Quick answer
- Shanghai has two airports, several big railway stations and a metro network that covers most of what visitors want to see. On a first trip, the simplest rule is: stay near Metro Line 2. It runs from Hongqiao (airport and railway station) through Jing'an Temple, Nanjing Road and the Bund area, under the river to Lujiazui, and out to Pudong Airport (Shanghai Municipal Government). This guide compares the areas that suit most first-timers.
- For airport transfers, metro payment and museums, read the Shanghai starter guide too.
The short version
| Area | Best for | Metro | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| People's Square | First trip, three metro lines, Shanghai Museum | Lines 1, 2 and 8 (Shanghai gov) | Busy, commercial |
| Nanjing Road / the Bund | Walking to the riverfront, classic views | Line 2 (also Line 1 for Nanjing Road) (Shanghai gov) | Crowds, especially on holidays |
| Jing'an | Temples, parks, shopping, cafés | Line 2, Jing'an Temple | Compare prices on the booking page |
| Xintiandi / Wukang Road area | Historic streets, dining | Line 1 (Xintiandi, Wukang Road); Line 10 (Xintiandi) | Fewer direct lines to Pudong Airport |
| Lujiazui (Pudong) | Skyline, Shanghai Museum East, quick Pudong Airport trips | Line 2 | Across the river from the old centre |
| Hongqiao | Early trains and domestic flights | Lines 2 and 10 (airport T2), Line 2 (railway station) | Far from the old centre |
Our pick for a first visit of 3–4 days: People's Square or the Nanjing Road / Bund area.
Area by area
1. People's Square: the hub
People's Square station serves Lines 1, 2 and 8. The Shanghai Museum on People's Square is at Exit 1 (Shanghai Municipal Government). Line 1 also reaches Xintiandi, Wukang Road and Xujiahui, and Line 2 reaches the Bund area and Pudong (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Getting here from Pudong Airport: Metro Line 2 costs about ¥7 and takes about an hour to People's Square. A taxi costs around ¥180 and takes about 50 minutes (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Note for 2026–2027: during the "Ancient Civilizations of the Americas" exhibition (9 July 2026 – 14 November 2027), the People's Square museum shows only that exhibition and needs an advance booking (Shanghai Museum). See our things to do and tours guide.
2. Nanjing Road and the Bund: the classic view
Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street is on Lines 1 and 2, and the Bund is on the Line 2 list of sights (Shanghai Municipal Government). The city's tourism authority recommends a Bund architecture walk that passes the Bank of China Building, the Fairmont Peace Hotel, the Customs House and the former HSBC Building (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Why stay here: you can walk to the riverfront in the evening and back to your hotel.
- Good for: short stays, photographers, first-timers.
3. Jing'an: temple, parks and West Nanjing Road
Jing'an Temple is one of the district's landmarks, with Jing'an Park beside it. West Nanjing Road is the district's commercial area, and the Suzhou Creek waterfront has galleries and bookshops in old buildings (Shanghai Municipal Government). Jing'an Temple station is on Line 2 (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Why stay here: a slightly calmer base that is still on Line 2, so both airports are one line away.
4. Xintiandi and the Wukang Road area: historic streets
The Line 1 sights list includes Wukang Road, Xintiandi, Hengshan Road and Xujiahui, and Line 10 also stops at Xintiandi (Shanghai Municipal Government). The tourism authority's Wukang Road walking route passes Wukang Building and several historic houses (Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Why stay here: tree-lined streets and plenty of restaurants.
- Trade-off: for Pudong Airport you'll usually change to Line 2.
5. Lujiazui (Pudong): skyline and Shanghai Museum East
Line 2 crosses the river to the Oriental Pearl Tower area and continues to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Century Park and Pudong Airport (Shanghai Municipal Government). Shanghai Museum East is at 1952 Century Avenue (Line 2, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum station, Exit 8). It's closed on Tuesdays (except national holidays) and individual visitors don't need to book (Shanghai Museum; Shanghai Municipal Government).
- Why stay here: views of the Bund across the river, and a straight Line 2 ride to Pudong Airport. The Maglev also runs from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road, where you change to Line 2 (Shanghai Municipal Government).
6. Hongqiao: for trains and early flights
Hongqiao Airport is about 13 km from the city centre. Terminal 2 is served by Metro Lines 2 and 10, and a taxi to the centre takes about 30 minutes and costs ¥100–150 (Shanghai Municipal Government). Hongqiao Railway Station is on Line 2 (Shanghai Municipal Government). If your high-speed train leaves from Hongqiao early in the morning, one night here can save a stressful dawn trip. Book trains with our 12306 train guide.
Changing airports? The Airport Link Line connects Hongqiao T2 and Pudong T1 & T2 in about 40 minutes. A full journey costs ¥26, trains run every 15 minutes, the first train from Hongqiao leaves at 5:45 and the last from Pudong at 22:15 (Shanghai Municipal Government).
Where to look
When you've picked an area, search inside it.
Prices, availability and cancellation terms are set by the hotel and the booking site. Read them on the booking page before you pay.
Checks before you book
- Foreign guests: official guidance says hotels must not refuse foreigners for lacking a "foreign-guest qualification" (MPS via gov.cn; MOFCOM et al.), but message small places first. The hotel registration guide explains the 24-hour rule for non-hotel stays.
- Walking time to Line 2 (or your main line): check it in Amap. See Amap vs Apple Maps.
- Payment at the desk: see using a foreign card in China and Alipay and WeChat Pay setup.
- Chinese address: save it for taxis and DiDi.
- Arrival: go through our China arrival checklist, and sort out mobile data with eSIM and internet in China.
On 240-hour visa-free transit? Check the rules in our 240-hour guide or the visa-free checker.
FAQ
What is the best area to stay in Shanghai for a first visit?
People's Square or the Nanjing Road / Bund area. Both are central and on Metro Line 2, which links both airports.
Is it better to stay in Puxi or Pudong?
Puxi (People's Square, the Bund side, Jing'an) suits most first-timers. Lujiazui in Pudong is good for skyline views and quick trips to Pudong Airport.
Where should I stay for an early train from Shanghai Hongqiao?
Near Hongqiao. The railway station and Airport Terminal 2 are both on Line 2.
How do I get from Pudong Airport to my hotel?
Metro Line 2 (about ¥7, about an hour to People's Square), the Maglev to Longyang Road and then Line 2, or a taxi (around ¥180, about 50 minutes).
Do Shanghai hotels accept foreign guests?
Official guidance says they shouldn't refuse foreigners over "qualification" rules. The hotel registers you with your passport at check-in. Message small places first to be sure.
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20240104/3b5c92d3c61a4cdc9aa65e1c970ed9a8.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20240124/f7e7a55118fc43b4aa5d191bb18253a3.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20240905/017087a65ef54c5e92a474c42ed2dd84.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20250828/e77b240fab254a3db8fbadec14645a9d.html
- Shanghai Museum — en/visit
- Shanghai Museum — service/visit west
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20231214/649e06ea38f74aaeb573fa2debbe97d3.html
- Shanghai Municipal People's Government — 20241231/f66f14bbd4b549ab88e6f3aec375790c.html
- web.archive.org — 202405/content 6952770.htm
- www.gov.cn — 202407/content 6964443.htm
Last checked 12 November 2026. Rules and app menus change; if something's outdated, let us know.
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