For a first visit, stay in Wangfujing and Dongcheng: you are about 1.3 km straight-line from the Forbidden City, on metro Lines 1 and 8, with hutongs and restaurants all around. Pick Qianmen or Shichahai for courtyard-hotel character, Sanlitun or the CBD for international dining and nightlife, and Financial Street for quiet business-style hotels.
- Best for first-timers: Wangfujing and Dongcheng
- Courtyard character: Qianmen and Shichahai (Houhai)
- Dining and nightlife: Sanlitun and the Chaoyang CBD
- Quiet and central-west: Financial Street, Xicheng
- Tour pick-up: our tours that list hotel pick-up cover central Beijing within the 4th Ring Road, which includes all five areas
The five best areas at a glance
Distances are straight-line from the nearest metro station to the Forbidden City’s Meridian Gate (south entrance), or to the Gate of Divine Prowess (north exit) for Shichahai. Walking routes are always longer.
| Area | Best for | Main metro | To the Forbidden City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wangfujing / Dongcheng | First visits, families | Wangfujing (Lines 1, 8) | About 1.3 km |
| Qianmen / Dashilar | Courtyard stays, old streets | Qianmen (Lines 2, 8) | About 1.5 km |
| Shichahai / Houhai | Lakes and hutongs | Shichahai (Line 8) | About 1.7 km |
| Sanlitun / CBD | Dining, nightlife, long stays | Tuanjiehu, Guomao | About 5.5 km |
| Financial Street | Quiet, business hotels | Fuchengmen (Line 2) | About 3.7 km |
Wangfujing and Dongcheng: the easy first choice
Who it suits: first-time visitors, families with children and grandparents, anyone who wants the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the hutongs close by.
Wangfujing is the shopping street east of the palace, and the hotels in the lanes behind it are close to the main sights. Wangfujing station is on Lines 1 and 8. Jinyu Hutong station (Line 8), Dengshikou and Dongsi (both Line 5) are close by, and from Wangfujing station it is about 1.3 km straight-line to the Meridian Gate, a short taxi ride or a long walk.
Two well-known hotels are on Jinyu Hutong, Goldfish Lane: The Peninsula Beijing at No. 8, and the Waldorf Astoria Beijing at Nos. 5–15, which has hutong courtyard suites behind its tower. For dinner, Siji Minfu’s Forbidden City branch on Nanchizi Dajie looks toward the palace walls, and the Michelin-starred Peking duck at Gastro Esthetics DaDong is up in Dongsi 10th Alley. See our Peking duck and Beijing food guide for more.
Qianmen and Dashilar: old Beijing south of the square
Who it suits: couples and travelers who want a courtyard stay, old shopfronts and Quanjude’s original Peking duck restaurant, a short ride from the sights.
Qianmen is the old gateway district just south of Tiananmen Square, with the old shopping lanes of Dashilar to the west. Qianmen station is on Lines 2 and 8, and Zhushikou (Lines 7 and 8) is just to the south. Qianmen station is about 1.5 km straight-line from the Meridian Gate and Dashilar about 2.3 km, both across Tiananmen Square. The square has security checks and the walking route is not straight, so we usually plan a car drop-off for Forbidden City mornings.
The best-known hotel here is Mandarin Oriental Qianmen on Caochang 10th Alley. Its suites are 42 hutong-style courtyard houses, and the Michelin Guide gives it Three Keys. Quanjude’s original Peking duck restaurant is at 30 Qianmen Dajie.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Shichahai and Houhai: lakes, lanes and courtyard hotels
Who it suits: repeat visitors, couples and anyone who would rather wake up in a lane than a high-rise.
The lakes of Shichahai, Houhai among them, lie just north of Beihai Park in a web of old hutongs. Shichahai station is on Line 8, Beihai North on Line 6, Nanluoguxiang on Lines 6 and 8, and Gulou Dajie on Lines 2 and 8. Shichahai station is about 1.7 km straight-line from the Gate of Divine Prowess, the Forbidden City’s north exit, so this is a natural place to end a palace day with a walk by the water.
