Shanghai itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Shanghai, day by day: Yu Garden, the Pudong towers and the Bund first, then the Shanghai Museum and People's Square, the French Concession lanes around Tianzifang and Wukang Road, and temples, parks and Disneyland as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Shanghai in 1 day
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Shanghai in 2 days
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Day 2
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Disney theme park in Pudong with the largest Disney castle and a TRON coaster; plan a full day.
Shanghai in 3 days
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Day 2
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Modern opera and concert house on People's Square with a curved roof; worth seeing for a performance or the exterior.
Shanghai Museum
China's leading collection of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade, free with an advance reservation.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art museum in a restored 1930s Art Deco building just behind the northern end of the Bund.
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Day 3
Longhua Temple
Shanghai's largest and oldest Buddhist temple, with a seven-storey pagoda and a bell rung each New Year's Eve.
St. Ignatius Cathedral
Twin-spired 1910 Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui, the seat of the Shanghai diocese.
Tianzifang
Maze of narrow shikumen alleys packed with craft shops, small galleries, bars and street food in the old French Concession.
Huaihai Road
Leafy shopping boulevard through the former French Concession, mixing malls, boutiques and period buildings.
Xintiandi
Restored shikumen lane houses turned into a car-free area of cafes, restaurants and shops, next to the First Party Congress site.
Jade Buddha Temple
Working Buddhist temple known for two white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1880s.
Shanghai in 4 days
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Day 2
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Modern opera and concert house on People's Square with a curved roof; worth seeing for a performance or the exterior.
Shanghai Museum
China's leading collection of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade, free with an advance reservation.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art museum in a restored 1930s Art Deco building just behind the northern end of the Bund.
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Day 3
St. Ignatius Cathedral
Twin-spired 1910 Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui, the seat of the Shanghai diocese.
Xujiahui
Historic Jesuit quarter turned shopping hub, home to the cathedral, the Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei and the old observatory.
Tianzifang
Maze of narrow shikumen alleys packed with craft shops, small galleries, bars and street food in the old French Concession.
Huaihai Road
Leafy shopping boulevard through the former French Concession, mixing malls, boutiques and period buildings.
Xintiandi
Restored shikumen lane houses turned into a car-free area of cafes, restaurants and shops, next to the First Party Congress site.
Jade Buddha Temple
Working Buddhist temple known for two white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1880s.
Day 4
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Disney theme park in Pudong with the largest Disney castle and a TRON coaster; plan a full day.
Shanghai in 5 days
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Saint Joseph's Church, Shanghai
Gothic Catholic church from 1860 on Sichuan Road near the old city, one of Shanghai's oldest.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Day 2
Xintiandi
Restored shikumen lane houses turned into a car-free area of cafes, restaurants and shops, next to the First Party Congress site.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Shanghai Museum
China's leading collection of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade, free with an advance reservation.
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Modern opera and concert house on People's Square with a curved roof; worth seeing for a performance or the exterior.
Shanghai History Museum
The city's history museum in the old Shanghai Race Club building on People's Square, from ancient settlements to the treaty port.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Day 3
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Holy Trinity Church, Shanghai
Red-brick 1869 Anglican cathedral by George Gilbert Scott, restored and reopened near the Bund.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art museum in a restored 1930s Art Deco building just behind the northern end of the Bund.
Monument to the People's Heroes
Tall concrete monument at the north end of the Bund in Huangpu Park, honouring those who died in China's revolutions.
General Post Office Building, Shanghai
Baroque 1924 post office by Suzhou Creek, now housing the Shanghai Postal Museum and a rooftop garden.
Day 4
St. Ignatius Cathedral
Twin-spired 1910 Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui, the seat of the Shanghai diocese.
Xujiahui
Historic Jesuit quarter turned shopping hub, home to the cathedral, the Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei and the old observatory.
Wukang Road
Tree-lined street of 1920s and 1930s villas and the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion, good for a slow walk.
Huaihai Road
Leafy shopping boulevard through the former French Concession, mixing malls, boutiques and period buildings.
Tianzifang
Maze of narrow shikumen alleys packed with craft shops, small galleries, bars and street food in the old French Concession.
Confucian Temple of Shanghai
Quiet Confucius temple in the old city with a pagoda-like hall and a weekend used-book market.
