Shanghai is split in two by the Huangpu River. On the west bank is Puxi, with the grand old bank buildings along The Bund, the shopping streets and the low-rise villa neighbourhoods, while Pudong’s skyscrapers rise on the east bank. The city is enormous, but as a visitor, you’re really choosing between a handful of areas.
Your choice decides whether you look at the skyline or stay in the middle of it, how far you are from the metro and how long the journey from the airport will be. Here are my six recommendations for where to stay in Shanghai, with hotels in three price ranges in each area.
Contents
The Best Areas in Shanghai
- The Bund - best area for first-time visitors and skyline views
- People’s Square - best area for short stays and easy transport by metro
- The former French Concession - best area for cafés, restaurants and tree-shaded walks
- Jing’an - best area for shopping and luxury hotels near Nanjing Road West
- Lujiazui - best area for skyscrapers and hotel rooms high above the city
- Shanghai Disney Resort - best area for families who’ve come for Disneyland
Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, with hotels in three price ranges. Two things are worth knowing first. The first is that you aren’t tied to the side of the river you’re staying on: the first five areas are on Metro Line 2 or a few stops from it, and the line crosses the river. The second is the airports. Hongqiao mostly handles domestic flights and regional routes within East Asia, so if you’re arriving from another continent, you’ll usually land at Pudong. According to the city’s own transport guide, the journey on Line 2 from Pudong to People’s Square takes around an hour, while Hongqiao is 13 km from the centre and is served by both Line 2 and Line 10.
1. The Bund - best area for first-time visitors and skyline views 🌃
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 2 km east of People’s Square. The pedestrianised stretch of Nanjing Road East links the two, and it’s one stop on the metro.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Lines 2 and 10 from East Nanjing Road Station, around 800 metres from the riverside promenade. A ferry across the river from East Jinling Road Ferry Pier.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around an hour on Metro Line 2 from Pudong International Airport to East Nanjing Road, which is the stop before People’s Square. From Hongqiao, both Line 2 and Line 10 run here.
- 💰 Price range: High right by the river, where several of the city’s most expensive hotels are. A couple of streets back, prices drop noticeably.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and full of people until late. Say no thanks to strangers who want to take you for tea or to a bar, and keep an eye on your bag in the crowds on the promenade.
The Bund is my first choice for a first trip to Shanghai. This is where you see the skyline from: the towers of Lujiazui stand directly across the Huangpu River, and you can walk down to the water morning and evening without paying a thing.
The city’s own guide describes The Bund as a 1.5 km stretch of waterfront and a protected historical district. Along it are 52 buildings in styles including Gothic and Baroque, which once housed Shanghai’s banks and trading houses. In the evening, the facades are lit up, and that’s when the promenade is at its busiest.
See hotels near The Bund here.
Behind the facades, Nanjing Road East begins. It’s pedestrianised up towards People’s Square, with shops and places to eat all the way. East Nanjing Road Station is in the middle of the street. From here, it’s one stop on Line 2 to Lujiazui on the other side of the river and one stop in the other direction to People’s Square.
You can also cross by boat. The ferry from East Jinling Road Ferry Pier at the southern end of the promenade sails to Dongchang Road in Pudong, costs 2 yuan for foot passengers and gives you a view of the Lujiazui skyline on the way. Check the sailing times first, because it doesn’t run late in the evening.
From The Bund, you can walk to the Yu Garden area, which is just under one and a half kilometres to the south. The classical garden from the Ming dynasty and the bazaar around it are always busy, so get there early.
The price you pay for the location is the crowds. The promenade and the pedestrian street are packed at weekends and on Chinese public holidays, and the hotels with river views are among the most expensive in the city. Stay a couple of streets back if you want the location without the bill.
Places to Stay near The Bund
Fairmont Peace Hotel on the Bund - the art deco classic where Nanjing Road meets The Bund
Fairmont Peace Hotel is on Nanjing Road East, a few steps from the promenade, and it’s the hotel for the grand Shanghai experience. The rooms start at 45 m², and guests single out the art deco interiors. There’s an indoor pool, a spa, a gym, several restaurants and a bar with live music.
