Shanghai in 3 Days
A realistic first-trip itinerary. The old city, the French Concession, the museum corridor and a day out - planned day by day, with times, prices and honest advice.
Three days is not enough to know Shanghai. It is exactly enough to want to come back. This is the itinerary we would give a friend: what is genuinely worth it, what you can skip, and how to avoid queueing for the wrong things.
How to spend 3 days in Shanghai?
Day 1: Yu Garden, the City God Temple bazaar and the Bund at night - the classic old Shanghai circuit. Day 2: the French Concession on foot in the morning, the West Bund museums in the afternoon, a drink in Xintiandi to finish. Day 3: choose one - a Zhujiajiao water town morning by Metro, a Suzhou day trip by high-speed rail, or the Lujiazui skyline across the river.
Stay in Jing'an or the Concession, pay with Alipay, and give yourself 90 minutes for the journey to Pudong airport on the way out.
The itinerary at a glance
Three days, three very different Shanghais.
| Day | Theme | Highlights | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | The Old City | Yu Garden, City God Temple, Nanjing Road | Bund waterfront at night |
| Day 2 | The Concession & the River | Wukang Road, Anfu Road, West Bund museums | Xintiandi or a rooftop bar |
| Day 3 | A day out | Zhujiajiao, Suzhou, or the Lujiazui skyline | Last dinner in Jing'an |
Before you land
Four things to sort in the two hours before your flight.
1. Buy an eSIM
Airalo, Holafly and Nomad all cover mainland China. Do this before you fly - the queue at the airport SIM counter is the wrong place to spend your first hour. Data is cheap by Western standards: expect roughly ¥100-200 for a 7-day plan.
2. Set up Alipay
Download Alipay and add your foreign card before departure: Me → Settings → Bank Cards. You will need your passport number to verify. Once it works, Alipay covers the Metro, Didi, every restaurant and most museums. WeChat Pay is the sensible backup - set it up too if you have a spare ten minutes.
3. Install Didi
The ride-hailing app works in English and accepts foreign cards through Alipay. You will use it for the airport journey with luggage and any late night. A full step-by-step is in our Didi Guide.
4. Check the weather, not a list
Shanghai weather is decisive. In summer carry water and a hat and accept the humidity; in winter bring a proper coat - the damp cold seeps through. Autumn (October and November) is the window: dry, 15-25°C, blue skies. Plan your outdoor days around the forecast, not the itinerary.
Day 1: the old city and the Bund
Land, drop the bags, walk the history. This is the Shanghai of postcards, and it earns it.
Yu Garden
A 16th-century private garden - rockeries, carp ponds, moon gates - restored and genuinely well kept. It is the one heavily touristed attraction that repays the visit. Give it an hour. Book nothing in advance; entrance is at the gate. On the way out, the Mid-Lake Pavilion Teahouse (湖心亭) is the classic spot to sit with a cup of green tea and watch the bazaar swirl around you.
City God Temple bazaar
Chaotic, crowded, full of souvenir shops, and worth a slow lap for the architecture alone. Do not buy anything from the first stall you pass - prices drift downward as you walk deeper. If you want soup dumplings, Nanxiang Steamed Bun (南翔馒头店) is here; go upstairs for the table-service version, which is markedly better than the takeaway queue below.
Nanjing Road walk
Pedestrian Nanjing Road East is touristy and energetic, but it is also the correct compass bearing: walk east and you will hit the Bund. Ten minutes of window-shopping is enough. If you need a break, the Shanghai Museum at People's Square is a short detour (free, book a slot on its WeChat mini-programme) - though Day 2 has better museum time.
Dinner
Do not travel across town for dinner on day one. If you are staying in Jing'an, Lao Ji Shi (老吉士) on Tianping Road is classic Shanghainese in a converted lane house - xiaolongbao, red-braised pork, crab-meat lion's head. In Huangpu, Jia Jia Tang Bao (佳家汤包) on Huanghe Road is the no-frills dumpling institution. Either way, order three dishes and a pot of tea. Eating well in Shanghai is a solved problem; our Dining Guide explains the QR-ordering ritual.
