One day in Shanghai: the best itinerary

Shanghai's centre is compact enough to cover on foot and by metro in a day, but only if you pick a line and follow it. The route below runs west bank to east bank and back, so you are never crossing the river twice.

The Bund first. The riverside promenade in front of the old banking houses is the single best free view in the city, and it is nearly empty before 8am. By mid-morning the railings are three deep.

Yu Garden and the old town next, a short walk or one metro stop south. The classical garden itself is small and ticketed; the surrounding lanes, bazaar and snack stalls are free and busier. Allow 60–90 minutes.

Then cross to Pudong. Lujiazui is the financial district on the east bank, with the towers, the elevated circular walkway and the river views back at the Bund. This is where you see the skyline rather than stand in it.

Finish back on the Bund after dark, when the buildings on both banks are lit. If you have energy left, Nanjing Road pedestrian street runs inland from the Bund and is worth 20 minutes, not an hour.

Treat every ticket price below as a 2026 estimate and confirm on the day. Shanghai's sights adjust prices by season, and several close one day a week.

The Bund and the Pudong riverside walkway are open at all hours and free. Yu Garden and the towers charge admission and sell timed or queue-based tickets; buy through the official mini-program or counter rather than a reseller.

Museums in Shanghai are generally free or low-cost but often shut on Mondays. If a museum is your priority, build the day around it and drop one of the walking stops.

Shanghai has two airports. Pudong International (PVG) handles most long-haul flights and sits about 30 km east of the centre; Hongqiao (SHA) is closer and mostly domestic and regional. From Pudong, the maglev reaches Longyang Road metro station in about 8 minutes, then you transfer to the metro. A taxi or ride-hail to the Bund takes roughly 45–60 minutes in traffic.

From Hongqiao, metro line 2 runs straight into the centre and takes about 45 minutes. Both airports connect to the metro network, so you rarely need a car.

If you are arriving by high-speed rail from Beijing or elsewhere, you will most likely come into Hongqiao Railway Station, which is on the same metro lines as the airport.

Within the city, the metro is the fastest way to move. Buy single rides or use the metro app; Alipay and WeChat Pay both work for scanning through the gates. Set both up before you fly, because they are hard to fix at the airport.

Start early. The difference between the Bund at 7:30am and at 10am is the difference between a walk and a shuffle.

Wear shoes you can walk in. The route above is 8–12 km on pavement and metro stairs.

Carry your passport. Hotels register guests, and some sights and ticket desks ask for ID.

Check the day of the week before you commit. Monday closures and public holidays reshape the plan more than weather does.

If it rains, swap the Bund walk for the Pudong towers and the underground malls; the skyline is still visible from the observation decks.

Eat early or late. Restaurant queues in the old town and on Nanjing Road peak between 12:00 and 13:30 and again from 18:00.