Shanghai Travel: 3-Day Itinerary, Sights, Transport and Booking Guide
Shanghai is two cities in one: the colonial riverfront on the west bank and the forest of supertall towers on the east, with a walled old city and a leafy French Concession in between. This page is the plan — what to see in three days, how to get in from either airport, and what to book before you fly.
Give Shanghai three full days: Day 1 the Bund and the Old City around Yu Garden, Day 2 the Lujiazui skyline and the French Concession, Day 3 a museum, a water town or Disneyland. From Pudong Airport, take the Maglev (about 8 minutes, ¥50) or Metro Line 2; from Hongqiao, Metro Lines 2 or 10 reach the centre in about half an hour. Check which airport you land at — Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA) are an hour apart — and stay near a metro station.
Before you book: entry, airports and timing
Three things decide whether the trip runs smoothly, and all three are settled before departure. First, entry: many nationalities can enter China visa-free for short stays, and travellers transiting onwards to a third country or region may qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy through Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao airports — but the scheme has nationality lists, port lists and permitted-area rules, so check China visa-free entry and 240-hour transit for your passport before you book. If neither scheme covers you, you need an L tourist visa in advance.
Second, the airport: Shanghai has two, and they are not interchangeable. Pudong Airport (PVG) is the main international gateway, about 30 kilometres east of the centre. Hongqiao Airport (SHA) is much closer to town and shares a complex with Hongqiao Railway Station, which matters if you arrive by high-speed rail or leave Shanghai by train. Confirm which one your ticket uses before you plan any transfer — the two airports are about 40 minutes apart on the Airport Link Line, longer by metro.
Third, connectivity and cover: sort out mobile data before landing (see China eSIM) and travel insurance before departure. Both are easier from home than from the arrivals hall.
The 3-day itinerary
This is the order that works: the riverfront and the old city first, the skyline and the concession second, and one big day out last. It assumes you sleep centrally — see where to stay below.
| Day | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 — The riverfront and the old city | The Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden and the Yuyuan Bazaar | Morning at Yu Garden, the Ming-dynasty classical garden in the old city (closed Mondays, last entry 16:00 — go early). Walk the surrounding bazaar streets for lunch, then stroll Nanjing Road to the Bund in the late afternoon and stay for the skyline lights after dark. |
| Day 2 — The skyline and the concession | Lujiazui, Shanghai Tower, French Concession | Morning across the river in Lujiazui: the Shanghai Tower observation deck on the 118th floor, then the riverside promenade. Afternoon back on the west bank in the French Concession — plane-tree streets around Wukang Road, the lane houses of Tianzifang and the bars and restaurants of Xintiandi. |
| Day 3 — Pick one big day out | Shanghai Museum East, Zhujiajiao water town, or Disneyland | One of three, not all three. The museum for ancient Chinese art (free, closed Tuesdays); Zhujiajiao for canals, stone bridges and a slower pace; Disneyland for a full theme-park day — its tickets are date-priced, so book ahead for the day you actually go. |
Take the day you skipped on Day 3 — the water town if you did the museum, or vice versa. A fourth day also absorbs a Monday closure at Yu Garden or the People's Square museum, or a rained-out Bund evening, without breaking the trip.
The sights, in the order that matters
The Bund (Waitan). The riverfront promenade on the west bank of the Huangpu, lined with colonial-era banks and trading houses facing the Pudong skyline. It costs nothing to walk, it is best at dusk when both sides light up, and it is the single view that explains Shanghai. Get there from East Nanjing Road station on Lines 2 or 10.
Yu Garden. The Ming-dynasty classical garden at the heart of the old city — halls, ponds, rockwork and winding courtyards behind a wall, surrounded by the free-to-wander Yuyuan Bazaar. Admission is ¥40 in peak season (April to June, September to November) and ¥30 off-peak, as published by the garden; it is open 9:00 to 16:30 with last entry at 16:00, and closed on Mondays except on public holidays. Go in the morning, before the tour groups fill the bazaar.
Shanghai Tower and Lujiazui. Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building at 632 metres, and its Top of Shanghai observation deck on the 118th floor sits 546 metres up, looking across Lujiazui and the whole city. Adult admission is ¥180, and the deck is open 8:30 to 22:00 with last entry at 21:30 — recheck its booking pages for your dates, since hours and timed slots change. The Oriental Pearl Tower and the riverside promenade are next door if you want the skyline from two heights.
Shanghai Museum — pick the right building. The main collection of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics and paintings is now at Shanghai Museum East in Pudong, which is closed on Tuesdays. The original People's Square building now hosts special exhibitions and is closed on Mondays. Both are free for their standing collections, open 9:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, and you need a valid ID or passport for security entry — check the museum's official site for the week's reservation rules before you go, because they vary between weekdays, weekends and holidays.
The French Concession. The leafy former concession area west of the centre, best explored on foot: plane-tree streets around Wukang Road, the converted lane houses and small shops of Tianzifang, and the rebuilt shikumen lanes of Xintiandi for dinner. No ticket, no queue — this is Shanghai at walking pace, and it pairs naturally with a Lujiazui morning.
Zhujiajiao water town. The classic day trip: canals, stone bridges and old streets about an hour west of the centre, reached on Metro Line 17. It is smaller and calmer than the old-city bazaar, and it is the right pick if you want one slow day out of the city. Go on a weekday if you can — weekends bring the crowds.
Shanghai Disneyland. A full day on its own, reached on Metro Line 11 to Disney Resort station. Tickets are priced by date, with peak days costing more, so book for the exact day you plan to go and arrive at opening — the popular rides build queues fast.
