Where to Stay in Shanghai - For First-Timers
If it’s your first time in Shanghai, you need to stay near The Bund. This is where the city’s past and future collide: colonial-era buildings with Art Deco flair stand shoulder-to-shoulder with neon-lit skyscrapers across the Huangpu River. By day, you’re dodging selfie sticks at Yuyuan Garden (10-min walk) or bargaining for silk scarves on Nanjing Road; by night, you’re sipping cocktails with a front-row seat to Pudong’s light show. The vibe is literally amazing, just like what I saw on TK: Old Hollywood meets cyberpunk—with a side of street vendors frying stinky tofu (yes, try it).
Quick Ratings:
- 📍 Location: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (walk to everything)
- 🏙️ Views: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (that skyline tho)
- 💰 Value: ⭐⭐ (you’re paying for the postcode)
- 🍜 Food: ⭐⭐⭐ (tourist traps abound—venture to side streets)
😍Hotel Picks
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund: Marble bathrooms, a lobby that smells like money, and a jazz bar that’s been cool since 1929
No. 2 Zhongshan East 1st Road
Yitel Premium (Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street): Budget-friendly with free breakfast, 5 mins to The Bund, and rooms quiet enough to mute the street chaos
No.379 Zhejiang Middle Road (4F)
Fairmont Peace Hotel: Art Deco time capsule with a rooftop that’ll make you feel like Gatsby
No.20 East Nanjing Road
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Where to Stay in Shanghai - For Transport
Zhongshan Park - Shanghai Best Area for Convenience
If you want to actually get around Shanghai without losing your mind, Zhongshan Park is the neighborhood that’ll save your sanity. This place isn’t just "convenient"; it’s the Grand Central Station of Shanghai, where Metro Lines 2 (the city’s spine), 3, and 4 collide. Translation: you’re 15 mins to Hongqiao Airport, 20 mins to Pudong Airport, and a breezy 10-minute ride to hotspots like Jing’an Temple (for hipster coffee) or The Bund (for that obligatory skyline pic). Plus, it’s got actual soul—think tree-lined streets with xiaolongbao stalls, a massive park for morning tai chi spectating, and local malls where prices haven’t been inflated for tourists. Downsides? Older buildings (grandma-heavy at dawn) and less nightlife, but who cares when you’re saving ¥40-50/day on Didis?
Quick Ratings:
- 📍 Transit: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Lines 2/3/4 = cheat code)
- 🌳 Vibe: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (parks, local eats, quite chill)
- 💰 Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (mid-range wins; luxury options exist)
- 🍜 Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
😍Hotel Picks:
- Crystal Orange Hotel: Budget-friendly with free bikes and a 24/7 snack bar—perfect for late-night metro returns.
No.789, Wuyi Road
- Atour Hotel: Scandi-minimalist rooms + free laundry (key for long stays), 3 mins from Line 2.
Building 1, No.335 xianxia Road
Pudong Airport - Shanghai Best Area For Layover
Got a 6am flight or a 12-hour layover? Skip the city and crash near Pudong Airport. Hotels here offer free shuttles (every 20 mins), soundproof windows to mute plane roars, and 24/7 check-in. Pro tip: Book one with shuttle and a spa—nothing beats a foot massage before a red-eye.
Quick Ratings:
- ✈️ Convenience: ⭐⭐⭐ (good for layover)
- 🌳 Vibe: ⭐
- 🛏️ Sleep Quality: ⭐⭐⭐ (soundproofing saves lives)
- 🍽️ Food: ⭐ (pack snacks or weep)
😍Hotel Picks:
- Yunhe Yebo Hotel: Free Disney/airport shuttles + rooms with bathtubs (rare for budget stays).
Lane 128, Qiuting Road
- Vienna Hotel Pudong Airport: Airport-facing rooms have runway views (weirdly hypnotic) and ¥10 noodle vending machines.
Building 11, No. 1226, Feng Road, Chuannan
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Where to Stay in Shanghai - For Foodies
Wujiaochang (五角场) - The Student Foodie Paradise
Wujiaochang is the spot if you want cheap, diverse, and Instagram-worthy eats—thanks to its army of hungry uni students (Fudan, Tongji, you name it). This area packs everything from Korean BBQ joints with 2-hour lines to hidden Sichuan alleys where ¥50 gets you a fiery feast.
Must-Try Eats:
- 嗲嗲的椰子鸡（百联又一城店）: Sweet Hainanese coconut chicken hot pot—light, fragrant, and perfect for post-spicy-food detox.
- 纯阳川氏bistro: Numb-your-face Sichuan dry pots and real Chongqing spice levels (ask for "laowai-friendly" if you’re spice-shy).
- 很久以前羊肉串: Xinjiang-style lamb skewers, cumin-dusted and grilled over charcoal—best paired with icy Tsingtao beer.
- 暹罗帕兰料理: Thai street food with a cult following—their mango sticky rice is illegally good.
