Where to stay in Xi’an matters more than it first appears. On a map, the city can look straightforward, but once you are on the ground, the differences between areas become obvious. The crowds swell and thin around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter shifts from slow mornings to intense evenings, and the old city grid still shapes how naturally your days come together. I have stayed in several parts of Xi’an over multiple trips, and each one gave the city a different rhythm. Some made everything feel easy and walkable. Others added small but tiring transfers. A few brought the kind of calm that made evenings feel balanced after long days out.
This guide focuses on the areas that work best for first-time visitors. It is based on walking the city walls, moving between the pagodas, spending long evenings in the Muslim Quarter, and paying attention to how the city changes at different hours. That matters particularly in Xi’an because the historic core inside the City Wall is compact, while places such as the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an North Station and the Terracotta Warriors pull you in completely different directions.
My top places to stay in Xi’an
For most first-time visitors, I would stay inside Xi’an’s City Walls or very close to them. If you just want the shortlist, these are the four places I would consider first: one strong all-rounder, one atmospheric Old Xi’an stay, one excellent-value option, and one modern hotel in Qujiang.
Eastern House Xi’an
A very strong all-round base inside central Xi’an, around five minutes from the City Wall, six minutes from the Drum Tower, and seven minutes from the Bell Tower. Rooms are soundproofed, and practical extras include breakfast, self-service laundry, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk.
Why choose it: the strongest combination of location, comfort, review volume, and practical facilities for a first Xi’an stay.
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SiWai tea & house
A beautifully renovated adults-only guesthouse in a quiet lane of the Muslim Quarter, close to the Great Mosque and within easy walking distance of the Drum and Bell Towers.
Why choose it: pick SiWai if you want the hotel to feel connected to the older, more atmospheric side of Xi’an rather than like a standard city stay.
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Hantang Inn Hostel Xi’an
One of the most convincing value picks in central Xi’an, with both private rooms and hostel-style facilities, a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, social spaces, and a location that still keeps the historic centre within easy reach.
Why choose it: exceptional review strength for the price, especially if you care more about location and value than full-service hotel facilities.
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Canopy by Hilton Xi’an Qujiang
A polished, culturally inspired Hilton property in Qujiang with spacious modern rooms, strong service, dining, and immediate access to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Xi’an’s Tang-themed evening district.
Why choose it: best if you want a higher-end modern hotel and would rather stay around Qujiang than inside the historic City Walls.
Check prices & availability →My recommendation: if you do not have a specific reason to choose otherwise, start with Eastern House Xi’an. Choose SiWai for more Old Xi’an character, Hantang Inn for exceptional value, and Canopy by Hilton Xi’an Qujiang if modern comfort matters more than staying inside the historic core.
How I chose these stays: I have visited Xi’an several times and stayed in different parts of the city, so the area recommendations are based on firsthand experience of how Xi’an works on the ground. I have not personally stayed at every hotel listed here; hotel picks are based on location, facilities, value, and current verified guest feedback. Hotel recommendations last checked: September 2026. Some hotel links are affiliate links; if you book through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Area to Stay in Xi’an
Xi’an is compact inside the city walls, but the moment you step outside that rectangle, distances increase quickly. The best day trips from Xi’an, especially the Terracotta Warriors, are far enough that you want a clean departure point. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda sits in a different district with its own rhythm. The Muslim Quarter is atmospheric but busy. The city wall is a landmark that rewards proximity. And the metro, while efficient, is not something you want to rely on for every movement. If you are already leaning toward guided experiences, my guide to the best tours in Xi’an will help you decide which ones are most worth booking from each base.
Your base determines how much you walk on your first day, how early you reach the Terracotta Warriors on your second day, how calm your evenings feel, how much time you lose in transfers, and how the city feels when you step outside your hotel. The right area makes Xi’an feel straightforward. The wrong one adds friction you only notice once you are already there.
Bell Tower, Drum Tower & Muslim Quarter: Best Overall for First-Time Visitors
For most first-time visitors, this is the strongest overall area to stay in Xi’an. The Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter sit close together inside the City Wall, so I think of them as one central accommodation zone rather than separate districts. The real choice is whether you want easier transport or deeper Old Xi’an atmosphere.
- The Bell Tower and Drum Tower side is more convenient for the metro, conventional hotels, wider roads, and easier taxi or Didi pickups. It is still atmospheric, but slightly calmer than staying directly among the busiest food streets.
- The Muslim Quarter lanes are better for food, smaller guesthouses, the Great Mosque and Xi’an’s Hui heritage. I have spent long evenings wandering here, and the atmosphere changes noticeably through the day: relatively quiet in the morning, then increasingly lively toward evening.
The trade-off is convenience. Some lanes stay noisy late, and narrow streets can make luggage drop-offs or Didi pickups awkward. I would choose a quieter side lane rather than a room directly above a busy food street, and near the Bell Tower I would avoid rooms facing the main roundabout.
