Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Tiananmen Square. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall

• 4-Hour Small-Group Tour to Forbidden City with Entry Tickets

• Beijing Full-Day Tours: Tiananmen Sq, Forbidden City, Great Wall

• Forbidden City & T-Square Small-Group Tours w/ Ticket (Eng/Esp Guide)

• Beijing 2-Day Tours: Great Wall, Forbidden City & Top Highlights

It’s free to visit Tiananmen Square, but you do need to make a reservation, which can be challenging if you don’t read Chinese or have the WeChat app. Many Forbidden City guided tours include a stop at Tiananmen Square, with ticket booking as part of the service; prices start at about US$30.

Yes, Tiananmen Square is absolutely worth visiting: It's the heart of Beijing and the gateway to the Forbidden City. Covering 109 acres (44 hectares), it's one of the biggest squares in the world, and its namesake gate dates back more than 500 years. Joining a tour doesn't just streamline the booking process—it can help you experience other Beijing highlights and fit the history together.

Per one customer who booked the All-Inclusive Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Great Wall, "We had an amazing experience on our tour of the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. Our guide, Lucy, truly made the day memorable—she was fun, engaging, and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. She also took fantastic photos for us, which was such a bonus and helped capture the experience perfectly. We learned so much about the history and significance of each site. Lucy shared interesting details and stories that really brought everything to life and made the tour feel much more meaningful."

Yes, Tiananmen Square is open to the public, and there’s no entrance fee. You can go on your own and wander around, but you’ll probably make more of your visit if you hire a tour guide. There are plenty of other Beijing attractions nearby to combine with your tour, too.

Tiananmen Square itself doesn’t require all that much time—no more than an hour. But if you’d like to explore the other sites in the area, such as the Tiananmen Tower, the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, or the National Museum of China, then you’ll want to block off extra time to also visit them.

Yes, there are restrooms at Tiananmen Square. At busy times of the year, more tourists visit the area, so the bathrooms will be more crowded. There are also drinking water fountains and snack vendors. Visit souvenir shops at the square to learn even more about China’s history.

Yes, there are a few ramps at the Northwest and Southwest corners of the sidewalk near Tiananmen Gate that are clearly marked for wheelchair use at Tiananmen Square. However, take note that not all public transportation is accessible, and oftentimes taxis won’t bother with extra equipment, like walkers or wheelchairs.

Tiananmen Square can get busy during the day, so try to get there early to avoid crowds. You may also see people doing morning exercises if you go early enough, and you may even be able to join in. Evenings are also good times to visit as it’s when most tourists leave.

There are many things to do when you're done visiting Tiananmen Square. Travelers to Beijing recommend the following sights:

• Mutianyu Great Wall

• Forbidden City

• Summer Palace

• Temple of Heaven

• Great Wall of China

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Beijing.