# Capital Museum vs Palace Museum

> Capital Museum and Palace Museum are two of Beijing's essential museums — both art museums. Here is how they compare on admission, highlights, and time needed.

## Choose Capital Museum if…
Choose Capital Museum for Bronze Nao Bell Set and Buddha Head from Wanfosi Temple — standard admission is free. Allow 2–3 hours.

## Choose Palace Museum (Forbidden City) if…
Choose Palace Museum for Hall of Supreme Harmony and Treasure Gallery — admission is 60 CNY standard admission. Allow 4–5 hours.

## Visiting both
Both are in Beijing. With 2–3 hours suggested for one and 4–5 hours for the other, combining both in a single day is ambitious — two days is more comfortable. Note closures: Capital Museum closes on Mondays; Palace Museum closes on Mondays.

- Capital Museum: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/capital-museum/
- Palace Museum (Forbidden City): https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/palace-museum-beijing/

Updated 2026-07-18. Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/compare/capital-museum-vs-palace-museum-beijing/ — World Museum Guide.