Plan a Family Trip to Shanghai: Itinerary, Tips & Best Things to Do

Written by Natalia | Updated May 11,2026

Are you considering to plan a relaxing trip with your family? Shanghai, the most well-known city in China can be a perfect destination for your kids to develop cultural awareness and a global mindset from an early age.

The good news is: Shanghai is one of the easiest cities in China to travel around. This guide will help you plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to Shanghai.

Quick travel snapshot:

• How long to stay: 3-5 days
• Best time to visit: Spring(March–May), early summer(June) and autumn (September–November)
• Where to stay: Lujiazui, Jing’an district, or near Disneyland depending on your travel priorities
• Daily budget: A mid-range family can expect around 1,000-2,500 RMB( approximately 140-300 USD) per day which covers accommodation, meals, traffic, and attractions for a family with 1 kid per day.
• Is Shanghai family-friendly?: Yes – Modern, safe, and well-equipped for kids

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• Before Departure: What International Families Should Know
• Best Things to Do in Shanghai with Children
• How Long to Stay & Sample Itineraries
• Best Day Trips from Shanghai for Families – Where to Go Next?
• Tips on Transport, food & smart planning Advice
• Build your Shanghai Family Trip with China Xian Tour
• FAQs about Family Travel in Shanghai

Before Departure: What International Families Should Know

Do you Need a Visa for Shanghai?

It might be different from what you expected – travelers from 55 countries can visit Shanghai without a visa under China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy, if they hold an onward ticket to a third country or region.

There are also 30-day mutual or unilateral visa-free policies for citizens from over 70 countries, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Spain, Canada.

However, if you are not among these, you need to apply for a visa in advance.

Getting to Shanghai

Shanghai has two main airports: Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Hongqiao Airport (SHA).

Most international flights land in PVG, covering 6 continents and more than 90 countries and international regions. The airport is about 30 kilometers (45–60 minutes drive) from the city center.

SHA is usually less crowded and closer to the downtown region (about 20 kilometers). However, it mainly provides short-haul international flights to nearby Asian countries/regions such as Hong Kong, with fewer than 50 daily flights per day.

Best Time for a Family Trip to Shanghai

March–June and September–November are the most comfortable months with ideal temperatures, usually around 15-22°C, which is highly recommended for visiting.

In addition, as a city known for its crab cuisine, autumn is an unmissable season for food lovers.

Since China does not usually have long spring or autumn school breaks, these seasons can be less crowded than major public holidays.

June could be a perfect time for adapting to your kids’ school schedule.

Still, try to avoid major Chinese holidays when attractions get very crowded.

Top Places to Stay in Shanghai with Children

Planning your perfect accommodation in advance can make your trip a lot easier. Here are some typical family-friendly suggestions in areas with good transport links, plenty of restaurants, and easy access to the main attractions:

Lujiazui (Pudong District):

Lujiazui is well connected with the major metro lines ( line 2 and line 14) and within walking distance to most of the landmarks like Shanghai Tower and the aquarium. There are also big shopping malls, so it’s easy to find food for kids.

Suggested hotels:

• Regent Hotel

3000-20,000 RMB, approximately 420–2800 USD

• Atour S Hotel Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower (4-star hotel)

500–700 RMB, approximately 70–100 USD

The Bund (Waitan) / Huangpu District:

This area is just steps away from the Bund and right in the heart of the city center. It offers stunning views of the city skyline and key historical sites. There are plenty of fine restaurants around, including family-friendly places to eat.

Suggested hotels:

• The Westin Bund Center Shanghai (5-star hotel)

950–7000 RMB, approximately 135–1000 USD

• Campanile Shanghai Bund Hotel (3-star hotel)

350–1100 RMB, approximately 50–150 USD

Jing’an District:

Jing’an is one of Shanghai’s most well-connected districts, with 9 metro lines crossing here, including line 2 and line 7, offering quick access to the Bund, Pudong, and shopping districts.

