Planning a trip to Shanghai in 2026?
Who am I to gatekeep the greatness that is Shanghai? It’s a personal favourite so yes, everything you see and read here, I’ve done it and loved it. This 3-day travel guide covers exactly where to stay, the best things to do and the travel tips no one else tells you – straight from someone who’s gotten lost in the metro, cried over WeChat and walked two hours across the city at 2am on New Year’s Eve, bubble tea in hand.
Just here for the 3-day itinerary? Scroll to the bottom, no judgement.
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Where to Stay
The Bund 外滩 / Nanjing Road 南京路 — the classic choice
- Best for: First-timers, skyline obsessives, anyone who wants the postcard view
- You’re paying for location and completely worth it if you want to wake up to the Oriental Pearl Tower.
Jing’an 静安/ French Concession 法租界 — the local favourite
- Best for: Return visitors, foodies, people who want to actually live in Shanghai
- Tree-lined streets, former colonial architecture and some of the best restaurants in the city. Jing’an Temple (静安寺) is stunning, the metro hub connects you everywhere, and the neighborhood feels like Shanghai’s best-kept secret.
Lujiazui 陆家嘴 — wake up in the clouds
- Best for: Business travelers and architecture lovers
- You’re across the Huangpu River (黄浦江) from the Bund, surrounded by super-tall towers. It’s sleek, modern, and detached from old Shanghai. Luxuary lives at The Pudong Shangri-La and Park Hyatt here. Slightly closer to PVG airport.
Xintiandi 新天地 / Tianzifang 田子坊 — old meets new
- Best for: Culture-focused travelers, art lovers, people who want history without sacrificing comfort
- Tianzifang’s maze of alleys is touristy but genuinely charming. Xintiandi is more polished, more expensive and more “international.” Good middle ground if you want atmosphere and accessibility.
My Pick: First trip? The Bund (外滩) or Jing’an (静安). Second trip? French Concession (法租界) all day. Want to flex? Lujiazui (陆家嘴).
For the iconic hotels to budget hostels, you can find my Top 10 Shanghai Stays here!
10 Best Things to Do in Shanghai
- The Bund 外滩 at Night
Go at golden hour, stay for the lights. The skyline switch-on at 6pm in winter at 7pm in summer. Walk the full promenade from the Peace Hotel (和平饭店) to the ferry terminal. Lights turn off at 10pm so make sure you get there before! - Yu Garden 豫园 & Bazaar 城隍庙
Yu Garden is closed on Mondays. It’s worth the 20RMB ticket, go first thing to beat the crowds. Take photos on the iconic zigzag bridge and the street food in the surrounding bazaar is over rated but the tanghulu and matcha ice cream hits. The lantern festival here is unmatched if you time it right , you can purchase tickets here. - Tianzifang 田子坊
Narrow alleyways, art studios, traditional snacks and shops that don’t exist anywhere else. This is not a hidden gem, it’s a tourist trap. Unfortunately, still worth every second. Some of it’s overpriced, some of it’s magic — you decide which is which. - Shanghai Tower 上海中心大厦
The tall building that looks like a bottle opener. The observation deck at 118 floors is fun if you’re up for it. My personal favourite thing to do is skip the $30 ticket and head to the Douyou Bookshop on the 52nd floor for free. Not as high but sickening views at sunset. - Nanjing Road Pedetrian Street 南京路
I can’t count the amount of times I’ve walked this road. Neon signs, massive shops and fun souvenirs. It’s chaotic, it’s loud and it’s a tourist essential. So brace yourself and maybe book a walking tour for the stress free version. - Wukang Mansion 武康大楼 & Anfu Road 安福路
The iconic building that will have you dangling off the curb for a pretty photo. If you’re hungry Apolitary Bakery lives on the corner, grab a pastry and a coffee and head down Anfu road for stretch of boutiques, cafes and stylish sidewalk spots. Hit up 13Demarzo at the end of the street and turn right for Harmay if you’re a cosmetics lover. - Jing’an Temple 静安寺
Most temples in China are free, this one is 50RMB to match the theme of being dripped in gold aka expensive. But when did you last see a fully gold Buddhist temple surrounded by glass towers and shopping malls? Exactly, it’s beautiful. - Brunch in the French Concession 法租界
This is where you romantasize a slow morning and pretend you’re a local. Find a courtyard cafe on Fuxing Road (复兴路) or Yongkang Road (永康路), order an overpriced coffee, and watch the world go by. The aesthetic is unmatched because it’s actually real. - Huaihai Middle Road 淮海中路
Department stores, international brands and flagship frontiers. Pancakes for brunch and shopping after. Take the metro to South Shanxi Road to end up in the middle and the shops stretch for miles. - North Bund Waterfront Gardens 北外滩滨江绿地
Everyone fights for space on the Bund promenade but smart travelers cross to the North Bund and get the same jaw-dropping skyline view with a fraction of the crowd. Head to Manner coffee for the viral shot.
More fun ideas for activites in Shanghai can be found in my Shanghai Top 20 Activities Guide!
