Where should Istay in.
City guide · China

Where to stay in Shanghai

The Bund and People's Square are the classic first base: river views, the old Bund architecture, Nanjing Road and the main museums are walkable, with the best metro links. The Former French Concession is for plane-tree streets, cafés, small restaurants and a slower daily life, at the cost of a longer walk to the river. Lujiazui, across the Huangpu, is the skyline: modern hotels, malls and observation decks, spectacular at night but short on street-level character.

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China

Shanghai

The 20-second answer

If you’re still stuck, pick The Bund & People's Square.

Jump to an area
Typical nightly range
$90–$600
Best months
March–May · September–November
Time zone
GMT+8
Currency
CNY

Sample nightly ranges, checked quarterly. Not live quotes.

The 20-second answer

A river divides old and new Shanghai; where you sleep decides which version you wake up to.

Shanghai rewards choosing a side of the river deliberately. The west bank, Puxi, is the historic city of the Bund, the old concessions and dense neighbourhoods; the east bank, Pudong, is the planned skyline of Lujiazui. First-time visitors usually split their stay between the Bund and the Former French Concession, which are 20 minutes apart by metro. The city is enormous, but the tourist core is compact and walkable, and the metro is fast, cheap and signed in English. Book the Bund at sunrise or after 10pm rather than at midday, and give the French Concession a whole afternoon with no fixed plan.

Pick the scenario that sounds like your trip. The detail is below; the short answer is right here.

01 · First trip · classic Shanghai

The Bund & People's Square

River views, the old Bund, Nanjing Road and the main museums, all walkable.

First tripSightseeingMuseums
02 · Local life · cafés · walking

Former French Concession

Plane trees, small restaurants and the city's most pleasant streets for wandering.

Local lifeFoodWalkable
03 · Skyline · business · families

Lujiazui & Pudong

Modern hotels, big malls and observation decks, with the best views of the Bund.

LuxuryViewsFamilies

— If you’re still stuck, pick The Bund & People's Square.

The comparison

One trip. 3 ways to live it.

These are editorial scores, not survey data: our judgment of how each area behaves for a typical trip.

01

The Bund & People's Square

The river, the old banks and the most photographed skyline in China.

$90–6003–5 nights
Transit
Quiet
Nightlife
Value
Families

The upside: The Bund, Nanjing Road and People's Square on foot

The trade-off: Very crowded at sunset and on weekends

02

Former French Concession

Plane trees, cafés, lane houses and the Shanghai people actually live in.

$40–7003–5 nights
Transit
Quiet
Nightlife
Value
Families

The upside: The best streets in Shanghai for walking and eating

The trade-off: 30–40 minutes on foot to the Bund

03

Lujiazui & Pudong

Glass towers, empty boulevards and the best view of old Shanghai.

$30–7002–4 nights
Transit
Quiet
Nightlife
Value
Families

The upside: The best skyline views and observation decks

The trade-off: Little street-level character or local food

Filled dots show the stronger option.
The deep dive

Pick your base.

Each area includes the honest downside, how to move around, three nearby places to eat and a short hotel shortlist at every budget.

3 areas

01 · The Bund & People's Square3–5 nights

The Bund & People's Square

The river, the old banks and the most photographed skyline in China.

This is the postcard Shanghai: the Bund's colonial-era banks and hotels facing the Pudong towers across the Huangpu, with Nanjing Road, People's Square and Yu Garden a short walk inland. It is the best base for a first visit, because the city's main sights and the strongest metro connections are all close. The trade is that the Bund promenade is packed at sunset and the main streets are touristy; the good neighbourhood life is a few blocks back, around the side streets of Huangpu.

First tripSightseeingMuseumsBest transitFamilies
Read the full area guide

What works

  • The Bund, Nanjing Road and People's Square on foot
  • Excellent metro access at Nanjing East Road and People's Square
  • Hotels for every budget, including historic landmarks

What doesn’t

  • Very crowded at sunset and on weekends
  • Many overpriced tourist restaurants
  • Street noise and light in riverside rooms

One local move

See the Bund at sunrise, when the promenade is almost empty and the light is soft, then walk north to the Rockbund area for coffee. Come back after 10pm for the lights; skip the midday crowd entirely.