Getting there and getting around
From Pudong Airport (PVG) — Maglev or metro. The Maglev runs from the airport to Longyang Road in about 8 minutes for ¥50 one way (¥40 if you show a same-day boarding pass at the counter); from Longyang Road, transfer to Metro Line 2 into the centre. The cheaper option is Metro Line 2 direct from the airport through Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People's Square in 60 to 70 minutes for ¥7 to ¥8. Note that some Line 2 trains terminate at Guanglan Road short of the airport, so follow the signs for the Pudong Airport train, not just any Line 2 train.
From Hongqiao Airport (SHA) — the easy one. Metro Lines 2 and 10 both serve the airport and reach People's Square and Nanjing Road in about 25 to 30 minutes for ¥4 to ¥5. Hongqiao Railway Station is in the same complex, so if you arrive by high-speed rail you are already on the metro. If you need to transfer between the two airports, the Airport Link Line runs Hongqiao T2 to Pudong T1/T2 in about 40 minutes for ¥26 — roughly a third of the old metro time.
Metro first, taxi second. Metro fares start at ¥3 for short trips, and most central journeys cost ¥3 to ¥9. Line 2 is the east-west backbone and Line 10 is the sightseeing line for the old city and the French Concession; Line 11 runs to Disneyland and Line 17 to Zhujiajiao. The Metro Daduhui app shows fares and times and doubles as a QR ticket. Taxis and ride-hailing make sense late at night, with luggage, or for the last stretch to a hotel far from a station.
Onward by high-speed rail. Hongqiao Railway Station is one of China's largest high-speed hubs, with trains to Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and beyond. If Shanghai is one stop on a longer China trip, see China trains: booking, stations and what to expect before choosing between flying and taking the train for the next leg.
Where to stay
Stay central and near a metro station — that one choice saves more time than any other. People's Square and East Nanjing Road put you on Lines 1, 2, 8 and 10, within walking distance of Day 1 and a straight ride to Lujiazui. Jing'an, west of People's Square, is quieter and good for longer stays. Xintiandi in the French Concession suits travellers who want restaurants and nightlife on the doorstep. Lujiazui suits skyline-view rooms, at the cost of a river crossing for everything else. Wherever you stay, book a room with free cancellation: it doubles as the accommodation proof some visa applications still ask for, and it lets you shift dates if a timed ticket sells out.
Find a cancellable hotel near a metro station
Central, cancellable and near a station beats a bargain on the outskirts. Book the room, then build the Yu Garden and Shanghai Tower days around it — not the other way round.
Find cancellable hotels in ShanghaiWe may earn a commission if you book through this link. It does not affect what we recommend.
Practical tips that save a day
Before you fly
- Airport identified PVG or SHA — the transfer, the fare and the time are different
- Entry route settled Visa-free, 240-hour transit, or L visa — checked for your passport, not assumed
- Yu Garden timed for a morning Closed Mondays, last entry 16:00, bazaar crowds build by midday
- Museum building picked East for the main collection (closed Tuesdays), People's Square for special exhibitions (closed Mondays)
- Shanghai Tower slot booked Timed entry, popular at sunset — book ahead rather than queueing
- Data and insurance sorted eSIM before landing, insurance before departure
- Payment ready Mobile payment is the norm in Shanghai — set it up before you arrive rather than relying on cash or foreign cards alone
- Hotel cancellable Central, near a metro station, free cancellation
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
Three full days covers the essentials: the Bund and the Old City, the Lujiazui skyline and the French Concession, and one big day out — a museum, a water town or Disneyland. A fourth day lets you take a second day out without rushing either one.
Do I need a visa for a short Shanghai trip?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays, and eligible travellers transiting to a third country or region can use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy through Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao airports. Check the visa-free page for the current rules; if neither scheme covers you, apply for an L tourist visa before travel.
Which airport should I fly into, Pudong or Hongqiao?
Whichever your ticket says — Shanghai has two airports and you do not get to swap them. Pudong (PVG) is the main international gateway, reached by the Maglev or Metro Line 2. Hongqiao (SHA) is closer to the centre, served by Metro Lines 2 and 10, and sits next to Hongqiao Railway Station.
Is the Maglev worth it from Pudong Airport?
For speed, yes: about 8 minutes to Longyang Road for ¥50, or ¥40 with a same-day boarding pass, then Line 2 into the centre. For price, take Line 2 direct — ¥7 to ¥8 to People's Square, but 60 to 70 minutes. The Maglev plus metro saves roughly half an hour for about ¥45 more.
Which Shanghai Museum should I visit?
For the main collection of ancient Chinese art, go to Shanghai Museum East in Pudong — closed Tuesdays. For special exhibitions, go to the People's Square building — closed Mondays. Both are free for standing collections; check the official site for the week's reservation rules, and carry your passport for security entry.
How do I get around Shanghai?
Metro first: Line 2 runs east to west from Pudong Airport through Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People's Square to Hongqiao, and Line 10 covers the Old City and the French Concession. Fares start at ¥3 and most central journeys cost ¥3 to ¥9. Taxis and ride-hailing cover late nights, luggage and the last stretch to your hotel.
Where to confirm all of this
Entry rules change, and transport fares and museum hours change with them. The sources worth checking for your dates are the National Immigration Administration's 240-hour transit notices for the current nationality and port lists, the Shanghai Metro's own station information for airport express times and fares, the Shanghai Museum's official site for which building holds what and whether your day needs a reservation, and Yu Garden's and Shanghai Tower's official booking pages for their current prices and hours. For the rest of the trip, see China visa: everything you need and China trains.
If anything on this page conflicts with what an official source tells you for your dates, the official source is right.