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Shanghai
China · 3-day guide

Shanghai in 3 Days: A Practical Itinerary

The Bund and a night cruise, Yu Garden and the Shanghai Tower, then a French Concession day — a practical three-day Shanghai plan with real stops, Chinese names for taxi drivers, MICHELIN-listed soup dumplings, budgets and the China setup to do before you fly.

By PlanAsiaTrips Last updated 2026-10-03 19 min read

Shanghai is only about five and a half hours from Singapore, visa-free for Singapore passports for up to 30 days, and easier than its size suggests: one metro line (Line 2) links Pudong Airport, the skyline, People's Square and Jing'an. Three days covers the essentials — the Bund, a Ming-dynasty garden, the view from China's tallest tower and the plane-tree lanes of the old French Concession — without rushing.

This plan keeps arrival day booking-free, puts Yu Garden first thing in the morning (it needs a real-name ticket and is closed on Mondays), crosses the river by one metro stop to Lujiazui, and ends on a French Concession day that runs straight to Line 2 for the airport. Every stop carries its Chinese name and address for drivers and Amap. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and a roaming plan or HK/SG-breakout eSIM before you fly.

At a glance

Ideal length
3–4 days
Where to base
People's Square / Nanjing Road East or Jing'an (West Nanjing Road)
Budget · mid-range
S$140–260 / day
Getting around
The Shanghai Metro reaches every stop in this guide.

Your day-by-day Shanghai route

A 3-day Shanghai route

Bund and river on arrival, Yu Garden then Lujiazui and the Shanghai Tower, and a French Concession day from Wukang Road to Xintiandi — grouped by metro line so you spend your time in places, not on trains.

The core first trip: Bund on arrival, Yu Garden then Lujiazui on Day 2 (one metro stop apart), and a full French Concession day that ends near Line 2 for Pudong Airport.

Day 1

Arrival — Nanjing Road, the Bund and the river at night

~6 km on footlow travel load
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains Nanjing Road's department stores and Raffles City keep you dry, and the cruise runs in light rain on enclosed decks. In a downpour, swap the Bund walk for the Shanghai Museum's ancient-Americas exhibition at People's Square (timed real-name ticket, so only if your flight is on time; closed Mondays; last entry 15:00) and see the lit Bund from the boat.

Add if you have time Landed early? Start at the Rockbund lanes and the Garden Bridge at the Bund's north end before lunch.

Day 2

Yu Garden and the old town, then Lujiazui's skyline

~7 km on footmedium travel load
Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner
Evening

If it rains Yu Garden's halls and covered corridors work in light rain; in heavy rain go straight from the bazaar to Lujiazui and spend longer in the Shanghai Tower and the IFC Mall. Skip the skywalk and riverside if it pours — on a foggy day the tower view disappears too, so check the forecast before buying.

Add if you have time Cross the river by Metro Line 14 (Yuyuan Garden to Lujiazui is one stop) or take the ¥2 Jinling Road ferry (last sailings about 18:15 in winter, 18:30 in summer).

Day 3

French Concession — Wukang Road to Xintiandi

~8 km on footmedium travel load
Morning
Lunch
Afternoon
Dinner

If it rains Mostly outdoor streets: in steady rain, keep Wukang Mansion for a quick photo, then spend the middle of the day in the Shanghai Museum's ancient-Americas exhibition at People's Square (timed ticket; closed Mondays) or the Natural History Museum (book; closed Tuesdays) before Xintiandi's covered lanes.

Add if you have time Add Fuxing Park and Sinan Mansions on the walk between Tianzifang and Xintiandi.

Route last checked 2026-10-03 — verify hours and bookings before you go.

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Where to stay in Shanghai

Stay within a short walk of Metro Line 2 — it links People's Square, Jing'an, Lujiazui and both airports. Hotels register your passport with the police at check-in (required within 24 hours); most mid-range and international hotels take foreign guests, but some small guesthouses and homestays still cannot, so check that the listing accepts foreign passports. Prices are per room per night and jump during Golden Week (1–7 Oct), Chinese New Year and big trade-fair weeks.

People's Square / Nanjing Road East

First-timers, transport, walking to the Bund

Jing'an (West Nanjing Road)

Mid-range to luxury, shopping, Line 2 to the airports

Former French Concession / Xintiandi

Couples, cafés, boutique hotels

The Bund

Heritage splurge with river views

Lujiazui (Pudong)

Skyline-view rooms, quick Line 2 to Pudong Airport

By budget

Prices and foreign-guest acceptance change. Confirm the current rate and that the property can register a foreign passport before you pay.

