Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Shanghai?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Shanghai?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Shanghai, China? Most people spend two to five days in Shanghai during their visit. After all, the professional port city will let you tour the famous sights and museums, soak up the big city atmosphere, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and go shopping.
Shanghai is a financial and economic hub in China that brings international tourists, business workers, and backpackers. At the heart of its tourist scene is the Bund, which is a waterfront promenade that has colonial and modern buildings. Shanghai is a foodie destination that has great street food as well as high end restaurants.
Do you have one or two days to visit Shanghai? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Shanghai?
One day is usually not enough time to experience the professional port city of Shanghai, so you may find yourself somewhat rushed. You don't want to miss the chance to tour the famous sights and museums, soak up the big city atmosphere, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and go shopping. You'll likely want more than one day, as many tourists set aside around two to five days for their visit. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations to make the most of your journey.
How to spend a day in Shanghai
When visiting Shanghai, you absolutely can't miss the Bund as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
The culinary scene in Shanghai is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this port city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The city's cuisine has a long history with many distinct traditional dishes. The foods incorporate a lot of soy sauce and sugar and you'll find most dishes are rice based as opposed to using wheat products. Popular local dishes include the famous Shanghai soup dumplings, steamed crab, and braised pork. The city is also famous for its snacks, which can be purchased at one of the many snack houses or street stalls.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Half-Day Bike Tour of Shanghai Old Town with Food Tasting ($85)
- Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai ($79)
- Off-beaten Route: Shanghai Old Town Discovery&Street Food Tasting ($78)
Shanghai is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the port city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's possible to explore the major tourist areas on foot but it can be very hot and humid during the summer months.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Shanghai?
Shanghai, a huge port city brimming with sights and attractions, holds immense popularity among tourists. A weekend is probably not enough. You'd feel rushed to see the main attractions of Shanghai such as the great museums and landmarks along with the terrific big city activities. To thoroughly enjoy all that the port city has to offer, you'll probably want more than just a 2 day trip. Most travelers schedule two to five days to fully experience this port city. Nevertheless, if a weekend is all you can spare, we have some suggestions for your weekend getaway to Shanghai below.
Shanghai, China
How to spend 2 days in Shanghai
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Shanghai will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the port city.
Shanghai is home to renowned museums and iconic landmarks, so dive into the port city's famous attractions. The city's historical sites rank among the most awe-inspiring globally. The city's sights mix culture with modern innovation. From the futuristic skyline and the iconic waterfront area known as the Bund, to the classic Yu Garden, there are a diversity of sights around the city. There are also museums like the Shanghai Museum, which educate visitors on Chinese culture.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Shanghai Private Tour with River Cruise, Shanghai Tower, and Lunch or Dinner ($177)
- Private Shanghai Night Tour : Shanghai Tower Observation Deck and Amazing Lights ($123)
- Shanghai day trip:Yuyuan garden,Bund,Shanghai Museum，Former French Concession ($163)
Shanghai is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Its distinct, futuristic skyline and scenic waterside strolls make this city a beautiful place to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Shanghai Private Tour: Zhujiajiao Water Town and Boat Ride ($145)
- Private Walking Tour in the Former French Concession ($95)
- Shanghai City Guided Walking Tour | China's 1st and Best Rated ($5)
The public transit in Shanghai is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the port city quite easily and affordably. There is a metro system as well as buses and taxis which are relatively affordable.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Shanghai, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.