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City guide · Beijing, China · 2026

Beijing in 3 days: itinerary and top spots

Updated · 40 spots · open in 2025–26

Beijing, China. From 40 spots whose locations we've checked, we picked a full 3-day route (not counting arrival and departure days) and the top 8 in each category. The areas you'll keep coming back to: Dongcheng · Tiantan · Haidian.

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🗺️ A 3-day route

Each day: two sights, one meal, one hot spot and one evening stop, grouped by neighbourhood so you can walk from one to the next.

Day 1 about 9h 30m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park)Tiantan, Dongcheng🏛️ Sight

    Go before 8am for tai chi; buy combo ticket, see Hall of Prayer first

  2. Lunch
    Siji Minfu (Forbidden City branch)Nanchizi, Dongcheng🍜 Food

    Best-value Peking duck; 2h waits are normal, get a number 30min before open

  3. Afternoon
    Wangfujing StreetDongcheng, Beijing✨ Hot spot

    Beijing's main pedestrian shopping street; Metro Line 1 Wangfujing, an easy evening after Tiananmen

  4. Late afternoon
    Forbidden City (Palace Museum)Dongcheng, Beijing🏛️ Sight

    Real-name advance booking with passport; closed Mondays. Enter at Meridian Gate (south), exit at Shenwu Gate (north)

  5. Evening
    Houhai Bar StreetShichahai, Xicheng🌙 Night

    Lakeside live-music bars; skip touts, ~60 CNY per drink; ice skating in winter

Day 2 about 7h 55m at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)Haidian🏛️ Sight

    Enter East Gate, Long Corridor to Longevity Hill, boat back; half day

  2. Lunch
    Huguosi Snacks (Main)Huguosi St, Xicheng🍜 Food

    Old Beijing snacks; douzhi is an acquired taste, try wandouhuang & aiwowo

  3. Afternoon
    Baitasi White Pagoda Cafe LanesBaitasi, Xicheng✨ Hot spot

    Rooftop cafes frame the White Pagoda; weekend seats scarce; temple closed Mon

  4. Late afternoon
    Beihai ParkBeihai, Xicheng🏛️ Sight

    Climb White Dagoba, pedal boats; north gate leads to Shichahai

  5. Evening
    Guijie (Ghost Street)Dongzhimen, Dongcheng🌙 Night

    All-night crayfish street with red lanterns; waits ease after 10pm

Day 3 about 6h at the stops, plus travel

  1. Morning
    Lama Temple (Yonghegong)Yonghegong, Dongcheng🏛️ Sight

    Book on WeChat in advance; free incense; busy Monday afternoons

  2. Lunch
    Jin Ding Xuan (Ditan)Ditan, Dongcheng🍜 Food

    24h dim sum; perfect for late night or early arrival; har gow & cheung fun

  3. Afternoon
    Wudaoying HutongYonghegong, Dongcheng✨ Hot spot

    Cafe & boutique lane next to Lama Temple; WakeMeUp coffee; best 2–5pm

  4. Late afternoon
    Confucius Temple & GuozijianGuozijian, Dongcheng🏛️ Sight

    Next to Lama Temple, quiet; Guozijian street ginkgos peak in November

  5. Evening
    Liangma River Night CruiseLiangmaqiao, Chaoyang🌙 Night

    Illuminated riverside walk and boat (~30–60 CNY); pair with Solana mall; best in summer

🍜 Where to eat in Beijing: top 8

Specific restaurants, markets and food halls. Where there are queues, go right after opening.

