Where to Stay in Beijing, China: Choices for Every Budget
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Wondering where to stay in Beijing on your next visit?
Beijing is one of China’s largest cities and is home to tons of hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs. It can be overwhelming trying to pick a place to stay, especially if it’s going to be your first time visiting the city.
On my visit to Beijing, I only had the opportunity to stay in one hotel. In order to give you the best possible guide to where to stay in Beijing, I reached out to some of my fellow bloggers to give their reviews on their favorite places to stay in Beijing. This list is full of reviews on Beijing’s best Airbnbs, hostels, and hotels – there’s something here for every budget and travel style!
A World in Reach usually focuses on budget and mid-range accommodation options, but you might notice that there are several luxury options on this list. This is because many of Beijing’s luxury hotels have prices comparable to mid-range hotels in other major cities – Beijing is a great city to treat yourself to a luxury stay without breaking the budget! Additionally, I want A World in Reach to be a place for all travelers, no matter your budget or preferred travel style. There’s an accommodation option for everyone on this list, whether you’re a budget backpacker or a traveler who enjoys the finer things in life.
Keep reading for a list of where to stay in Beijing for every budget, including a map of all their locations!
A World in Reach contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a commission at no cost to you! Read my full disclosure here.
Where to Stay in Beijing – Airbnbs
Sunny & Cozy Apartment in Beijing – Live Like a Local in Beijing
Contributed by Meghan of The Traveling Teacher
When I started looking for places to stay in Beijing, I knew I wanted to stay at an Airbnb with a local host. China is known as being a difficult country to travel in alone so I knew an Airbnb could offer a special experience.
I was lucky enough to find this lovely Airbnb for a very reasonable price for my friends and I during our stay. Not only was the Airbnb pretty nice, but our host made this the best stay. Zhaohui showed us all around Beijing and was kind enough to answer so many questions.
So many moments stick out to me from our stay, but my favorite is when we started to ask about where to get Peking Duck. He said he knew where to go and immediately brought us to an authentic restaurant where he ate with us and showed us how to eat it correctly. It was such a kind gesture that I will never forget. It was truly a special experience and I am still friends with our host to this day!
Where to Stay in Beijing – Hostels
Happy Dragon Backpackers Hostel – A Great Social Hostel in Beijing
Contributed by Ben of Horizon Unknown
If you search for hostels in Beijing, China, the number of responses can be overwhelming. Happy Dragon Backpackers Hostel is the top of my list of places to stay in the city.
With a lively communal area, it’s easy to interact and meet new travels friends. The beds are clean and comfortable, the showers are warm, and the WiFi is strong. It really ticks all the boxes for your travel needs.
On top of that, the location is great. A short 10-minute walk is the popular Wangfujing Shopping Street and 15 minutes from Jing Shan Park. The rest of the city is easily accessible as the closest subway station, Dongsi is only a 5-minute walk. You can also rent bicycles from Happy Dragon if you feel like peddling rather than walking or public transit.
Another amazing thing about this place is the helpful staff. They will book any tours for you right at reception and can arrange airport shuttles to and from Beijing.
If you’re looking for a memorable place to call home for a night or a week, check out Happy Dragon Backpackers Hostel!
Leo Hostel – A Simple and Affordable Hostel in Beijing
Contributed by Lauren of Lauren’s Travel Diary
Wondering where to stay in Beijing on a budget? During my short time in Beijing, I stayed at an incredibly friendly hostel called Leo Hostel. While the hostel itself wasn’t the most luxurious, it was the fabulous atmosphere that made it a truly memorable stay for me.
The hostel has a large bar/living/kitchen area, where I found it so easy to get talking to fellow travelers. I had a brilliant evening there one night, where a whole group of us had a blast, as though we’d known each other for years. The friendly staff made it all possible by introducing people to each other and getting the conversation flowing.
The staff was some of the most hospitable I’ve ever come across; they went out of their way to help me out, such as arranging airport transfer and booking day trips. They even provided towels and hairdryers, which is a rarity in hostels in Asia!
The hostel is a short walk away from the night market and is ideally located right by Tiananmen Square – one of the most central and historically significant parts of Beijing. Bus stops and a train station are also close by should you need to travel further afield.
Leo Hostel costs £8.03 for a 10-bed mixed dorm or £9.17 for an 8-bed mixed dorm. I think this is pretty reasonable given how hospitable the staff is and how close to Beijing’s best attractions you’ll be situated!
365 Inn – A Great Hostel for First-Time Backpackers in Beijing
Contributed by Jackie of Life of Doing
During my one day layover in Beijing, I wanted to stay at a place that was clean, affordable, and next to some sightseeing places. The hostel, 365 Inn, checked off all of the requirements. Located in the Xicheng area of Beijing, the hostel is less than 10 minutes walk to the nearest subway station and 15-20 minutes walk to Tiananmen Square and the famous Forbidden City.
