Beijing has every accommodation type from 15 CNY ($2) hostel dorm beds to 3,000+ CNY ($414+) luxury suites. Location matters more here than in most cities because the attractions are spread across a 16,000 square kilometer municipality. This guide names specific hotels and areas with real price ranges in Chinese Yuan.
Where to Stay in Beijing by Area and Budget
Luxury Hotels in Dongcheng and the CBD
The Peninsula Beijing at 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing (2,000-3,500 CNY per night, $276-$483) combines a central Dongcheng location with 230 suites, each with a separate dressing room. The Waldorf Astoria Beijing at 5-15 Jinyu Hutong (1,800-3,000 CNY, $248-$414) is a 5-minute walk from Wangfujing shopping street.
In the CBD, the China World Hotel at 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue (1,200-2,200 CNY, $166-$304) connects directly to Guomao subway station (Lines 1 and 10). Pros: walking distance to major sights, highest service standards. Cons: prices are 3-5x mid-range options.
Mid-Range Hotels Near the Subway
The Novotel Beijing Peace at 3 Jinyu Hutong (600-900 CNY, $83-$124) sits midway between Wangfujing and the Forbidden City. The Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen at 1 Chunxiu Road (450-650 CNY, $62-$90) is 200 meters from Dongzhimen subway and the Airport Express.
In Sanlitun, the CHAO Sanlitun at 4 Workers Stadium East Road (800-1,200 CNY, $110-$166) has design-forward rooms popular with younger travelers. The DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing at 168 Guang’anmenwai Street in Xicheng (500-800 CNY, $69-$110) gives good access to the Financial Street area. All these hotels are within 5 minutes walking of a subway station.
Budget Hotels and Hostels
The 365 Inn at 55 Dazhalan Xijie near Qianmen (dorm beds from 60 CNY/$8, private rooms from 200 CNY/$28) is a well-run hostel in a 100-year-old building in a hutong alley. Happy Dragon Hostel at 51 Dongsi Jiutiao (dorms from 70 CNY/$10, private rooms from 220 CNY/$30) sits in a quiet hutong near Zhangzizhong Road subway.
Peking Yard Hostel at 28 Wangzhima Hutong (dorms from 80 CNY/$11, private rooms from 280 CNY/$39) is near Nanluoguxiang. For chain budget hotels, Hanting and 7 Days Inn locations throughout the city offer clean private rooms from 150-250 CNY ($21-$35). These require Chinese language skills at check-in but can be booked on Ctrip or Booking.com.
Family-Friendly Hotels
The NUO Hotel Beijing at 2A Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang (1,000-1,600 CNY, $138-$221) has large family rooms with two double beds, an indoor pool, and is near 798 Art District. The Kerry Hotel Beijing at 1 Guanghua Road, CBD (1,200-2,000 CNY, $166-$276) has a massive indoor adventure playground for kids.
The Grand Hyatt Beijing at 1 East Chang’an Avenue (1,100-1,800 CNY, $152-$248) has a stunning indoor swimming pool that looks like a tropical lagoon, located directly on Wangfujing. All three have English-speaking staff and connecting rooms. Pros: reliable international standards. Cons: further from some attractions than Dongcheng boutique options.
Hutong Courtyard Hotels
For a traditional experience, courtyard hotels (siheyuan) convert old Beijing residences into boutique accommodations. The Orchid at 65 Baochao Hutong near Gulou (800-1,500 CNY, $110-$207) has 10 rooms around a central courtyard with a rooftop terrace view of the Drum Tower. Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel at 37 Dongsi Sitiao (700-1,200 CNY, $97-$166) is a 200-year-old courtyard with red lanterns and carved wooden beams, 15 minutes walk from the subway.
Pros: unique atmosphere, quiet hutong locations. Cons: rooms are small, soundproofing is limited (traditional buildings), and some require walking 5-10 minutes through alleys from the nearest road. The Beijing neighborhoods guide helps you pick the right area.
Check the Beijing events and festivals calendar for exact dates. See the best time to visit Beijing for a full seasonal breakdown. For detailed month-by-month data, see the Beijing weather by month guide.