Quick Ratings:
- 🍜 Variety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10+ cuisines in 1km radius)
- 💰 Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (student budgets rule here)
- 🌶️Spice Tolerance Test: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Sichuan, Hunan, you name it)
- 📸 Aesthetics: ⭐⭐⭐
Yunnan Road (云南南路) - Local Shanghainese Bites
For time-warped local flavors, Yunnan Road is a 120-year-old food street where ¥20 buys you legendary xiaolongbao, soy-braised pork, and caramelized fried noodles. This is not the place for fusion trends—just unapologetic, oily, glorious Shanghainese comfort food.
Must-Try Classics:
- 洪长兴: Muslim-style lamb hot pot with sesame sauce dip (since 1891—yes, it’s that old).
- 鲜得来排骨: Crispy pork chops drenched in sweet soy glaze, served on rice (¥15 = happiness).
- 小绍兴: The white-cut chicken here is so tender, it’s practically a cloud. Dip it in ginger-scallion oil.
- 五芳斋: Sticky rice dumplings (zongzi) wrapped in bamboo leaves—savory or sweet, both slap.
Quick Ratings:
- 🏮 Authenticity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (zero Westernized tweaks, just Shanghai taste)
- ⏳ Time Capsule Vibes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (wooden stools, shouting aunties)
Pro Tip: Wujiaochang for late-night eats (most spots open past midnight), Yunnan Road for breakfast/lunch (many close by 8pm). Both are metro-accessible (Line 10 for Wujiaochang, Line 8 for Yunnan Road).
✅Get a local SIM card or reliable eSIM data plan with access to X/ins/FB/TG - you'll need internet for checking metro routes, schedules, and using mobile payments!
182453 booked
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Where to Stay in Shanghai - For Families
For Disney + Wild Animal Park, book 2-3 nights in Pudong to avoid backtracking. For Yu Garden/Science Museum, Puxi saves time.
Attraction Pair | Distance | Transit Time | Best Base |
|---|---|---|---|
Disney → Wild Animal Park | 20km | 20-min taxi | Pudong |
Science Museum → Yu Garden | 8km | 20-min metro | Puxi |
Note: While Science Museum and Yu Garden aren’t walkable, they’re easily linked by Line 2 (no transfers). Pudong suits theme park-heavy itineraries, while Puxi is better for culture + city exploration.
Pudong (Disney & Wild Animal Park)
If your kids have Disney fever, Pudong is a no-brainer. Hotels here offer free shuttles to the park, themed rooms, and pools to burn off that sugar rush. Moreover, Shanghai Wild Animal Park is just 20 mins by taxi from Disney—ideal for a combined 2-day trip. The trade-off? You’re a 30-minute metro ride from downtown, but hey, Mickey-shaped waffles make up for it.
Top Picks:
- Shanghai Disneyland Hotel: Character breakfasts, early park entry, and bunk beds shaped like pirate ships.
No. 1009 Shendi West Road
- Grand Kempinski: Spacious suites with river views + an indoor pool for rainy days.
No.1288 Lujiazui Ring Road
Quick Ratings:
- 🎢 Attractions Access: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Disney, Wild Animal Park)
- 🚇 Transit to City Center: ⭐⭐ (40+ mins to Puxi)
Puxi (Yu Garden & Science Museum)
Yu Garden: Stay near People’s Square for a 10-min walk to this Ming Dynasty gem (and its dumpling-filled bazaar). Science Museum: 20 mins by Line 2 from Puxi hotels like Renaissance Yu Garden, which has kid-friendly pools.
Hotel Picks:
- Renaissance Yu Garden: Indoor pool + club lounge (parent escape zone).
No.159 He'nan South Road
- Jin Jiang Tower: Rooftop pool + 4 restaurants (picky-eater proof).
No. 161 Changle Road
Quick Ratings:
- 🏛️ Culture/Kid Activities: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (gardens, museums)
- 🍜 Food Options: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (local + international)
Where NOT to Stay in Shanghai (And Where to Stay Instead)
Source from Wikipedia
Shanghai is massive, and while most neighborhoods are safe, some areas can ruin your trip with noise, poor transport, or lack of charm. Here’s where to skip—and where to go instead.
🚨 Outskirts (Fengxian, Jinshan, Qingpu)
Why Avoid It:
- Middle of Nowhere: These suburbs are 1-2 hours from downtown.
- Zero Tourist Infrastructure: Few ATMs, English signage, or Western food.
- Only for Specific Trips: Ok if you’re visiting Disney/Formula 1 Circuit, but not otherwise.
What to Do Instead: If you’re exploring water towns (Zhujiajiao), stay IN the town itself for charm.
🚨 Hongkou District (North of the Bund)
Why Avoid It:
- Limited Attractions: Aside from 1933 Old Millfun (a photogenic ex-slaughterhouse), there’s little to do.
- Poor Metro Connectivity: Fewer subway lines, so you’ll rely on taxis.
- Local Vibes Only: Few international restaurants or English-friendly services.
What to Do Instead: Opt for Huangpu if you want Bund access without the hassle.
🚨 Shanghai Railway Station Area
Why Avoid It:
- Gritty and Noisy: Surrounding streets are crowded with budget hotels and traffic.
- Scam Alert: Touts target tourists here for overpriced tours/transfers.
- No Nightlife: Dead after 9 PM unless you love 24-hour convenience stores.
What to Do Instead: Zhongshan Park offers better transport links and safer streets.
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