PEK layover
A layover in Beijing (PEK)
The city is 30–50 min from Capital each way, so budget around 1.7 hours of travel for the round trip before immigration and security. Beijing is a 240-hour visa-free transit port for passport holders of 57 countries with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Beijing has two airports: this guide is for Capital (PEK), not Daxing (PKX). Be back 2.5 hours before departure.
- 0–8hStay airside
- 8–14hTiananmen and the Forbidden City
- 14–24hThe Great Wall at Mutianyu
Checked against sources:· How we verify
Can you leave the airport?
That depends on your passport and ticket. Check the official rules before you plan anything outside the terminal:
We link the official sources rather than summarise entry rules, because they change and differ by nationality.
Conditions at Capital now
Raw METAR
0–8 hours
Stay airside
Under eight hours, the Airport Express ride, onward metro and immigration both ways don't leave enough time. Rest airside near your departure gates.
8–14 hours
Tiananmen and the Forbidden City
Take the Airport Express to Dongzhimen and the metro to Tiananmen. The Forbidden City needs a timed ticket booked online in advance and is closed on Mondays except in holiday periods, so book before you land.
14–24 hours
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
With a full day, a pre-booked car to the Great Wall at Mutianyu takes about 1.5 hours each way from the airport side of the city. Leave the Wall by mid-afternoon to beat the traffic back.
Sources
- en.nia.gov.cn — 240-hour visa-free transit: eligible countries and ports
- english.beijing.gov.cn — Capital Airport transport links
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