Several small siheyuan (courtyard) boutique hotels operate in these hutongs, typically with only a handful of rooms. Book early for spring and autumn, and tell us if anyone in your group prefers a room with no steps, so we can ask the hotel before you confirm. Our guide to Beijing’s hutongs covers the lanes around the lakes.
Sanlitun and the Chaoyang CBD: dining, nightlife and big hotels
Who it suits: longer stays, business travelers, food lovers, and families who like international comforts after a day of sightseeing.
Sanlitun, around the Taikoo Li shopping streets, is Beijing’s international dining and nightlife quarter; the CBD to the south is the skyline of glass towers around Guomao. For Sanlitun use Tuanjiehu (Lines 3 and 10), Gongrentiyuchang (Line 3) or Agricultural Exhibition Center (Line 10). For the CBD use Guomao (Lines 1 and 10), Jintaixizhao (Line 10) or Hujialou (Lines 6 and 10). Taikoo Li Sanlitun is about 5.4 km straight-line from the Meridian Gate and Guomao about 5.5 km, so plan on a taxi, DiDi or the subway for sightseeing days. Line 1 from Guomao runs direct to Wangfujing.
Well-known names here include Rosewood Beijing in the Jing Guang Centre at Hujialou, and Hotel Éclat Beijing, an art-filled boutique hotel at 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, near Dongdaqiao station on Line 6.
Financial Street and Xicheng: big hotels west of the palace
Who it suits: business travelers, and visitors who like calm evenings and wide streets west of the palace.
Financial Street is Beijing’s banking district, with a cluster of large international hotels. Fuchengmen (Line 2), Fuxingmen (Lines 1 and 2) and Xidan (Line 1) are the nearest stations, and Fuchengmen is about 3.7 km straight-line from the Meridian Gate. The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, Financial Street is at 1 Jin Cheng Fang Street East.
Staying near the Summer Palace
The Summer Palace is about 40 minutes to an hour by car from Wangfujing in normal traffic, so staying out there suits a slow trip more than a first visit.
Which area for which trip
- Three days or fewer: stay in Wangfujing or Qianmen so every morning starts close to the sights.
- Grandparents or young children: a large hotel in Wangfujing with elevators and a short ride to everything is the simplest choice. See Beijing for seniors and families.
- A longer or second visit: try a Shichahai courtyard hotel, or Sanlitun for the restaurants.
- Exploring on your own by metro: travelers often pick a hotel a short walk from a station where two lines meet, such as Zhushikou (Lines 7 and 8) or Qianmen (Lines 2 and 8), which cuts down on changes.
- Arriving late: Capital Airport is about 25–30 km from the center, roughly 45 minutes to an hour by taxi to Wangfujing in normal traffic.
Hotels are not included in our tour prices, but we can book them for you on request and suggest an area that fits your plan. Browse our private Beijing tours or start with things to do in Beijing, and for the subway and taxis see getting around Beijing.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Beijing for first-timers?
Wangfujing and Dongcheng. Wangfujing station is on metro Lines 1 and 8 and about 1.3 km straight-line from the Forbidden City's Meridian Gate, with hutongs, restaurants and the shopping street right around you.
Can I stay in a traditional courtyard hotel in Beijing?
Qianmen and the Shichahai hutongs are the places to look. Mandarin Oriental Qianmen has 42 hutong-style courtyard houses as suites, and several small siheyuan boutique hotels around Houhai have only a handful of rooms, so book early.
Is Sanlitun a good place to stay for sightseeing?
It works well if you love restaurants and nightlife. Taikoo Li Sanlitun is about 5.4 km straight-line from the Forbidden City, so you will take a taxi, DiDi or the subway on sightseeing days, or let your private car do the driving.
Which area is best for families with grandparents?
Wangfujing is the simplest: large hotels, short rides to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, and two metro lines. Our tours that list hotel pick-up collect you anywhere in central Beijing within the 4th Ring Road.
Can you book our hotel in Beijing?
Yes, on request. Hotels are not included in our tour prices, but tell us your dates and budget, and we'll suggest an area that fits your sightseeing plan and book the hotel for you.
Is it a good idea to stay near the Summer Palace?
Only for a slow, longer trip. The Summer Palace is about 40 minutes to an hour by car from Wangfujing in normal traffic, so a central hotel is easier for most first visits to Beijing.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.