Suggested hotels:

• Shangri-La Hotel, Jing’an, West Shanghai (5-star hotel)

1200–3500 RMB, approximately 170–400 USD

• Holiday Inn Express Shanghai – Jin’an Temple (chain budget hotel)

500–1100 RMB, approximately 75–150 USD

√Useful tips: For families, being within 5-10 minutes of a metro station and close to restaurants can make life a whole lot easier on a daily basis.

Best Things to Do in Shanghai with Children

Here are some of the best family-friendly things to do in Shanghai that are actually worth your time:

Spending a Full Day in Shanghai Disneyland

• Tickets: one-day tickets usually cost around 475–799 RMB (70–110 USD) for adults and around 356 RMB (50 USD) for children and seniors, depending on the date. Buy tickets on Trip.com or on the official website.
• Opening hours: 30 -21:30 all week
• Best time: weekdays are best to go to avoid the crowds
• What to wear: bright color & Disney element

It has unique attractions such as TRON Lightcycle Power Run and Pirates of the Caribbean, which has been rated as the best Disney ride in the world. There are also gentle activities for little children to join in without fear–Hunny Pot Spin, Hundred Acre Wood Playground, etc. The park is stroller friendly for families with toddlers and kids including baby care centers and rest areas.

Visiting Shanghai Ocean Aquarium – Exciting Activity for All Ages

• Tickets: Prices vary from free of charge to about 160 RMB (about 22 USD) depending on age
• Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 ( entry valid before 17:30 )
• What to wear: light blue/ light pink/ milky white clothes(the space is in dark blue atmosphere)
• Best time: Weekdays to avoid the crowds

Close to Lujiazui, this aquarium features one of the world’s longest underwater tunnels. It keeps over 450 species of aquatic animals, from sharks and rays to invertebrates.

All the exhibits in the aquarium are labeled with Chinese–English bilingual descriptions and audio guides enabling non-Chinese speakers to learn about the animals. Children can get a close observation of marine animals in high-quality professionally designed glass viewing spaces. This aquarium is stroller friendly with wide paths and most of the visitor route is a one way flow.

Visiting Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

• Tickets: 45 RMB ( approximately 6 USD ) for adults and free for children below 1.3m. Online purchase is recommended for convenience, so please check the official website in advance
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 (entry valid before 16:00)
• Best time: Weekdays during 14:00-16:00 for free verbal instructions

This museum is perfect for teens but also stroller-friendly for toddlers. It offers both visual and hands-on exhibits, interactive science displays, and even a whole section especially designed for your children–Rainbow Playground.

The exhibition provides a wide range of themed exhibitions, including biology and nature, technology and the future, as well as space and Earth sciences. Visual & verbal bilingual explanations are also provided.

Children can learn through play in a safe and well-managed environment, making it fun, safe and educational at the same time. It’s also a great indoor option for rainy days.

Visiting Shanghai Natural History Museum

• Tickets: 30 RMB ( approximately 3 USD) for adults and discount is provided for kids. Reserve in advance on website.
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 ( Tuesday-Sunday). Entry valid before 16:00.
• Best time: weekday mornings (visiting this museum might take up to 2-4 hours)
• Why visit: Shanghai Natural History Museum is one of the largest natural history and science museums in China.

The indoor exhibition is rich and well-arranged, covering diverse children interested topics, such as the evolution of life, the world of plants and animals, Earth and the environment, and the relationship between humans and nature.

More to be mentioned, there are also plenty of interactive displays for kids to experience. Strollers and wheelchairs are allowed in.

Wandering in Yu Garden

• Ticket: 40 RMB (approximately 5.5 USD) for Adults, 20 RMB (approximately 3 USD) for children and the elders.
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:30 (entry valid before 16:00)
• What to wear: soft colors\maxi dress
• Best time: opening hours for the garden
• Why visit: Yu Garden is a historical classical garden built during the Ming Dynasty (the 16th century) and offers a traditional Chinese cultural experience.

The garden itself is peaceful, while the surrounding market area is fulfilled of snacks and souvenirs. Kids will enjoy exploring the streets and trying local treats. As an open-air public site, strollers can be used without restriction.

