Short answer
Shanghai splits into Puxi (west of the Huangpu river — the Bund, the old city, People's Square, the former French Concession) and Pudong (east — Lujiazui's skyline and the museums). Three days covers one day on each side plus a third for a canal town or the leafy streets most visitors end up liking best. Base yourself near People's Square, Nanjing Road or Jing'an and the plan runs on the metro.
Only the timed-ticket attractions are worth booking before you fly: an observation deck, Yu Garden in peak season, and any blockbuster exhibition. Everything else here is walk-up. Shanghai's headline museums are free and, for individual visitors, generally no longer require a reservation — your passport is your ID at the door.
Two rules keep the days comfortable. Do the crowded outdoor things early; Yu Garden and the Bund are both much better before 10am. And treat the metro as the plan, not the fallback — central traffic is bad, and almost every stop below sits near a Line 2 or Line 10 station.
The shape of three days
Each day stays in one part of the city, so you are not crossing the river three times.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Old city and the river | Yu Garden and the bazaar, early | People's Square: Shanghai Museum, then Nanjing Road on foot | The Bund at dusk, when Pudong lights up |
| 2 — Pudong, or a canal town | Lujiazui's towers, or the metro to Zhujiajiao | Pudong's museums, or the water town's canals | River cruise, or dinner back in Puxi |
| 3 — Neighbourhoods | Former French Concession on foot | Tianzifang's lanes, then Xintiandi | Whatever you missed — Jing'an Temple or M50 |
Day 1, the old city, the square and the Bund
Yu Garden and the bazaar (early)
Yu Garden is a Ming-dynasty classical garden, and the walled garden itself is a small, ticketed space inside a much larger free bazaar. Go at opening: by mid-morning the lanes around it, and the zig-zag Jiuqu Bridge over the pond, are shoulder to shoulder, and the garden's narrow paths become a queue rather than a walk.
Metro: Line 10 to Yuyuan Garden. The bazaar, bridge and street food are outside the walls and cost nothing. The garden ticket is sold separately, buy ahead in holiday periods, and check the official booking channel for current price and session times rather than a reseller's page.
People's Square and the Shanghai Museum
People's Square is the transport centre of Puxi, Lines 1, 2 and 8 meet here, and it holds the city's biggest museum. There are now two Shanghai Museum buildings, and they are not the same experience.
| People's Square building | East building (Pudong) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00–17:00, last entry 16:00 | 10:00–18:00, last admission 17:00 |
| Closed | Mondays | Tuesdays |
| Admission | Free; special exhibitions ticketed separately | Free; some galleries need separate booking |
| What's there | Rotating international special exhibitions | The core permanent collection of Chinese art |
| Getting in | Walk in with your passport | Walk in with your passport at the B1 east entrance |
For a first visit the East building is the one that shows you the collection. It is on Century Avenue in Pudong, so it pairs with Day 2 if you would rather not cross the river twice.
The Bund at dusk
The Bund is the waterfront promenade on the Puxi side, free and open at all hours. Come once in daylight for the colonial-era bank buildings behind you, and once after dark when the Pudong towers opposite light up; that second pass is the one people remember. Metro: Line 2 or Line 10 to East Nanjing Road, then walk east.
River cruise piers sit along the Bund and on the Pudong side, with evening sailings from several operators. Buy at the pier or through an official channel; treat any price quoted on the street as negotiable at best.
Day 2, Pudong, or a canal town
Option A: Lujiazui and the towers
Lujiazui is the skyline you have seen in photographs: Shanghai Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Oriental Pearl Tower, all within a few blocks on Line 2 (Lujiazui station). Each has an observation deck with its own timed ticket. Buy ahead and pick your day for visibility, Shanghai's haze is real, and a cloudy deck is an expensive let-down. Pair it with the Shanghai Museum East building on Century Avenue, or the free elevated walkway that loops between the towers.
Option B: Zhujiajiao, the water town
To see old China rather than new, spend the day at Zhujiajiao, the most reachable of the canal towns around Shanghai. It is genuinely a metro trip, not an excursion.
- Ride Line 2 west to Hongqiao Railway StationNot Hongqiao Airport, the railway station is a separate stop, and it is where Line 2 meets Line 17.
- Change to Line 17 toward Oriental LandZhujiajiao station is one stop before the terminus, about 35 to 45 minutes out.
- Walk from the station to the old townRoughly 10 to 15 minutes on signed pedestrian routes. It is not beside the famous bridge, whatever a tout tells you.
- Decide about the joint ticketThe streets, bridges and canal views are free. The paid joint ticket covers the gardens and halls, skip it for a canal walk.
