledgeable and had provided a detailed explanation on the history of the Forbidden City. Coordination of logistics was seamless. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Hkertland
Jun 1, 2026
Underwhelming... - I hate to say this, but we found the Forbidden City underwhelming! The main reason is that you can't go inside any of the buildings, and thus it becomes a big tour of the outside of many buildings that look the same. Our guide, Olivia, struggled with English - a heavy Chinese accent made it difficult to understand her unfortunately. I can understand why you can't go inside - way too many people. And, those sheer numbers of people spoiled the day as well, because you were constantly trying to work against them. I would go, yes, but keep your expectations in check...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $10
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).