Beijing · DAY TRIPS FROM BEIJING

The 15 Best Day Trips from Beijing

151 tours  ·  from $5 a head

Most Beijing day trips end on a stretch of wall, and the rest go to the tombs, a water town or a bullet train south. These 15 are compared on distance, start time and what the price covers.

From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options - The ride from Beijing
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From Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options

1.Mutianyu Great Wall Tours with Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 9,216 reviews · 8 - 10 hours · from $19Our pick

Beijing Mubus runs daily coach trips to Mutianyu with English, Spanish, or Russian guides, a visitor lounge, and several tour options. Expect a direct ride, included Wall entry and shuttle, then hours to explore at your own pace. Add a buffet lunch, a short architecture talk, a strenuous 5-kilometer hike, or a combined Summer Palace tour. Guides such as Jily, Helly, and John have helped visitors plan routes and make sense of the Wall.

“We were with Jily. We had a good time on the great wall. Jily explained everything and it helped us organized our course. We also did the summer palace and had many explanations and stories about the emperors and Dragon Lady Merci Jily !”

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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour - The Summer Palace: a guided walk through royal grounds
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Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

2.Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,004 reviews · from $29

Travel by air-conditioned coach from Hepingxiqiao to Mutianyu, where you get several hours to explore the Wall at your own pace. Then tour the Summer Palace with an English-speaking guide and hear about its royal buildings and the Dragon Lady. Optional rides cost extra. Guides on different departures have included Yoyo, Lee, Amy, and Jackie.

“A great day out The guide was very good and friendly 😃”

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Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing - Lunch, jade, and the commercial side of the day
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Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing

3.Great Wall of China at Badaling and Ming Tombs Day Tour from Beijing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 731 reviews · from $87

This eight-hour Beijing outing pairs a climb at Badaling with a visit to Chang Ling, the largest Ming tomb open to visitors. An English-speaking guide handles transport and context; lunch and hotel pickup within the 4th Ring Road are included. Guides such as Jenny, Mary, Lisa, and Michael Shi have led tours, though your guide may differ. Budget extra for the optional cable car.

“Driver picked me up right on time. My guide was super friendly and sociable through the entire trip.”

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From Beijing: Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall - The 8am departure and the long drive north
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From Beijing: Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall

4.Small Group Hike at Jinshanling Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 667 reviews · 9 hours · from $52

Travel from Beijing to Jinshanling East, then hike for about three hours across original and restored wall, past more than 15 watchtowers. The route is steep in places and usually quieter than the most visited sections. Groups are capped at 12. Check your chosen option carefully: a hiking guide and lunch may be optional.

“zhang feng was very friendly, ride was comfortable and instructions clear. Visiting this part of the wall in December was a great experience, sunshine, snow and almost no people. excellent choice”

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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven - Lunch, plus the possibility of shopping
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Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

5.Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 610 reviews · from $99

Spend about nine hours visiting Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, with an English-speaking guide, transport, entry tickets, and Chinese-style lunch included. Hotel pickup is offered within Beijing’s fourth ring road. Guides may include Jenny, Lee, Mary, Murphy, or Michael. Expect a packed day, plenty of walking, and possible shopping stops.

“This was a one-day tour of the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace. Our guide, Murphy, was wonderful — very friendly, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable. He shared fascinating insights about both ancient and modern China, and the included lunch was very tasty. The group was small and the other travelers were great company, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The tour agency was also very prompt and clear with communication, which made planning smooth and easy. There were a couple of aspects I personally didn’t enjoy as much. The Tiananmen Square visit was canceled without a replacement stop, and there were visits to a silk factory and…”

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Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square - Lunch and the jade stop: useful break, sales-minded setting
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Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

6.Beijing Essential Full-Day Tour including Great Wall at Badaling, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 609 reviews · from $99

Cover Beijing’s headline sights in about nine hours by air-conditioned minivan, with an English-speaking guide, included admission and a Chinese-style lunch. You’ll visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Badaling, then stop at the Longdi Jade Factory. Guides such as Lee, Jenny, Michael and Murphy have led the tour, though your guide may differ.

