Beijing · BEIJING WALKING TOURS

Top 15 Beijing Walking Tours

46 tours  ·  from $2 a head

Beijing is a city of early starts and long transfers. These 15 beijing walking tours are the ones worth giving a half-day to, priced and timed.

Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants - Four stops that work like dinner
Beijing Food Tours, Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Drinking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants

1.Beijing Hutong Walking Food and Beer Tour at Hidden Restaurants

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,132 reviews · from $80Our pick

Walk Beijing’s old hutong lanes with an English-speaking guide, stopping at four family-run restaurants and homes for a filling meal of local dishes. Expect Beijing noodles, hotpot, spring pancakes and more, plus unlimited beer and soda and a pint of craft beer. Groups are capped at 12; guides vary, with past hosts including Winnie, Yoyo and Haitao.

“We have used this company for another tour so we’re confident in another great tour and we were right. The choices of restaurants they took us to and the meals that were chosen were delicious. Walking through the local area added to the experience. We had guide Tracey and Ann, they were informative and very friendly. I highly recommend this tour and especially for when you first arrive to gain knowledge on delicious food to choose.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options - Tiananmen Square: a powerful start, with a queue caveat
Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Forbidden City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options

2.Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 675 reviews · from $75

This private Beijing tour pairs Tiananmen Square with the Forbidden City, where your guide leads you through the Meridian Gate, imperial halls, courtyards, and garden. Choose from several tour and transport options, with a route that can reflect your interests. Guides named Lily, Cindy, Jack, and Jason have led past tours, but your guide is assigned for your date.

“Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are highlights of our China holiday, and undoubtedly Discover Beijing's guide, Jason, was key in making the tour a memorable one. Jason was knowledgeable and friendly and helped us navigate and understand the sights, ensuring we could find the key locations and explaining their significance. A tour is a great way to see these sights and navigate easily through security and some of the more crowded areas. It also ensures access as tickets have to be booked a week in advance and are currently restricted to 30,000 a day (down from 80,000). All aspects of the tour were well managed and on time!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights - Tiananmen Square: a grand start, with a security step
Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Forbidden City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights

3.Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 400 reviews · from $90

Take a private walking tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, with a guide who can bring imperial history to life and help you navigate entry. Guides named by past guests include Peter, Jenny, May, and Michael. Choose the Temple of Heaven add-on if you want another major sight, and confirm exactly what your selected option includes before booking.

“Our guide Marmo spoke italian perfectly, provided us with insightful information and arranged the visit efficiently. Recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour - The guide makes the difference
Beijing Food Tours, Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour

4.Beijing Private Hutong Food Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · from $82

Spend about four hours walking through Dongsi Hutong and LongFuSi Jie with a private guide, stopping at markets, bakeries, shops, and restaurants for more than 20 tastings. Guides such as Jay, Lucy, Allen, and Miko have led tours, sharing food customs and neighborhood history. Vegetarian options are available if requested when booking.

“In the middle of rain, Kevin took very good care of me. Visited many restaurants and tried different foods. Kevin took care of me really well.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing: Hutong Culinary Walking Tour with 15+ Tastings - Fifteen tastings, with room to choose
Beijing Food Tours, Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing: Hutong Culinary Walking Tour with 15+ Tastings

5.Hutong Culinary Walking Tour with 15+ Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 162 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $76

Meet an English-speaking guide at Dongsi Subway Station Exit B for a private, three-to-four-hour Hutong food walk. Expect 15 or more tastings at local spots, with stops adjusted to your preferences. Dishes may include sesame cakes, dumplings, noodles, hot pot and lamb skewers. Guides such as Jimmy, Anson, Lucy and Miko lead tours.

“We had an amazing and culture rich experience with Mike in Beijing on the tour! Highly recommended!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing City Walk: Explore Hutongs Life and Old Beijing - The Drum and Bell Towers at the end
Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Tour Reviews

Beijing City Walk: Explore Hutongs Life and Old Beijing

6.Beijing City Walk: Explore Hutongs Life and Old Beijing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 146 reviews · from $15

Spend about 2.5 hours walking old Beijing with an English-speaking guide. Depending on the departure, expect Qianmen, Dashilan and Sanlihe Hutong, or a night route around Nanluoguxiang, the Drum and Bell Towers, and Houhai. Guides such as Kevin, Yang and Summer Wang have led walks with local snacks, calligraphy and cultural stops.

“Kevin was our guide and he explained the history of the area very well. He also introduced some good local food and snacks! This is definitely a tour to go on if you will like to understand the area!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing: Highlights of Forbidden City Private Walking Tour - Following the Forbidden City’s central axis
Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Forbidden City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing: Highlights of Forbidden City Private Walking Tour

7.Highlights of Forbidden City Private Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · 4 - 8 hours · from $67

Take a private, English-, Spanish-, or French-speaking tour of the Forbidden City’s central axis, with ticket arrangements handled for you. Add Tian’anmen Square and choose an afternoon visit to the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall, or a hutong. Guides such as Lisa, Melody, and Joe have led tours with flexible pacing and lively historical stories.

“Visiting the Forbidden City with a guide that knows all the history about it makes it such a great experience. Lisa was an excellent guide - very knowledgeable and flexible based upon our preferences. We really enjoyed the tour and can definitely recommend it to other travelers.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend - What might land on your plate
Beijing Food Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend

8.Beijing Walking Food Tour with a Local Friend

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 73 reviews · from $60

Walk Beijing’s Dongsi hutongs with a local guide, possibly Jenny, and sample a meal’s worth of noodles, dumplings, snacks, and more. This private, two-hour tour can adapt its food and route to your preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and halal requests with advance notice. Drinks are included.

