Shanghai Travel Guide
Things to Do in
Shanghai, China
From the futuristic Pudong skyline to hidden lane-house cafes, discover the best of Shanghai with our curated, locally-informed guide — every spot mapped and ranked for 2026.
- 30
- Ranked things to do
- 25+
- Map pins
- 3 & 5
- Day itineraries
Explore by Category
What kind of experience
are you looking for?
Attractions
Iconic landmarks and hidden gems
Food & Dining
Street eats to Michelin stars
Nightlife
Rooftop bars and speakeasies
Shopping
Markets, malls, and boutiques
Day Trips
Water towns and ancient cities
With Kids
Family-friendly adventures
Free Things
Amazing experiences at zero cost
Itineraries
3-day and 5-day plans
Every recommendation on this site comes from firsthand experience — meals eaten, neighborhoods explored on foot, and countless conversations with locals who have called Shanghai home for decades. Unlike algorithm-generated travel lists, our guide reflects the Shanghai we know: the one where the best soup dumpling shop is an unmarked door on a side street, and the most rewarding afternoon is getting intentionally lost in the French Concession.
Updated for 2026
The 30 best things to do in Shanghai, China
Ranked by a writer who has eaten, wandered and slept in Shanghai for over a decade. Practical info included so you can actually plan your day — not just window-shop ideas.
- 01
Walk the Bund
AttractionShanghai's iconic waterfront promenade. Colonial buildings on one side, Pudong skyline on the other. Free to stroll; best at golden hour.
Free forever-time | Nearest Metro: Line 2 & 10, East Nanjing Road | Allow 1–2 hrs
- 02
Ascend Shanghai Tower
AttractionWorld's second-tallest building. The 118th-floor observation deck delivers a vertigo-inducing view across the whole city.
RMB 180–220 · Open daily 08:30–22:00 · Allow 1.5 hrs
- 03
Get Lost in Yu Garden
AttractionA 16th-century classical Chinese garden tucked in the Old City. Rockeries, pavilions, koi ponds — pure Ming-dynasty serenity.
RMB 40 · Open 09:00–16:30 · Allow 1–2 hrs
- 04
Eat Xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao
FoodShanghai's signature soup dumplings. Thin-skinned, pork-filled, scalding broth inside. Tiny shop with one item on the menu.
RMB 20–60 · Seat from 10:00, queues start from 11:00
- 05
Stroll the French Concession
AttractionPlane-tree-lined streets, Art Deco apartments, the city's best cafes. Rent a bike and wander without a map.
Free · Start at Wukang Road · Allow half a day
- 06
Ride the Shanghai Maglev
TransportThe fastest commercial train on Earth — 431 km/h from Pudong Airport to the city in 8 minutes. A fun, practical ride.
RMB 50 single / RMB 30 with same-day air ticket · Every 15 min
- 07
Take a Huangpu River Night Cruise
AttractionWatch Bund and Lujiazui skylines light up from the water. Book the 19:00 onwards sailings for the full effect.
RMB 100–150 · Boats depart from Shiliupu Wharf
- 08
Shanghai Old Street & City God Temple
AttractionWinding alleys of teas, crafts and snacks around the City God Temple, next to Yu Garden.
Free entry · Streets open all day · Temple RMB 10
- 09
Ride the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
AttractionA kitschy sci-fi light tunnel under the Huangpu River. Tourist fun, best for kids and gamblers of kitsch.
RMB 50 · Rides both ways all day
- 10
Zhongshan Park Weekend Markets
ShoppingLantern markets, bubble tea and street snacks that fill landmarks from Friday afternoon.
Free · Weekends only
- 11
Eat Shengjianbao at Yang's Fried Dumplings
FoodThe gold standard for pan-fried soup dumplings. Tender, crispy, dripping with broth. Multiple locations citywide.
RMB 8 for 4 ⸏ Try the pork+ginger
- 12
Xintiandi's Shikumen Lane Houses
AttractionRestored stone-gate courtyard houses turned into stylish bars, boutiques and the site of the city's first Communist meeting.
Free · Open all day
- 13
Jing'an Temple
AttractionA Song-dynasty Buddhist temple squeezed between skyscrapers. Calm, atmospheric and worth the incense crowd.
RMB 50 · Open 07:00–17:00
- 14
Shanghai Museum (People's Square)
AttractionOne of the world's best collection of ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, calligraphy and jade.