Day 5
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Disney theme park in Pudong with the largest Disney castle and a TRON coaster; plan a full day.
Shanghai in 6 days
Day 1
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Saint Joseph's Church, Shanghai
Gothic Catholic church from 1860 on Sichuan Road near the old city, one of Shanghai's oldest.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Day 2
Xintiandi
Restored shikumen lane houses turned into a car-free area of cafes, restaurants and shops, next to the First Party Congress site.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Shanghai Museum
China's leading collection of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade, free with an advance reservation.
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Modern opera and concert house on People's Square with a curved roof; worth seeing for a performance or the exterior.
Shanghai History Museum
The city's history museum in the old Shanghai Race Club building on People's Square, from ancient settlements to the treaty port.
Jade Buddha Temple
Working Buddhist temple known for two white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1880s.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Day 3
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Holy Trinity Church, Shanghai
Red-brick 1869 Anglican cathedral by George Gilbert Scott, restored and reopened near the Bund.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art museum in a restored 1930s Art Deco building just behind the northern end of the Bund.
Monument to the People's Heroes
Tall concrete monument at the north end of the Bund in Huangpu Park, honouring those who died in China's revolutions.
General Post Office Building, Shanghai
Baroque 1924 post office by Suzhou Creek, now housing the Shanghai Postal Museum and a rooftop garden.
Day 4
St. Ignatius Cathedral
Twin-spired 1910 Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui, the seat of the Shanghai diocese.
Xujiahui
Historic Jesuit quarter turned shopping hub, home to the cathedral, the Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei and the old observatory.
Wukang Road
Tree-lined street of 1920s and 1930s villas and the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion, good for a slow walk.
Huaihai Road
Leafy shopping boulevard through the former French Concession, mixing malls, boutiques and period buildings.
Tianzifang
Maze of narrow shikumen alleys packed with craft shops, small galleries, bars and street food in the old French Concession.
Confucian Temple of Shanghai
Quiet Confucius temple in the old city with a pagoda-like hall and a weekend used-book market.
Day 5
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Disney theme park in Pudong with the largest Disney castle and a TRON coaster; plan a full day.
Day 6
Zhujiajiao
An old water town of canals, stone bridges and Ming and Qing houses, about an hour from the centre.
Shanghai in 7 days
Day 1
Yu Garden
Classical Ming-dynasty garden of rockeries, ponds and pavilions in the old city, surrounded by a busy bazaar of snack stalls.
Saint Joseph's Church, Shanghai
Gothic Catholic church from 1860 on Sichuan Road near the old city, one of Shanghai's oldest.
Rockbund Art Museum
Contemporary art museum in a restored 1930s Art Deco building just behind the northern end of the Bund.
Oriental Pearl Tower
Pink-sphered TV tower from 1994 with glass-floor viewing levels and a Shanghai history museum in its base.
Jin Mao Tower
Pagoda-inspired 1999 skyscraper in Lujiazui with an 88th-floor observation deck and the open-air Skywalk on its roof edge.
Day 2
Xintiandi
Restored shikumen lane houses turned into a car-free area of cafes, restaurants and shops, next to the First Party Congress site.
People's Square
Large central square and park, home to the Shanghai Museum, Grand Theatre and Urban Planning Exhibition Center.
Shanghai Museum
China's leading collection of ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and jade, free with an advance reservation.
Shanghai Grand Theatre
Modern opera and concert house on People's Square with a curved roof; worth seeing for a performance or the exterior.
Shanghai History Museum
The city's history museum in the old Shanghai Race Club building on People's Square, from ancient settlements to the treaty port.
Jade Buddha Temple
Working Buddhist temple known for two white jade Buddha statues brought from Burma in the 1880s.
Nanjing Road
Shanghai's main shopping street; the pedestrian East section runs from People's Square to the Bund, brightest at night.
Day 3
Shanghai Tower
China's tallest building, a twisting 632-metre tower in Lujiazui with an observation deck on the 118th floor.
Holy Trinity Church, Shanghai
Red-brick 1869 Anglican cathedral by George Gilbert Scott, restored and reopened near the Bund.
The Bund
Riverside promenade lined with 1920s banks and trading houses, facing the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River.
Monument to the People's Heroes
Tall concrete monument at the north end of the Bund in Huangpu Park, honouring those who died in China's revolutions.
