Forbidden City Tour: Explore Imperial Legacy

Experience a deep tour of the Forbidden City with a private guide on this 4-hour walking tour. Discover the most famous parts, visit Tienanmen Square, and learn the fascinating stories behind the sacred sites.

Duration: 6 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) - Choose from 8 unique tour options to suit your preferences:
    Option 1: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour (Transportation costs to attractions are not included)
    Option 2: 4-Hour Private Forbidden City Tour (Includes Round-Trip Private Car Transfer)
    Option 3: 6-Hour Tian’anmen Square & Forbidden City Tour…
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup included (transportation fee to attraction not included)
  • Private round trip transfer (options 2 and 3)
  • Professional guide
  • Lunch or Dinner in Hutong (option 3)
  • Entrance fee
What's Not Included
  • Transportation if you choose option 1 or 4
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

As the most iconic landmark in Beijing, the Forbidden City is an essential destination—and we provide customized flexible packages to suit your travel preferences: guided walking tours, all-inclusive trips with round-trip private transfers, packages featuring an authentic Hutong lunch, and comprehensive tours that include the palace’s museums, Jingshan…

Location
Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
West Changan Street, Dongcheng District,
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(676 Ratings)
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Lauramarie_h
Dec 30, 2025
Helpful and Informative - Made the Visit so Much Better - This was a great option for getting to know a lot of detail at the beginning of your visit and then having time to wander around on your own. Our group of three adults was a bit complicated due to special needs, but our guide handled it like a champ. He provided great historical details and entertaining side stories and tailored what he told us based on what we showed an interest in. My family was very happy and I'd recommend booking this tour since it really helped you understand the significance and local feeling about what you were looking at.
Review provided by Viator
Garyer483gk
Dec 14, 2025
Susan shared all the history of China and Beijing: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, … - Susan will bring your trip to Beijing to life, whether you’re visiting the Forbidden city, the Temple of Heaven, or any other landmark. Her knowledge of history is superb and she tells it with passion. Her energy is infectious! She took care of every detail, even the things we would never have thought of.!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carlosck4014lk
Dec 14, 2025
Amazing beijing guide - Sherry was our guide and we went to the forbidden city, the plaza, the square and even a tea house, a must have for beijing tourists
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W1104ahgeorgias
Nov 27, 2025
Forbidden City - Thank you to Susan who helped us with the Forbidden City tour. She was excellent explaining all about the history and culture. Also, the car was very modern and comfortable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N1440fdkeithb
Nov 22, 2025
MUST-DO ACTIVITY - The Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City is a MUST-DO ACTIVITY during your trip to Beijing. After skipping many long lines, which is a huge benefit of this tour as compared to going on your own, the tour starts at Tiananmen Square and then goes into the Forbidden City. Andy was an excellent tour guide. He provided the history of the buildings and various structures. He gave insightful comments about Chinese culture. In the Forbidden City, he took us to an area with some of the existing artifacts. This area did not have a lot of visitors, so most people seem unaware. Andy also took great pictures. Overall, this was a wonderful experience! I strongly recommend this tour with Andy as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marcr357
Nov 12, 2025
Better than we thought and appreciated the communications and professionalism - Our day exploring Beijing with our wonderful guide Susan (Jade) was truly unforgettable. From the moment we met her, her passion for her country and its history shone through every story she told. Walking through the Forbidden City, we felt as though we were stepping back in time — her vivid storytelling brought the emperors, dynasties, and traditions to life in a way that was both fascinating and deeply moving. Every detail of the day was perfectly organized — our driver seemed to appear effortlessly at every exit point, making the entire experience smooth and relaxed. The visit to the Temple of Heaven was another highlight — its beauty, symbolism, and serenity were enhanced by her thoughtful explanations and genuine enthusiasm. We came away with a profound appreciation for Beijing and for China’s incredible cultural heritage. This was so much more than a tour — it was a journey through history guided by someone who truly loves what she does. We feel very fortunate to have shared the day with her and would recommend this experience wholeheartedly. Feels like we made a new friend along the way. Highly recommend this company and our guide Susan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gcmae
Nov 2, 2025
Educational, interesting - Miko was great - really educational but also fun, would recommend his tour to anyone who wants to visit the Forbidden City and understand what they are seeing and why it's important .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marco_m
Nov 2, 2025
Wonderful experience,... - Wonderful experience, great guide and a fantastic experience. May have a great knowledge and guided us lovely
Review provided by Viator
Trisha_d
Oct 26, 2025
Lily was a fabulous guide! - We had a lovely morning with Lily exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. She was super organised and navigated the massive crowds efficiently, making sure we were comfortable and safe throughout. She was also very knowledgeable and made the experience fun for my kids, while also engaging with me, a history buff, about Chinese history. On the whole, it was a fabulous experience that I highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Jim_a
Oct 27, 2025
Very gold English private tour - The agents are freelance but my guess is that good tourist agencies have a network of good agents.. In my case, my private tour guide- Lily was very good. She spent a lot of time with me and explained the history of the Forbidden City. She spoke gold English and was very nice. If ever, she recommended I go to tbe acrobatics theater and that I really do not recommend. The acrobatics are ok, but nothing you wouldn't have seen elsewhere and I recommend that you spend your time (and money) elsewhere.
Review provided by Viator
From $46
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).