Getting around

Nanjing East Road on lines 2 and 10 and People's Square on lines 1, 2 and 8 are the main stations. The Bund itself is a 10–15 minute walk east from either. Most of the old city is walkable, but use the metro for the French Concession or Pudong; taxis are slow on Nanjing Road.

Safety

Very safe and busy late into the night. Watch for pickpockets in crowds and the classic tourist scams near Nanjing Road. The Bund promenade is well lit and policed; Riverside views after midnight are still comfortable.

The shortlist

4 picks in The Bund & People's Square

One strong pick per tier. All prices are sample ranges, not live quotes.

Luxury$350–$700

Fairmont Peace Hotel

The 1929 art deco landmark on the Bund, with the famous jazz bar and river-facing rooms. It is the most atmospheric grande dame in the city, and the price reflects both history and location.

Check availability
Mid-range$150–$280

Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre

A reliable international hotel near People's Square, with a pool and large rooms. It is not a design statement, but the location is excellent for the main sights and the metro.

Check availability
Budget$50–$110

Shanghai Fish Inn Bund

A simple budget hotel on Henan Middle Road, a short walk from the Bund and Nanjing East Road metro. Rooms are small and basic; the location is the reason to stay.

Check availability
Unique$180–$350

Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund

A design hotel on the South Bund with river-view rooms and a lively rooftop bar. It sits away from the main Bund crowds, near the old wharves, and feels more local than the grand hotels.

Check availability

Nightly ranges are sample estimates in USD for a standard double room. They move with season, events and how early you book.

Eat & drink nearby

  1. 0115 min walk

    Jia Jia Tang Bao

    Soup dumplings

    A deservedly famous soup dumpling shop near People's Square, with thin skins and hot broth. It is small, crowded and cheap; go off-peak to avoid the queue.

  2. 028 min walk

    Yang's Fry-Dumpling

    Sheng jian bao

    A Shanghai chain for pan-fried pork buns, crisp on the bottom and juicy inside. It is fast, cheap and reliable, and a good first bite in the city.

  3. 038 min walk

    Lost Heaven on the Bund

    Yunnan

    A Yunnan restaurant on the Bund with bold flavours and a dramatic room. It is more expensive than street food but a good introduction to regional Chinese cooking beyond Shanghai's sweet-savoury palate.

02 · Former French Concession3–5 nights

Former French Concession

Plane trees, cafés, lane houses and the Shanghai people actually live in.

The Former French Concession, spread across Xuhui and Jing'an, is the most pleasant part of Shanghai for walking. Plane trees shade the streets, 1920s lane houses hide cafés and boutiques, and the pace is slower than the Bund. Xintiandi is polished and touristy, but streets such as Wukang, Anfu and Wuyuan still feel residential. Stay here to eat well, wander without a plan and see how central Shanghai lives. It is a 20-minute metro ride or a 30–40 minute walk to the Bund.

Local lifeFoodWalkableQuiet nightsHistoric
Read the full area guide

What works

  • The best streets in Shanghai for walking and eating
  • Cafés, independent shops and a real neighbourhood feel
  • Central, with good metro links to both banks

What doesn’t

  • 30–40 minutes on foot to the Bund
  • Xintiandi and Tianzifang are crowded and commercial
  • Hotel prices are high for the best locations

One local move

Start at Wukang Mansion, walk west along Wukang Road, then cut north to Anfu Road and Wuyuan Road. Avoid weekends midday, when the cafés are full and photo shoots block the pavements; weekday mornings are much better.

Getting around

Lines 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12 crisscross the area; Hengshan Road, Changshu Road, Shaanxi South Road and Dapuqiao are useful stations. The streets are made for walking and cycling, but many lanes are one-way and parking is scarce. Use the metro for the Bund or Lujiazui and a taxi or DiDi after a late dinner.

Safety

Very safe and quiet at night, with more life around Huaihai Road and Xintiandi. Watch for cyclists and scooters on narrow lanes, and for bag-snatching in crowded commercial streets. At night, the residential lanes can be very dark; use main roads and ride-hailing.

The shortlist

4 picks in Former French Concession

One strong pick per tier. All prices are sample ranges, not live quotes.

Luxury$250–$500

The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi

A polished five-star attached to Xintiandi, with a good spa, a pool and easy access to the shops and restaurants. It is central and comfortable, though the immediate surroundings are more commercial than residential.

