When to Go
Best Time to Visit
March–May, September–November. Mild and dry shoulder seasons; summers are humid and tropical-storm prone.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$60/day
Mid-range
$150/day
Luxury
$420/day
Cheap dumpling lunches keep budgets honest; riverfront hotels with skyline views push the top.
With Kids
Family Travel
Shanghai Disney, the Science and Technology Museum, a Bund stroll with skyline photos.
Together
Couples Travel
A Huangpu River cruise, rooftop drinks above the Bund, French Concession café afternoons.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
English-friendly on the Bund and in tourist districts; hostels in the French Concession make solo nights easy.
Food
What to Eat
- Xiaolongbao. Soup-filled pork dumplings — Din Tai Fung is global, the local lane shops are better.
- Shengjianbao. Pan-fried pork buns with crispy bottoms — the Shanghai breakfast.
- Red-braised pork. Slow-cooked pork belly in soy and sugar — the Mao Zedong signature dish.
- Hairy crab. Steamed crab with vinegar dip — peak season is October–November.
Transportation
Getting Around
Metro is fast, cheap, and English-signed; the Maglev links Pudong airport in 8 minutes.
Download Didi to call cars; the Bund and Yu Garden are walkable from each other on a good day.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- The Bund. Riverfront promenade — colonial architecture facing the Pudong skyline.
- French Concession. Tree-lined streets with cafés, boutiques, the city’s most stylish blocks.
- Pudong. New financial district — the futuristic skyline, observation decks, big malls.
What to Know
Safety
Very safe overall. Watch the airport taxi scams and pickpockets in the Bund crowds; otherwise low risk.