• Name: Beijing Capital International Airport
• Code: PEK
• Terminals: Three
• Airlines: 81
• Services: Currency exchange, ATMs, lounges, restaurants, shopping, taxi service

Located in the Chaoyang District of greater Beijing, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is approximately 20 miles from the city center. Depending on the traffic, travel time can take anywhere from 50 minutes to an hour, and if you’re taking public transit, anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour. Always allow plenty of time to get to the airport prior to departure.

Beijing Capital Airport has three different terminals. Terminal One primarily caters to domestic flights, while Two and Three handle more international flights. Terminals One and Two are located close together and connected via a walkway for easy access, and a complimentary airport shuttle bus links Terminals Two and Three. Between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm, the shuttle runs every 10 minutes, and from 11:00 pm to 6:00 pm, it runs every 15 minutes.

The airport offers several convenient ways to get into the city center. As it’s extremely difficult for foreigners to rent cars, getting a taxi is the best option if you don’t want to take mass transit.

Taxis can be found in the arrivals area of both Terminals Two and Three. Base fare starts at ¥13 (Chinese yuan renminbi; CNY/RMB) for the first 13km, with a ¥2.30/km charge after. Passengers will also have to pay a ¥1 fuel surcharge and any road/bridge tolls.

Uber is not available in Beijing, but you can use a local app called DiDi. Getting downtown will cost around ¥84

Along with taxis, public transportation is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get from the airport to the city center. Here’s a rundown of the various options available.

Airport Express Train

Departing from Terminal Two and connecting to Terminal Three before heading into the city center, the Beijing Airport Express Train is one of the most affordable and efficient ways to get into the heart of the capital.

A one-way trip costs ¥25 and takes about 40 minutes to reach the Beijing city center. The train runs roughly every 10 minutes. After departing the airport train station, it makes stops at the Sanyuanqiao Station and Dongzhimen Station, where you can change to other subway lines running across the city. The Dongzhimen railway station puts you near top attractions, like the Palace Museum and Tiananmen Square.

Buses

Departing from all three terminals, five different bus lines offer routes throughout the city. Drive time takes around an hour, and lines run from around 5:00 am or 6:00 am to 10 pm or 11 pm. The fare is tiered depending on your destination, with a bus ticket starting at ¥20 and going up to ¥55.

If you’re catching a train to travel beyond the city limits, you can also take the bus to a Beijing railway station. The purple shuttle-bus line (Line 7) connects to the Beijing West Railway Station, which has trains to many major cities, including Hong Kong and Shanghai. The red line will take you to the Beijing South Railway Station.

The complimentary airport shuttle bus connects the airport to the nearby Hilton Beijing Airport for fast and easy access to the terminals. Some other major hotels around Beijing, like the Crowne Plaza, also offer airport shuttles. Confirm with your hotel if you’re interested in this service.

Beijing Capital Airport has four parking garages numbered 1, 2, 3, and 5. Garages 1, 2, and 5, are situated closest to Terminals One and Two, while Garage 3 is the closest to Terminal Three. Garages 1, 3, and 5 are best for temporary or overnight parking, while Garage 2 offers long-term.

Exact fees vary by garage, costing between ¥2.5 and ¥3 per 15 minutes for smaller vehicles, with a daily rate of ¥100. For larger-sized vehicles with more than 19 seats, like tour buses, parking rates are doubled.

As China doesn’t recognize the International Driver’s License and only those with a Chinese driver’s license can rent and drive a car in China, it’s not possible for most foreigners to rent a car at Beijing Capital Airport. Rental options are available, but once again, unless you have a Chinese-issued driver’s license, you cannot rent or drive a car in China. Because of this, reserving private transfers is a popular option for foreigners.