Beijing: Tiananmen & Forbidden City Tickets – An Honest Review

Alright, so you’re pondering a trip to Beijing and those really famous spots, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, are on your list? Pretty good choice, that is! Before you go, though, it’s probably a nice idea to get a sense of what the ticket situation looks like. Getting tickets can be just a little tricky, and there are usually quite a few choices. This is just my experience, with the inside scoop that will likely help you big time in prepping for this spectacular adventure. I am just trying to keep it simple, make things easier, and basically, let you know about the bits and pieces you really might need.

Figuring Out Your Ticket Options for Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen Square itself? Well, just walking around this gigantic plaza, it’s totally free! You heard that right. Taking snapshots, soaking up the vibe – all totally gratis! However, if you’ve got a yen to visit attractions actually right there on the square like Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum or the National Museum of China, then those? They need their own tickets, alright? And those, too, are often snapped up well in advance, specifically during the peak tourist times.

You should really look at snagging tickets a bit beforehand. Especially for the Mausoleum, basically because security is normally pretty tight. This often involves going through bag checks and, of course, showing your passport. This is probably going to sound obvious, but it’s a fair idea to dress respectfully. After all, this is seen as an area of real importance in China.

The National Museum, then? Wow, that’s some museum. Going around to see everything? Probably gonna take hours and hours! Happily, tickets are free, too! That is, if you plan your trip far enough in advance. It’s best to book way ahead online. That, or you’ll very likely find yourself waiting in a really lengthy line, which could probably cut into your explorations big time.

Selecting the Best Forbidden City Ticket

When it comes to the Forbidden City, you’re usually going to want a ticket that scores you entry to all the major palaces and courtyards. You want the full experience, or it’s kind of a miss, to be honest. And you almost always must get these ahead of time online. Seriously. Tickets usually do sell out, and, anyway, no tickets are sold at the door, just to really add an extra something, is that right?

Here is the real trick: You need a real passport to book online. Get your passport handy! Just make certain that the name on your passport matches the name you’re using to buy tickets. Or? Guess what? It sounds like you’re very likely not going to get in! This kind of happened to someone I was travelling with once. Not so pretty!

Think about springing a few extra dollars for either an audio guide or even just a real live guide. That’s often gonna be totally worth it. Specifically because, though all the buildings are pretty nice to look at, hearing their backstory can absolutely make it that much better. You know, like your visit goes from a ‘That’s cool’ kind of thing to ‘Wow, I see it now’. That sounds really nice, actually.

Deciding What Kind of Forbidden City Ticket is Usually Right For You

Forbidden City tickets tend to come in different sorts, yet, too it’s almost like different tiers aren’t generally all that common. Standard tickets almost always get you admission. They let you visit the Palace Museum’s really prominent structures and areas. What tends to be key is just making certain you grab this regular ticket far in advance.

Now, some additional tickets? They sometimes permit entry into special exhibits or particular galleries. These just may grab your eye, depending on the interests that you have. In fact, it really pays to visit the Palace Museum’s site to have a glance at what extra offerings are going on when you plan to be in town.

Think of choosing your entry time slot carefully. Going during the morning, if possible, almost always lets you get ahead of the seriously large afternoon crowds. Also, it helps you dodge some heat at certain times of year. Basically, it just could make walking around feel a little less like battling through mobs and a bit more serene.

Making Use of Combination Tickets and City Passes in Beijing

Thinking of seeing tons of the sites in Beijing? Then it’s likely worth looking at combo tickets or a Beijing city pass. Usually, these types of passes will provide entry to a few attractions. Of course, Tiananmen Square’s main attractions along with the Forbidden City often come with that, is that true? In general, they do offer savings, too it’s almost like you’re getting a bunch of sightseeing for just a little bit less of your hard-earned cash!

But there is a little something you might want to keep an eye on, so to speak. You usually need to really do the math on whether one of these passes makes total sense for your particular trip. That? Well, it really relies on whether you plan to see enough attractions to really get value out of that pass. To make that kind of decision, what you have to do is go over which attractions that pass includes. Does it include almost everything you were very likely planning to see, anyway?

Think about how flexible the passes tend to be. It probably just benefits you to grab one that lets you see all the sites on your own schedule instead of basically pressuring you to visit a zillion sites super-quickly. That almost always makes it way more of a relaxation experience rather than feeling a bit more like you are running a marathon! What I mean is, how it works often has a huge effect on the whole tone of your sightseeing, if you get me.

Other Key Things to Keep in Mind

Keep peak tourist seasons in mind! Visiting during Golden Week (early October) or any holiday? Well, you really should probably plan super duper early! Tickets during such times can often become tough to come by, and everything’s almost always much more packed. A bit of research will clue you in on when all the seriously busy times tend to happen.

Alright, so about dress code? In Tiananmen Square, dressing respectfully just shows your awareness of the location. For the Forbidden City, dress is much less strict. Comfy shoes, though? They’re just crucial. Basically because, get this, you’ll probably spend quite some time on your feet. Exploring all of the place? That typically takes time and can tax those feet a little bit!

Another tip is just staying hydrated, specifically when touring in summer. So it would be smart to tote a water bottle. There usually are places inside the Forbidden City where you could actually fill it up, as well.