Transportation to Beijing City Center from Airport
Capital Intl. Airport
Beijing Capital International Airport is located 32 km from the city center. Capital International Airport is the largest and most important airport in Beijing. There are a variety of transportation alternatives you can use to get to the airport. If you prefer to travel by road you can take a taxi, bus, or car. If you prefer to travel by rail you can either take the train or metro from the city center.
Taxi
One of the transportation alternatives available to get to the city center from Capital International Airport is by taxi. Taxis are readily available at each terminal. The total time it takes to get to the city can vary depending on the traffic but usually it takes about 40 minutes.
Bus
Buses are another transportation alternative to get to the city center from Capital International Airport. Buses operate between the airport and various parts of the city. Buses are accessible from in front of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. There are a total of 8 different bus routes. Do not forget to find out which bus you need to take, which will vary according to your final destination in the city.
Train
Another transportation alternative to get to the city center is by train. You can easily get to the city center by train, which is a faster option compared to a bus or taxi. Trains are accessible from Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and take about 10 minutes to get to the city center. These express trains run between 4 stops, Dongzhimen, Sanyuanqiao, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, making the total trip very quick. Express trains operate every day of the week from 6 am to 11 pm.
Metro
The metro is one of the fastest methods of transportation to get to the city center from the airport. The metro operates underground, avoiding the heavy city traffic. Therefore it provides quick transportation to the city. The metro is accessible from the terminal buildings. Depending on your destination in the city you might have to transfer between lines. Therefore, remember to check the metro line routes and intersections beforehand.
Transfer Services
Transfer services are another alternative to get to the city by road. Transfer services provide transportation between Capital International Airport and Fangzhuang, Xidan and Beijing Train Station. These transfer services are accessible from every terminal building at the airport. The transfer service you take will depend on your destination in the city, so remember to find out beforehand.
Inter-Terminal Buses
Inter-terminal buses provide transportation between the three terminals at Capital International Airport. The airport covers an expansive area, so this service is necessary to get to and from each terminal. These inter-terminal buses are free and provide quick transportation between terminals.
Beijing Nanyuan Airport
Located around 13 km from the city center Nanyuan Airport is the oldest airport in China. However today it is a small airport serving mostly domestic flights operated by China United Airlines. The easiest transportation alternative to get to the city center from the airport is by taxi. Other methods of transportation include buses, transfer services, and rental cars.
Taxi
Taxis are a quick and comfortable transportation alternative to get to the city center from Nanyuan Airport. Taxis are accessible in front of the terminal building. To get to most parts of the city center takes between 20 minutes and an hour and half, at most. Taxis are a bit more expensive compared to other methods of transportation however they are more reliable and faster.
Bus
Buses are an affordable way to get to the city center from the airport. Buses depart from the Xinhua Lu Nankou bus stop at Nanyuan Airport. They are both an economical and comfortable transportation alternative. Buses operate from 5 am to 10 pm and there are multiple lines that run to the city center.
Transfer Services
Nanyuan Airport arranges transfer services that provide transportation to various parts of the city center. There are two buses that run on two different routes, one operates between 6 am and 3:30 pm and the other operates between 11:15 am and midnight. Taking a transfer service to the furthest stop along the route takes about an hour and a half.
Rental Car
Another method of transportation to get to the city center is by rental car. There are various rental car companies located at Nanyuan Airport. You can rent a car from the airport and enjoy a comfortable ride to the city center. You also have the option of renting a car with or without a driver.
Daxing International Airport
There are 4 options for traveling from Beijing Daxing Airport to the Beijing city center. You can reach many points of the city in 80 minutes with terminal taxis for a fare costing approximately $30.5. You can reach the city center from the terminal in about 90 minutes with more affordable costs by taking the means of public transport such as bus lines, high-speed subways and intercity trains. The intercity train line enables transportation to Beijing West Railway Station in 20-35 minutes with a cost of $4.5. If you take the subway line, you can reach Caoqiao Station only within 19 minutes, and you must pay about $4.5 for this journey.
Transportation to the Beijing city center by bus
The bus lines 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are in service between 07:30 and 23:00 every day; the bus line 6 runs only during the night shift. One-way bus tickets cost $5.5, and the routes are as follows:
Line 1: (07:30-23:00) Daxing Airport, Beijing Main Train Station.
Line 2: (07:30-23:00) Daxing Airport, Beijing West Railway Station.
Line 3: (07:30-23:00) Daxing Airport, Beijing South Railway Station.
Line 4: (07:30-23:00) Daxing Airport, Tongzhou.
Line 5: (07:30-23:00) Daxing Airport, Fangshan.
Line 6: (23:00-until the last flight arrives) Xuanwu Gate (Night Route).
There are buses to Tianjin and Langfang intercity bus terminals from the airport 4 times a day. The routes of these buses, which have ticket prices varying between $4.8 and $10.5, are as follows:
Line 1: (between 07:00 and 14:00, and 150 minutes travel time) Daxing Airport-Tianjin Bus/Train Stations.
Line 2: (every hour between 08:30 and 20:30, and 90 minutes travel time) Langfang Bus Terminal.
Line 3: (between 10:00 and 12:00, 18:00 and 20:00, and 180 minutes travel time) Tangshan West Bus Terminal.
Line 4: (between 07:00 and 10:00, 14:00 and 17:00, and 180 minutes travel time) Baoding Bus Terminal.
Transportation to the Beijing city center by train
With the new Beijing-Xiong'an Intercity Railway, you can quickly and comfortably go to Beijing West Railway Station from the airport. High-speed trains reach Beijing West Railway Station from Daxing Airport only within 20 minutes, and the tickets cost approximately $4.2. You can buy your ticket at the train station or online if you use a Chinese bank card.
Transportation to the Beijing city center by subway
With the New Airport Subway Line, it is possible to reach Caoqiao Station in the Beijing city center from the airport only within 19 minutes. The New Line, which has a ticket price of $3.5, runs between 06:30 and 22:30, and the waiting time between the trains varies between 8.5 and 10 minutes. In the future, this subway line is expected to be extended to Lize Business District Station.
Transportation to the Beijing city center by taxi
International driver's licenses are not accepted in China, so if you are a foreigner in the city and want to travel comfortably by car, taking a taxi will be a good option. Airport taxis are in service 24/7 and transport passengers to the Beijing city center within 60-90 minutes for a fare costing approximately $30.5. Beijing is one of the cities famous for its heavy traffic. For this reason, we recommend you remember that the travel time or the taxi fare may change.
Car rental services
There are offices of many Chinese and international car rental companies at Daxing Airport. If you are traveling for holiday purposes and want to see Beijing or attend several business meetings, renting a car will be a good option.
At the airport, you can find rental cars suitable for every budget, such as luxury sedans, economical fuel-efficient vehicles or large minivans, and select the vehicle that best suits your requirements. Foreigners are not allowed to drive in China, even if they have an international driver's license. Therefore, if you want to rent a car, you can easily get a temporary driver's license by following the procedure or only rent a car with a driver.
Transportation to the Beijing city center by car
If you want to go to the Beijing city center by car, you need to use three highways (Beijing-Kaifeng G45-Beijing-Taipei G3-Beijing-Kunming G5 and Langzhuo Expressway S24), which are connected to the terminal from the eastern, central and western parts, respectively. Langzhuo Expressway S24 was built specifically to meet the transportation needs of the airport, and the highway substantially shortens the time required to reach Beijing from the airport. The time required to go from the airport to the Beijing city center, which is located 46 kilometers away, by car is approximately 1 hour.