“What a great way to visit the top sites. Everything went smoothly. It was a great bang for the buck. Lee was a great tour guide. I didn't bring my passport but I was able to get in with a photo of it. I recommend bringing it to make things easier. Traveling in China is safe to travel with a passport on you. I also recommend leaving to meet at the pickup hotel, much sooner than you think. Google Maps doesn't have traffic data. It said 25 min and ended up being 45 minutes. I showed up 15 min late and I was still able to make it.”

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Great Wall of China at Mutianyu Full-Day Tour Including Lunch from Beijing - A 7:30 start trades sleep for time
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Great Wall of China at Mutianyu Full-Day Tour Including Lunch from Beijing

7.Great Wall of China at Mutianyu Full-Day Tour Including Lunch from Beijing

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 565 reviews · from $79

Travel from Beijing to Mutianyu with an English-speaking guide, Great Wall admission, round-trip pickup within the Fourth Ring Road, and a Chinese-style lunch. Expect steep steps, watchtowers, and mountain views. The cable car costs extra, and the day may include stops at tea or craft shops.

“Lee was really friendly and the tour was really good, full of different activities that enriched our stay in Beijing. I really recomend this activity with Lee.”

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Private Full Day Tour: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Summer Palace - Lunch: a useful pause and local meal
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Private Full Day Tour: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Summer Palace

8.Private Full Day Tour: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Summer Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 272 reviews · from $130Top rated

Spend about eight hours with a private guide at Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. Hotel pickup, admission tickets, transport by private vehicle or subway, and lunch at a local Chinese restaurant are included. Guides named in past bookings include May, Jenny, Peter, Wendy, and James, though your guide may differ.

“Very good tour. Jenny was excellent guide - very good knowledge, friendly and helpful. Showed up in time and good, clear communication before the pick-up. Good lunch included.”

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Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Trip with Lunch - Lunch Break Between the Wall and the Palace
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Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Trip with Lunch

9.Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Private Day Trip with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 209 reviews · from $185

Set aside 8 to 9 hours for a private Beijing day trip to Mutianyu and the Summer Palace. A guide and driver collect you from your downtown hotel, take you to the Wall for about two and a half hours, then provide lunch before an afternoon at the imperial garden. Entry, transport and a cable car or lift-and-toboggan option are included.

“Great! In addition to the wall and summer palace, the lunch spot was the best food I had the entire trip.”

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All Inclusive Private Day Tour: Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace - Tian’anmen Square: a monumental first stop
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All Inclusive Private Day Tour: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

10.All Inclusive Private Day Tour: Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · from $138

Spend about eight hours visiting Beijing’s four headline sights by private car, with hotel pickup, a guide, admission and lunch included. Guides such as Maggie, Wendy and Lucy have led past tours, though your assigned guide may differ. Expect imperial halls, ceremonial temples and garden paths, with a brisk pace to fit it all in.

“Amazing Beijing Experience with our tour guide Maggie and Driver Mr Xu. They were both very kind. Maggie is very knowledgeable and shared the history of Beijing. We are very satisfied and happy with both Maggie and Mr Xu.”

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All-Inclusive Day Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace - At the Summer Palace, trade mountain walls for lake and gardens
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All-Inclusive Day Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace

11.All-Inclusive Day Tour: Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · from $148

Take a private Beijing day trip to Mutianyu and the Summer Palace, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, a driver, and lunch. The all-inclusive option covers admission and Great Wall cable car or toboggan tickets. Guides such as Lucy, Maggie, Kevin, and Sherry have led tours with clear history, photo help, and room to explore at your own pace.

“Was a wonderful experience. Maggie was a great tour guide. Very passionate and loves to teach the history of all the spots we hit. Great experience”

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Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour From Beijing City/Airport - One to two hours on the ramparts
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Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour From Beijing City/Airport

12.Private Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour From Beijing City/Airport

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 146 reviews · from $206

Travel privately from your Beijing hotel or airport to Mutianyu, a quieter Great Wall section set among pine-covered hills. An English-speaking guide adds context, round-trip cable car rides are included, and lunch is served at a local Chinese restaurant. You’ll have one to two hours on the wall, with an optional chairlift-up, toboggan-down upgrade.

