Sleeping in Beijing Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Beijing Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Beijing airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Beijing Airport

Locations & Seating

This huge airport sees more than its fair share of overnight sleepers, and airport staff generally have no issue with them. The good news is that there is plenty of seating throughout, though many benches are wooden and padded seats often have armrests. Terminal 3 is said to be the most comfortable terminal for finding a decent place to sleep.

Here are a few sleep spots that travellers have reported:

Burger King, in Terminal 3’s mezzanine level, has comfortable couches.
Other restaurants, especially closed ones, may be good spots, too.
The landside check-in halls have benches without armrests, especially near the A/B and L/K counters.

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Rest Zones

Beijing Airport offers designated themed rest zones where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight. The zones often have a few comfortable lounge chairs, carpeting, and a unique feature. Locations:

Window Lounge, Terminal 2, Gates 36-39
Brilliant Colors Lounge, Terminal 2, Gate 23
Oasis Lounge, Terminal 2, Transfer Hall, Floor 1
Digital Forest Lounge, Terminal 3, Gate C10
Tulip Lounge, Terminal 3, Gate C30

Hotels

Would you prefer privacy and comfort? If you would like a good, solid sleep between flights without the stress of going through security, in-transit sleep pods are available in Terminal 2, near Gate 31. GoSleep Pods combine a sleeping chair with a pod-like cover to block out noise and light, with under-seat security for personal belongings and in-pod chargers. Rent by the hour.

For a more traditional hotel experience, the Hourly Hotels (several locations in landside areas) rent rooms in blocks of 4-6 hours. Choose a private bed-and-bath ensuite or a single standard with a shared bathroom. Shower-only packages are also available. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Beijing Airport.

Lounges

If you are looking for a private place to nap for a few hours between flights, check out the BCAT Hourly Hotel & Lounge (Air China Business Class Lounge), open 24 hours in Terminal 3E. In addition to offering a comfortable place to hang out, they have a few private sleep rooms that can be rented. Rooms can be booked at the lounge entry. For more information on this and other lounges, check out our Beijing Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – The general consensus is that the airport is overheated during the day and very cold at night. Stay hydrated and wear layers. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about terminal noise. By day, expect to hear frequent announcements, like boarding calls and general airport information. At night, when flights stop, you would think the announcements would be put to rest, but that is not always the case. As a precaution, come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep, check out the many 24-hour food vendors:

Terminal 1: Comfort Garden, KFC, Starbucks, and Urban Food Market
Terminal 2: Acasia Deli Cafe, Costa Coffee, Du Hsiao Yueh, Grab & Fly, Heineken, Kafelaku Coffee, KFC, Lei Cafe, Malan, Qing Feng, Starbucks (2 locations), Urban Food Market, Yang Guo Fu, and Yoshinoya
Terminal 3: Ajisen Ramen, C. Straits Cafe, Celestial Cuisine, Costa Coffee (2 locations), Crystal Jade Kitchen 2 locations), Gourmet Noodle House, Lei Cafe, McDonalds, O’Leary’s, Paris Baguette, Starbucks (3 locations), Thai Express, UBC Coffee, and Zkungfu

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Locations: two free shower locations in Gate E Terminal, between the Bally and Montblanc shops and between the Ferragamo and Hugo Boss shops. There may be showers in Terminal 2, between Gates D5 and D6, for 50 RMB. A few airport lounges also offer shower facilities, as listed in our Beijing Airport Guide. Each terminal’s Baggage Claim Hall also has free dressing rooms to make changing clothes easier.

Security & Safety

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Beijing Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers begin arriving for morning flights.