Beijing on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Beijing is easy on a budget thanks to cheap metro rides, street food and low entry fees. Plan on about 310 yuan per person per day (bed 150, food 80, sights 60, transport 20).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | yuan150 | yuan450 | yuan1,400 |
| Food & drink | yuan80 | yuan200 | yuan500 |
| Sights & tickets | yuan60 | yuan200 | yuan500 |
| Local transport | yuan20 | yuan60 | yuan300 |
| Per person, per day | yuan310 | yuan910 | yuan2,700 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Beijing day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk across Tiananmen Square (free, but book in advance and bring your passport)
- Explore the hutongs around Houhai, the Drum and Bell Towers and Nanluoguxiang
- Walk around the Houhai and Qianhai lakes
- See the galleries of the 798 Art District, most of them free
- Visit the National Museum of China (free with advance booking)
- Watch locals practise tai chi and dance in the park around the Temple of Heaven in the early morning (park entry has a small fee)
Cheap eats
- Jianbing breakfast crêpe: about 10–20 yuan
- Jiaozi (dumplings) at a local restaurant: about 20–40 yuan
- Zhajiangmian noodles: about 20–40 yuan
- Lamb skewers from a street stall: a few yuan each
- Street snacks around Qianmen and the hutongs: about 10–20 yuan
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels and guesthouses in the hutongs of Dongcheng, often in old courtyard houses, for about 250–450 yuan for a room; dorm beds are cheaper. They are central and close to metro lines.
Getting around cheaply
The metro is the cheapest way around (about 3–10 yuan a ride). From Capital Airport (PEK) take the Airport Express; from Daxing Airport (PKX) take the fast airport train. Use public buses or a shared tour to reach the Great Wall.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Forbidden City (about 60 yuan)
- Lunch: dumplings or noodles (about 30 yuan)
- Afternoon: Jingshan Park and the hutongs around Houhai (a few yuan)
- Evening: street food on Qianmen and lamb skewers (about 40 yuan), metro rides about 15 yuan
- Total: about 150 yuan plus your bed (about 150 yuan), so roughly 300 yuan
More ways to save
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive; most places do not take foreign cards or much cash.
- Book the Forbidden City and other major sights online up to 7 days ahead, as they sell out.
- Group sights by area: Forbidden City, Jingshan and Beihai on one day.
- Carry a refillable bottle and buy large water bottles at convenience stores.
- Look for set lunch menus near offices on weekdays.
- Check whether you qualify for visa-free entry or 240-hour visa-free transit to save the visa fee.
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Common questions
Can I visit Beijing on a budget?
Yes, at about 310 yuan a day with a hutong hostel, the metro and street food.
What is the cheapest way to the Great Wall?
Public bus or a shared group tour to Mutianyu or Badaling, rather than a private car.
What is free in Beijing?
Tiananmen Square (booked), the hutongs, Houhai lakes, 798 Art District and the National Museum of China.