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How many days in Shanghai? 3 days of the Bund, skyscrapers and water towns
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Shanghai is China's largest and most international city: colonial banks on the Bund face the futuristic skyscrapers of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Three days covers the Bund and the skyline, the Shanghai Tower, the classical Yu Garden, the tree-lined streets of the former French Concession, the Shanghai Museum, and a day trip to a canal water town. It is also a great food city, famous for xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
Short answer
Two days covers the Bund, Pudong, the Yu Garden and the French Concession. The third adds a water town and the museums.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The Bund and Pudong
Morning. Walk the Bund (Waitan), a 1.5 km riverfront of 1920s-1930s banks and hotels in Art Deco and neoclassical styles, including the Peace Hotel. Walk along Nanjing Road, China's most famous shopping street.
Afternoon. Take the ferry (2 yuan) or the metro across the river to Pudong, and go up the Shanghai Tower (632 m, the world's third-tallest building), whose observation deck on the 118th floor is reached by one of the world's fastest elevators (about 180-200 yuan). Or the Oriental Pearl Tower, the pink TV tower.
Evening. Return to the Bund to see the skyline lit up (lights are usually on until around 22:00), or take a night river cruise.
The best photos of Pudong are from the Bund at dusk; the best views of the Bund are from Pudong's riverside.
Day 2: Yu Garden and the French Concession
Morning. Visit Yu Garden (Yuyuan, 16th century), a classical Ming-dynasty garden with rockeries, ponds and pavilions, and the busy bazaar around it with the Huxinting tea house on its zigzag bridge.
Afternoon. Walk the former French Concession: plane-tree-lined streets such as Wukang Road and Anfu Road, the Wukang Mansion, art deco villas, and Tianzifang and Xintiandi, old shikumen (stone-gate) lane houses converted into shops and cafés.
Evening. Have dinner in the French Concession and a drink in a bar on Yongkang Road.
Rent a shared bike via the Alipay app to explore the French Concession.
Day 3: A water town and the museums
Morning. Visit Zhujiajiao (about 1 hour by metro Line 17), a canal town with stone bridges, or Zhouzhuang and Wuzhen (farther, 1.5-2 hours). Take a boat on the canals.
Afternoon. Return to the city and visit the Shanghai Museum at People's Square (free, booking required), with excellent collections of Chinese bronzes, ceramics and calligraphy, or the new Shanghai Museum East in Pudong.
Evening. Watch an acrobatics show (ERA Intersection of Time) or have a drink on a rooftop bar with views of the Bund.
Water towns are crowded on weekends; go on weekdays and early.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Days 1 and 2.
Got extra days?
With more time, take the high-speed train to Suzhou (about 30 minutes) for its classical gardens, or Hangzhou (about 1 hour) for the West Lake.
Where to stay in Shanghai
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | People's Square / Jing'an hostels | Central, metro, cheap. | 250-450 yuan |
| Mid-range | Near the Bund / Nanjing Road | Walk to the Bund, good metro links. | 600-1,200 yuan |
| Mid-range | Former French Concession | Leafy streets, cafés, boutique hotels. | 700-1,400 yuan |
| Comfort | The Bund / Pudong luxury | Historic hotels and skyscraper hotels with views. | 1,800-5,000 yuan |
Getting around
The Shanghai Metro is the world's longest network, with English signs and cheap fares. Taxis and DiDi are affordable. From Pudong Airport (PVG), take the Maglev train (up to 300 km/h, about 8 minutes, about 50 yuan) to Longyang Road, then the metro. Hongqiao (SHA) is the domestic airport and train hub.
What to eat in Shanghai
Try xiaolongbao (soup dumplings, from places like Jia Jia Tang Bao or Din Tai Fung), shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns), hong shao rou (red-braised pork belly), hairy crab in autumn, and scallion oil noodles. A breakfast of dumplings costs 15-30 yuan; a restaurant dinner 100-300 yuan per person.
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November are best. Summer is hot, humid and rainy (the 'plum rain' in June), with typhoons possible. Winter is cool and damp (about 3-10°C). Avoid Golden Week (early October) and the Spring Festival, when crowds are huge.
Month-by-month weather for Shanghai →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | 150 yuan | 450 yuan | 1,500 yuan |
| Food & drink | 80 yuan | 220 yuan | 600 yuan |
| Sights & activities | 30 yuan | 180 yuan | 450 yuan |
| Local transport | 20 yuan | 60 yuan | 300 yuan |
| Total per person, per day | about 280 yuan | about 910 yuan | about 2,850 yuan |
Approximate 2026 prices in Chinese yuan. Mobile payments (Alipay, WeChat Pay) are used almost everywhere; link your foreign card before you travel.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Shanghai or Beijing better?
Beijing has the ancient imperial sights and the Great Wall; Shanghai is modern, cosmopolitan and great for food and architecture. They are 4.5 hours apart by high-speed train.
Is the Maglev worth it?
Yes for the experience: it reaches up to 300 km/h in about 8 minutes. You still need a metro or taxi from its city terminal.
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities can enter visa-free or with the 240-hour transit exemption. Check the latest rules for your passport.
Do I need a VPN?
Google, WhatsApp and many Western apps are blocked; a roaming eSIM from a foreign provider usually works. Download offline apps before you arrive.
Is Shanghai good for families?
Yes: Shanghai Disneyland, the aquarium, the acrobatics show and the observation decks.
Which water town is best?
Zhujiajiao is easiest (by metro); Wuzhen is the most beautiful and has a lovely night scene but is farther.
Is Shanghai safe?
Very safe. Watch for tea-house scams near Nanjing Road and the Bund.
Is Shanghai Disneyland worth visiting?
It is the largest Disney park in China, with a Chinese twist on familiar rides, including the TRON Lightcycle coaster. It is worth it for families with children; go on a weekday, as weekends and holidays are very crowded. It is about 45-60 minutes from the centre by metro.
Which observation deck is best?
The Shanghai Tower has the highest deck (118th floor), while the Shanghai World Financial Center's skywalk on the 100th floor has a glass floor. The Oriental Pearl Tower is lower but has a glass-floor walkway. The view of the Bund is the same; choose one.
What are shikumen houses?
Traditional Shanghai lane houses combining Western terraced houses with Chinese courtyards, built from the 1860s to the 1930s, with stone gate frames. Xintiandi and Tianzifang are restored examples; Jing'an and Hongkou districts still have lived-in lanes.
Can I visit Suzhou in a day?
Yes: high-speed trains take about 25-30 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao. Visit the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden (UNESCO), walk Pingjiang Road beside the canal, and return in the evening.
What is the best way to see the skyline?
Walk the Bund at dusk, then take a Huangpu River cruise (about 1 hour) or the cheap public ferry across the river. The Bund's rooftop bars give the classic view of the Pudong towers.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning Asia trips. Prices and visa rules are approximate for 2026; confirm on the official Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Museum and Chinese embassy websites before travelling.
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