General Post Office Building, Shanghai
Baroque 1924 post office by Suzhou Creek, now housing the Shanghai Postal Museum and a rooftop garden.
Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum
Former Ohel Moshe Synagogue in Hongkou telling the story of about 20,000 Jewish refugees who lived here during WWII.
Duolun Road
Short Hongkou street of period houses linked to 1930s left-wing writers such as Lu Xun, with small museums.
Day 4
St. Ignatius Cathedral
Twin-spired 1910 Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral in Xujiahui, the seat of the Shanghai diocese.
Xujiahui
Historic Jesuit quarter turned shopping hub, home to the cathedral, the Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei and the old observatory.
Wukang Road
Tree-lined street of 1920s and 1930s villas and the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion, good for a slow walk.
Huaihai Road
Leafy shopping boulevard through the former French Concession, mixing malls, boutiques and period buildings.
Tianzifang
Maze of narrow shikumen alleys packed with craft shops, small galleries, bars and street food in the old French Concession.
Confucian Temple of Shanghai
Quiet Confucius temple in the old city with a pagoda-like hall and a weekend used-book market.
Day 5
Century Park
The largest park in central Shanghai, with lakes, lawns, bike hire and boating near the Science Museum.
Oriental Art Center
Pudong concert hall shaped like a butterfly orchid, with a busy programme of classical music and opera.
Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Large hands-on science museum by Century Park, reopened in 2026 after a three-year renovation with AI and space galleries.
Day 6
Zhujiajiao
An old water town of canals, stone bridges and Ming and Qing houses, about an hour from the centre.
Day 7
Shanghai Disneyland Park
Disney theme park in Pudong with the largest Disney castle and a TRON coaster; plan a full day.
Watch: Shanghai in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Shanghai
March to May and September to November are the best months in Shanghai, with mild weather and lower humidity. June brings the plum-rain season, and July and August are hot and humid, with the risk of typhoons, and winter is cold and damp. Chinese New Year and the Golden Week in early October bring large domestic crowds and higher prices.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Shanghai on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Shanghai on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Shanghai on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Shanghai with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for China from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Shanghai
- Many foreign passport holders can enter China visa-free for short stays, and 240-hour visa-free transit applies to many nationalities; check current rules before booking.
- Cash and foreign cards are accepted less and less; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with an international card before arrival.
- Book Shanghai Museum, Disneyland and observation-deck tickets online in advance; the Shanghai Museum needs a free timed reservation with your passport number.
- Many museums and Yu Garden close on Mondays; the Bund is best after dark, when the Pudong skyline is lit (lights usually switch off around 22:00).
- Metro is fast and cheap and covers almost every stop, including Disneyland (Line 11); avoid rush hours and expect bag security checks at every station.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Century Park: Emcc83, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Confucian Temple of Shanghai: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kanegen/, CC BY 2.0
- Duolun Road: The original uploader was TIY at Chinese Wikipedia ., Public domain
- General Post Office Building, Shanghai: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Holy Trinity Church, Shanghai: Grafiti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Huaihai Road: Livelikerw, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jade Buddha Temple: Iamtherealnick, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jin Mao Tower: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0
- Longhua Temple: Fayhoo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monument to the People's Heroes: Chatterjee.kaushik, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nanjing Road: Lars Curfs ( Grashoofd ), CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
- Oriental Art Center: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oriental Pearl Tower: Dmitry A. Mottl, CC BY-SA 4.0
- People's Square: Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rockbund Art Museum: Rockbund Art Museum, CC BY 3.0
- Saint Joseph's Church, Shanghai: This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl . Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of the image. A link to my website sitemai.eu , CC BY 3.0
- Shanghai Disneyland Park: Josh Grenier, CC BY 2.0
- Shanghai Grand Theatre: Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shanghai History Museum: Art Museum Photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum: Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shanghai Museum: Hanjiang 2009 ( 寒江2009 ), CC BY 2.0
- Shanghai Science and Technology Museum: No machine-readable author provided. Mountain assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shanghai Tower: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-ovozr, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St. Ignatius Cathedral: Pyzhou, GFDL
- The Bund: 钉钉, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tianzifang: lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0
- Wukang Road: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote . Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได, CC BY 4.0
- Xintiandi: ヌンヌン, CC BY 2.0
- Xujiahui: 钉钉, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yu Garden: Peter K Burian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Zhujiajiao: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