What to budget for Shanghai

Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.

Budget

S$60–115 / day
  • Accommodation: Chain hotel or hostel near a Line 2 station (¥250–450 a room; dorm beds from about ¥100).
  • Meals: Xiaolongbao, shengjian, noodle shops and halal Lanzhou noodles (¥20–60 a meal).
  • Transport: Metro by card tap or Alipay QR (¥3–8 a ride); walk between close stops.
  • Attractions: Yu Garden (¥30–40) and Shanghai Museum East (free) are the essentials. Skip the Shanghai Tower deck — the Lujiazui skywalk and riverside are free — and swap the cruise for the ¥2 Jinling Road ferry (last sailings about 18:15–18:30) or a night walk to the Garden Bridge.
  • Evening: Free night views from the Bund and the Lujiazui riverside, snacks in the Yuyuan Bazaar.

Mid-range

S$140–260 / day
  • Accommodation: 4-star or boutique hotel in People's Square, Jing'an or the French Concession (¥600–1,200 a room).
  • Meals: Bib Gourmand Shanghainese and xiaolongbao, one MICHELIN-starred meal (¥60–250 a meal).
  • Transport: Metro plus DiDi for evenings and luggage.
  • Attractions: Yu Garden, the Shanghai Tower deck (¥180), a river cruise (about ¥120–150) and the Suzhou gardens.
  • Evening: River cruise, Xintiandi bars, a Shanghainese dinner.

Comfortable

S$350–800 / day
  • Accommodation: 5-star hotel on the Bund or in Lujiazui (¥1,800–4,500 a room).
  • Meals: MICHELIN-starred Shanghainese and Cantonese, hairy crab in season (¥300–1,500 a head).
  • Transport: DiDi or hotel car between areas; metro for quick hops.
  • Attractions: Everything, including the Shanghai Tower's upper damper level and a private guide for Suzhou.
  • Evening: Bund rooftop bars, the ERA show, a hairy-crab dinner.

When to visit Shanghai

Weather, daylight and holiday crowds vary year to year. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast, the daily AQI (english.mee.gov.cn, aqicn.org or IQAir) and official event calendars close to your dates.

Winter Dec, Jan, Feb

Cold and damp, roughly 1–10°C, with occasional frost and rare snow; older buildings are poorly heated.

Lean on indoor sights — Shanghai Museum East, the Natural History Museum, the Shanghai Tower — and do outdoor walks around midday.

Look out for: Yu Garden Lantern Festival around the Lunar New Year, Hairy crab season tails off in December

Spring Mar, Apr, May

Mild and changeable, roughly 8–25°C.

Carry an umbrella and keep a museum in reserve for showery afternoons.

Look out for: Spring blossom in parks and the Suzhou gardens, Labour Day holiday (1–5 May)

Summer Jun, Jul, Aug

Hot and humid, often 30–37°C in July and August.

Sightsee early and late, spend midday in museums and malls, and save the Bund and the river for after dark.

Look out for: Plum-rain season, Evening river views at their best on clear nights

Autumn Sep, Oct, Nov

The best season: roughly 12–28°C, drier and clearer.

Ideal walking weather — give the French Concession and the riverside more time; book hairy-crab dinners ahead.

Look out for: Hairy crab season (roughly October–December), Osmanthus blossom in late September and October

Common Shanghai mistakes to avoid

Good to know in Shanghai

Getting around

  • Metro first: Lines 2 (east–west through People's Square, Jing'an and Lujiazui to Pudong Airport), 10 and 14 (Yu Garden), 1 and 13 (Xintiandi, French Concession) cover almost everything here. Most lines run from about 05:30 to 23:00.
  • Expect a bag X-ray at every metro and railway station entrance; allow a few extra minutes.
  • Navigate with Amap (English interface) or Apple Maps. Search places by their Chinese name or address — Google Maps is blocked on Chinese networks and its China map is offset.
  • DiDi and metered taxis are cheap for short hops and late nights; keep your destination in Chinese.
  • Cross the river cheaply on the ¥2 Jinling Road–Dongchang Road ferry (about 07:00–18:30 April–October, 07:15–18:15 November–March; no night sailings) or one stop on Metro Line 14 from Yuyuan Garden to Lujiazui.
  • Train tickets are real-name: book on Railway 12306 (12306.cn/en; foreign cards accepted, no booking fee) or Trip.com with your passport, up to 15 days ahead (the travel day counts). Show the same passport at the station entrance, the platform gate and the exit; arrive 60–90 minutes early at Hongqiao, and check the stop-boarding time — gates close a few minutes before departure.
  • Avoid 07:30–09:30 and 17:00–19:00 on the metro with luggage.