Free (reserve) · Open Tue–Sun 09:00–17:00
- 15
Flair Rooftop, Ritz-Carlton Pudong
NightlifeHighest rooftop bar in Shanghai, on the 58th floor with sweeping skyline views over both banks.
Dress code · Book ahead · Happy hour 17:00–20:00
- 16
Speak Low Speakeasy
NightlifeA hidden bar behind a barbershop bookshelf. Regular on Asia's 50 Best Bars list.
No reservation · Go early · Take the back door
- 17
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
ShoppingShanghai's famous 5.5 km retail drag. Neon, malls, and an endless strip of shops and snacks for day or night.
Free · Busiest by early evening
- 18
Tianzifang's Hidden Alleys
ShoppingMaze of narrow lanes stuffed with artisan studios, indie boutiques and craft shops in the former French Concession.
Free · Crowded weekends · Allow 2 hrs
- 19
The Long Quan Wharf & Silos
AttractionConverted art precinct of brick silos and galleries along the water — unexpected and quietly beautiful.
Free · Open daily · Good cafe nearby
- 20
Longhua Temple
AttractionShanghai's oldest and largest Buddhist temple, a quieter counterpoint to Jing'an.
RMB 10 · Open 07:00–16:30
- 21
Yuyuan Bazaar Craft Market
ShoppingShops are souvenirs, umbrellas, tea sets and jade around the historic garden.
Free · Combine with Yu Garden
- 22
The Bund History Museum (free)
FreeA small but free museum tracing how the Bund's skyline and port were built up over 150 years.
Free · Open Tue–Sun · Allow 1 hr
- 23
M50 Art District
AttractionShanghai's creative hub of independent galleries, studios and painters in converted warehouses.
Free · Open 10:00–18:00 · Closes Mondays
- 24
Waitan North / North Bund riverside
AttractionA quiet waterfront boardwalk on the opposite bank with calm views back at the Pudong skyline.
Free · At sunset
- 25
Explore the M50 Water Town day trip
Day TripFor a half-day out of Shanghai, try Zhujiajiao or Qibao — canals, bridges and tea houses a short metro ride away.
Train/subway ~1 hr · Free entry
- 26
Trip the Longhua Pagoda Park
AttractionA peaceful Buddhist park with the famed Longhua Pagoda ringed by incense and locals.
Free · Open daily
- 27
Shanghai Grand Theatre evening
NightlifeCatch a symphony, ballet or Chinese opera in People's Square — book online, dress well.
From RMB 80 · Book ahead
- 28
Sip Coffee in the Fuxing Park lanes
FoodBrunch and third-wave coffee at slow cafes facing the plane-tree parks of the old French Concession.
Free to stroll · Cafés vary
- 29
Take in the view from Sheshan hill
Day TripShanghai's only real hill — a short rail hop out west with forest hikes and a basil church on top.
Metro Line 9 · Free
- 30
Night markets on the Old City lanes
FoodA buzzing strip of seafood stalls, dumplings and skewers that comes alive as the lanterns switch on around Yu Garden.
Dinner from around 18:00 → late
Every recommendation is firsthand — meals eaten, streets walked, tickets bought. Read how we research.
Top 5 Picks
The absolute must-dos
If you only have time for a handful of experiences, start here. These are the ones that define Shanghai.
Walk the Bund
Shanghai's iconic waterfront promenade — colonial architecture on one side, futuristic Pudong skyline on the other. Best at golden hour.
Read the guide
Ascend Shanghai Tower
The world's second-tallest building. The 118th-floor observation deck delivers a vertigo-inducing view of the entire city.
Read the guide
Get Lost in Yu Garden
A 16th-century classical Chinese garden tucked in the Old City. Rockeries, pavilions, koi ponds — pure Ming-dynasty serenity.
Read the guide
Eat Xiaolongbao
Shanghai's signature soup dumplings. Thin-skinned, juicy, scalding-hot broth inside. Din Tai Fung for polish, Jia Jia Tang Bao for the real deal.
Read the guide
Stroll the French Concession
Plane-tree-lined streets, Art Deco apartments, and the city's best cafes and boutiques. Rent a bike and wander without a map.
