上海 / 3–5 days
Shanghai is best read in contrasts: lilong lanes and Art Deco facades, contemporary galleries and riverfront skylines, breakfast counters and exacting cocktail bars.
At a glance
Plan Shanghai as a set of walkable neighborhoods, not a list of skyline viewpoints. Three days cover the Bund and old city, the Former French Concession, and one contemporary art or Pudong cluster. Four or five days add deeper museum time, a water-town or Suzhou day trip, and enough unplanned space for breakfast, cafés, and evening river light.
The non-negotiables
Walk the riverfront early or near sunset, then turn inland to read the former bank buildings and side streets rather than remaining on the promenade. Cross the river only when the Pudong cluster is the next part of the plan. On hazy days, the architecture at street level is more dependable than an expensive observation deck.
Choose a focused route through plane-tree streets, lilong housing, small museums, and cafés around Xuhui or western Huangpu. The area is too large for a single vague wander. Start from one metro stop, finish at another, and remember that many lanes are residential rather than themed attractions.
Arrive near opening if you want to appreciate the garden before tour groups build. The surrounding bazaar is visually busy and commercial; give the garden itself the slower attention. Continue toward quieter old-city streets or the Bund instead of spending the whole day inside the shopping complex.
Pick a collection that matches your interest—Shanghai Museum, Power Station of Art, West Bund institutions, or another current exhibition—and check its reservation and closure day. One well-chosen institution plus its surrounding district makes a stronger day than crossing the city for three short museum stops.
Visit Lujiazui for the scale of contemporary Shanghai, but choose one viewpoint rather than every tower. A ferry ride can be more memorable and less weather-dependent than an observation deck. Pair Pudong with riverside art, a mall meal, or an evening return to the Bund so the crossing has a clear purpose.
Keep transfers under control
Day 1 — Historic center: begin at Yu Garden, walk toward the Bund through Huangpu streets, take a rest before sunset, then see the riverfront lights. Avoid adding the French Concession, which lies in another direction.
Day 2 — Former French Concession: follow one neighborhood route, stop for a local breakfast or noodle lunch, and finish around Jing'an or Xujiahui. Keep the evening flexible for a bar, performance, or simply another walk.
Day 3 — Contemporary Shanghai: choose West Bund art and river space or Pudong plus one museum. Day 4 can go deeper into food and design neighborhoods; Day 5 is best used for Suzhou, a water town, or a deliberately slow city day.
Where to base
What to taste
How to move
Arrival plan
Small choices, better days
01Group neighborhoods by side of the Huangpu to reduce backtracking.
02Start early for breakfast specialties that sell out.
Terminals and bases
Pudong Airport is the primary international gateway and sits far east of the center; Hongqiao handles many domestic flights and is integrated with a major high-speed rail station. Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Shanghai South are distinct terminals. Base near a metro line that reduces transfers to your chosen neighborhoods rather than choosing a hotel only for a skyline photo. For a late Pudong arrival, confirm the last train or use a legitimate taxi or app ride. On departure day, allow substantially more time for Pudong than for a central rail station and check which airport or station appears on the ticket.
After the sights
Use breakfast for shengjian, scallion-oil noodles, soy milk, or a simple rice roll, then plan xiaolongbao when you are not rushing to a reservation. Famous shops can have long queues; a busy neighborhood branch often gives a better first experience. The Bund is cinematic at night, the Former French Concession supports a slower dinner and cocktail route, and Jing'an offers many easy-to-navigate mall options.
Protect the trip
Shanghai works well in rain if you reduce long outdoor crossings: move a museum, covered shopping street, café cluster, or mall-based meal forward. In typhoon conditions or official weather warnings, skip river cruises, waterfront exposure, and day trips. When skyline visibility is poor, focus on Art Deco interiors, lilong streets, food, and exhibitions rather than paying for a view hidden in cloud.
Routes through Shanghai