Shanghai
Overview
Score
9.2/10
Budget
$70/day
Best season
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
Ratings
94
Reviews
6
Budget breakdown
Budget traveler · per day
accommodation
$30/day
food
$18/day
transport
$7/day
activities
$10/day
extras
$5/day
Scores
Best areas to stay
- • The Bund area is ideal for first-time visitors because it places you beside Shanghai’s famous skyline views while giving easy access to historic architecture, river walks, and luxury hotels.
- • French Concession is one of the city’s most atmospheric districts filled with cafés, boutique shops, bars, tree-lined streets, and a more relaxed local lifestyle that appeals strongly to digital nomads and longer stays.
- • Jing'an combines modern luxury with convenience and nightlife. The area offers shopping malls, rooftop bars, stylish restaurants, and excellent metro connections.
- • Xintiandi feels polished and upscale with renovated historic architecture, high-end restaurants, nightlife, and a more international atmosphere.
- • People’s Square works well for travelers wanting central convenience and quick access to museums, shopping streets, and transportation hubs.
Top things to do
- • Walk along The Bund at night and experience Shanghai’s famous skyline views.
- • Explore the French Concession and discover cafés, boutiques, and hidden alleyways.
- • Visit Yu Garden and nearby traditional Chinese architecture districts.
- • Try Shanghai dishes such as xiaolongbao soup dumplings and local noodle dishes.
- • Experience rooftop bars and nightlife across Jing'an and the Bund area.
- • Ride the world-class metro system and explore different neighborhoods across the city.
- • Visit modern skyscrapers such as Shanghai Tower for panoramic city views.
- • Explore local markets, tea houses, and quieter historic streets beyond the financial districts.
Why visit?
Shanghai feels like the future mixed with old-world China. The city constantly shifts between ultra-modern skyscrapers, hidden alleyways, colonial-era buildings, luxury malls, local noodle shops, rooftop bars, and quiet riverside parks. Few cities in the world feel as visually dramatic at night as Shanghai when the skyline lights up across the Huangpu River. At the same time, daily life here is highly efficient, fast-moving, and deeply urban. Travelers who enjoy big city energy, food culture, nightlife, shopping, architecture, and modern Asian city life often become obsessed with Shanghai because there is always something happening. The city also offers a softer side through historic neighborhoods, tea houses, local markets, and tree-lined streets hidden behind the skyline.
Best time to visit
Common complaints
- ! Air pollution occasionally becomes noticeable
- ! Language barriers can feel challenging for first-time visitors
- ! The city can feel overwhelming because of its size
- ! Internet restrictions affect some travelers
- ! Accommodation prices rise quickly in central districts
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