Three options, from a small boutique hotel to the one I stayed in, which is very luxurious and full of art.
Where to stay in Beijing
Stay close to the hutongs, the old lanes where people still live. You walk out of the hotel straight into the Beijing you came for, and the Forbidden City is close.
The hotels I'd pick
How long to stay
Three nights. That's enough for the Forbidden City, a full day at the Great Wall and an afternoon getting lost in the hutongs. Here is what I would do.
Next stop
From Beijing I took the high-speed train south to Hangzhou. How that train works.
Quick answers
Where is the best area to stay in Beijing?
Around the hutongs, the old lanes near Nanluoguxiang and the Drum Tower. You are close to the Forbidden City and you walk everywhere.
How many nights do you need in Beijing?
Three nights for the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the hutongs.