Whichever side you choose, this is the easiest part of Xi’an for exploring the historic centre on foot and a convenient base for joining one of the best tours in Xi’an, including early departures toward the Terracotta Warriors.
My preference: a quieter street between the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, giving you easy transport while keeping the old lanes only minutes away.
South Gate (Yongningmen): Best for a Quieter Central Stay
South Gate is still inside Xi’an’s historic core, but the atmosphere is noticeably calmer than around the Bell Tower. The streets are wider, the evening noise drops, and the area feels more residential. It is a strong choice if you want to stay inside the City Wall without being in the middle of Xi’an’s busiest crowds.
This is also one of the best places to stay if you want easy access to the Xi’an City Wall. Yongning Gate is a convenient entrance, especially if you plan to walk or cycle the wall, and the nearby metro keeps the rest of the city straightforward to reach.
I also like South Gate after long sightseeing days. Returning from the Terracotta Warriors or other excursions feels easier here than in the busiest central lanes, and you can still reach the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter without much effort. My guide to the best day trips from Xi’an compares the excursions most worth building into your stay.
The trade-off is atmosphere and food. There are fewer small restaurants immediately around your hotel than near the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, but evenings are quieter and pickups are generally easier.
My take: South Gate works best if you want the convenience of staying inside the City Wall but would rather return to a calmer street at night.
Xiaozhai & the Museum District: Best for Value & Metro Connections
Xiaozhai sits south of the City Wall, roughly between the historic centre and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda area. It feels much more modern and commercial than Bell Tower or South Gate, with shopping centres, busy streets, restaurants, and excellent public transport rather than historic atmosphere.
The main advantage is connectivity. Xiaozhai station is an interchange between Metro Lines 2 and 3, so you can head north toward the Bell Tower or east toward the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda without awkward transfers. The Shaanxi History Museum is also nearby: the museum itself lists Xiaozhai station as roughly 10 minutes away, making this one of the most practical areas if the museum is high on your Xi’an itinerary.
I would consider Xiaozhai if you want better-value accommodation, easy metro access, plenty of food nearby, and a location that splits the difference between Old Xi’an and Qujiang. It can also work well for longer stays, when having supermarkets, shopping centres and everyday conveniences nearby starts to matter more.
The trade-off is atmosphere. You are outside the City Wall and you will not step out of your hotel into the Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower streets or the old-city lanes. For a first two-night visit, I would still choose Bell Tower or South Gate. But if you are comfortable using the metro and want more hotel for your money, Xiaozhai is one of Xi’an’s strongest alternatives.
Qujiang & Big Wild Goose Pagoda: Best for Modern Hotels & Tang Evenings
Qujiang is Xi’an’s modern cultural district south of the City Wall, centred around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, parks, museums and newer hotels. It feels noticeably more spacious and polished than the historic centre, with wide pedestrian areas, cleaner streets and a calmer overall rhythm.
The biggest reason to stay here is the evening atmosphere around Datang Everbright City / Grand Tang Mall (大唐不夜城). After dark, the streets around the pagoda fill with lights, performances and Tang-inspired architecture, giving this part of Xi’an a very different energy from the Muslim Quarter.
Qujiang also works well if you prefer newer rooms, larger hotels and easy access to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise and the southern cultural sights. Families and travelers who value hotel comfort over Old Xi’an atmosphere may prefer it to staying inside the City Wall.
The trade-off is location. The Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter and City Wall are not within easy walking distance, so you will use the metro or Didi more often. If historic atmosphere is your priority, I would stay centrally instead. But if you want modern comfort and expect to spend your evenings around the pagoda and Tang district, Qujiang is an excellent base.
Xi’an North Railway Station: Only for Early or Late Trains
This area is not for sightseeing, but for efficiency. If you are arriving very late, leaving very early, or using Xi’an mainly as a high-speed rail stop between cities such as Beijing and Chengdu, staying near Xi’an North Railway Station can make sense. The hotels are modern and practical, and you avoid dragging luggage across the city at awkward hours.
For most visitors, though, there is no need to sleep near the station just because you are using high-speed rail. Metro Line 2 connects Xi’an North directly with the Bell Tower in roughly 30 minutes, so you can stay in the historic center and still reach the station easily.
I would treat this as a one-night logistics base rather than part of the Xi’an experience. If you want to actually enjoy the city, stay near the Bell Tower, South Gate, Xiaozhai or Qujiang instead.
If you are planning your rail journey in more detail, my guide to Beijing to Xi’an by train explains the route and booking options.
Areas I Wouldn’t Choose for a First Xi’an Stay
Xi’an has plenty of good hotels outside the areas above, but for a short first visit I would not spread the decision too widely. Some districts work well for specific trips, yet make much less sense if your priority is seeing the city efficiently.
Gaoxin is modern, polished, and full of business hotels, but it is too detached from the historic core for most first-time visitors. You will spend more time commuting to the City Wall, Muslim Quarter and Bell Tower without gaining much in return.
