You can expect crowds even before visiting, but the Forbidden City is so massive and impressive that they don’t really get in the way of exploring the place. That said, I’d definitely recommend getting a guide if you don’t know much about its history beforehand.I originally had no plans to hire a guide, but I forgot to book my tickets through the museum’s official website (you have to keep in mind that there’s a daily visitor limit), so I ended up going for a ticket that included a small-group tour. Our guide was a lovely lady who clearly knew her stuff and was more than happy to answer any questions the group had.Sure, you could argue that the complex would be even more interesting if it had more everyday objects on display, but as someone who’s really into ancient historical sites, most of which are little more than piles of rubble, I was more than happy with what the Forbidden City had to offer.All in all, I’d say it’s an absolute must-see for anyone visiting Beijing!