It’s my suggestion for a special occasion or for anyone who wants to stay in the middle of the postcard view. You only get a river view in selected categories, so read the room description before you book. The price is high, and one guest was disappointed that breakfast wasn’t included in it.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Absolutely superb facilities and the loveliest staff, with no exceptions. Food is top notch.”
See photos and book Fairmont Peace Hotel on the Bund here.
The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai - five-star chain hotel with a pool between The Bund and Yu Garden
The Westin Bund Center is on Henan Road, a couple of streets behind the promenade, around 500 metres from Yuyuan Garden Station and 700 metres from East Nanjing Road Station. The rooms measure 32 to 44 m², and a few categories have views towards The Bund or the Oriental Pearl Tower. The hotel has an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and several restaurants.
You get five stars and plenty of space at a price that’s usually well below the hotels right down by the water. It suits couples and families who want to be able to walk to the promenade, the pedestrian street and the Yu Garden area. One guest finds the minibar expensive, and another didn’t find the pool area particularly inviting.
One guest highlights the location on Booking.com: “The location was very good, easy to walk to all attractions.”
See photos and book The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai here.
Metropolo Xin Cheng Hotel - good-value hotel just under 500 metres from East Nanjing Road Station
Metropolo Xin Cheng Hotel is my budget suggestion near The Bund. It’s on Jiangxi Road, just under 500 metres from East Nanjing Road Station and around 500 metres from Fairmont Peace Hotel down by the promenade. The standard rooms measure 20 to 30 m², and the hotel has a restaurant and a gym.
Choose it if you want to stay centrally and spend your money on the city rather than the hotel. There’s neither a pool nor a spa, and one guest missed having a bar. The reviews are more mixed than for the other two hotels: a few guests mention fluctuating water temperature in the shower and poor Wi-Fi.
Here’s what one guest says on Booking.com: “Very clean, nice staff. Big room and great bathroom.”
See photos and book Metropolo Xin Cheng Hotel here.
2. People’s Square - best area for short stays and easy transport by metro 🚇
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the centre of the city. The Bund is around 2 km to the east and Xintiandi just over a kilometre to the south.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8 meet at People’s Square Station, right beneath the square.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Around an hour on Metro Line 2 from Pudong Airport, according to the city’s transport guide. A taxi takes around 50 minutes.
- 💰 Price range: Wide. There are both large international hotels at the expensive end and simple, low-priced hotels around the pedestrian street.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but very busy. Around the square and the pedestrian street, tourists are often approached by strangers suggesting tea, a bar or a massage. Say no thanks and walk on.
People’s Square is the practical choice. Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8 meet beneath the square, so you can ride directly to The Bund, Jing’an, Lujiazui and the former French Concession. If you have a lot to see in a few days, staying here saves you time every single day.
The city’s guide explains that People’s Square was a horse racing track before 1949 and was later turned into a garden-style square in the middle of Huangpu District. Around it are the Shanghai Museum, the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and the Shanghai History Museum. Check opening days and ticket rules with the museums themselves before you go.
See hotels near People’s Square here.
From the square, the pedestrianised Nanjing Road East runs towards The Bund. Allow half an hour on foot if you don’t let the shops tempt you, and take the metro one stop back again. To the west, the street continues as Nanjing Road West towards Jing’an.
The hotels are clustered around the square, and several of them are tall towers where the top floors look out over the park and the city. On the other hand, the area isn’t Shanghai’s most charming. There are wide roads, shopping centres and lots of people, and in the evening there’s more atmosphere by the river or in the former French Concession.
I’d choose People’s Square for two or three nights, or for the first and last night of a longer trip around China, when easy transport matters most. If you want something pretty to look at when you step outside, The Bund is a better bet. If you want peace and quiet around your hotel, you need to go further south-west.
Places to Stay near People’s Square
Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World - five-star tower overlooking People’s Square
Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World is on Nanjing Road West at the edge of the square, just under 300 metres from People’s Square Station. The rooms start at 30 m², the junior suites measure 40 m², and some of them overlook the park. There’s an indoor pool, a spa at extra cost, a gym and several restaurants.