Lintong, near the Terracotta Warriors, only makes sense if you specifically want a resort-style stay, hot springs, or an unusually early start at the archaeological site. For a normal two- or three-night Xi’an visit, I would rather stay in the city and visit the Terracotta Warriors as a day trip.
The airport area is purely practical. I would only stay there for a very late arrival or very early flight. Otherwise, you are giving up almost everything that makes evenings in Xi’an worthwhile.
Before You Book a Hotel in Xi’an
A few practical details matter more in Xi’an than another half-star on a hotel rating. These are the things I would check before confirming a room.
Do not rely on the hotel name alone. Property names in China often mention several landmarks or districts, so check the actual map pin and make sure the hotel really sits in the area you want.
For a first Xi’an trip, I would usually choose a hotel within an easy walk of a useful metro station rather than save a small amount by staying farther away. This matters especially once you start moving between the City Wall, Xiaozhai and Qujiang.
Before arrival, save a screenshot of the hotel’s Chinese name and Chinese address. It is much more useful than the English name when searching in Didi, showing a driver where you are staying, or asking for directions.
Around the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter, a quieter side lane can make a big difference at night. Just check that the hotel is still reasonably easy to reach with luggage and that a taxi or Didi can stop nearby.
If your train or flight arrives late, check the reception hours before booking. Smaller guesthouses do not always operate like large international hotels, so message the property in advance if your arrival time is uncertain.
Xi’an North Railway Station and Xi’an Railway Station are different stations. Check the exact station shown on your ticket or booking confirmation rather than assuming that “Xi’an” means Xi’an North.
Book earlier around National Day / Golden Week, the Labour Day holiday and Spring Festival, when popular central hotels can fill faster and rates can rise sharply. For the wider seasonal picture and holiday timing, see my Best Time to Visit China guide.
Can Foreigners Stay in Hotels in Xi’an?
Yes. You may still see older China travel advice saying that hotels need a special “foreigner licence” or that only certain properties can accept international guests. That is outdated. In 2024, Chinese authorities instructed booking platforms and accommodation businesses not to use qualification requirements as a barrier to accepting foreign guests or publish unlawful “we do not accept foreigners” restrictions.
What still applies is accommodation registration. Hotels must record a foreign guest’s passport details and submit the accommodation information to the local public-security authorities. The National Immigration Administration reaffirmed that requirement in 2026.
In practice, I still prefer hotels with recent international reviews, clear reception hours, and an address I can save in Chinese, especially when booking a small independent guesthouse.
Best Area in Xi’an by Travel Style
Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Xi’an
These are the questions I would answer first when choosing a base for a first trip to Xi’an.
What is the best area to stay in Xi’an for first-time visitors?
For most first-time visitors, I recommend staying around the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter inside the City Wall. You can explore much of the historic centre on foot while keeping easy metro access for sights farther south.
Is it better to stay near the Bell Tower or the Muslim Quarter?
They are close enough that I consider them one central accommodation zone. Stay closer to the Bell Tower for easier metro access, wider roads and simpler taxi or Didi pickups. Stay deeper in the Muslim Quarter for food, atmosphere and smaller guesthouses, accepting a little more noise and less convenient vehicle access.
Should I stay inside or outside the Xi’an City Wall?
For a short first visit, I would usually stay inside the City Wall or around South Gate. It makes evenings around the Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter and wall much easier. Areas farther south such as Xiaozhai and Qujiang make more sense if you prioritize value, modern hotels or specific attractions over Old Xi’an atmosphere.
What is the best area in Xi’an for families?
Qujiang around the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is my preferred family option. Hotels tend to be newer, streets and pedestrian areas are spacious, and you are close to the pagoda, Tang Paradise and the evening activity around Datang Everbright City.
Where should I stay in Xi’an for cheaper hotels and good metro access?
Xiaozhai is one of the strongest alternatives to the historic centre. It has excellent metro connections, easy access to the Shaanxi History Museum, plenty of restaurants and shopping, and often better-value accommodation than the most central locations.
Should I stay near Xi’an North Railway Station?
Usually not. I would stay near Xi’an North Railway Station only for a very early departure or late arrival. Metro Line 2 connects the station directly with the Bell Tower area, so most travelers using high-speed rail can still stay in central Xi’an.
How many nights should I stay in Xi’an?
Two to three nights works well for a first visit. Two full days are enough to combine the Terracotta Warriors with the City Wall, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter and Big Wild Goose Pagoda area. Add another night if you want a slower pace or an additional day trip.
Final Thoughts: Where I Would Stay in Xi’an Again
After several visits, I keep coming back to the same conclusion: for a short first stay, I would rather be somewhere inside the City Wall than save a little money farther out. Xi’an works best when the Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter and City Wall can become part of your evenings rather than separate sightseeing stops.
Personally, I would choose a quiet street somewhere between the Bell Tower and South Gate. It keeps the old city around you without putting the busiest crowds directly outside the room. Qujiang is the exception I would make if I wanted a more comfortable hotel and planned to spend more time around the pagoda and Tang evening district.
Last Updated on 08/09/2026 by Panos
