Places to know
Eight to ten stops, with the neighborhood and why you would go. Hours and ticket prices change, so check them before you queue.
Landmark
The Bund
The west-bank walk facing Pudong. Come once in daylight and once after dark.
Landmark
Yu Garden
A classical garden in the old city, next to a crowded bazaar. The garden is the calm part.
Neighborhood
Nanjing Road
The main pedestrian shopping street, running toward the Bund.
Neighborhood
Former French Concession
Plane-tree streets and old houses. This is the part of the city that is good on foot.
Neighborhood
Wukang Road
A short walk of old apartment houses in the former French Concession.
Neighborhood
Tianzifang
Lane alleys of small shops in the former French Concession. Go earlier in the day if you dislike crowds.
Museum
Shanghai Museum
The city museum on People's Square. Check the entry rules before you go, because they change.
Temple
Jing'an Temple
A temple in the middle of a downtown district, beside a metro station of the same name.
Viewpoint
Lujiazui
The towers across the river from the Bund. The riverside walk is enough if you do not want to go up.
Day trip
Zhujiajiao
A canal town on the west side of the city. Treat it as a half day, not a stop between downtown sights.
Three days
A sample, not a booking. Each day stays in one part of town. Move a stop if you are tired.
Day 1
Huangpu on foot
Stay on the west bank. The sights sit close together.
- MorningThe Bund
Walk the river before the pavement fills up.
- AfternoonYu Garden
See the garden, then the bazaar around it if you still want the crowds.
- EveningNanjing Road
Walk back toward the river as the lights come on.
Day 2
Concession streets
A slower day west of the old city.
- MorningWukang Road
A short neighborhood walk. Stop when you see a cafe you like.
- AfternoonTianzifang
Lanes and shops. Leave when it feels too packed.
- EveningJing'an Temple
The temple sits in a shopping district, so dinner is easy nearby.
Day 3
Museum, then Pudong
One indoor morning, then the skyline across the river.
- MorningShanghai Museum
Give it a real morning. Confirm entry before you leave the hotel.
- AfternoonLujiazui
Cross to Pudong for the towers and the river path.
- EveningThe Bund
Back on the west bank for the night view you skipped in the morning.
Getting around
Shanghai has a large metro. Station names are shown in Chinese and English, and you can ride with a transport QR code in Alipay or WeChat, the official Metro Daduhui app, or a transport card. The city government also lists contactless bank cards at metro gates. The metro does not run all night.
DiDi is the main ride-hailing app. The Shanghai government notes that it also sits inside WeChat and Alipay, with an English language setting. Save your hotel address in Chinese for the driver.
For a first trip, group sights by side of the river. Puxi (the Bund, the old city, the former French Concession) is one set of days. Pudong is a separate hop.
Food to try
Order xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), and scallion-oil noodles. Hongshao (red-braised) dishes show up on almost every Shanghainese menu.
Breakfast can be soy milk and youtiao (fried dough sticks). Save a bigger dumpling meal for later, when you can sit down.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid. Winters are cool and damp, which is fine for museums and worse for long river walks.
Come hungry either way. The food does not depend on the season.
Stay connected
A stable, hassle-free connection, where your apps work like they do back home.* Maps, DiDi, and payments all need data the moment you land.
- Alipay. Pay in shops and taxis, and open transit codes. Set it up before you fly.
- WeChat. Messages and pay. Most people in China use it.
- Amap. Transit and walking directions. Save the hotel address in Chinese.
- DiDi. Ride hailing. It also opens inside Alipay and WeChat.
- Trip.com. Trains and hotels, alongside the official 12306 app.
A plan for this trip
Three days is a short trip. China 5GB is the one to start with: 5 GB high-speed, 30 days, $9.90. Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). Launching soon · checkout opens with the store
* How apps work depends on the network route and isn't guaranteed. Your data is routed via Hong Kong, according to our network provider. Services and networks can change.
FAQ
What is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cool and damp.
How do you get around Shanghai?
Use the metro for most hops. Station names are in Chinese and English. Use DiDi, or DiDi inside Alipay or WeChat, when the metro has stopped or the door-to-door ride is easier. Save addresses in Chinese.
Will a haalaan eSIM work in Shanghai?
Yes. Shanghai is in mainland China. Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). A 3-day trip is a good fit for the China 5GB plan.
All China city guides · China travel essentials · How much data for a China trip · Help
Beijing · Chengdu · Xi'an · Guangzhou · Shenzhen · Chongqing · Hangzhou · Guilin · Zhangjiajie