With several thousand reviews and a very high score, it’s one of the safest choices in the city. I’d pick it for a first trip, when you want the metro and the pedestrian street right outside the door. Guests mention that the spa is old and basic, and that small things such as a toothbrush and a shaving kit are missing from the rooms.
One guest writes about the room on Booking.com: “The room was clean, spacious and well-equipped.”
See photos and book Radisson Blu Hotel Shanghai New World here.
Shanghai Park Hotel - hotel with history by People’s Park
Shanghai Park Hotel is on Nanjing Road West close to the park, around 300 metres from People’s Square Station. Guests describe it as a stylish hotel with a long history and a welcome change from the modern towers. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a gym, but neither a pool nor a spa.
Here, it pays to check the room size. The standard double rooms measure 22 to 25 m², and the single room is only 12 m², so I’d go up to a 30 m² category if there are two of you with suitcases. Several guests find both the room and the bathroom too small, and one mentions a damp smell.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “Perfect location, friendly staff, impressive size room even though it was a single.”
See photos and book Shanghai Park Hotel here.
Seventh Heaven Hotel - simple hotel in the middle of the pedestrian street
Seventh Heaven Hotel is on the pedestrianised stretch of Nanjing Road East itself, around 450 metres from both People’s Square Station and East Nanjing Road Station. It’s an older hotel with Chinese decor, a restaurant and massage. The smallest rooms measure 15 m², and the deluxe rooms 25 m².
It’s my budget suggestion if you want to stay right in the centre and mostly use the room for sleeping. Don’t expect anything new. Guests describe the hotel as worn and the towels as well used, and the staff speak only a little English. On the other hand, the location is hard to beat for the price.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The room was spacious, comfy beds, incredible location and good value for money!”
See photos and book Seventh Heaven Hotel here.
3. The former French Concession - best area for cafés, restaurants and tree-shaded walks 🌳
- 📍 Distance from the centre: The area stretches from Xintiandi, just over a kilometre south of People’s Square, to Wukang Road, just under 4 km to the south-west.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Lines 1 and 10 run through the area. The main stations are Xintiandi, South Shaanxi Road and Hengshan Road.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: From Hongqiao, Metro Line 10 runs directly to South Shaanxi Road and Xintiandi. From Pudong, allow just over an hour on Line 2 with a change at People’s Square.
- 💰 Price range: From simple city hotels to some of the most expensive in the city. The choice of large hotels is smaller than by the river.
- 👮 Safety: Quiet and safe, in the evening too. Watch the traffic, because electric scooters are almost silent and often pass right next to the pavement.
If you want to stay where Shanghai slows down, this is the place. The streets are narrow and lined with tall plane trees, the houses are low, and between them are cafés, small shops and restaurants. Travellers still call the neighbourhood the former French Concession.
A large part of the neighbourhood is designated as a historical area. The city’s heritage site describes the Hengshan Road-Fuxing Road Historical and Cultural Block as the largest of the 12 historical zones in central Shanghai, covering around 775 hectares, planned and built by the French municipal administration of the time. Garden villas are the most common type of house.
See hotels in the former French Concession here.
Wukang Road in Xuhui District is the street most people come for. Among other things, it’s home to the writer Ba Jin’s former residence at number 113 and the little alley Ferguson Lane at number 376, and at the end, the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion stands on the corner of Middle Huaihai Road.
At the eastern end is Xintiandi, where the old shikumen houses were restored and finished in 2001 as a quarter of restaurants and shops. It’s smart and expensive and feels more like an outdoor shopping centre than a residential neighbourhood. The metro station there is officially called Site of the First CPC National Congress · Xintiandi.
The drawback is the distances. The neighbourhood is large, The Bund is several kilometres away, and you’ll end up using the metro or a taxi every day. So choose your hotel by the station you want to stay near: South Shaanxi Road in the middle of the area, Xintiandi to the east or Hengshan Road to the south-west.
I’d choose the area for a second trip to Shanghai or for a longer stay, when the evenings matter just as much as the sights.
Places to Stay in the former French Concession
The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi - large luxury hotel right by Xintiandi
The Langham is on Madang Road, a few hundred metres from Xintiandi and around 600 metres from the metro station of the same name. The rooms measure 40 m² and up, and the hotel has an indoor pool, a spa, a 24-hour gym and several restaurants.
