Shanghai Welcome
My Trip

Shanghai Welcome

Where to Stay in Shanghai

A neighbourhood guide to choosing where to base yourself — written by people who actually live here.

Before you book

Shanghai is large, but the metro makes it small.

With more than a dozen metro lines and inexpensive rides, you can sleep in a quiet lane house and still be at the river in twenty minutes. That means the question is not “which hotel” but “which neighbourhood” — the street you step out onto matters more than the lobby.

Below we walk through the districts international travellers ask us about most, with an honest read on the feel, the transit and who each one suits. We design tours rather than book rooms, so this is advice with nothing to sell but your time well spent.

外滩沿线

The Bund & Riverside

The Bund is the postcard of Shanghai — a row of 1920s bank buildings facing the neon towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River. Staying along the water puts you within walking distance of the Old City, Yu Garden and the colonial-era promenade, with the skyline lit up beyond your window.

Where to look: Look to heritage-brand hotels in the historic buildings themselves, or the quieter Hongkou waterfront just north for a better-priced take on the same view.

The feel

Grand, historic and unmistakably Shanghai. Mornings are calm; evenings draw crowds to the riverside.

Getting around

Two metro lines meet nearby and ferries cross the river for a few yuan, so Pudong is minutes away without a car.

Best for

First-time visitors, skyline lovers and couples who want the classic Shanghai view on their doorstep.

Worth knowing

Riverside rooms command a premium, and the stretch closest to the promenade stays lively late into the night.

陆家嘴

Lujiazui, Pudong

On the east bank of the river, Lujiazui is the futuristic skyline you see from the Bund — the Oriental Pearl, the Shanghai Tower and a cluster of five-star towers. It is the city at its most vertical, and its hotels are destinations in themselves.

Where to look: The sphere of super-tall towers offers the most elevated city views in Shanghai, while nearby Zhangjiang suits longer, better-priced stays further from the core.

The feel

Sleek, modern and removed from the lane-house charm of the west bank.

Getting around

Several metro lines converge at Lujiazui station, and the river tunnels and ferries make the historic centre an easy hop across.

Best for

Business travellers, modern-city enthusiasts and families who want the aquarium, tower observation decks and big-hotel convenience.

Worth knowing

You trade street-level local life for skyline drama; on the ground it can feel like any global financial district.

人民广场 · 南京路

People's Square & Nanjing Road

The geographic heart of the city. People's Square is where the busiest metro lines cross, and Nanjing Road — one of the world's busiest shopping streets — runs east toward the river, past museums and the opera house.

Where to look: Hotels range from grand historic names near the square to practical mid-range towers along Nanjing Road — a dependable, central choice rather than a romantic one.

The feel

Central, convenient and classic, with the city's grandest civic buildings on foot.

Getting around

This is the best-connected spot in Shanghai: more metro lines meet here than anywhere else, so a car is rarely needed.

Best for

First-timers who want a central base, museum-goers and travellers who like everything a short ride away.

Worth knowing

The core is polished and busy rather than intimate; the immediate blocks can feel generic.

静安

Jing'an

Upscale and leafy, Jing'an centres on Nanjing West Road's luxury belt and a famous temple that has stood for nearly 800 years. It is where Shanghai comes to shop, dine and unwind, with tree-lined streets and a calm residential backdrop.

Where to look: Choose between landmark luxury hotels on the shopping belt or boutique addresses on the quiet lanes just off it.

The feel

Refined and liveable, with designer flagships, long-established cafes and quiet lanes.

Getting around

Cross-city metro lines run through Jing'an Temple and West Nanjing Road, putting the whole city within easy reach.

Best for

Foodies, shoppers and longer stays where you want a neighbourhood to settle into rather than just a bed near the sights.

Worth knowing

The prime blocks are polished to a high shine and priced accordingly; step a few streets back for a softer, local rhythm.