365 Inn is a great value for those who are on a budget and/or backpacking around Asia. The hostel has both private rooms and dorm rooms. As a solo traveler, I stayed in a co-ed dorm room and enjoyed the amenities of wifi, clean bed sheets, well-maintained shared bathroom, and a storage area for my backpack. My roommates were also friendly. The no-frills dorm room was $15 USD for the night.
The chill vibe of the hostel is the perfect place to relax after spending the day in the busy city. From the friendly hotel staff, street art ambiance in the check-in area, and the connecting bar and restaurant area to hang out and meet other tourists, you’ll enjoy the downtime. You can also try one of the local restaurants that serve fresh soy milk and dumplings in the area. I would consider staying here again for a longer trip to Beijing.
WHERE TO STAY IN BEIJING – HOTELS
Ibis Styles Beijing Capital Airport – Where to Stay in Beijing for One Night
Contributed by Danni of Live in 10 Countries
The Ibis Styles Hotel Beijing Capital Airport is a great budget to mid-range option for those looking for an affordable spot in the city. My stay cost CNY 199 per night and the main attraction was that it was very handy from the airport – ideal for a whirlwind Beijing layover or a short one night stay.
It’s a short way outside of the Xinggu residential district in a quiet and secure neighborhood. Being well-placed for the airport means that it’s not particularly close to shops and things to do. But, don’t let that put you off as the hotel offers a free mini van that will help you get straight on the train station and on a high-speed train to wherever you need to go. There are also plenty of cheap taxis.
The hotel made things easy as they were able to register my identity as a foreign national, which meant I didn’t have to do it at the police station. They also met me at the airport when I arrived and gave me a welcoming check-in in English. The room was very clean and had all the basics that I needed, plus a delicious breakfast with international and local options was served in the morning.
If you’re short of time and want a guaranteed clean and comfortable place to stay, this would be the one I’d recommend!
Inner Mongolia Grand Hotel – Value Luxury in Beijing
Contributed by Alex of Wanderlust Marriage
Inner Mongolia Grand Hotel Beijing is located 15 minutes walk from Tiananmen Square and 1 Kilometer from Beijing Railway Station. It’s also walking distance to the Forbidden City, Chinese National Museum, Temple of Heaven and the Wangfujing area, home to many shops and markets.
Inner Mongolia is a great value 5-star hotel with really comfortable beds and well-appointed rooms. We stayed at another luxury hotel in Wangfujing and while it was also very nice, the beds there were very firm by western standards. So we preferred our stay at Inner Mongolia.
There are a lot of amenities at Inner Mongolia. There’s a sauna, beauty salon and on-site massage options are available. There’s also a recreation center with table tennis and billiards.
Inner Mongolia Flavor Restaurant specializes in Mongolian dishes. Asides from specialty cuisine, the restaurant sometimes has cultural singing and dancing. As the restaurant seats 300, it also can host weddings and business functions.
We loved the decor of the hotel, including the horses in the lobby. Comfort is important to us, but if we travel all the way to China, we don’t want to stay in a western chain. So Inner Mongolia is ideal for those that seek comfort and a unique experience for good prices.
Beijing restaurant tip: Eat Peking duck at Siji Minfu. The duck is freshly carved table side and it’s a really nice dining experience. The wait can be long, but go early and ask for an approximation on the wait time. Put your name down and then peruse the Wangfujing shopping area and return shortly before your table is meant to be ready.
Sofu Hotel – A Lovely Beijing Hotel with a Traditional Feel
Contributed by Nadia of Nomadic Nerd
Also known as Hou Hai, the Back Lakes is where I stayed on my trip to Beijing last September. It proved to be an incredible location, with an authentic Chinese feel and brilliant food options!
The exact hotel I stayed at is called the Sofu Hotel, and whilst they don’t offer breakfast, it was exactly what I needed for the three days I was there. About a five minutes walk from the nearest underground train station, I found it to be incredibly convenient for getting where I wanted to be.
I have to also commend the concierge for being really helpful and booking us a driver to go to The Great Wall early one morning, which was completely worth the early wake-up call! As for food, despite there being no breakfast, there was a Starbucks downstairs and several local food stores surrounding the hotel, as well as a convenience store, so it really wasn’t much of an issue.
For two nights, and two people it cost around 180 USD, the food was really cheap as well so in total we probably spent less than 200 USD on our accommodation and breakfast. I would definitely recommend this place for people who are looking to stay out of the noise and in a place that looks and feels like how China would have been in the olden days. There are lots of traditional-looking buildings, the streets are kept clean and well-maintained and the people are friendly!
My only issue was the language barrier, as not many people speak English, so keep your Google Translate handy.