The hotel is for you if you want a large international luxury hotel and still want to be able to go out for dinner in the evening. It’s at the eastern end of the area, so it’s a long way to Wukang Road. One guest finds the decor a little old-fashioned by now, and another made a wasted trip to the pool, which was closed during their stay.
One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “The hotel is nicely decorated. The location is super.”
See photos and book The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi here.
HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve At Hengshan - five-star hotel with a pool by Hengshan Road Station
HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve At Hengshan is on Hengshan Road in Xuhui, around 150 metres from Hengshan Road Station and around 850 metres from Wukang Mansion. The standard rooms measure 40 m², and the hotel has an indoor pool, spa facilities, a garden, restaurants and a bar.
It’s my pick if you want to stay in the green, western part of the area and walk to Wukang Road. The price is usually noticeably lower than at the big luxury hotels by Xintiandi. One guest finds the beds too soft, and you’re further from The Bund here than at the other two hotels.
Here’s how one guest describes their stay on Booking.com: “The location was superb, being just in front of a train station that was only a few stops away from the city centre, and the breakfast spread and variety was excellent.”
See photos and book HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve At Hengshan here.
Mason Hotel - city hotel on Huaihai Road by South Shaanxi Road Station
Mason Hotel is on Middle Huaihai Road, around 300 metres from South Shaanxi Road Station in the middle of the area. The rooms are large for the price: the standard double rooms measure 32 m² and the deluxe room with a king-size bed 40 m². The hotel has a restaurant and a gym.
It’s the cheapest of my three suggestions here and suits you if you want to stay centrally and walk to shops and cafés. The hotel is showing its age. Guests mention worn carpets and rooms that are hard to cool down, and not all of the staff speak English.
Short and sweet from one guest on Booking.com: “Incredible location and a great base from which to see Shanghai.”
See photos and book Mason Hotel here.
4. Jing’an - best area for shopping and luxury hotels near Nanjing Road West 🛍️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Jing’an Temple is just over 2.5 km west of People’s Square, two stops on Metro Line 2.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Lines 2, 7 and 14 from Jing’an Temple Station.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Line 2 runs here from both airports. Allow just over an hour from Pudong and less time from Hongqiao, which is on the same side of the city.
- 💰 Price range: High. Several of the city’s big luxury hotels are here, but so are a few good-value chain hotels.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and orderly, late at night too. Take care at the big junctions, where cars and electric scooters turn at the same time.
Jing’an is Shanghai’s elegant business and shopping district. In the middle of it stands the temple that gave the area its name, which Shanghai’s official tourism site describes as a shining golden beacon in a concrete forest on Nanjing Road West. Right opposite is Jing’an Park.
Nanjing Road West is the shopping street, and the city’s guide calls it one of Shanghai’s most iconic shopping areas. The big shopping centres with international brands are packed close together here. From West Nanjing Road Station, it’s one stop on Line 2 to Jing’an Temple Station, and from there it’s a couple of minutes’ walk to the temple.
The best thing about Jing’an as a base is its position between the other areas. On Line 2, you’re at People’s Square in two stops and at The Bund in three, and if you walk south, you’re in the former French Concession in about a quarter of an hour.
It’s easy from the airports too. Line 2 runs from both Pudong and Hongqiao to Jing’an Temple Station, so you normally don’t have to change with suitcases. If you’re travelling on by train, Shanghai Railway Station is in the same district, and Hongqiao Railway Station can be reached on Line 2.
The atmosphere is more international than Chinese. You’re staying among office towers, luxury shops and chain cafés, and that’s practical but not especially charming. The hotels, on the other hand, are among the best in the city, and most are a few minutes’ walk from the metro.
Choose Jing’an if you want to shop, or if you’re in the city for work and want to add a couple of days’ holiday. If it’s your first trip and you’d rather look at Shanghai from your hotel, The Bund is a better choice.
Places to Stay in Jing’an
Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai - luxury hotel with a pool and spa close to Nanjing Road West
Jing An Shangri-La is on Yan’an Road, around 450 metres from Jing’an Temple Station and half a kilometre from the temple. The smallest rooms measure 42 m², and several guests single out the view. There’s an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and several restaurants.
