Cheap Flights to Beijing

Discover Beijing

Cheap Flights to Beijing

Last year, more than 275 million tourists put Beijing on their travel itinerary.  It's true that many of the visitors to Beijing came from other parts of China, but it is also true that foreign visitors to the Chinese capital are visiting the city in higher numbers than ever before.  Some come to see the famous buildings and squares that they previously had only seen on the news.  Others come to sample food that can't be found anywhere else in the world.  Others come to shop at a traditional Silk Road market one day and an upscale boutique the next.  Essentially, Beijing offers something perfect for every type of traveler. 

Best Time to Book a Flight to Beijing

Ideally, travelers should plan their trip to Beijing outside of major public holidays.  On major holidays, and for the two or three days afterwards, Beijing swells with domestic Chinese tourists who pack hotels, fill restaurants and crowd tourist attractions as they learn more about their own nation's capital.  Almost any other time of year can be enjoyable, with summer bringing hot temperatures worthy of the tropics, winter bringing freezing snows (and few crowds!), and spring and autumn offering the most agreeable weather.  Skyscanner's month search tool can help you find the best flights to Beijing during any thirty-day period. 

Airports in Beijing

All international flights to Beijing arrive at the Beijing Capital Airport, which is located thirty-two kilometers northeast of the city center.  It consists of two older terminals (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2), and a modern terminal that was opened for the Olympic Games in 2008 (Terminal 3).  With the new addition, Beijing Capital Airport became the second-largest airport in the world, and the sixth-largest building on the planet.  The airport is connected to the city center by express train and shuttle bus, with taxis and car rental services also available.

Beijing does have a second, smaller airport, called Beijing Nanyuan Airport.  Currently, the only flights operated from Beijing Nanyuan Airport are domestic flights with China United Airlines.  Should your flight arrive here, it is possible to take an airport shuttle bus or taxi into downtown Beijing.     

What to See and Do in Beijing

Dongcheng comprises the eastern half of Beijing's city center and makes the ideal home base for travelers to Beijing.  Choosing a hotel in Dongcheng puts you close to the most important tourist attractions, including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Drum and Bell Towers.  Dongcheng is also home to beautifully preserved hutongs, or traditional alleyed neighborhoods filled with local residents living in low-rise houses.  Your hotel can also recommend the best local restaurants for sampling delicacies like Peking duck, dumpling soup and hot pot. 

Once you've had your fill of the sights, and food, in Dongcheng, head west to Xicheng to see a more modern side of the city, including the breathtaking National Centre for the Performing Arts, the China Science and Technology Museum, and the bustling shopping malls outside the Xidan subway station.  Further afield, interesting places to visit include the eight-hundred-year-old Summer Palace and, of course, the Great Wall of China.    

Tips and Advisories for Travel to Beijing

In order to visit Beijing, Canadian citizens must hold a valid passport that will be valid for six months after their intended departure date.  As well, most trips require a tourist visa.  Information about obtaining a tourist visa can be obtained from your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate.  Upon arrival, you must register your address in China with the local public security bureau.  If you are staying in a hotel, this registration is normally completed when you check in.