Where to Stay in Shanghai (2026): Best Areas & Hotels for Travelers

Written by Natalia | Updated August 21,2025

Shanghai is undoubtedly one of the must-visit cities for most tourists when they plan a China tour. As an international metropoli, Shanghai covers a large area, so the choice of hotels in Shanghai will directly influence your trip efficiency, transportation costs and travel experience.

And the transportation convenience is of great importance, because the accessibility of transportation varies greatly among different regions. And the hotel types and price also quite different in all areas. To help you choose where to stay in Shanghai, here below are the recommended areas with its features and recommended hotels.

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• Best Areas to Stay in Shanghai – quick review
• The Bund – Classic Skyline Views
• People’s Square / East Nanjing Road – City Center
• Lujiazui (Pudong) – Modern Shanghai
• French Concession – Charming, Walkable Neighborhood
• Jing’an District
• Xintiandi
• Hongqiao
• Pudong Airport Area
• Tips for Booking Hotels in Shanghai
• Join Our Shanghai Tours

Best Areas to Stay in Shanghai – quick review

The Bund – Classic Skyline Views

As one the must-visit scenic spots in Shanghai tour, The Bund boasts a spectacular view of Huangpu River and the classic skyline views of skyscrapers cluster across the river, which is the landmark of Shanghai. Especially when the lights are on at night, you can feel the modernity of this international metropolis. Except for the modern buildings, you can also indulge in the historical architectures along the Bund such as the Peace Hotel to feel the luxury of the Golden age of Shanghai.

Locate in the city center, the transportation nearby is quite convenient with metro lines 2 and 10. And there are several hot scenic spots such as Yu Garden, Nanjing Road and City God Temple in walking distance. A variety of high-end theme exhibitions and fashion activities are usually held in the Bund, you can take part in the one you like. Besides, business districts are densely distributed in the surrounding area. Compared with other hotels in Shanghai, there are more luxury and high-end hotel in this area.

Recommended hotels

1. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund

• Nearby attractions: Yu Garden
• Metro: line 2 and 10 (East Nanjing Road station), line 10 and 14 (Yu Garden station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 2600 – 5500

2. Fairmont Peace Hotel

• Nearby attractions: Nanjing Road
• Metro: line 2 and 10 (East Nanjing Roads station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 2700 – 4800

Recommended tours:

Best Shanghai Day Tour with Flexible Choices

4 Days Private Shanghai Highlights Tour

People’s Square / East Nanjing Road – City Center

People’s Square / East Nanjing Road is definitely the transportation hub of Shanghai, with metro line 1, 2 and 8 in People’s Square Station and line 2 and 10 in East Nanjing Road Station. So if you want to have an easy access to all main tourists attractions and airports, living in this area will be the best among all hotels in Shanghai.

Surrounded by several hot scenic spots like Exotic Building Clusters, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, and Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street and various shopping malls, it is an ideal place for tourists to take a walk, go shopping and taste local snacks. As for hotels, except the high-end, there are also some economy hotels with an average price of 400 – 500 for you to choose.

Recommended hotels

1. The Treasure Hotel Nanjing Road East

• Nearby attractions: People’s Square, Nanjing Road
• Metro: line 1, 2 and 8 (People’s Square station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 800 – 1600

2. Jinjiang Metropolo Classiq Bund Nanjing Road

• Nearby attractions: Nanjing Road
• Metro: line 2 and 10(East Nanjing Roads station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 600 – 1500

Recommended tours:

Shanghai Classic City Tour

3 Days Best Shanghai Tour with Zhujiajiao Water Town

Lujiazui (Pudong) – Modern Shanghai

The landmarks Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao Tower are all located in Lujiazui. If you are living in the high-rise hotel here, you can have a direct view of the skyscrapers and enjoy the light show of Oriental Pearl. Walking 5 minutes to the free riverside green space, you will get the excellent camera position of The Bund and the architectural complex in Pudong, the landscapes are extremely splendid at dusk.

With metro lines 2, 9 and 14 at Lujiazui station, you can reach The Bund in 10 minutes and reach other major scenic areas in short time. Cross-river tunnels and ferries are the special transportation in old Shanghai which connect to the Puxi District directly. Besides, several luxury malls and high-end and popular restaurants gather in Lujiazui. There are more high-end business hotels in Lujiazui, so it is the best place to stay in Shanghai for business travelers. Besides, the high-end and mid-end hotels are also abundant.

Recommended hotels

1. The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, Pudong

• Nearby attractions: Oriental Pearl Tower, Riverside Park
• Metro: line 2 and 14 (Lujiazui station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 2300 – 5500

2. J Hotel Shanghai Tower

• Nearby attractions: Shanghai World Financial Center
• Metro: line 2and 14 (Lujiazui station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 3000 – 6800

Recommended tours:

Shanghai Classic City Tour with Modern Attractions

8 Days Beijing – Xian – Shanghai Highlights Tour

French Concession – Charming, Walkable Neighborhood

French Concession is featured by its unique historical atmosphere, architectural aesthetics, convenience of life and sense of cultural immersion. The largest garden villa cluster is situated here which cover classic styles of French Renaissance, English Country, Spanish Charm, Fairy Tale Castle.

Enjoy a leisure time to wander along the street with luxuriant trees on both sides. And pay a visit to the cafes, bookstores, characteristic stores, and art exhibitions along the street to feel the local culture. Different from other hotels in Shanghai, most boutique hotels here are in various architectural styles of England, north Europe and Japan, etc. So you will have a quite different experience if living in French Concession.