I’d choose it if you want a really comfortable stay with both shopping and the metro within walking distance. It’s expensive, and one guest had expected larger rooms for the price. Another arrived to find the pool closed, so ask the hotel in advance if the pool matters to you.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “Great location, great staff, lovely room.”
See photos and book Jing An Shangri-La, Shanghai here.
The Kunlun Jing An - large five-star hotel with a pool close to Jing’an Temple Station
The Kunlun Jing An is on Huashan Road, a few hundred metres from Jing’an Temple Station and around 750 metres from Changshu Road Station in the former French Concession. The standard rooms measure 33 m², and the hotel has an indoor pool, a gym, a tennis court, a restaurant and a bar.
You get a lot of hotel for your money if you can live with the fact that it isn’t new. Guests describe the decor as dated and the rooms as a little bare, and the pool is small when several people are swimming at once. It suits you if you want space, a pool and the metro without paying the area’s highest prices.
One guest explains on Booking.com: “The hotel is in a perfect location, just a 2-minute walk from subway lines 2, 7 and 14, making it incredibly convenient for getting around.”
See photos and book The Kunlun Jing An here.
Campanile Shanghai Jing’an Temple - good-value chain hotel south of the temple
Campanile Shanghai Jing’an Temple is on Wulumuqi Road, around 450 metres south of Jing’an Temple Station. The rooms measure 22 to 28 m², and there are 42 m² family rooms. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a self-service laundry and a games room with a billiard table.
It’s well placed if you want to walk both to Nanjing Road West and down into the former French Concession, and it’s the cheapest of my three suggestions in Jing’an. The hotel is worn, and guests say so plainly. They also mention traffic noise in some rooms and that the staff speak only a little English.
One guest says of the staff on Booking.com: “The staff are friendly and helpful.”
See photos and book Campanile Shanghai Jing’an Temple here.
5. Lujiazui - best area for skyscrapers and hotel rooms high above the city 🏙️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: On the Pudong side of the Huangpu River, directly opposite The Bund, just over 3 km east of People’s Square and two stops on Metro Line 2.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Lines 2 and 14 from Lujiazui Station. A ferry to Puxi from Dongchang Road Ferry Pier.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Of the areas on Line 2, this is the closest to Pudong Airport. Line 2 runs here, or you can take the Maglev train to Longyang Road and change to Line 2 there.
- 💰 Price range: High. The hotels in the towers are among the most expensive in the city, and prices only drop once you get some distance from the river.
- 👮 Safety: Very safe and orderly. After office hours, the streets between the towers go quiet.
Lujiazui is the skyline itself. This is where you’ll find the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai Tower, and several of the hotels are inside the towers. If you stay here, you look down on the river and The Bund, and that’s something quite different from standing on the promenade looking up.
The Oriental Pearl Tower is 468 metres tall and, according to the city’s guide, sits at the tip of the Lujiazui financial district on the bank of the Huangpu River. From the tower’s observation floors, you see The Bund from above. Check prices and opening hours before you go.
If you’re coming from Pudong Airport, Lujiazui is the first of the areas on Line 2. If you’d like to try the Maglev train, it runs at up to 300 km/h between the airport and Longyang Road, and a single ticket costs 50 yuan, according to the airport’s overview. The train doesn’t run into the centre, so at Longyang Road you change to Line 2.
You get to Puxi on Line 2, which was the first metro line to cross the Huangpu River. It’s one stop to East Nanjing Road by The Bund and two to People’s Square. The ferry from Dongchang Road Ferry Pier is the slow, cheap alternative.
Lujiazui is built for offices and cars. The distances between the towers are greater than they look, and you do a lot of walking on footbridges and through shopping centres. In the evening, it goes quiet here once the offices close, and the small restaurants and bars are on the other side of the river.
I’d choose Lujiazui for the views and the hotels, not for the street life. A couple of nights high up is an experience in itself, and with children it’s nice that the metro runs directly from the airport.
