🇨🇳 Shanghai — First Timer's 3-Day Itinerary

Updated: July 2026 · Read time: 12 min

Day 1: The Bund, Nanjing Road & French Concession

Morning (9:00 — 12:00): The Bund & Nanjing Road

Start at East Nanjing Road metro station (Lines 2 & 10). Walk east toward the Bund — yes, it's touristy, yes, it's worth it.

The Bund promenade gives you the iconic Pudong skyline view. Best photos: early morning (before 9am, fewer crowds) or after sunset (lights on).

Pro tip: Don't take a Huangpu River cruise (¥150, crowded). Take the ¥2 ferry from Jinling East Road Ferry Terminal instead — same view, 1/75th the price.

Lunch: Jia Jia Tang Bao (佳家汤包)

127 Huanghe Road, near People's Square. Best xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Shanghai. Pork & crab mix (蟹粉鲜肉) is the must-order. Expect a 20-minute queue — it moves fast. ~¥40/person.

Afternoon (14:00 — 17:00): French Concession

Metro to South Shaanxi Road (Lines 1, 10, 12). Spend the afternoon wandering:

• Wukang Road (武康路): The most photogenic street. Plane trees, 1920s architecture, Wukang Mansion.
• Anfu Road (安福路): Boutique shops, good coffee (try Manner Coffee, local chain).
• Ferguson Lane (武康庭): Hidden courtyard with cafes and galleries.

Evening: Yunnan Road Food Street (云南南路)

Skip the overpriced Bund restaurants. Head to Yunnan Road for:

• Xiao Yang Sheng Jian (小杨生煎): Pan-fried pork buns. Crispy bottom, juicy inside. ¥15 for 4.
• Yan'An Lamb Skewers: Uyghur-style BBQ lamb. ¥5/skewer.

Day 2: Yu Garden, Tianzifang & Drinks with a View

Morning (9:00 — 11:00): Yu Garden (豫园)

Metro to Yuyuan Garden (Lines 10, 14). The garden itself (¥40) is worth seeing, but the surrounding bazaar is a tourist trap — buy nothing, just look.

One exception: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant (南翔馒头店) on the 2nd floor of the old building. Tourist pricing but genuinely good crab xiaolongbao.

Afternoon (13:00 — 16:00): Tianzifang (田子坊) & Sinan Road

Tianzifang is a labyrinth of alleyways turned art/market district. Crowded on weekends. If you hate crowds: skip it, go to Sinan Mansions (思南公馆) instead — same old-Shanghai vibe, zero crowds.

Evening: Rooftop Bar with a View

Don't pay ¥180 to go up Shanghai Tower. Instead:

• Flair Rooftop (Ritz-Carlton Pudong, 58F): Best view of the Bund. Cocktails ¥100-130.
• Captain Bar (The Bund, 6F): Cheaper, younger crowd. Beer ¥50-70.
• Budget option: Buy a beer at FamilyMart (¥10), drink it on the Bund promenade. Same view, zero markup.

Day 3: Day Trip to Suzhou (苏州)

Getting There

High-speed train from Shanghai Station or Hongqiao Station → Suzhou Station: 25-30 minutes, ¥40-70. Trains every 10-15 minutes. Book on Trip.com.

Suzhou Itinerary

• Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园): The most famous classical Chinese garden. ¥80. Go early.
• Pingjiang Road (平江路): Canal-side street with tea houses and silk shops.
• Tiger Hill (虎丘): Suzhou's iconic leaning pagoda. ¥80. Less crowded than the gardens.
• Lunch: Tongdexing Noodle (同得兴) — Suzhou-style noodle soup. The spring onion oil noodles (葱油拌面) are legendary.

Pro tip: Skip the tour groups. Suzhou is walkable. Wander the small lanes between Pingjiang Road and Guanqian Street — that's the real Suzhou.

Practical Shanghai Tips

Where to Stay

Getting Around

• Metro: 19 lines, clean, safe, English signs everywhere. ¥3-9 per ride. Get a Shanghai Public Transport Card at any station.
• Didi: Cheaper than Uber back home. ¥20-50 for most trips within the city.
• Bike sharing: Meituan Bike (yellow) and Hello Bike (blue). ¥1.5/30 min. Need Alipay to unlock.

Food Budget Guide