Beijing, China
Imperial palaces, ancient hutong alleys, and Great Wall day trips.
Daily budget baseline: $85 USD. History-heavy first trips to China
How much does a trip to Beijing cost?
A practical midrange budget for Beijing is about $85 USD per traveler per day. For a 7-day trip for two people, ground costs land around $932 USD before long-haul flights—usually cheapest in January, February, March, and November.
- Daily budget baseline: $85 USD / traveler
- 7 days for 2 people: ~$932 USD ground costs (2nd traveler ≈ 62% of daily rate, shared room)
- Usually cheapest: January, February, March, and November
- Busiest months: June, July, and August
Sample food prices
- Peking duck — avg $25.00 USD
- Zhajiangmian — avg $5.00 USD
- Jianbing — avg $2.50 USD
- Baozi — avg $2.00 USD
Ground-cost planning assumptions dated July 2026. Use the calculator to personalize origin, dates, and group size. See how group size affects cost.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
Plan around April, May, September, and October for a smoother visit. Budget-minded trips lean toward January, February, March, and November, and June, July, and August is when demand—and often fares—spike.
What are the top things to do in Beijing?
- Forbidden City — Vast former imperial palace complex.
- Great Wall (Mutianyu) — Well-preserved wall section within day-trip range.
- Temple of Heaven — Ming-dynasty complex for imperial prayer ceremonies.
- Tiananmen Square — One of the world’s largest public squares.
- Hutong alleys — Historic lanes best explored by rickshaw or on foot.
What's the food and dining like in Beijing?
Must-try food in Beijing usually includes Peking duck, Zhajiangmian, Jianbing. Typical plates below help you budget meals before you go.
- Peking duck — Beijing’s signature crisp-skinned roast duck. (avg $25.00)
- Zhajiangmian — Noodles topped with fermented soybean sauce. (avg $5.00)
- Jianbing — Savory breakfast crepe with egg and crispy cracker. (avg $2.50)
- Baozi — Steamed filled buns. (avg $2.00)