The 14 Best Things to do in Shanghai 2025: Your Shanghai Travel Guide

Author's Profile Picture
Best Things to do in Shanghai

Planning to travel to Shanghai but at a loss about what to do and what to eat? This guide helps you explore the most fun parts and the most delicacies in Shanghai. You'll find everything you need to know about touring around Shanghai.👇

  • One way
  • Round-trip

Displayed flight fares from ${{departCityName}} to ${{arrivalCityName}} are based on average prices across airlines for the next 3 months, according to the latest Trip.com database.

Flights to Shanghai

Shanghai Fun Facts

Boasting more skyscrapers than any other city in the world, Shanghai is now one of the most captivating cities in China.

In this video, we provide an overview of what's the city like and share some intriguing facts that are not widely known. We will aslo highlight the top 4 must-visit places for first-time visitors to Shanghai. Let's explore this incredible city, starting with Yu Garden Old Street, The Bund, and Nanjing Road!

Top Things to do in Shanghai

Trending Shanghai Deals

Shanghai Hotels
Shanghai Flights
Shanghai Attractions
See All Hotels
NO.1
9.5/106 reviews
Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower 230 Kongzhong Hotel
Hotel in Shanghai
Airport pickup service
Restaurant
NO.2
Dingding Juba Party House
Hotel in Shanghai
Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.3
Yingju Homestay (Qiujiang Road)
Hotel in Shanghai
Airport pickup service
Restaurant
NO.4
9.4/10428 reviews
Amanyangyun
Hotel in Shanghai
Airport pickup service
Restaurant
NO.5
10/1055 reviews
Miying·Shiqi Parent-child Pool Family Holiday Villa (Shanghai Pudong Huiling Villa Area)
Hotel in Shanghai
Airport pickup service
Restaurant
NO.6
9.5/101510 reviews
Bvlgari Hotel Shanghai
Hotel in Shanghai
Airport pickup service
Restaurant

Top 6 Attractions in Shanghai

The Bund

The Bund in Shanghai

The Bund: No need to recommend. The most iconic landmark in Shanghai! A magical combination of colonial architecture and modern skyscrapers here. Every time you stroll along the bund, you'll have a totally different mindset! Such an amazing place.

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 24/7
  • 💰 Ticket Price: Free
  • 📍 Location: Zhongshan East Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Shanghai Disney Resort

Disneyland in Shanghai

Shanghai Disney Resort: A place has nothing but innocence, fun and dreams! Eye-catching giant castle, various performance by true-to-life characters, spectacular leaping horizon that brings you adrenaline rush, and beautiful firework show that imprints itself in your mind forever...

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 08:30-20:30, Saturday-Sunday: 08:30-21:30 (Current Time)
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $54.88
  • 📍 Location: Shanghai Disney Resort, Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai

Yu Garden

Yu Garden in Shanghai

Yu Garden: It was originally a private garden from Ming Dynasty. The owner of the garden, the governor of Sichuan Province then, built it in order to let his father enjoy his retirement age. Now it's a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Megacity. The pavilions, bricks, tiles, trees reveal exquisite and rich historical heritage of Ming Dynasty.

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 09:00-16:30 (Closed on Mondays)
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $3.93
  • 📍 Location: Shanghai Yuyuan Tourism Business District (the main entrance of Yuyuan Garden on the north side of Huxin Pavilion Jiuqu Bridge)
Yu
Yu Garden
Garden
ancient architecture

Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai

Oriental Pearl Tower: Located at No. 1 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, the Oriental Pearl Tower stands on the bank of the Huangpu River, left behind it countless modern skyscrapers. It has a layer of full glass floor, and the air corridor is absolutely worth seeing.

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 09:00-21:00 (Latest entry time: 20:30)
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $27.37
  • 📍 Location: No. 1 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Oriental
Oriental Pearl Tower
Modern Architecture
Observation Decks
From $41.19
Book Tickets Now!

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao Water Town in Shanghai

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town: The town has 36 ancient bridges, 9 long streets and more than 1,000 Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, exuding strong water town vibes. For hundreds of years, the water town has bred countless heroes and rich cultrual heritage. Strolling along the stone slabs or taking a boat on the rippling waterways, you can feel an utmost tranquility.

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 08:30-20:00
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $7.56
  • 📍 Location: No. 555, Kezhiyuan Road, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
Zhujiajiao
Zhujiajiao Ancient Town
Ancient Towns
Water Town
From $7.57
Book Tickets Now!

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Road in Shanghai

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street: One of Shanghai's most iconic shopping blocks. Stretching over five kilometers, it’s packed with modern malls, traditional stores, and street vendors offering a variety of goods. Gathering well-known international and domestic brands, Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street also houses countless historial and cultural heriatge. Walking on the street, you can feel the prosperity, energy and historical vibes of the city at the same time.

