Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City tour: one morning, two security checks
Why the pairing matters
Tiananmen Square is the vast plaza south of the Forbidden City. The palace sits north of the square. Together they are Beijing’s two biggest draws. But they are separate sites with separate entry systems and separate security checks. A tour that pairs them saves you juggling two bookings and two passport checks, and gives you one guide who knows both places. The combined tour, rated 4.8 from 5,935 reviews, covers entry to both.
How the security works
Tiananmen Square has its own security perimeter and requires photo ID at entry. The Forbidden City, at the north end of the square, has its own security at the Meridian Gate and requires booking + photo ID. A visitor doing both needs to pass through square security, then move north through the plaza to palace security. Allow 20–30 minutes from the metro through square security to the Meridian Gate. The $17 tour bundles both bookings and both security transitions into one guided experience.
Which order: square first or palace first
Most tours do the square first (since it is south), then move north to the palace. You enter the square early, see the monuments and the flag ceremony if you time it right, then move north through security to the Meridian Gate and into the palace. The one-way palace route ends at the Shenwumen (north gate), then you can visit Jingshan Park (the hill directly north) for the roofscape view if you add the $5 Jingshan ticket. Doing the square first frames the palace as the logical follow-on.
How much time to allow
Allow 1–2 hours for Tiananmen Square (depending on whether you want to visit any of the buildings) and 3 hours minimum for the palace central axis at a normal pace. So 4–5 hours combined for a full morning or early afternoon. The $17 tour offers 2.5–8 hours depending on the option you select; pick the longer slot if you want to really see both places.
Book at least a day or two ahead in peak season to lock in your slot. Free cancellation on all tours, so book early and cancel if plans shift.
What to bring
Bring the physical passport. It is scanned at both security checkpoints and must match the booking. A digital copy will not work. See the full booking-window explanation for details.
Can’t make these dates?
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Frequently asked questions
Are Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City the same site?
No. Tiananmen Square is the plaza to the south; the Forbidden City is the walled palace to the north. They are adjacent but separate with their own security checks. A tour covering both saves you two bookings and one guide handles the transition. See the tour comparison.
Can I do Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City on separate days?
Yes. You can book two tours or two entry tickets separately. But a single tour that covers both ($17, 4.8 from 5,935 reviews) is simpler and is what most visitors do.
How long does it take to see both?
1–2 hours for the square, 3 hours minimum for the palace at a normal pace. So 4–5 hours combined. The $17 tour offers 2.5–8 hours depending on the option, so pick the longer slot if you want to really see both.
Can I add Jingshan Park to the tour?
No, Jingshan is sold separately as a $5 ticket. But it is directly north of the palace exit gate, so you can add it after the tour if you have 1–2 hours spare. It gives the only view of the whole palace roofscape from above.