Tap a contactless chip card with small no-PIN payments switched on at any metro gate (network-wide since 28 Jun 2025, officially a pilot), or open the metro ride code in Alipay (Transport) or the Met…

Money & connectivity

  • China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Before you fly, register both with your +65 number, link a Singapore Visa/Mastercard/Amex/JCB, complete passport verification and make a small test payment; tell your bank you are travelling (first foreign transactions are often blocked as fraud). Fees: Alipay charges nothing up to ¥200 and 3% of the whole amount above it; WeChat Pay charges nothing under ¥200 and 3% above (new international-card users get 60 days fee-free under ¥1,000, capped at ¥30 saved per transaction), plus your card's own FX fee of about 3–3.5%. Singapore options: DBS Remit can fund your own Weixin Pay balance fee-free, and the OCBC app scans Weixin Pay, Alipay+ and UnionPay QR codes (no extra OCBC fee). Changi Pay stopped overseas Alipay/Alipay+ QR payments on 1 Oct 2026. Cards work at star-rated hotels, A-level attractions, big malls, international chains, the metro gates, 12306, Trip.com and DiDi — pay large hotel and mall bills by card to avoid the 3% wallet fee. Since 1 Feb 2026 shops that serve customers face to face must accept RMB cash; carry ¥500–1,000 in ¥10/¥20/¥50 notes as backup. Bank of China ATMs (English menus) are the most reliable — expect a local fee of about ¥20–30 and a cap of about ¥2,500–3,000 per withdrawal, plus your own bank's charges. Limits for visitors: US$5,000 per transaction, US$50,000 a year.
  • Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube), WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook, X, ChatGPT and most Western news sites are blocked on Chinese networks — local SIMs, hotel and café Wi-Fi. Easiest: roam on your Singapore plan (data routes home, so blocked apps work) or buy a travel eSIM with Hong Kong/Singapore breakout ('no VPN needed'). A local China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom SIM bought at the airport with your passport (about ¥100–200 for 30 days, per third-party guides) is cheap but filtered; tourists can't get domestic eSIMs. Don't count on a VPN — only licensed ones are legal and consumer VPNs are unreliable. Keep your Singapore SIM active for SMS one-time passwords (dual SIM: eSIM for data, SG SIM for SMS). Install before you fly: Alipay, WeChat, Amap, DiDi, Railway 12306 and Trip.com, NIA 12367, an offline translator, and RedNote/Dianping for local tips. Apple Maps works without a VPN.
  • Tipping is not customary — restaurants, taxis and hotels don't expect it, and upscale hotel restaurants may already add a 10–15% service charge (don't add more). Exceptions: private guides about ¥100–200 a day per group, private drivers ¥50–100 a day, porters ¥10–20 (optional). Give tips in cash, with both hands.

Local etiquette

  • Your passport is your ID for everything — hotel check-in, trains, Yu Garden, museums, SIM cards. Carry the physical passport (16 and over must carry it at all times); photos and copies are not accepted at gates.
  • Mandarin works everywhere in Shanghai and the script is Simplified Chinese, the same as Singapore. Older locals chat in Shanghainese among themselves.
  • Scan-to-order is standard: scan the table QR code to order and pay. Ask for a paper menu (纸质菜单) if your apps fail.
  • Shanghainese food leans sweet and soy-braised (hong shao); xiaolongbao are eaten by nipping the skin and sipping the soup first — they are scalding.
Entry reminder: Singapore ordinary passports enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days per entry under the China–Singapore mutual visa exemption (in force since 9 Feb 2024; still listed by China's MFA in May 2026 and confirmed by ICA and MFA Singapore). The 30 days count from 00:00 on the day after you arrive — arrive 1 Nov, leave by 23:59 on 1 Dec — so keep a day in hand. It covers tourism, visiting family, business meetings and other private trips only; work, news reporting and commissioned or paid filming need a visa, and repeat visitors should treat 90 days in any 180 as a cap. Carry a passport valid for the whole stay (6 months is the safe norm because airlines may check), plus your return ticket and first hotel booking. Fill in the arrival card online before you fly (NIA website s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the 'NIA 12367' app or the WeChat/Alipay mini-program) or use the kiosks in the immigration hall. At customs, declare cash over ¥20,000 or foreign currency worth more than US$5,000; fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are restricted, and drones must be registered and activated before flying. Hotels register you with the police at check-in; in an Airbnb or private home you or your host must register within 24 hours. Other passports follow different rules — check your own requirements, and re-confirm on ICA and MFA Singapore before you travel. Last checked 2026-10-03.