“Our trip to The Great Wall was incredible! Cynthia was the best tour guide. She explained in so much detail the history and significance, not just of the wall, but she helped us understand China. Be sure to ask for her!”

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Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour with English Driver - Walking the ramparts at your own pace
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Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour with English Driver

13.Mutianyu Great Wall Private Day Tour with English Driver

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · from $78

Jimmy Zhang Tours takes you by air-conditioned van from your Beijing hotel, train station, or airport to Mutianyu, a scenic Great Wall section usually quieter than Badaling. Set your departure time, get help with entry, then explore at your own pace. Wall entrance and bottled water are included; cable cars, chairlifts, toboggan rides, and food cost extra.

“Jimmy was a fantastic guide. He suggested ways to avoid crowds and gave us helpful information along the way. We appreciated his advice to “take our time” as it made the trip feel more relaxed and at our own pace. If you’re on the fence about booking this tour with Jimmy, just do it - we promise you won’t regret it!”

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Private Trekking Day Tour to Jinshanling Great Wall - What private transport changes
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Private Trekking Day Tour to Jinshanling Great Wall

14.Private Trekking Day Tour to Jinshanling Great Wall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · from $122

Spend about eight hours on a private Beijing day trip to Jinshanling, including roughly two hours of driving each way and a 5 to 6 km Great Wall hike. You’ll pass watchtowers and ruined sections, with a local Chinese lunch and English-speaking guide included only with the all-inclusive option. Private driver Zhang Baowen is named in one account.

“The drive to the wall was a bit dodgy with the driver nearly falling asleep at the wheel. But when we got there he dropped us off at one gate and arranged to meet him 3 hours later at the east gate and we walked the wall. It was hard Read more”

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Private Arrival Transfer from Beijing Airport to Hotel - Choosing the right vehicle for your group
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Private Arrival Transfer from Beijing Airport to Hotel

15.Private Arrival Transfer from Beijing Airport to Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 125 reviews · from $32

Book a one-way private transfer from Beijing Capital or Daxing airport to your hotel or address. Your Chinese-speaking driver tracks your flight, waits at arrivals, and uses a translator device if needed. Cars are assigned by party size, from a five-seater for one or two people to larger vehicles for groups.

“Very helpful driver and very patient. We waited long time for my luggage until decided it's lost. But the driver waited all the way. Thankyou”

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New in Day Trips from Beijing

★ 4.5Jinshanling Great Wall Small Group self-hiking tour from BeijingFrom $596 reviews
★ 4.0Quality Coach Day Tour to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City plus Badaling Great WallFrom $13810 reviews
★ 5.0Private Layover Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall from Beijing AirportFrom $1475 reviews
★ 4.5Beijing Day Tour to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Mutianyu Great WallFrom $1697 reviews
★ 4.5Private Day Trip of Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer PalaceFrom $2103 reviews
★ 4.5Private Summer Palace, Mutianyu Great Wall Day TourFrom $2043 reviews
★ 5.0Private 2-Day Datong from Beijing with Yungang GrottoesFrom $5986 reviews
★ 5.0Private Transfer from Beijing Railway Station to HotelFrom $273 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Tour:Tiananmen Square,Forbidden City Temple of HeavenFrom $19016 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour: Half-Day Tour to Great Wall at JuyongguanFrom $1568 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tianjin Port Departure Transfer from Beijing by Bullet Train ExperienceFrom $1783 reviews
★ 5.0Private Simatai Great Wall and Gubei Water Town Night Tour from BeijingFrom $2349 reviews
★ 5.0MutianyuGreatWall and BirdsNest Tour From Beijing City or AirportFrom $624 reviews
★ 5.0Private Day Tour to Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer PalaceFrom $17016 reviews
★ 5.0Private Mutianyu Great Wall and Summer Palace Layover or Day TourFrom $624 reviews

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Ming Tombs ToursGubei Water Town ToursBullet Train Trips from BeijingBeijing Car with DriverBeijing Private ToursBeijing Airport Transfers
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