Shanghai Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Shanghai tours, the dazzling skyline and historic Bund of China’s most cosmopolitan city, the classical Yu Garden and Old Town, the canals of Zhujiajiao water town, evening Huangpu River cruises beneath the neon towers, Shanghai Disneyland, acrobatics shows, vibrant food tours, and bullet-train day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Shanghai itinerary.
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Explore Shanghai by interest
Whatever brings you to Shanghai — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
City & Bund
Skyline and Yu Garden.
ExploreZhujiajiao
Ancient water town.
ExploreHuangpu cruise
Skyline by night.
ExploreFood tours
Dumplings and street food.
ExploreDisneyland
The magic kingdom.
ExploreAcrobatics
ERA and circus shows.
ExploreSuzhou & Hangzhou
Gardens and West Lake.
ExploreDay trips
Cities by bullet train.
ExploreTop attractions in Shanghai
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
The Bund
Skyline and history.
Zhujiajiao
Canals and bridges.
Huangpu River
Evening cruises.
Yu Garden
Classical garden.
Disneyland
The magic kingdom.
Acrobatics
ERA circus show.
Suzhou
Gardens and canals.
Old Town Food
Dumplings and snacks.
Shanghai in 3 days
- 1Day 1: City & Bund
- 2Day 2: Suzhou
- 3Day 3: Zhujiajiao
- 4City, gardens & canals
1 hr awayZhujiajiao
Canals and bridges.
30 min awaySuzhou
Gardens and canals.
1 hr awayHangzhou
West Lake beauty.
1 hr awayDisneyland
The magic kingdom.
In the city awayHuangpu Cruise
Skyline by night.
In the city awayThe Bund
Skyline and history.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Shanghai visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) bring mild, pleasant weather — the prime times to visit Shanghai for sightseeing and day trips.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mild and blossoming, ideal for the Bund, gardens and water towns; one of the best seasons.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot, humid and rainy with occasional typhoons; busy with domestic tourists but great for evening cruises.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Crisp, clear and comfortable, the most pleasant time for walking the city and taking day trips.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and grey but quieter and cheaper, with festive lights; dress warmly for sightseeing.
Avoid the holidays
Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week bring huge domestic crowds and higher prices — plan around them.
One day
The Bund, Yu Garden and a river cruise.
Two days
Add the Zhujiajiao water town.
Three days
The sweet spot: city, Suzhou and Zhujiajiao.
Four to five days
Add Hangzhou, Disneyland and more water towns.
A week or more
Use Shanghai as a base for the wider region.
Travelling with kids
Mix Disneyland, acrobatics and a river cruise.
Metro
Shanghai’s vast, modern and cheap metro is the best way to get around, with English signage reaching nearly every sight.
Tours & transfers
Private tours and transfers handle the logistics for city sightseeing, water towns and Disneyland.
Taxis & ride apps
Taxis are plentiful and metered; Didi (the local ride app) is widely used, though a payment app or cash helps.
Maglev train
The Maglev whisks you between Pudong Airport and the city at up to 430 km/h — an experience in itself.
High-speed rail
Bullet trains from Hongqiao station reach Suzhou, Hangzhou and beyond in 30–60 minutes for easy day trips.
On foot
The Bund, Old Town and French Concession are best explored on foot between metro stops.
Money & payments
China is largely cashless via Alipay and WeChat Pay, which now link to foreign cards; set these up before arrival, and carry some yuan as backup.
VPN & internet
Many Western apps and sites are blocked in China; arrange a VPN before you arrive and download maps and translation apps in advance.
Book tickets ahead
Disneyland, acrobatics shows and bullet-train day trips should be booked in advance, especially in peak season.
Carry your passport
Bring your passport for hotel check-in, attraction entry and train travel, where ID is required.
Hire a guide
A local guide helps with the language, history and logistics, making the most of a short visit.
Visa & transit
Check China’s visa rules; many visitors qualify for visa-free transit stays — confirm current eligibility before travel.
Private city tours
Guided Bund and Yu Garden tours are popular — book ahead.
Disneyland
Tickets and packages sell out in peak season — reserve early.
Acrobatics shows
The best ERA seats go fast — pre-book.
Bullet-train trips
Suzhou and Hangzhou day tours fill up — book ahead.
Evening cruises
Huangpu River cruises are busy at sunset — reserve early.
Chinese holidays
Golden Week and New Year are very busy — plan well ahead.
City tours
Around €40–90 for a guided Shanghai city and Bund tour.
River cruises
About €25–50 for an evening Huangpu River cruise.
Zhujiajiao
Roughly €40–80 for a Zhujiajiao water town half-day tour.
Bullet-train trips
Around €80–150 for a Suzhou or Hangzhou day trip.
Disneyland
About €60–90 for a Shanghai Disneyland ticket.
How to save
Use the metro, join group tours, and book combos and tickets online ahead.
Shanghai through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Mild, blossoms.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Excellent; pleasant.
- Best for
- Evening cruises.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot, humid, rainy.
- Best for
- Crisp, clear days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best; avoid Golden Week.
- Best for
- Quiet, cheaper.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold; avoid New Year.