Police: 110 · Ambulance: 120 · Fire: 119 · Traffic accidents: 122 · China Immigration Service hotline (visas, arrival card, stays): 12367 · Shanghai city hotline: 12345 · Consulate-General of Singapore in Shanghai: 89 Wanshan Road (上海市万山路89号), +86-21-6278 5566 — covers Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu (including Suzhou) and Zhejiang. · MFA 24-hour Consular Response Centre: +65 6379 8800 (mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg). eRegister your trip at eregister.mfa.gov.sg before you go. · Lost passport: report it to the local police, then to ICA online with Singpass; get a new passport or Document of Identity from the Consulate with the police report, a photo and proof of citizenship; then apply for a Chinese Exit Permit at the Exit-Entry bureau (normally about 5 working days). · Tap water is not safe to drink — use bottled or boiled water. · Keep your hotel name and address in Chinese on your phone and on paper for taxis and emergencies.

Shanghai — frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough for Shanghai?

3–4 days is the usual recommendation for Shanghai. The plan here runs to 3 days, and the full guide builds routes from 2–6 days — so you can shorten or extend it to fit your trip.

What food is Shanghai known for?

Shanghai's highlights include Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (Yu Garden), Jia Jia Tang Bao (Huanghe Road), Da Hu Chun (Middle Sichuan Road), Lao Zheng Xing, Wu You Xian and more. Each is linked to Google Maps in the route above; famous spots queue at peak times, so go off-peak or pick a neighbouring stall.

Where should I stay in Shanghai?

Good bases include People's Square / Nanjing Road East (First-timers, transport, walking to the Bund); Jing'an (West Nanjing Road) (Mid-range to luxury, shopping, Line 2 to the airports); Former French Concession / Xintiandi (Couples, cafés, boutique hotels). See "Where to stay" above for the full breakdown by budget.

How much does Shanghai cost per day?

Roughly around S$60–115 a day on a budget, S$140–260 mid-range, S$350–800 comfortable per person, excluding flights and accommodation swings. See "Budget" above for what each tier covers.

When is the best time to visit Shanghai?

Weather, daylight and holiday crowds vary year to year. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast, the daily AQI (english.mee.gov.cn, aqicn.org or IQAir) and official event calendars close to your dates. See "When to go" above for the month-by-month detail.

How do I pay in Shanghai as a Singaporean?

Mostly by Alipay or WeChat Pay with your Singapore card linked — set both up, verify your passport and make a test payment before you fly, and tell your bank you're travelling. Both wallets are free up to ¥200 and charge 3% above that on foreign cards (plus your card's FX fee), so pay big hotel and mall bills by card directly. The OCBC app can scan Weixin Pay, Alipay+ and UnionPay codes, and DBS Remit can top up your own Weixin Pay balance; Changi Pay's overseas QR payments ended on 1 Oct 2026. Shops must accept RMB cash since 1 Feb 2026, so carry ¥500–1,000 in small notes as backup. The metro takes contactless Visa and Mastercard at every gate.

Do I need a visa for China?

Singapore ordinary passports enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days per entry under the China–Singapore mutual visa exemption (in force since 9 Feb 2024; still listed by China's MFA in May 2026 and confirmed by ICA and MFA Singapore). The 30 days count from 00:00 on the day after you arrive — arrive 1 Nov, leave by 23:59 on 1 Dec — so keep a day in hand. It covers tourism, visiting family, business meetings and other private trips only; work, news reporting and commissioned or paid filming need a visa, and repeat visitors should treat 90 days in any 180 as a cap. Carry a passport valid for the whole stay (6 months is the safe norm because airlines may check), plus your return ticket and first hotel booking. Fill in the arrival card online before you fly (NIA website s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the 'NIA 12367' app or the WeChat/Alipay mini-program) or use the kiosks in the immigration hall. At customs, declare cash over ¥20,000 or foreign currency worth more than US$5,000; fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are restricted, and drones must be registered and activated before flying. Hotels register you with the police at check-in; in an Airbnb or private home you or your host must register within 24 hours. Other passports follow different rules — check your own requirements, and re-confirm on ICA and MFA Singapore before you travel.

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