Check availability
Mid-range$150–$300

HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve at Hengshan

A neo-Chinese upscale hotel at 12 Hengshan Road, in the heart of the historic conservation area and close to Metro Line 1. It is quieter than the Xintiandi hotels and a good base for walking.

Check availability
Budget$20–$60

Blue Mountain Youth Hostel (Shanghai Luwan)

A long-running hostel near Dapuqiao, with dorms and simple private rooms. It is basic and slightly out of the prettiest lanes, but cheap, sociable and close to the metro.

Check availability
Unique$600–$1,100

Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li

An all-villa hotel in a restored 1930s shikumen lane compound, with private courtyards and very personal service. It is the quietest and most romantic stay in the city, and priced as such.

Check availability

Nightly ranges are sample estimates in USD for a standard double room. They move with season, events and how early you book.

Eat & drink nearby

  1. 015 min walk

    Wei Xiang Zhai

    Shanghai noodles

    A tiny, old-school noodle shop on Yandang Road, known for scallion oil noodles and pork cutlet. It is cheap, fast and always busy; share a table and eat quickly.

  2. 0210 min walk

    Jesse Restaurant

    Shanghainese

    A cramped, famous Shanghainese restaurant on Jinxian Road, with braised pork, yellow wine and reliable home-style cooking. Book ahead or arrive early; the room is small.

  3. 0312 min walk

    Lao Ji Shi

    Shanghainese

    A long-established family restaurant on Tianping Road, serving sweet-braised pork and other local classics. It is popular with locals and visitors; reserve for dinner.

03 · Lujiazui & Pudong2–4 nights

Lujiazui & Pudong

Glass towers, empty boulevards and the best view of old Shanghai.

Lujiazui is the financial district that grew opposite the Bund, home to the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai Tower, the World Financial Center and the city's biggest malls. It is spectacular at night and convenient for business, with modern hotels and observation decks. As a place to stay, it suits travellers who value big rooms, river views and easy taxis over street life; the blocks are wide, the pavements are empty and the nearest local restaurant may be inside a mall. The Bund is one metro stop or a 20-minute riverside walk away.

LuxuryViewsFamiliesBusinessBest transit
Read the full area guide

What works

  • The best skyline views and observation decks
  • Modern hotels with pools and large rooms
  • Quiet, planned streets and easy taxi access

What doesn’t

  • Little street-level character or local food
  • Wide roads and long walks between buildings
  • 20–30 minutes to the historic sights

One local move

Go up an observation deck late in the afternoon, stay for sunset and the lights, then walk the riverside promenade back toward the ferry. Skip the overpriced riverside dinner and eat in the ifc mall or take the metro one stop to Puxi.

Getting around

Lujiazui on line 2 is the main station, with exits directly into the malls and towers. The Bund is one stop away; Century Avenue is the interchange for lines 2, 4, 6 and 9. Walking between sights inside Lujiazui is longer than it looks. Use taxis or DiDi for the airport and for evenings across the river.

Safety

Very safe and well lit, with heavy security around the towers and malls. The main annoyance is the expense of riverside bars and restaurants. Keep an eye on belongings in the observation deck crowds and on the riverside promenade at night.

The shortlist

4 picks in Lujiazui & Pudong

One strong pick per tier. All prices are sample ranges, not live quotes.

Luxury$250–$500

Grand Hyatt Shanghai

Rooms high in the Jin Mao Tower, with dramatic views over the river and the Bund. It is a classic Shanghai skyline stay, though the decor is older than the newest towers and the lobby is on the 54th floor.

Check availability
Mid-range$120–$260

InterContinental Shanghai Pudong

A reliable upscale hotel on Zhangyang Road, with a pool and larger rooms than the riverside towers. It is a 10–15 minute walk or a short taxi from the Lujiazui waterfront, so the price is lower than a true river-view room.

Check availability
Budget$30–$70

Jinjiang Inn Shanghai Lujiazui

A simple chain hotel on Pudian Road, a few metro stops from Lujiazui. Rooms are compact and functional, with no river view; it is a practical base if you want to stay in Pudong on a budget.

Check availability
Unique$400–$800

Park Hyatt Shanghai

Occupying the upper floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center, with rooms above the clouds and one of the city's most dramatic pools. It is expensive and slightly removed from street life, but unforgettable.

Check availability

Nightly ranges are sample estimates in USD for a standard double room. They move with season, events and how early you book.