Recommended hotels

1. Seclusive Luxury Hotel Wukang Mansion

• Nearby attractions: Former Residence of Ba Jin, Wukang Mansion
• Metro: line 10 (Shanghai Library station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 1,500 – 7,000

2. Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li

• Nearby attractions: Jing’an Temple
• Metro: line 1 (Hengshan Road station), line 7 and 9 (Zhaojiabang station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 5,000 – 10,000

Recommended tours:

One Day Old Shanghai City Tour

3 Days Classic Private Shanghai City Tour

Jing’an District

The metro lines are dense in Jing’an District with line 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, and several stations connect the main scenic spots and airport directly. So the transportation is quite convenient if you living in this area. The accommodation choice also covers from luxurious landmarks to economy hotel. So the hotel in this area can meet needs of various populations.

Besides, the density of commercial complexes leads the city, with Jing’an Temple business circle and West Nanjing Road business circle and also Wujiang Road snack street. Equipped with several parks, such as Butterfly Bay Park, Daning Park and Jing’an Sculpture Park where you can enjoy a relaxing time with kids, this area is the best area to stay in Shanghai for families.

Recommended hotels

1. The Kunglun Jing’an

• Nearby attractions: Jing’an Temple, Nanjing West Road, jing’an Sculpture Park
• Metro: lines 2, 7 and 14 (Jing’an Temple Station)
• Hotel price range:800 – 3500

2. Swissôtel Grand Shanghai

• Nearby attractions: Jing’an Temple, Jiuguang Department Store
• Metro: lines 2, 7 and 14 (Jing’an Temple Station)
• Hotel price range:800 – 1600

Xintiandi

Gathering numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, local time-honored brands and popular delicacies, Xintiandi in Shanghai is a an ideal place for food lovers. There are also various boutiques and bars, making it a paradise for shopping and nightlife. Among hotels in Shanghai, the historical guesthouse in this area is quite characteristic. There are also luxury and high-end cost-effective hotels.

You will have a intense sense of space-time interweaving here, since the Xintiandi is transformed from the Shikumen Alley of the early 20th century. The original ancient architectural style is remained while the stores inside are in modern style, so forming the unique landscape of “ancient on the outside and trendy on the inside”.

Recommended hotels

1. The Langham, Shanghai, Xintiandi

• Nearby attractions: Shikumen Block, Taiping Bridge Artificial Lake
• Metro: line 10 and 13 (Xintiandi station), line 1 and 14 (South Huangpi Road station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 1,800 – 5,500

2. Tusue Selected·Stay Hotel (Xintiandi Tianzifang)

• Nearby attractions: Tianzifang Art District, Sinan Mansions
• Metro: line 9 and 13 (Madang Road station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 550 – 1000

Hongqiao

Hongqiao is a comprehensive transportation hub in Shanghai with both airport, high-speed railway station, metro and long-distance bus, so you can reach not only the scenic spots inside the city, but also the nearby tourists cities in about 2 hours. If you want to have a ecology experience with your kids, there are also Suzhou River Ecological Corridor, Shanghai Zoo, and Beigang Garden Farm.

Besides, the several shopping malls and business circle can satisfy your shopping needs. The price of hotels with same stars in this area is about 20% – 30% lower than other hotels in Shanghai, so it is also suitable for budget travelers.

Recommended hotels

1. Hongqiao State Guest House

• Nearby attractions: Shanghai Zoo, Suzhou River Ecological Corridor, Golden Street
• Metro: line 10 (Shicheng Road station), line 15 (Hongbaoshi Road station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 1,200 – 3,500

2. Cordis Shanghai Hongqiao

• Nearby attractions: The Hub Shopping Center, Qibao Old Street, National Convention and Exhibition Centre
• Metro: line 2, 10 and 17 (Hongqiao Railway Station station), line 2, 10 and airport link line (Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 1,200 – 3,500

Pudong Airport Area

The Pudong Airport area is the first choice for travelers need to catch flights or layover. Since some nearby hotels offer 24-hour free airport shuttle service. With both maglev train, airport link line and metro line 2 available, tourists can also reach the city center in about one hour. And the hotel price is about 20% – 50% lower than that of the same star hotels in Shanghai.

Recommended hotels

1. Holiday Inn Shanghai Pudong Airport

• Nearby attractions: Disneyland Park (offer free shuttle bus, takes only 40 minutes)
• Metro: maglev train, airport link line, line 2 (Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2 station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 750 – 2,000

2. Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Shanghai Pudong Airport

• Nearby attractions: Florence Town Outlets, Flight simulation cockpit experience
• Metro: line 2 (Haitian Third Road station)
• Hotel price range: CNY 550 – 1,500

Tips for Booking Hotels in Shanghai

1. Remember to book at least 30 days in advance for best rates, and some popular hotels such as those with view rooms need to book more earlier.
2. To ensure your rights, please use major platforms, such as Booking, Agoda, Trip.com.
3. Take into account theChinese holidays before your tour, such as Golden Week, spring festival, etc, the hotel price will be 30% – 50% higher than lower season and the rooms are in short supply.
4. Please check cancellation policies, whether it is allowed to free cancellation 7 to 14 days in advance, or can not be canceled once reserved.

Join Our Shanghai Tours

If you are planing a Shanghai travel but have no idea about what the must-visit tourists attractions are or where to stay in Shanghai, just contact with us right now. Our travel agency has abundant experience in planing trips in Shanghai, and also can customize the trip based on your preferences. Of course, we can book the hotel for you in advance and arrange a professional guide, so that you enjoy the tour leisurely.