Here, children can experience traditional Chinese culture in a more hand-on and interactive way than simply standing and observing in an indoor museum.

Relaxing in Century Park:

• Ticket: no tickets
• Opening hours: 24 hours all year
• Best time: weekdays and sunny days
• What to wear: sporty outfit/ casual wear
• What to bring: picnic blanket, champing chair, a change of clothes for the kids

Century Park is a symbolic park in Shanghai and a great place for families to relax. You can choose to have a sun bath, ride bikes along the lake, or simply let kids run freely on the grass.

It mainly includes seven scenic zones, including the lake area, scenic viewing area, lawn area, bird protection zone, farming culture area, international garden area, and also a mini golf zone. The park also provides refreshing air because of its high green coverage (over 80%).

Spending a few hours in Century Park would be a nice break from the busy city.

Experiencing Huangpu River Cruise

• Ticket: 2 RMB(approximately 3 cents)-1000 RMB(approximately 150 USD) depending on preference
• Opening hours: 24 hours openl year-round
• Best time: 19:00-21:00 for the cruise
• What to bring: seasickness medicine

A cruise along the Huangpu River is a must for you to experience. It offers you amazing views of the city skyline but different than Shibuya, Japan.

The cruise route includes famous sites such as Shanghai World Financial Center and Oriental Pearl Tower. It is also a great chance to take family photos on the open deck under stunning night view.

More importantly, cruises also provide stroller parking area on the first floor and indoor seating areas with soft seats and air conditioning, which adds to the comfort level of cruise trip especially for the kids.

It’s a relaxing activity for families when the city lights are on.

Shanghai Classic City Tour with Modern Attractions

Having Fun in Indoor Play Centers (Shopping Malls)

• Opening hours: normally 10:00-22:00, also open on Sundays

Don’t worry if you encounter rainy days in Shanghai. It has many high-quality indoor playgrounds, especially in shopping malls, and some malls also offer play areas.

These are perfect for younger children for offering safe and clean environments with slides and other creative play zones. Kids could even make local friends within hours by taking part in this interactive peer activity!

Shopping malls are generally stroller-friendly and accessible for elderly visitors and people with limited mobility. These areas are also equipped with elevators, family restrooms, child-friendly table sets in restaurants, and ensure a higher level of security than outdoor spaces.

Recommended Malls with kid-friendly Activities:

• Jing An Kerry Centre: Indoor children playground and family restaurants
• Shanghai IFC Mall: Kid’s activity stores and play areas with upscale environment
• Expo Mall: Wide range of professional children entertainment such as Qiaohu Happy Island

How Long to Stay & Sample Itineraries

For most families, 4–5 days are the ideal duration to stay. This gives you enough time to explore without rushing. It is also a reasonable amount of time to see the main highlights without overspending.

If you only have 3 days, you can still cover the highlights—but always expect a faster pace.

If you’re traveling with toddlers, planning slower days can make a big difference to the quality of your trip.

Here are some sample itineraries for your inspiration and reference. Please feel free to contact us if you want to tailor-make your personalized trip.

5-Day Shanghai Family Escape: Magic, Museums & Metropolis (0-4 toddlers )

• Day 1: Easy Arrival + a short walk nearby the accommodation.
• Day 2: Disneyland day
• Day 3: The Bund +Lujiazui + Aquarium
• Day 4: Yu Garden + Shanghai Natural History Museum
• Day 5: Shopping + Century Park visit + departure

Shanghai 3-Day Trip: Disney, Downtown Wonders & Science （Teenagers Age 10+)

• Day 1: The Bund + Lujiazui
• Day 2: Disneyland/ Shanghai Natural History Museum
• Day 3: Aquarium + shopping + departure

Best Day Trips from Shanghai for Families – Where to Go Next?

If you have extra time, consider a short trip from Shanghai:

Suzhou (about 30 minutes by high-speed train)

Suzhou is known for its classical gardens, canals and peaceful environment. It is great for a slow day of wandering through gardens, tasting traditional food, and giving your kids a glimpse of Jiangnan culture.