5 Top Travel Tips for Shanghai
- The Bund Lights Have a Schedule
Do you know how many times I’ve gotten carried away and stepped out at 10.30pm to find the skyline is just a shilloette and the photos are awful? Too many. Summer (May-Oct) 7pm – 11pm. Winter (Nov-Apr) 6pm-10pm. - Metro Rush Hour Is a Contact Sport
There are 24 million people in Shanghai. Do with that information what you will. If you’re carrying bags, wearing white, or value your personal space, avoid 8-9am and 5:30-7pm entirely. Save yourself and don’t rely on wifi for the map, grab an esim before you fly (personally recommend trip.com as you may not need a VPN to access your apps). - Pick Your Airport Wisely
Flying international? You’re landing at Pudong (浦东) east side, near the ocean. Domestic flight or bullet train? That’s Hongqiao (虹桥) west side, basically a different city. They’re an hour apart by metro and taxi drivers will laugh if you mix them up. Hack I learned too little too late: there’s an Airport Link (机场联络线) next to the Maglev that runs between the two if you’re ever in a pinch. For my first time I booked an airport pick up that allowed me to turn my brain off and get to my hotel in peace – couldn’t recommend more. - Curiousity Has a Camera
Shanghai Is the Most Diverse City in China but It’s also a massive domestic tourist destination, which means people who have never seen people like you may be fascinated and want a photo with you. Especially in tourist zones — the Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road. Lean in or shut it down — your call, but don’t let it ruin your day. - Shanghai Is Not a Walkable City
The neighbourhoods sure are though so pick a part of the city and commit for the day. The French Concession (法租界), Jing’an (静安), the Bund (外滩) — each one is a full day on foot. Try to hop between them and you’ll spend half your trip underground in metro tunnels.
Looking for the essential travel tips for China as a whole – the apps, the gadgets and everything else you’re gonna need to optimise your time? You can read my first-timer guide here.
3-Day Shanghai Itinerary
Day 1: The Bucketlist
Morning: Start at Yu Garden (豫园) and the Bazaar (城隍庙). Wander the zigzag bridge, snap the Ming Dynasty architecture and grab breakfast from the street food stalls — try shengjianbao (生煎包) (pan-fried pork buns) or cifantuan (粢饭团) (sticky rice rolls).
Afternoon: Walk Nanjing Road (南京路) from the bazaar end toward the Bund (外滩). Duck into side alleys for xiaolongbao (小笼包) (soup dumplings) at a local spot — no English menu is a good sign.
Evening: The Bund (外滩) at golden hour, stay for the 6/7pm light switch-on. Walk the full promenade from the Peace Hotel (和平饭店) to the ferry terminal. Dinner at a riverside restaurant with skyline views, then wander Wujiang Road (吴江路) for late-night street food if you’re still hungry.
Day 2: Old Meets New
Morning: Brunch in the French Concession (法租界) on Fuxing Road (复兴路) or Yongkang Road (永康路). Find a courtyard cafe, order an overpriced coffee, and watch the world go by. Then head to Wukang Mansion (武康大楼) — snap the iconic ship-shaped building, then wander down Anfu Road (安福路) for boutiques, bakeries, and that effortless Paris-meets-Shanghai energy. After that, explore Tianzifang (田子坊) — get lost in the narrow alleyways, art studios, and weird snack shops.
Afternoon: Jing’an Temple (静安寺) at dusk — the golden roof against the glass towers is something else. Then metro to Lujiazui (陆家嘴) and head up Shanghai Tower or The Oriental Pearl (上海中心大厦). If you’re on a budget skip both and head to 52nd Floor Bookshop for free.
Evening: Street food dinner on Huanghe Road (黄河路) and the alleys off it. Load up on jianbing (煎饼) (Chinese crepes), scallion pancakes (葱油饼), and whatever looks good. Between the rooftop bars and street food stalls in the alleyways, Shanghai is a city where a stomach bug or two is almost inevitable, but fear not, SafetyWing is my go to travel insurance that always has my back. Walk it off along the river or head back to the Bund (外滩) for round two of the skyline.
Day 3: The North Bund
Morning: Head to the North Bund Waterfront Gardens (北外滩滨江绿地) for a completely different angle of the skyline — fewer crowds, same iconic view. Grab a coffee at Manner Coffee (manner咖啡) then wander the landscaped gardens along the river. The photo ops hit different from this side, and the peace is the kind of Shanghai moment nobody talks about.
Afternoon: Xintiandi (新天地). Explore the shikumen (石库门) lane houses converted into boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. It’s more polished than Tianzifang but the atmosphere hits. Grab a late lunch or snack here.
Evening: Roast duck dinner at Xiao Da Dong (小大董) or Si Ji (四季) — both slap, pick whichever is closest to your hotel. . Xiao Da Dong is the more accessible, modern spin on the legendary Da Dong. Si Ji is old-school, no-nonsense, and the duck is crispy perfection.
After dinner, rooftop drinks at Flair at The Ritz-Carlton (丽思卡尔顿酒店) or The Captain (船长酒吧). Flair is 58 floors up, outdoor terrace Pudong side, whereas The Captain is lower-key, still great views, Huangpu side. One final skyline photo, then call it a night.
If you’re looking to hit all the spots in Shanghai find all my favourite tours and attractions that you can’t miss on your trip.
Where to Next? Your China City Guides
To help you decide your next Chinese adventure, I’ve written detailed guides for every city I’ve loved and hated from my very own archives. Including where to stay, the best hotels, top things to do, eat and a 3 day itinerary, check them out below.