Hotel Kapok Beijing – A Budget-Friendly Hotel in the Center of Beijing
Contributed by Catherine of Diapers on a Plane
When we traveled to Beijing, China we were utilizing the 72-hour visa-free transit policy. From the time our plane landed, until our departure, we had precisely 72 hours to see everything Beijing had to offer. We took the railway into the main center of Beijing and within 15 minutes, with all our luggage in tow, found Hotel Kapok.
We booked a large suite for under $150 a night with a king size bed, a fold out couch and a complimentary crib. The bathroom was huge with a separate soaking tub and shower, and there was even a minibar, snacks and a gas mask provided in case we required the need of any of those things in any type of combination. The service was impeccable and everyone spoke perfect English.
Within 20 minutes walking we could visit two of Beijing’s most historical sites: The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square; plus eat street food, visit the Apple store, the children’s theater and a ton of other shopping options. We could even see some of the Forbidden City from our room. Hotel Kapok offers a 5-minute walk to street food and downtown shopping, a 10-minute walk to the Forbidden City, 15 minutes to the railway, and 20 minutes to Tiananmen Square.
New World Beijing Hotel – A 5-Star Bargain in Beijing
Contributed by Kelly of Fit Fashion Traveler
The New World Beijing Hotel in the city’s Chongwenmen district is the best place to stay in the city!
This five-star hotel is conveniently located near both a main subway stop and some of the city’s top tourist destinations. You can easily walk to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and Wangfujing Street. You could even take a day trip to the Great Wall of China! The hotel’s neighborhood has great amenities as well, including the Xinglong International Mansion next door where you can exchange foreign currency for yuan and a Costa Coffee shop just down the road.
Staying at the New World Beijing Hotel will cost you less than $150 USD per night, a bargain for the value you receive. The rooms are modern, clean, and spacious. The lobby is beautiful and welcoming, and the rooftop bar overlooking the city offers impressive views of the city center. Included in your stay is a large breakfast buffet with both Chinese specialties and Western foods, a nightly happy hour with free drinks and food, and one drink per guest per stay at the lounge.
On top of all this, the New World Beijing Hotel has the most helpful staff! They provide the usual hotel services of directions, advice, and bookings, but also go above and beyond to assist guests. They use their domestic Chinese phone apps to contact restaurants or find taxis for you. When I was there, no taxi would pick me up for the short distance I needed to travel in the rain, and the hotel staff went out into the street with me to find a taxi and negotiate the price and return trip!
You have no reason not to book yourself a room in this five-star hotel during your next trip to Beijing.
Prime Hotel Wangfujing – An Affordable Hotel near the Forbidden City
Contributed by Hamish of My Travel Fix
When you visit a new city, what do you look for in your hotel? Personally, I love exploring the history and cultural attractions. I like to be close to the main commercial streets too, where I know I can get the best local food.
When I visited Beijing in October of last year, Beijing Prime Hotel Wangfujing, a luxurious and spacious five-star, was a perfect choice. Located right on Beijing’s bustling Wangfujing Street, the hotel is but moments away from some of the best restaurants and shops in the city. Moreover, and perhaps more exciting for culture junkies visiting the city, Prime Hotel is about a short walk from the world-famous Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is also within walking distance.
The hotel itself is comfortable, clean and the service is excellent. They cater very well for tourists of all nationalities and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and well looked after. The food too is splendid, made up of a nightly banquet of local delicacies and well-paired wine.
The cherry on the cake has to be the price. It’s more than reasonable for what you get in such an amazing location, particularly when booked through discount comparison sites like Booking.com. I would recommend Prime Hotel for anyone looking to explore the best cultural and historic sites in Beijing while also wanting to relax in comfort at the end of a long day.
NUO Hotel Beijing – 5-Star Luxury on the Outskirts of Beijing
Contributed by Felicity of The Baby Vine
My husband and I recently went on a child-free trip to Beijing. We decided to treat ourselves to a bit of 5-star luxury and that is exactly what we got. We went traveling in the middle of winter and welcomed stepping out of -12 degrees Celsius to a warm and inviting environment.
The front entrance of NUO Hotel Beijing is very impressive, and you are greeted by the staff each and every time you walk in. The room we stayed in was extremely spacious, complete with everything you need: a mini bar, a selection of teas and coffee, king bed, big bath, shower, great view. We were on the executive level and it was well worth the extra money. Every day at 4 pm they hosted a high tea you could join. This was followed by canapes at 6 pm, which included free alcohol and delicious food. You could skip dinner altogether after feasting here, which definitely helped us reign our budget in.
The hotel went above and beyond each and every time. We received a gorgeous chocolate strawberry tower to wish us a Happy New Year. My husband also celebrated his birthday while we were away and received a beautiful log cake, bottle of Chandon and giant chocolate soldier from the hotel to celebrate. (He was thrilled!)