Eat & drink nearby

  1. 016 min walk

    Din Tai Fung (ifc mall)

    Taiwanese · dumplings

    A reliable branch of the Taiwanese dumpling chain in the ifc mall, with xiao long bao and English menus. It is not adventurous, but it is clean, fast and good for families.

  2. 0210 min walk

    Haidilao Hot Pot

    Hot pot

    The famous hot pot chain, with attentive service and a lively room. It is a comfortable introduction to Chinese hot pot, with English menus and staff used to foreign guests.

  3. 038 min walk

    Flair Rooftop

    Bar · views

    The rooftop bar at the Ritz-Carlton Pudong, with a terrace facing the Pearl Tower and the Bund. Drinks are expensive, but it is one of the best places in the city for a sunset view.

The practical layer

Before you book the room.

The things that change the first and last day of the trip — and the bill at check-out.

Language

Mandarin Chinese, written in simplified characters. English is limited outside hotels, cafés and the main attractions; translation apps and a screenshot of your hotel's Chinese address are useful. Younger staff in central areas often manage simple English.

01
From the airport
Shanghai has two airports. Pudong International (PVG) is the main long-haul gateway, connected by the Maglev to Longyang Road and then the metro, or by metro line 2 directly. Hongqiao (SHA) handles many domestic flights and high-speed trains, with metro lines 2, 10 and 17. A taxi or DiDi from Pudong to the Bund takes 45–60 minutes in normal traffic; the metro is cheaper but slower with luggage.
02
Late arrival
The metro's last trains run roughly between 10:30pm and 11:30pm depending on the line. A late arrival usually means a taxi or DiDi from Pudong, which is expensive but straightforward. Confirm that your hotel accepts foreign guests and has a 24-hour front desk; some small budget places close their reception overnight.
03
Taxes at check-in
China generally does not add a separate city tourist tax to hotel bills. Hotels take a deposit, register your stay with the police and require your passport. Confirm the CNY total and whether breakfast is included, especially at smaller guesthouses.
04
Safety, honestly
Shanghai is very safe, including on public transport and at night. The main risks are tourist scams around Nanjing Road and the Bund: unsolicited tea ceremonies, "art student" gallery invitations, fake massage offers and unlicensed taxis. Ignore approaches from strangers, use official taxis or DiDi and walk on when someone starts a friendly story that ends with an invitation.
Good questions

Before you book.

The questions that actually change the decision — answered directly.

01Where should I stay in Shanghai for the first time?

The Bund and People's Square for the classic sights, river views and the best metro links. The Former French Concession for cafés, small restaurants and the most pleasant walking. Lujiazui for modern hotels, skyline views and business, accepting that street life is thin. Many first-time visitors split four nights between the Bund and the French Concession.

02How do I get from Pudong Airport to central Shanghai?

The Maglev to Longyang Road is the fastest way to the metro, but it is a short ride and then a transfer. Metro line 2 runs directly from Pudong Airport to the city, cheaper but slower with luggage. A taxi or DiDi to the Bund takes 45–60 minutes in normal traffic and is the easiest option after a long flight. Check whether your flight uses Pudong or Hongqiao.

03Do I need cash or a credit card in Shanghai?

Mobile payment dominates. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an international card before you arrive if you can; both work in most shops, restaurants and taxis. Keep a small amount of cash for the rare place that does not accept mobile payment, and carry your passport for hotel check-in and ticket purchases.

04Is Shanghai safe at night?

Yes, Shanghai is very safe at night, including on the metro and around the Bund. The main issues are tourist scams, pickpocketing in dense crowds and overpriced bars. Use official taxis or DiDi, ignore unsolicited invitations from strangers and keep your bag in front of you on Nanjing Road.

Who writes this

Written by the editor, not a hotel.

Every guide follows the same method: neighbourhood first, a short hotel shortlist second, the honest trade-offs last. If something looks off, tell me — I update by hand.

How the guides are madeAsk about your trip

A note from the editor

“I’d rather tell you which area to skip than sell you another list of ‘best hotels’.”

The guides are independent. Booking links may earn a commission; they never change the shortlist.

Ask me directly
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A note from the editor

“I’d rather tell you which area to skip than sell you another list of ‘best hotels’.”

The guides are independent. Booking links may earn a commission; they never change the shortlist.

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