Hangzhou (1 hour by high-speed train)

West Lake is the typical landmark of Hangzhou. You can enjoy a peaceful family boat ride on West Lake, which feels very different from a Huangpu River cruise.

Since Hangzhou is also a big city, you can spend some time in its city center shopping for souvenirs.

Zhujiajiao Water Town (about 1 hour from downtown Shanghai by car)

Zhujiajiao Water Town is well known for its old stone bridges, narrow lanes, canals and small local shops.

It’s a good option for families, especially for a half-day or one-day trip for those with younger children. It is closer than Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Take a leisurely boat ride on the canals, stroll over the centuries-old bridges and taste local snacks.

Tips on Transport, food & smart planning Advice

Getting around Shanghai

Shanghai has a cheap and efficient metro system that covers most of the major attractions in the city center.

• Operating hours: approximately 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., though the actual first and last trains differ depending on the line and station (If possible, avoid the rush hours, especially from 7:30-9:30 am and 5:00-7:00 pm when the trains can get very crowded)
• Tickets: 3 RMB(approximately 4 cents) within 6 km, +1 RMB(approximately a1.5 cents) per additional 10 km. Most public transport offers free travel for children under 1.3m.

If you are traveling with a stroller, please bear in mind to look for stations with elevators, as some stations are not fully equipped.

Taxi apps like Didi are great if you’re travelling with young children, carrying luggage or returning to the hotel late at night, but traffic can be heavy during rush hours.

Dining out in Shanghai with kids

Shanghai is an open, international city and the food is diverse, including international food. So for picky eaters, it’s never an issue.

When you are in the Dianping app, you can always see real food photos and read tourists’ comments in advance to make a perfect choice. Local dishes tend to be slightly sweet and mild-flavored, which most children like.

There are many family-friendly restaurants in malls and main areas. They have clean toilets, lifts, baby change facilities and lots of eating places all in one spot. Here are some recommendations:

• Din Tai Fung: Xiaolongbao with clean, comfortable dining environment
• Blue Frog: Western-style burgers, pasta and kid-friendly options
• Element Fresh: Lighter fare (salads, sandwiches and smoothies). Located near Yu Garden for local snacks.

Good to mention, it is better to avoid peak meal times as many dining areas can be very crowded, which is 12:00–1:30 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m.

For popular restaurants, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance via the Dianping app or websites listed on Google Map.

Other Prep Tips to Know
Packing list: 

• Comfortable walking shoes,
• Clothes for the weather
• Snacks to comfort kids
• Wipes and a stroller ( if you have a toddler )
• Slippers and travel pillow(on the plane)
• Documents, passport, etc. that you will need

Useful Applications:

• Didi (transportation)
• Alipay/WeChat Pay (payments)
• Dianping (restaurants)
• translation apps

Build your Shanghai Family Trip with China Xian Tour

Still taking in all the information? It is always easier to plan a Shanghai family vacation with the support of a professional expert.
Our local guides have over 20 years’ experience. No worries, you will have a personalized itinerary, private transportation, and 24/7 assistance. Travelling with toddlers or teens? China Xian Tour can help make the journey smooth and stress free and tailor a perfect trip to meet your families needs. Feel free to get in touch with us at any time.

FAQs about Family Travel in Shanghai

Q1: Shanghai vs Beijing : Which City is the Best for Family Vacation?

Shanghai is generally more convenient and modern with high coverage of English usage. It’s more convenient for first-time family visitors. However, it has a lot in common with other international big cities worldwide.

Beijing keeps more historical sites and provides more experiences in traditional Chinese culture. It is more historically rich.

Both cities are symbolic and most visitors include both of them on their first trip to China. Which city is better depends on your travel preference and prioritize. >> See more about Beijing vs Shanghai

Q2: Where Can You Find the Best Indoor Activities in Shanghai When It Rains?

If it rains, you may take your family to indoor places such as the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum or indoor play centers in shopping malls. These sites are stroller friendly, accessible in a short time and fun for kids of all ages.