The town's attractions run daytime hours and close in the late afternoon. Joint-ticket prices and inclusions change, and the visitor centre is the honest source; it is also where tickets are collected.
Day 3, the former French Concession and the lanes
This is the day most people underrate and then love. The former French Concession is a residential district of plane-tree avenues, 1920s villas and small cafés. There is no single sight, and the point is to walk it without a plan. Fuxing Park is free and full of locals doing tai chi, dancing and cards.
- Tianzifang, converted lane houses with studios, shops and small bars. Metro: Line 10 to Dapuqiao. Crowded from late morning; quiet before 10am.
- Xintiandi, the polished, restored version of the same idea, with the site of the First CPC National Congress next door. Metro: Line 10 or Line 13 to Xintiandi.
With energy left, Jing'an Temple (Lines 2 and 7) and the M50 art district are easy add-ons. With children, Disneyland is on Line 11 and will consume a full day of its own.
What to book ahead, and what not to
| Attraction | Book ahead? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Observation decks (Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl) | Yes | Timed tickets, capped capacity, sold out on clear weekends |
| Yu Garden | In peak season | Small walled space; sessions fill on holidays |
| Shanghai Museum, both buildings | Usually not | Free and walk-in; only special exhibitions need tickets |
| The Bund, Nanjing Road, Tianzifang, Xintiandi, Fuxing Park | No | Open public space, no admission |
| Zhujiajiao | Only for the joint ticket | The town itself is open to walk |
| River cruise, Disneyland, water town tours | Yes | Fixed departures and dated entry |
One warning that applies to all of it: Shanghai's most popular free attractions use online booking in Chinese apps, often through a WeChat mini-program. Your passport is accepted as ID where ID is required, but you need the app working before you reach the gate, sort that out in your hotel lobby, not at the entrance.
Where to stay, and why it matters more than usual
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| People's Square / Nanjing Road | Walking distance to the Bund and the museum | Busiest and priciest; touristy food |
| Jing'an | Metro convenience (Lines 2 and 7), better restaurants | A stop or two further from the river |
| Former French Concession | Character, cafés, quiet evenings | Fewer big hotels; more walking to sights |
| Lujiazui (Pudong) | Skyline views and new hotels | You cross the river for everything in Puxi |
Not every hotel in China can register foreign guests, and this is a real issue rather than a rumour, confirm before you book, and check the listing accepts foreign passports rather than assuming a chain does.
Two things that shape the day
- Sights open around 09:00–10:00 and close around 17:00–18:00. The Bund is the exception, a public promenade that works after dark.
- Two sights a day is the realistic maximum once you add walking, metro rides and lunch, and the metro is worth avoiding at rush hour with luggage.
Frequently asked questions
Is three days enough for Shanghai?
Yes, for a classic first visit. Four days lets you add Hangzhou or Suzhou by high-speed train.
Do I need to book Shanghai attractions in advance?
Only the timed-ticket ones: observation decks, Yu Garden in peak season, river cruises, Disneyland and special exhibitions. The Shanghai Museum's permanent collections are free and generally walk-in.
Is the Shanghai Museum free?
Yes, both buildings are free for the permanent collections, and individual visitors can usually walk in with a passport. Special exhibitions are ticketed separately.
What is the best area to stay for a first visit?
People's Square or Nanjing Road to walk to the Bund and the museum; Jing'an for better food and excellent metro access; the former French Concession for quiet, tree-lined streets.
Can I visit Zhujiajiao without a tour?
Yes. Take Line 2 to Hongqiao Railway Station, change to Line 17 toward Oriental Land, and get off at Zhujiajiao. The walk to the old town is 10 to 15 minutes, and the streets are free.
How do I get between the sights?
By metro. Line 2 links the Bund area, People's Square, Jing'an and both airports; Line 10 links Yuyuan Garden, Xintiandi, the French Concession and Hongqiao.
What should I skip if I only have two days?
Drop the water town and the observation deck. Keep the old city and the Bund for day one, and give day two to the French Concession plus Pudong's skyline.
When is the worst time to visit?
The Chinese public holidays, especially around Chinese New Year and the first week of October, when attractions hit capacity and hotels spike.
Related reading
Museum hours, free admission and walk-in entry for individual visitors follow the Shanghai Museum's own visitor notice. Metro lines and stations follow the operator's published network. Zhujiajiao access and joint-ticket practice follow the town's official visitor information as reported by multiple trip-planning sources. Opening hours, exhibition schedules and ticket prices change, confirm on the official channel for your date.