Places to Stay in Lujiazui
The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong - luxury with a view of The Bund from your room
The Ritz-Carlton is on Century Avenue, around 250 metres from Lujiazui Station and 400 metres from the Oriental Pearl Tower. The rooms measure 50 m² and up, and several categories have views towards The Bund or the Oriental Pearl Tower. The hotel has an indoor pool, a spa, a 24-hour gym and several restaurants.
It’s among the most expensive hotels in this guide and also has one of the highest scores. I’d choose it for a honeymoon or a milestone birthday and pay extra for one of the Bund View categories. The few objections are mostly a matter of taste: one guest found the bed too hard and the pillow too soft.
One guest describes the room on Booking.com: “From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the elegant decor, spacious layout, and stunning views.”
See photos and book The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong here.
Grand Hyatt Shanghai - rooms from the 53rd floor of the Jin Mao Tower
Grand Hyatt Shanghai is in the Jin Mao Tower on Century Avenue, around 500 metres from Lujiazui Station and right next to Shanghai Tower. The rooms are on the 53rd to 87th floors and measure 40 m² and up. There’s an indoor pool, a spa, a gym and several restaurants and bars.
Here, you’re staying in the skyline itself at a price that’s often well below the area’s most expensive hotels. The hotel isn’t new, and you can tell. One guest mentions a worn bathroom, another a smell of stale smoke, and getting up to your room involves changing lifts. Choose a category with a river view if you want to see The Bund.
One guest writes about the view on Booking.com: “The hotel location was fabulous! You can see all the signature buildings and the river from the window!”
See photos and book Grand Hyatt Shanghai here.
Novotel Atlantis Shanghai - family-friendly chain hotel with a pool some way from the towers
Novotel Atlantis is on Pudong Avenue, around 500 metres from Pudong Avenue Station and just under 2 km east of Shanghai Tower. The standard rooms measure 26 m², the family rooms 35 to 38 m², and some rooms have views towards the Huangpu River. The hotel has an indoor pool, a kids’ club, a restaurant and a bar.
With several thousand reviews and a high score, it’s a safe choice for families, and it’s the cheapest of my three suggestions in Pudong. You won’t be staying in the middle of Lujiazui, so plan on the metro or a taxi to the towers and to Puxi. One guest finds the bathroom rather dated.
Here’s how one guest describes the rooms on Booking.com: “The rooms are large, clean, spacious, with a superb view.”
See photos and book Novotel Atlantis Shanghai here.
6. Shanghai Disney Resort - best area for families who’ve come for Disneyland 🏰
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Far out in Pudong, around 20 km south-east of People’s Square as the crow flies.
- 🚇 Transport: Metro Line 11 to the terminus, Disney Resort Station. Several hotels in the area run a free shuttle bus to the park.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: Pudong Airport is around 15 km to the east as the crow flies, so a taxi is the easiest option. From Hongqiao, you have to cross the entire city.
- 💰 Price range: Lower than in the city. You usually get more hotel for your money out here.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and very quiet in the evening. The area is spread out, so you can’t simply walk between hotel, station and park.
This area is only for you if you’ve come for Shanghai Disneyland. The park is in Chuansha in Pudong, far from everything else you’ll want to see, and I wouldn’t stay here for the whole holiday. One or two nights around your park visit, on the other hand, make good sense with children.
Shanghai Disneyland is the first Disney park in mainland China. According to the city’s guide to sights with a metro station on the doorstep, the park has eight themed areas, and Metro Line 11 runs to Disney Resort Station.
See hotels near Shanghai Disney Resort here.
From the centre, allow around an hour each way by metro. Line 11 meets Line 2 at Jiangsu Road, one stop west of Jing’an Temple, and Line 1 at Xujiahui. That journey is bearable once, but it gets long after a full day in the park with tired children. That’s the whole argument for staying out here.
The hotels are scattered across a large and rather empty area. Only a few are within walking distance of the park, and from most of the others, guests travel back and forth by shuttle bus at fixed times. So check both the distance and the bus timetable before you book, and ask the hotel whether the bus also runs to the airport.
If you land at Pudong, you can put Disney at the start or end of your trip and save yourself a journey across the city. The Airport Link Line between the two airports has a station called Shanghai International Resort, but check the resort’s own transport page for how to get from there to the park.
