Free plaza vs paid interior
Many travellers search “is the Bird’s Nest free?” because the outdoor Olympic Park plaza is open without a ticket, while the stadium interior is a paid visit product.
Your goal decides the path: plaza photos only → no ticket; walk the stands / indoor routes → buy a stadium visitor ticket first and check event closures on the official site.
How to visit
- Decide plaza-only vs interior. If you only want exterior photos (especially at dusk when lights come on), skip tickets and stay in the free plaza.
- If you want the interior: open Trip.com’s National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) attraction page, pick a date, and complete English checkout with passport details when tickets are available.
- Backup if Trip has no stock: buy at the south or north on-site ticket office with your passport, or use the official 巢票 WeChat mini-program (may need WeChat).
- Before you go, check https://www.n-s.cn/ for event closures — concerts and matches often close tourist visits for one or more days.
- Metro Line 8 to Olympic Sports Center or Olympic Park; walk about 10 minutes to the stadium.
We may earn a commission if you book via Trip.com — same price to you.
Pitfalls
- Assuming the whole Nest visit is free — only the plaza/exterior is free; interior needs a ticket.
- Arriving on a concert or match day and finding tourist entry closed.
- Leaving your passport at the hotel — real-name entry uses it.
- Buying from scalpers outside the gates instead of Trip.com, the official window, or 巢票.
Verified 15 Oct 2026 CST against our live Olympic Park page, n-s.cn hours/hotline, and a live Trip.com attraction URL (ID 10559019; older 75591 redirects to 404). Prices and event closures change — confirm on the booking channel.
FAQ
Is the Bird's Nest free for foreigners?
The Olympic plaza and exterior views are free. Entering the stadium interior requires a visitor ticket for foreigners and locals alike.
Do I need a ticket for the interior?
Yes. Plaza photos do not; going inside the National Stadium does. Prefer Trip.com when listed; otherwise on-site offices or 巢票 with your passport.
What are the visiting hours?
Official site: 10:00–22:00 with last check-in at 21:00. Event days change this — check n-s.cn before you go.
How much does the interior ticket cost?
Prices depend on the product (standard visit vs combo upgrades). Our attraction page notes third-party figures around CNY 40 that we could not lock to a single official SKU; confirm live on Trip.com or at the ticket office.
Can I buy without WeChat?
Yes via Trip.com English checkout when stock exists, or at the on-site ticket offices with your passport. 巢票 is WeChat-based and is a backup, not the only path.
Official contact?
National Stadium visitor hotline 400-600-2008 (Chinese). Official site: n-s.cn.