Forbidden City Tickets: How to Book and Get In
What Forbidden City tickets cost, why they sell out, and the exact steps to book with your passport, plus guided options that secure entry for you.
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Forbidden City (Palace Museum): the essentials
- Ticket price
- CNY 40 off-peak, CNY 60 peak
- Opening hours
- 8:30-17:00 (Apr-Oct), 8:30-16:30 (Nov-Mar); last entry about one hour before close
- Closed
- Monday (except public holidays)
- Booking window
- Online only, no walk-up tickets. Released 7 days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time and often sell out fast.
- ID needed
- Real-name booking. Foreign visitors book with passport number and email, then bring the same passport to scan at entry.
The Forbidden City is the one Beijing sight you should book before anything else. Entry is by timed ticket tied to your passport, daily numbers are capped, and slots routinely sell out a week ahead in busy seasons. The facts box above has the current price, hours, and booking window.
How to book it yourself
- Go to the official ticketing system (linked above) about a week before your visit.
- Create an account and enter each traveler’s passport number and name exactly as printed.
- Choose a date and an entry window. Morning slots go first.
- Pay with a card linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay, or with an international card where accepted.
- Bring the same physical passport you booked with. It is scanned at the gate.
A few things that catch people out: the palace is closed on Mondays, the ticket only covers the main palace (the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery are separate), and there is no ticket sales window at the door. If the date you want is sold out, do not show up hoping for returns.
When a tour is the easier option
If your dates are tight, the official site is sold out, or you would rather not wrestle with a passport-gated checkout in another language, a guided tour bundles the entry ticket with a guide who handles the booking. The options below are vetted to include genuine skip-the-queue entry and English-speaking guides.
Guided tours and skip-the-line options
Forbidden City Half-Day Small Group Tour with Pre-Booked Entry
- Pre-booked entry ticket (passport registration handled)
- English-speaking guide
- Small group, max 15 people
- Tiananmen Square walk-through
Skip-the-Line Private Forbidden City Walking Tour
- Pre-booked entry ticket
- Private English-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Flexible itinerary for your group only
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need my passport to enter the Forbidden City?
- Yes. You book the ticket against your passport number and must show the same passport at the entrance. Bring the physical passport, not a photo. Staff check it against your booking at the Meridian Gate, and there are no on-site or same-day sales.
- How far in advance should I book Forbidden City tickets?
- Tickets are released about 7 days ahead, typically around 8:00 PM Beijing time, and regularly sell out within minutes, especially in summer and on holidays. Book as soon as your date opens, or use a tour that secures entry for you.
- Should I choose the morning or afternoon Forbidden City time slot?
- Booking is split into a morning slot (roughly 8:30 AM to noon) and an afternoon slot (roughly 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM), and your QR code only admits you during your chosen window. Pick the morning slot for cooler temperatures and a head start before the largest tour groups arrive. Whichever you choose, allow at least three hours inside, since the palace complex is very large.