Plan on eating at your hotel or in Disneytown by the park in the evening, and choose a hotel with a restaurant for that reason.
Places to Stay near Shanghai Disney Resort
Meliá Shanghai Parkside - five-star hotel within walking distance of the park
Meliá Shanghai Parkside is the closest of my three suggestions to Shanghai Disneyland. Guests describe the walk to the park as 10 to 12 minutes, and the hotel is in quiet, green surroundings. The rooms measure 35 m² and up, there are family rooms and connecting rooms, and the hotel has a restaurant and a bar.
Choose it if you want to be able to walk home from the park in the evening without waiting for a bus. On the other hand, the hotel has no shuttle to the park, and one guest is surprised that a five-star hotel has no gym. Another says the conversation at reception had to go through an app on the phone.
One guest writes about the location on Booking.com: “Set in beautiful and tranquil well-kept grounds only ten minutes’ walk from Shanghai Disney.”
See photos and book Meliá Shanghai Parkside here.
Novotel Shanghai Clover - family hotel with a kids’ club and a free shuttle to Disneyland
Novotel Shanghai Clover is just under 4 km west of the park and is designed for families with children. There’s a kids’ club, an indoor play area and a seasonal outdoor pool, and the hotel runs a free shuttle bus to Shanghai Disneyland. The rooms measure 25 to 35 m², and the family studio is 45 m².
It’s my suggestion for families who want something to do at the hotel when their legs are tired. The shuttle buses only run at set times, and that didn’t suit every guest, so get the timetable at check-in. You’re a long way from the city, and guests mention that too.
One guest sums up their stay on Booking.com: “Clean and spacious room. Bed is comfortable. Hotel staff are helpful and polite.”
See photos and book Novotel Shanghai Clover here.
Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone - the good-value choice with a free shuttle to the park
Courtyard by Marriott is around 2.5 km west of the park and runs a free shuttle bus to Shanghai Disneyland. The rooms start at 28 m², and there are family rooms of 40 to 45 m² and a 58 m² family studio. The hotel has a restaurant, a gym and a children’s play area, but no pool.
It’s usually the cheapest of my three suggestions, and many guests praise the breakfast. You can’t walk to the park from here, and one guest missed having more places to eat than the hotel’s buffet. A few find the rooms dark and in need of a refresh.
Short and to the point from one guest on Booking.com: “Loved the location and shuttle bus service.”
See photos and book Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone here.
Where should you avoid staying in Shanghai?
I wouldn’t stay near Hongqiao unless you have an early flight or train. The airport and Hongqiao Railway Station are in the western part of the city, 13 km from the centre, and although Line 2 and Line 10 run directly in, you’ll spend a lot of time on the metro every day. The same goes for the hotels by Pudong Airport, which is around 30 km from the centre.
I wouldn’t choose a cheap hotel far from a metro station either. Shanghai is too big to get around on foot, and the traffic is heavy for most of the day. Check the distance to the nearest station before you let the price tempt you, and look for reviews from other foreign guests, because not all small hotels are used to travellers with a foreign passport.
If I had to pick one area for a first trip, it’d be The Bund for the view and for being within walking distance of the pedestrian street. People’s Square is the choice for a short stay where the metro matters most. The former French Concession is the place if you’d rather have cafés and quiet streets than sights outside your door.
Jing’an gives you shopping and easy transport from both airports, and Lujiazui is for you if you want to see the city from above. Shanghai Disney Resort only makes sense around a park visit. In all six areas, I’d look at the distance to the nearest metro station before I looked at the stars.
Two practical things before you book. The entry rules depend on which passport you’re travelling on, so check them with China’s National Immigration Administration. And a lot of payments are made by phone: according to Shanghai’s official services portal, you can link a foreign payment card to Alipay or Weixin Pay, which is called WeChat Pay outside China, without having a Chinese bank account. The card itself works at the terminals that display the card’s logo.
Many travellers combine Shanghai with another big city in East Asia. I’ve written similar guides to where to stay in Hong Kong and the best areas in Taipei if you’re heading south. If you’re continuing north-east, you can read about where to stay in Seoul and where to stay in Tokyo.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
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