The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Shanghai

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Shanghai

Shanghai, China Shanghai, China

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Shanghai, China? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Shanghai, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Shanghai to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Shanghai, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Shanghai for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Shanghai for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Dayin - Nanjing Road & People's Square & The Bund

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $79 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Shanghai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for first time trip hotels.

Located at No 659 Ningbo Road, Huangpu District, Dayin - Nanjing Road & People's Square & The Bund has great rooms from $79 (before taxes). It offers room service, room service, a fitness center, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 2.2 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, parking, parking, city views, and city views at this relaxing hotel. The room service is especially nice after a long day. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Game room
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


View hotels on the map:

Holiday Inn Shanghai Tourism Zone by IHG

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $65 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Holiday Inn Shanghai Tourism Zone by IHG which has nice rooms starting at $65. Offering an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, room service, room service, and a casino, it also has a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at Building 62-67, 70-73, No.179, Lianmin Village,Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a casino, a restaurant, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a fitness center which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 25.8 km from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Kids' club
  • Kids' club


Atour Hotel People's Square Metro Station Shanghai Bund

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $93 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Shanghai
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Atour Hotel People's Square Metro Station Shanghai Bund to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $93. We loved that is has room service, room service, a casino, a casino, and a restaurant, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at No. 199 Beijing West Road. You'll also find a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, city views, and city views which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 1.9 km from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bicycle rental
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Jinglai Hotel Bushe - Shanghai Nanjing East Road Bund Branch

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $97 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $97, Jinglai Hotel Bushe - Shanghai Nanjing East Road Bund Branch, at No. 2 Jinling East Road, Bund Street provides room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking. It's located just 3.4 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


Cordis Shanghai Seaworld

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $76 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Shanghai
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

Cordis Shanghai Seaworld has a great guest rating of 9.50 out of 10, and offers room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $76 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 166 Bao Yang Zhi Lu, Baoshan, China. Furthermore, it also offers a fitness center, a bar, a bar, laundry services, and laundry services, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 20.7 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Shanghai Hongqiao Heyitang Hotel (Beixinjing Subway Station Branch)

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $61 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

The great guest rating of Shanghai Hongqiao Heyitang Hotel (Beixinjing Subway Station Branch) is 9.30 out of 10. This place has room service, room service, a casino, a casino, and a restaurant. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $61, and it's located at Pu Song Bei Road No. 60. We also love the a restaurant, a fitness center, a fitness center, a bar, and a bar which are great for visitors. And since it's just 7.9 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Breakfast in the room


Radisson Blu Shanghai Stadium

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $87 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Radisson Blu Shanghai Stadium because it has great rooms that start at $87. It has room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at No. 666 Tianyaoqiao Road. Only 4.8 km from the city center, travelers will especially love a fitness center, a bar, a bar, laundry services, and laundry services at this convenient hotel. Everyone loves a nice indoor pool, and the one here does not disappoint! It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool


Thompson Shanghai Expo

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $169 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Shanghai
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool

Thompson Shanghai Expo offers room service, room service, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $169 (before taxes). It's located at 1399 Shibo Avenue, Pudong New District and has earned a guest rating of 9.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a fitness center, a bar, a bar, parking, and parking which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 5.1 km from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Heated pool
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator


The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $189 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip

Located at Shanghai Center, 1376 West Nanjing Road, The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai has great rooms from $189 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.2 km from the center of town. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $713 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Shanghai
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li which has nice rooms starting at $713. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 9.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 480 West Jianguo Road, Xuhui District. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers laundry services, city views, a hot tub, a spa, and laundry facilities. It's located just 2.2 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Shanghai, Suzhou, Jiaxing, and Nantong.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Shanghai, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Shanghai, Best Luxury Hotels in Shanghai, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Shanghai, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Shanghai, Best Hotels for One Week in Shanghai, Best Hotels for One Night in Shanghai, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Shanghai, Best Adults Only Hotels in Shanghai, Best Party Hotels in Shanghai, or Best Business Hotels in Shanghai.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Shanghai?

Shanghai Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$87

Travelers to Shanghai, China will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 513 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $87. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Shanghai.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $150
  • 4-star hotels: $75
  • 3-star hotels: $54
  • 2-star hotels: $41


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