  1. Siji Minfu (Forbidden City branch)Nanchizi, DongchengIn the route

    Best-value Peking duck; 2h waits are normal, get a number 30min before open

  2. Da Dong Roast Duck (Nanxincang)Dongsishitiao, Dongcheng

    Famous lean-style duck; reservations recommended; ~300 CNY per person

  3. Fangzhuanchang 69 ZhajiangmianGulou, Dongcheng

    Michelin Bib Gourmand Beijing noodles; mobile pay only; lunch queues

  4. Nanmen Shuanrou (Tiantan)Tiantan, Dongcheng

    Charcoal copper-pot lamb hotpot; sesame sauce is a must; arrive before 6pm

  5. Donglaishun (Wangfujing)Wangfujing, Dongcheng

    Lamb hotpot since 1903; order hand-sliced lamb; touristy but reliable

  6. Yaoji Chaogan (Gulou)Gulou East St, Dongcheng

    Local breakfast icon; chaogan + baozi set; best 7–9am

  7. Huguosi Snacks (Main)Huguosi St, XichengIn the route

    Old Beijing snacks; douzhi is an acquired taste, try wandouhuang & aiwowo

  8. Wenyu Cheese Shop (Nanluoguxiang)Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng

    Beijing milk pudding; sells out by ~4pm; go in the morning

✨ Beijing hot spots: top 8

Trendy neighbourhoods, cafés, photo spots and complexes for the daytime.

  1. Zhonghai Daji Lane (Dajixiang)Caishikou, Xicheng

    Opened May 2025; Fangzhuanchang noodles & Yangfang hotpot; heritage zone needs booking

  2. Longfusi Cultural StreetLongfusi, Dongcheng

    Phase 2 opened Sept 2025; brick lanes, rooftops, bookshops; 15min walk to Wangfujing

  3. THE BOX ChaowaiChaowaimen, Chaoyang

    Raw-concrete youth mall; CACHE rooftop on 6F; weekend pop-ups and markets

  4. 798 Art DistrictDashanzi, Chaoyang

    Many galleries closed Mondays; book UCCA; weekday afternoons are quieter

  5. Wudaoying HutongYonghegong, DongchengIn the route

    Cafe & boutique lane next to Lama Temple; WakeMeUp coffee; best 2–5pm

  6. Baitasi White Pagoda Cafe LanesBaitasi, XichengIn the route

    Rooftop cafes frame the White Pagoda; weekend seats scarce; temple closed Mon

  7. Beijing Fun & PAGE ONE BookstoreQianmen, Xicheng

    PAGE ONE 3F window frames Zhengyangmen; open 24h; Starbucks Reserve nearby

  8. Shougang ParkShijingshan

    Steel mill turned Olympic Big Air venue; blast-furnace viewpoint; Jin'anqiao stn

🌙 Beijing at night: top 8

Bars, izakaya and night views — one to end the evening.

  1. Sanlitun Taikoo LiSanlitun, Chaoyang

    Bars and rooftops; cocktails 70–120 CNY; use Didi after midnight

  2. Guijie (Ghost Street)Dongzhimen, DongchengIn the route

    All-night crayfish street with red lanterns; waits ease after 10pm

  3. Houhai Bar StreetShichahai, XichengIn the route

    Lakeside live-music bars; skip touts, ~60 CNY per drink; ice skating in winter

  4. Atmosphere Bar (China World Summit Wing 80F)Guomao, Chaoyang

    Highest bar in Beijing; reserve window seats; smart casual; arrive before sunset

  5. Liangma River Night CruiseLiangmaqiao, ChaoyangIn the route

    Illuminated riverside walk and boat (~30–60 CNY); pair with Solana mall; best in summer

🏛️ Top sights in Beijing

The places most first-timers don’t want to miss. Add a day in the app for the ones not in the route.

  1. Temple of Heaven (Tiantan Park)Tiantan, DongchengIn the route

    Go before 8am for tai chi; buy combo ticket, see Hall of Prayer first

  2. Summer Palace (Yiheyuan)HaidianIn the route

    Enter East Gate, Long Corridor to Longevity Hill, boat back; half day

  3. Lama Temple (Yonghegong)Yonghegong, DongchengIn the route

    Book on WeChat in advance; free incense; busy Monday afternoons

  4. Jingshan ParkJingshan, Xicheng

    Panorama of Forbidden City from Wanchun Pavilion; arrive 1h before sunset

  5. Beihai ParkBeihai, XichengIn the route

    Climb White Dagoba, pedal boats; north gate leads to Shichahai

  6. Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan)Haidian

    Western Mansions ruins need extra ticket; use shuttle; pair with Summer Palace

  7. Drum Tower & Bell TowerGulou, Dongcheng

    Drum shows on the hour; steep stairs; square is great for evening stroll

  8. Confucius Temple & GuozijianGuozijian, DongchengIn the route

    Next to Lama Temple, quiet; Guozijian street ginkgos peak in November

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