  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 24/7
  • 💰 Ticket Price: Free
  • 📍 Location: Henan Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

Day Trip in Shanghai

Shanghai Disney Resort

Disneyland in Shanghai
  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 08:30-20:30
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $54.88
  • 📍 Location: Shanghai Disney Resort, Chuansha New Town, Pudong New Area
Shanghai
Shanghai Disney Resort
Theme parks
Nighttime sightseeing

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

Haichang Ocean Park in Shanghai
  • 🕒 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 09:30-17:00 (Latest entry time:16:00)· Saturday-Sunday: 09:30-18:30 (Latest entry time:17:30)
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $50.76
  • 📍 Location: No.166 Yinfei Road, Nanhui New Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park
Aquariums
Theme Parks
From $50.76
Book Your Tickets Now

Shanghai Wild Animal Park

Shanghai Wild Animal Park
  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 09:00-16:30 (Latest entry time:15:30; Tickets available until:15:30)
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $22.7
  • 📍 Location: No.178, Nanliu Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai Wild Animal Park
zoo
wild animals

Shanghai Natural History Museum

Shanghai Natural History Museum
  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $12.29
  • 📍 Location: No. 510, Beijing West Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai (in Jing'an Sculpture Park)
Shanghai
Shanghai Natural History Museum
animal fossil
museum

Huangpu River Cruise

Huangpu River Cruise
  • 🕒 Opening Hours: 11:00-22:00
  • 💰 Ticket Price: From $12.38
  • 📍 Location: Shiliupu Pier,Terminal 2,No.551 Zhongshandonger Road,Huangpu,Shanghai
Huangpu
Huangpu River Cruise
Boat Tours
Nighttime sightseeing

Street food in Shanghai

Shanghai Food #1 Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling)

Street food in Shanghai

When it comes to Shanghainese cuisine, the first classic dish popping up in my mind is xiao long bao. Cubes of pork jelly, minced shrimp and pork with some vegetables are mixed up and wrapped in a thin layer made of dough. They will then be steamed in a bamboo cage. Just a little bite into their thin skin, the sweet and fresh meat soup spews out wildly, making you crave for more.

万寿斋(山阴路店)
Wan Shou Zhai (Shanyin Road)
Snacks
Time-honored brand

Shanghai Food #2 Sheng Jian Bao (pan fried bun) at Xu Ji shengjian

Street food in Shanghai

To make Sheng Jian Bao, the chef adds oil to a huge pan and fries the bottom of the buns until they are crisp and golden brown while the rest of the bun stay soft. Before they’re served on table, toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions are sprinkled over for fragrance enhancement.

Address: 585 Zunyi Rd, Changning District, Shanghai, China

Shanghai Food #3 Crab Roe Noodle

Street food in Shanghai

Six male crabs plus six female crabs! It takes hours of delicate hand labor for a bowl of crab roe and meat. They are heaped up high on the noodles. The crab roe and meat are giving off such a rich, flavorful crab aroma. The noodles are bouncy and chewy, complementing the richness of the crab roe.

Address: 142 Yuyuan Rd, Jing'An, Shanghai, China

Shanghai Food #4 Chopped Cold Chicken

Street food in Shanghai

The chicken skin is soft and tender, with a thin layer of jelly texture between the skin and the meat, and a beautiful pink color on the cut surface of the bones. The chicken is always served together with special made soy sauce and scallion oil. Dip the chicken with some sauce, enjoy the rich flavor blending. It’s one of the greatest pleasures of life!

Tai
Tai Huang Ji
tender chicken
Shanghai flavor

Top attractions around Shanghai

The
The West Lake
lakes
Nighttime sightseeing
Lingyin
Lingyin Temple
temple
pray
Moganshan
Moganshan National Park
Moutains
Noutain Climbing
From $40.99
Book Tickets Now
Hello
Hello Kitty Park
Theme Park
Hello Kitty
From $28.89
Book Tickets Now
Sky
Sky Land
Grasslands
Mountain Climbing
From $24.76
Book Tickets Now

FAQs about Shanghai Travel

  • What are the must-see attractions in Shanghai?

    The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Disneyland, Yu Garden, etc.
  • What is the best time to visit Shanghai?

    Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November).
  • How to get around Shanghai? Do I need to rent a car?

    Shanghai has an extensive and efficient public transportation system, including the metro, buses, and taxis. The metro is often the fastest way to get around.
  • How many days should I spend in travelling Shanghai?

    Most people find that 3 to 4 days are sufficient.
Disclaimer: This article has been provided by an individual contributor or third party platform. If there is any discrepancy regarding the copyright, please contact us directly and we will delete the content immediately.
>>
things to do in shanghai