The Bund at night
Walk the Bund promenade from the Peace Hotel south to Yan'an Road. The colonial waterfront faces Pudong's skyline across the Huangpu, and at night it is lit like a stage set. It is touristy and it does not matter. Thirty minutes, river on your right, and the feeling that you have actually arrived. The crowds thin out after 22:00.
Day 2: the Concession and the river
The quiet Shanghai: plane trees, lane houses, good coffee and world-class museums.
French Concession walk
Start at the Wukang Mansion (武康大楼), a 1924 wedge of a building at a five-way intersection. Then walk north on Wukang Road and turn onto Anfu Road. These two streets are the quiet centre of the former French Concession - plane trees, lane-house architecture, small galleries, independent bookshops. A Manner Coffee latte is about ¥15. Go early; weekends get busy.
Lunch
Two reliable moves. For Shanghainese, Lao Ji Shi if you missed it yesterday. For something lighter, Anfu Road and Fumin Road have a dense strip of cafés and noodle shops; look for a queue of locals and join it. A proper lunch for two lands around ¥150-250.
West Bund museums
Shanghai's best museum corridor is on a former industrial riverfront. Two stops, a 15-minute riverside walk apart:
- Long Museum West Bund (龙美术馆西岸馆) - a striking concrete hall by Atelier Deshaus with rotating exhibitions of contemporary Chinese art. Tickets ¥100-200 depending on the show. Closed Mondays.
- West Bund Museum (西岸美术馆) - the Centre Pompidou's Chinese partner venue, with a strong permanent collection and rotating international shows. Closed Mondays.
Check current exhibitions before you go in our Museums & Galleries Guide. If contemporary art is not your thing, cross the river to the Power Station of Art (当代艺术博物馆) - free permanent collections and a rooftop with an unframed view of the Huangpu.
Riverside or Xintiandi
If the weather is with you, follow the Xuhui Riverside (徐汇滨江) promenade south - landscaped, flat, and full of locals running, cycling and flying kites. If you prefer a drink, take the Metro to Xintiandi (新天地): restored shikumen lane houses turned into bars and restaurants, polished but real. A cold beer outdoors on Paulaner's terrace is a fine way to finish Day 2.
Day 3: a day out
Choose one. They are different kinds of good.
Option A - Zhujiajiao water town (½ day, no train tickets)
A canal town inside Shanghai's city limits: stone bridges, tea houses, boats poled by hand, and Ming and Qing architecture that is genuinely old. Take Metro Line 17 to Zhujiajiao station (about an hour from the city centre), then a ten-minute walk to the canals. The town itself is free; only the small attractions inside charge admission. Best in the morning, before the tour groups arrive.
Option B - Suzhou, one day by high-speed rail
Classical Chinese gardens, narrow canals and an old town refined over a thousand years. The Humble Administrator's Garden is the star - book its ticket on the official WeChat platform the evening before, as same-day slots go. Trains leave Shanghai and Hongqiao stations roughly every ten minutes; ¥40-80 each way, 30 minutes. Our Train Booking Guide walks through buying tickets with a foreign passport. Walkable in a day, but start early.
Option C - The Lujiazui skyline
If a day out sounds like too much, spend the morning across the river. Take the Metro to Lujiazui, ride up the Shanghai Tower observation deck (¥180, the highest in the city) or the older, cheaper Jin Mao (¥120), then walk the Binjiang boardwalk for the classic view back towards the Bund. The Shanghai Planetarium, half an hour south on Line 16, is the best family option in the city if you are travelling with children.
Last dinner
Back in the city, one last proper meal. Julu Road (巨鹿路) between Fumin Road and Changshu Road is a dense strip of good restaurants - ramen, tacos, pasta, Thai, Sichuan. Pick the mood, not a name. If your flight is late, allow 90 minutes by taxi to Pudong (PVG) and 45 minutes to Hongqiao (SHA); the Metro is reliable but miserable with luggage.
Where to stay
Four areas, four characters. Prices are indicative market ranges for a standard double room.
| Area | Character | Best for | Indicative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jing'an (静安) | Balanced, walkable, great food strip | First-timers, couples | ¥600-1,500 |
| The Bund (外滩) | Historic waterfront, skyline views | Splurge, river views | ¥1,200-3,000 |
| French Concession (法租界) | Quiet lanes, cafés, lane houses | Return visitors, slow mornings | ¥800-1,800 |
| Lujiazui (陆家嘴) | Pudong towers, business district | Corporate trips, skyline stays | ¥1,000-2,500 |
Getting around and money
Metro
- 19 lines, ¥3-9 per ride. Tap the Alipay Transport QR code at the gate - no separate card or app needed.