There were some slight downsides though. We were about a 20-minute ride from the city, so that was a bit of a hassle every day, but the cab ride only cost us $10 Australian, so we figured it was worth the sacrifice for where we were staying. Also, if you are looking for tours, they are affiliated with just one tour company and won’t recommend others, which we found a little bit limiting for our travels. We only ended up doing one tour to The Great Wall, and went with them for convenience – they were fantastic, but options would have been nice.
There is a big shopping center walking distance down the road, and plenty of nice restaurants around the area, so if you don’t feel like venturing into the city, there is plenty to do around the area too. Overall we had a fantastic stay and would highly recommend.
Beijing Hotel NUO Chang’an Avenue – Historic Luxury in the Center of Beijing
Contributed by Elisse of We Live in the Country
THE best place to stay in Beijing, in my opinion, is the gorgeous and historic Beijing Hotel NUO on Chang’An Avenue (formerly the Raffles Hotel).
I booked the hotel on Expedia and booked their most inexpensive guest room. Our 4 nights at the Hotel NUO cost about $640 USD, and while it was a “splurge” for us, I felt it was reasonable for a hotel of this caliber. After I booked, I emailed the hotel and explained that it was our Second Honeymoon, and requested a guest room with a nice view or a balcony, if possible, and suggestions on where to have a wonderful Peking Duck dinner.
When we arrived and checked in, we were escorted to our guest room and discovered that they had given us an extraordinary upgrade to their magnificent Chairman Suite! Located in the original heritage building, the only thing I can compare this extraordinary suite to is the 1930’s Palace we visited in Da Lat, Vietnam!
With a gorgeous, full living/dining room of velvet upholstered furniture and pillows, velvet and damask drapes, and Chinese carpets in pinks, oranges, and beiges, our suite was filled with original art and ceramics, and boasted a palatial full bath as well as a half bath, a huge bedroom with a magnificent, gilded, four-poster bed festooned with a heart of romantic towel swans, a “writer’s nook”, an espresso machine and pods, a wet bar, and my dream ‘fainting sofa’. It even had a double-doored balcony overlooking Chang’an Avenue, but, and sadly, they’d locked all the doors to it! This really bummed me out, as I badly wanted to go out on the balcony off our bedroom and wave like Eva Peron to my comrades!
They even gave us a welcome plate with a selection of lovely pastries! Although we booked their least expensive room – never expecting the amazing upgrade – the NUO was basically our one hotel “splurge” on this trip, and it was SO worth it! The service was impeccable, the Concierges were wonderful and super-helpful, the location was excellent – around the corner from the Wangfujing Night Food Market and shopping district – their Writer’s Bar was delightful to return to after a full day of touring (and they serve excellent Chinese wines), and, to top it all, our suite was over-the-top fabulous! It wasn’t a terribly expensive splurge, all things considered!
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing – Perfect for a Luxurious Getaway in Beijing
Contributed by Katie of La Jolla Mom
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is our top choice for hotels in Beijing for its superior service and luxe amenities.
The concierge desk coordinated our itinerary in advance (use the Four Seasons app to easily do this) which included white-glove train station transfer, a private tour of Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, and more. They also knew it was my daughter’s birthday so they arranged a little spa party with cake and balloons after our treatments.
You’ll find that during most seasons, Beijing luxury hotels price moderately compared to similar hotels in other major cities, making Four Seasons an incredible value (I’ve seen rates below CNY 1500 ($222 USD) for a Deluxe Room). I would also recommend booking Executive Club level with its fulsome breakfast buffet, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and canapes, and its neat library to browse for sightseeing inspiration and additional local color.
Four Seasons Hotel Beijing is located in the Chaoyang district and is a 7-minute walk to the Liangmaqiao metro station.
Don’t visit Beijing without travel insurance!
Nobody likes to think about bad things happening while traveling, but anything is possible.
I use and recommend World Nomads Travel Insurance for travelers in Beijing or elsewhere in the world. If anything scary happens while you’re traveling, like getting sick or getting robbed, having travel insurance will protect you and help you get home or get reimbursed for emergency expenses abroad. A small investment in travel insurance could save you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in the long run.
Check out World Nomad’s policies before purchasing to see if they’re right for you.
As you can see, Beijing is full of great accommodation options. There are Airbnbs, hostels, and hotels throughout the city that cater to every budget and travel style. Hopefully, this list will help you decide where to stay in Beijing!
If you’re planning a trip to Beijing, make sure to consider one of these great accommodations! Do you know of a great place to stay in Beijing that’s not featured on this list? Send me a message and let me know about it! You can also check out more of Beijing’s great options for accommodations on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
Like this post? Check out my other posts on China!
Where do you like to stay when visiting Beijing?
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