衡复历史区 · 法租界

The French Concession

The most beguiling corner of the city. Plane trees shade wide avenues, shikumen lane houses hide courtyard cafes, and the pace slows to a stroll. This is Shanghai at its most intimate — and the place many travellers remember longest.

Where to look: The reward is a restored shikumen or garden villa turned intimate hotel — the kind of stay that becomes part of the memory, not just a base.

The feel

Romantic, low-rise and green, with independent boutiques, bakeries and wine bars filling streets that still feel like a neighbourhood.

Getting around

A couple of metro lines skirt the edges; the pleasure here is walking, and a short ride reaches the centres on every side.

Best for

Couples, slow travellers and anyone drawn to architecture, cafe culture and the city's quieter, human scale.

Worth knowing

Boutique hotels here are smaller and book out early; the warren of lanes rewards a map and comfortable shoes.

新天地 · 淮海中路

Xintiandi & Huaihai Road

A polished take on heritage Shanghai: restored shikumen houses form a pedestrian dining-and-design district, with Huaihai Road — the city's most elegant shopping avenue — a few steps away.

Where to look: Heritage-faced hotels here lean design-forward; for more space and value, the streets just west blend the same elegance with a calmer edge.

The feel

Curated, design-led and social, with al fresco dining, flagship stores and gallery-like hotels.

Getting around

Multiple metro lines serve the area, and it sits a pleasant walk from the French Concession lanes and People's Square.

Best for

Dining-focused trips, design-hotel lovers and travellers who like nightlife and shopping on the doorstep.

Worth knowing

The polish comes at a price, and the experience is curated rather than spontaneous — wonderful, but not the unvarnished city.

西岸

West Bund

The city's cultural waterfront. Once industrial, the West Bund is now a ribbon of museums, art centres and riverside parkland — Long Museum, the West Bund Art Center and a growing clutch of gallery hotels.

Where to look: A small but growing set of design hotels and serviced residences lines the waterfront; book early, as inventory is still limited.

The feel

Calm, contemporary and artful, with wide promenades, fewer crowds and the skyline viewed from across the water.

Getting around

Metro lines reach the area and riverside paths connect it to Xuhui's older streets; it is a short ride from the centre.

Best for

Art lovers, peaceful stays and travellers who prefer a cultural district to a commercial one.

Worth knowing

It is newer and quieter, with fewer hotels and dining options than the central districts — a trade-off that many find refreshing.

Quick pick

The short version

DistrictBest forThe vibe
The Bund & RiversideFirst-timers, skyline & romanceGrand, historic, central
Lujiazui, PudongBusiness, families, modern-city fansSleek, vertical, convenient
People's Square & Nanjing RoadCentral base, museumsClassic, connected, busy
Jing'anFoodies, shoppers, longer staysRefined, leafy, liveable
The French ConcessionCouples, slow travel, architectureRomantic, green, intimate
Xintiandi & Huaihai RoadDining, design hotels, nightlifeCurated, cosmopolitan
West BundArt, peace, cultureCalm, contemporary, riverside

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Which area is best for first-time visitors?

The Bund & Riverside or People's Square put the classics within walking distance and sit on the best metro connections. If you prefer charm over postcards, the French Concession is the romantic choice.

Is it easy to get around without a car?

Yes. Shanghai's metro is extensive, clean and signposted in English, and rides are inexpensive. Most districts below sit on or near several lines, so a private car is a comfort rather than a necessity.

Should I stay in Pudong or the historic centre?

Stay west of the river — the Bund, French Concession, Jing'an — for character and walkable streets; choose Pudong's Lujiazui for skyline hotels and business proximity. Many travellers split a longer trip between the two.

Do you book hotels?

No. Shanghai Welcome designs private tours, day tours and transfers rather than hotel rooms. Once you have picked a neighbourhood, we can build the days around it and collect you from any hotel in the city.

Make the most of where you stay

Once you have picked a neighbourhood, let us build the days around it — and collect you from any hotel in the city.

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