- Signs and announcements are in English. Last trains run around 22:30-23:00.
- The Metro is the fastest way across town. Only take Didi for luggage, late nights and rain.
Didi
- Most city-centre rides are ¥20-50. Pay through Alipay or WeChat.
- The app has an in-chat translation feature - type English, the driver reads Chinese, and both sides see the translation.
- At the airport, follow the marked ride-hailing pickup zone and match the bay number in your app. Ignore anyone offering a "taxi" inside the terminal.
Money
- Alipay covers everything: street stalls, taxis, museums, restaurants. Set it up before you fly.
- Cash is still legal tender but increasingly rare. Keep ¥200-300 in small notes as a backup. Bank of China and ICBC ATMs accept foreign cards.
- Foreign credit cards work at international hotels and high-end restaurants. Outside that, assume mobile payment only.
Connectivity
- Your eSIM provides data everywhere. Hotel Wi-Fi sometimes asks for a Chinese phone number; if you do not have one, ask reception for a one-time access code.
Quick hacks
The details that decide a good trip.
Tap water
Do not drink from the tap. Bottled water is ¥2-5 at any FamilyMart or Lawson, and there is one on almost every block. Hotels give two free bottles a day. Restaurants serve hot tea by default; if you want cold water, say "bīng shuǐ" (冰水).
Shared bikes
Hello Bike (blue) and Meituan Bike (yellow) are everywhere. Scan the QR with Alipay - ¥1.5 per 30 minutes, no deposit. The Concession and the riverside are flat and genuinely pleasant to cycle.
Museum Mondays
Nearly every museum in Shanghai closes on Monday, including the West Bund pair. If your trip lands on a Monday, swap Day 2's museums for the planetarium, a shopping afternoon, or the long version of the Concession walk.
Tissues
Many public toilets do not stock paper. Carry a small pack. Malls, museums and hotel lobbies are the exception.
Emergency numbers
Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Fire: 119. Operators may not speak English. For medical help, private international hospitals - ParkwayHealth and Jiahui - have English-speaking staff. Full detail in our Hospital Guide.
Five phrases worth knowing
Pronunciation is optional. Showing a willingness helps.
If you have more than 3 days
Shanghai keeps its best secrets for the unhurried.
-
Add a day: the full First Weekend in Shanghai guide pairs well as a pre-trip read - more food, more lanes, more time.
-
Escape for a day: Day Trips from Shanghai - Suzhou, Hangzhou and the water towns, ranked by travel time.
-
Where to sleep: Where to Stay in Shanghai - the neighbourhoods compared, area by area.
-
Plan the whole trip: browse What to Do in China and Where to Go in China for the longer view.
Landing at night? → Airport to City Transport Guide
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Shanghai?
Three full days is the honest minimum for a first visit: one day for the old city and the Bund, one for the French Concession and the West Bund museums, and one for a water-town or Suzhou day trip. With two days you can still see the essentials if you plan carefully.
What is the best area to stay in Shanghai?
Jing'an is the most balanced base: quiet residential streets, strong Metro connections and the city's best restaurant strip within walking distance. The Bund area suits first-timers who want the skyline on their doorstep, while the French Concession rewards those who prefer cafés over crowds. Lujiazui is convenient only if your meetings are in Pudong.
Is Suzhou worth a day trip from Shanghai?
Yes. Suzhou is 30 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed rail and offers classical Chinese gardens, canals and an old town that has been refined for over a thousand years. If you would rather skip train tickets, Zhujiajiao water town is reachable by Metro Line 17 in about an hour.
Do I need cash in Shanghai?
No, but carry some. Alipay and WeChat Pay cover everything from street stalls to museums. Cash is still legal tender and useful as a backup: keep ¥200-300 in small notes for the occasional vendor who does not take mobile payment. Foreign credit cards work at international hotels and high-end restaurants only.