“The tour was brilliant - Jenny tailored it to my dietary preferences and offered her choices and recommendations throughout the tour. Her recommendations were guided purely by how good the food is - a true foodie!! Each dish was dRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Historic City Guided Walking Tour + Calligraphy Creation - What the guides bring to the walk
Beijing Calligraphy Classes, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Guided, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing Historic City Guided Walking Tour + Calligraphy Creation

9.Beijing Historic City Guided Walking Tour + Calligraphy Creation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · from $5Best value

Spend about 3.5 hours walking from Huguang Guild Hall through hutong lanes, Liulichang’s calligraphy and antiques shops, Yangmeizhu Byway, Dashilan and Qianmen. An English-speaking local guide leads the shared tour, which ends near Tiananmen Square without entering it. The booking fee is $5; a suggested tip of 160 to 200 RMB is extra.

“An amazing walking tour experience with Kris! The tour is super well organized and structured, she explained very well in each stop, with a great blend of history, culture, anecdotes, hidden gems and even food and drink tasting. 100% recommended! Can't wait for their walking tours in Shanghai!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing: Hutongs & Drum Tower City Walking Tour - Yandai Byway: old street, snacks and small shops
Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Beijing: Hutongs & Drum Tower City Walking Tour

10.Hutongs & Drum Tower City Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 57 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $69

Follow an English-speaking guide through the hutongs beside Houhai and Qianhai, past Yandai Byway and the Drum Tower. Depending on your selected option, you can add a rickshaw ride and a visit inside a local courtyard home. Guides have included Alice, Amber, Lisa and Jenny, with food stops and local history along the way.

“The tour was wonderful! The Hutongs are truly beautiful and very unique and different from the other parts of Beijing. You really gain insight in the way how people used to live in Beijing the past centuries and still do. Our tour guide Susan was great. Not only did we learn about interesting historic facts, she also told us about current religious and social trends and showed us the culinary specialties, which was particularly interesting and super delicious. Susan was very kind and even joined us for the visit of the bell tower which wasn’t included in the tour. Thank you for this amazing experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Experience Beijing Walking Food Tour Private - Candied Mulberries, Desserts and the Crepe
Beijing Food Tours, Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Experience Beijing Walking Food Tour Private

11.Experience Beijing Walking Food Tour Private

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · from $55

Spend three hours walking a Beijing neighborhood with a private English-speaking guide and tasting more than 10 dishes, from zhajiangmian noodles and dumplings to candied mulberries and crepes. Guides have included David, Richard, Jenny, Davide and Dawei, though your guide may differ. Meet near Dongsi, and budget separately for subway or taxi fares.

“Bring your appetite because you'll regret it if you don't!! We were in Old Town Beijing, where there's a lot of history about why all the restaurants are there. A lot of them have been there for a really long time and our guide, Jenny,was very knowledgeable and shared all the information with us. It was very enjoyable. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum - Bell and Drum Towers bring the route into focus
Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Half-Day, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum

12.Half-Day Private Beijing Hutong Walking Tour with Dim Sum

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $148

Spend about four hours walking Beijing’s hutongs with a private English-speaking guide, from Nanluoguxiang and old courtyards to the Bell and Drum Towers and Back Lakes. Try street snacks such as mantou and red bean dessert, then enjoy dim sum if your chosen option includes lunch. Past guide names include Maggie and Kris; your assigned guide may differ.

“One of our highlights of Beijing. Our guide was wonderful. Learned much that most tourists miss about the entryways of the houses.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hutong Walking Tour: Discover Real Beijing without Crowds - Guangji Temple and the Church of the Saviour
Beijing Hutong Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hutong Walking Tour: Discover Real Beijing without Crowds

13.Hutong Walking Tour: Discover Real Beijing without Crowds

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 47 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $49

Spend 2.5 hours walking about 3 km from Xisi Station through hutongs, temples, a church, and historic buildings. Guides such as Dee, Tracy, and Heidi explain Beijing’s architecture and daily life. The group is limited to eight, and a traditional Beijing drink is included.

“Great guide Dee guided me through hutongs. I really appreciate her profesional attitude and friendly approach. Highly recommended trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half Day Walking Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City - Starting at Tiananmen Square
Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, City Tours, Forbidden City Tours, Tiananmen Square Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Half Day Walking Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

14.Half Day Walking Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $58

See Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in about three to four hours, with a guide explaining the landmarks, palace layout, and imperial life. Entry is included, and groups are capped at 15. Meet near Tiananmen Square, or choose the private option for hotel pickup. Guides named by past participants include Nancy, Marco, Summer, William, and Jerry.

“Summer made a difference for us as she is knowledgeable about the great history of of Tiananmen and the Forbidden City. In particular the daily ins & outs of the Emperor, Mother Empress and the entire layout of the Square, about the founder Maio, the residences of the past, present rulers. We particularly enjoyed the Imperial Garden.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Private Summer Palace Walking Tour + Custom Scenic Route Add-Ons - Starting at the halls of the central route
Beijing Private Tours, Beijing Tours, Beijing Walking Tours, Summer Palace Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Summer Palace Walking Tour + Custom Scenic Route Add-Ons

15.Private Summer Palace Walking Tour + Custom Scenic Route Add-Ons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · from $62

Walk Beijing’s Summer Palace with a private guide who can shape the route around your time and interests. Choose a two-hour highlights walk or a longer outing with places such as Suzhou Street and the Marble Boat, or pair the palace with other Beijing sights. Guides named in guest feedback include Alice, Moko, Jessie, and Anson.

“Great experience, Aurora our guide was great & super knowledgeable, and speaks great English :) would definitely recommend!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scroll to Top

Beijing, gate by gate

Pick a gate, a stretch of wall or a lane.