Read the guideWhy Shanghai
A city that defies easy description
Shanghai is not one city — it is several stacked on top of each other. In a single day you can practice tai chi with retirees in a Ming-dynasty garden at dawn, eat a three-Michelin-star lunch in a 1920s mansion at noon, and sip a cocktail on the 58th floor of a skyscraper by midnight. The city moves faster than anywhere else in China, yet its greatest pleasures are slow: a long breakfast of soup dumplings and soy milk, an afternoon wandering the French Concession's plane-tree tunnels, an evening stroll along the Bund as the Pudong skyline flickers to life.
First-time visitors often arrive expecting either Blade Runner or a communist-era relic. They leave surprised by neither — Shanghai is somehow both, and neither, all at once. The futuristic skyline is real. So are the lane houses where families have lived for four generations, hanging laundry between Art Deco facades. The city does not resolve its contradictions. It thrives on them.
Interactive Map
Find your way
All major attractions, food streets, and neighborhoods marked. Click a pin to see details, opening hours, and nearby recommendations.
Plan Your Trip
Ready-made itineraries
Day-by-day plans built by people who know Shanghai. These are battle-tested — we have handed versions of them to dozens of first-time visitors, and they work.
Cost Estimate
How much does a trip to Shanghai cost?
A realistic daily budget, per person, including accommodation, food, transport, and attractions. Figures are from our own trips — updated for 2026.
Budget
RMB 800
per day
Hostels, street food, the Metro, and free attractions. You can see nearly everything on the budget plan — you just sleep and eat simply.
Comfortable
RMB 2,000
per day
Mid-range hotels, sit-down meals, occasional taxis, and paid entry to every major site. The sweet spot for most trips.
Luxury
RMB 5,000+
per day
Best hotels, fine dining, private guides, and hassle-free transport. Zero compromises.
Full day-by-day breakdown with hotels, meals and prices: see the 3-day & 5-day itineraries.
Free & Cheap
Shanghai's best experiences cost nothing
The city's most memorable moments — dawn tai chi on the Bund, contemporary art in a converted power station — are free.
- The Bund at sunset
- French Concession wander
- Shanghai Museum
- M50 Art District
- People's Park Marriage Market
- Power Station of Art
Day Trips
Escape the city in under two hours
China's high-speed rail turns the region into your playground. Water towns, imperial gardens, misty lakes — all a short train ride away.
Suzhou
UNESCO classical gardens and canals.
Hangzhou
West Lake mist and tea plantations.
Zhujiajiao
Shanghai's closest water town.
Wuzhen
Ancient canals lit by lanterns at night.
Traveling with Kids
Shanghai is surprisingly family-friendly
Restaurants welcome children, Metro stations have family restrooms, and the city is full of world-class kid-scale adventures.
Full family guideUnder 6
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Century Park, Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
Stroller-friendly, gentle, and never overwhelming.
Ages 6+
Science & Tech Museum, Shanghai Circus World, Disneyland
Unforgettable, high-energy adventures.
FAQ
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Shanghai?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) offer pleasant weather and clear skies. Summers are hot and humid; winters are chilly but manageable. Avoid Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb) when many businesses close.
How many days do I need in Shanghai?
Three full days covers the essentials. Five days lets you explore neighborhoods, take a day trip, and discover the food scene at a relaxed pace.
Is Shanghai safe for tourists?
Yes — Shanghai is one of the safest major cities in the world. Violent crime is rare. Standard precautions apply: watch for pickpockets in crowded areas and use official taxis or ride-hailing apps.
Do I need a visa for Shanghai?
Most visitors need a Chinese visa. However, Shanghai offers a 144-hour (6-day) transit visa exemption for travelers from 53 countries who are transiting to a third country. Check current policy before booking.
What's the best way to get around Shanghai?
The Metro is clean, extensive, and cheap (RMB 3-9 per ride). Didi (Chinese Uber) is affordable and convenient. Avoid rush hour (7:30-9:00 AM and 5:00-7:00 PM).
Ready to explore Shanghai?
Start with our curated guides covering everything from first-timer essentials to off-the-beaten-path discoveries.
Trip Planner
What are you in the mood for in Shanghai?
Answer four quick questions and we'll hand you a shortlist with the map, prices, and links to our full guides.
1 · How are you traveling?
2 · How long?
3 · Budget?
4 · What matters most?
Your picks
Answer the questions, then hit Build my plan.