Where to Stay and Play in Shanghai

Shanghai is a hugely atmospheric city of lantern-lit alleyways and soaring glass towers, of century-old teahouses and world-class restaurants. Navigating your way through the megacity once known as the “Paris of the East” starts with one decision: where to stay.

Given Shanghai’s sheer size and the fact that each district pulses with its own unique energy, your home base shapes everything that follows. Whether you’re chasing history, romance, culinary discoveries, family adventure, late-night partying, or a smooth business trip, there’s guaranteed to be a corner of this extraordinary city that fits. Choosing the right area and the right hotel for your travel style is key to making the most of your time here.

Think of this as your cheat sheet to some of the best neighborhoods to stay and play in Shanghai. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

For Business Travelers: Lujiazui

Shanghai has long been one of Asia’s most important business hubs, and the ever-changing skyline reflects the remarkable commercial dynamics that drive it. While the historic beaux arts and neoclassical facades along the Bund have been preserved, the architecture across Huangpu River on the Pudong side has morphed into a sea of glittering towers.

Lujiazui, in Pudong, is the iconic face of Shanghai’s financial power thanks to a cluster of skyscrapers that include the Shanghai Tower and IFC Mall. The district serves as the headquarters of major banks, financial institutions, and multinational corporations. If you’re looking to stay connected with industry power players while still giving yourself space to explore after your last meeting of the day wraps up, this is the place to be.

Even if you’re here for work, there’s no reason you can’t stay in style. Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East delivers polished, well-connected accommodations along with every amenity that traveling professionals require.

For Families: West Nanjing Road

Traveling with children in a city as vast as Shanghai requires planning, but adults and kids alike are handsomely rewarded for the effort. West Nanjing Road is well-connected to the metro and sits within easy reach of experiences that make young travelers go wide-eyed. The Shanghai Natural History Museum, for example, is a genuine showstopper, complete with dinosaur skeletons, immersive ecology, and almost 300,000 specimens to captivate kids of all ages.

Although not quite in the neighborhood, it’s well worth taking a 15-minute subway ride to Yu Garden. This 16th-century classical Chinese garden is a sensory wonderland thanks to the fragrance of flowers but also food, as the adjoining bazaar sells street snacks like freshly steamed xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). For families needing space to spread out, the elegant JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square offers expansive accommodations in a tower with stunning panoramic views.

For Couples: Xintiandi

Shanghai has long been known as one of China’s most romantic destinations. Its historic architecture is a popular choice for wedding photo backdrops. From strolling through genteel parks to staring into each other’s eyes over candlelit dinners overlooking the Bund, there are plenty of ways to kindle your romance here. Choosing the right home base also simplifies navigation and maximizes time with your beloved.

For lovers of architecture and atmosphere, Xintiandi inhabits a beautifully restored collection of shikumen stone townhouses from the 1920s. The car-free district also features wine bars, candlelit restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. After the sun sets, the gentle glow of the lights gives it a truly cinematic feel.

For a worthy detour, hop in a 10- to15-minute cab ride to Wukang Road, another seriously photogenic tree-lined avenue of villas, arthouse cinemas, and independent café culture. Its leafy neighborhood was formerly called the French Concession as it was governed by France from 1849 to 1943. Don’t miss the Wukang Mansion from 1924, a beloved backdrop for advertisements and social media stars alike. For couples seeking a romantic base, Le Méridien Shanghai, Minhang channels the art of French amour, while Renaissance Shanghai Zhongshan Park Hotel combines local character and refined comfort.

For Those Who Want to Travel Like a Local: Xuhui Riverside, Columbia Circle, and M50 Creative Park

For travelers wanting to go beyond the traditional sights, creative districts west and south of central Shanghai offer thrilling repurposed industrial spaces.

Xuhui Riverside, particularly a stretch along the Huangpu River’s west bank, is home to former warehouses and grain silos today converted into studios, coffee roasters, and galleries.

More art deco immersion comes at Columbia Circle, where you’ll find buildings from the 1920s and 1930s originally constructed for the Columbia Country Club. A century on, they serve as one of Shanghai’s most evocative destinations for dining, independent retail, and cultural programming. M50 Creative Park has turned former textile mills into contemporary art galleries, while the soaring, modern Zikawei Library is worth a visit, as well.

Renaissance Shanghai Caohejing Hotel reflects a brand philosophy proudly rooted in local discovery and neighborhood curiosity, while Shanghai Marriott Hotel Yangpu Riverside brings the elegant waterfront and its attractions to your doorstep.

For Night Owls: Ju Fu Chang

Shanghai may be the real city that doesn’t sleep, and the late night partying here lives up to its reputation. The onetime French Concession also comes into its own after dark, especially around the Ju Fu Chang area. Cocktail bars and jazz clubs are often housed in art deco buildings, and on warm evenings music and conversation spill out onto the sidewalk.

A rest from nightlife comes easy Athe Renaissance Shanghai Yu Garden Hotel allows guests to dive deep into the old city, just minutes from those atmospheric laneways.

For First-Timers: The Bund

No introduction to Shanghai is complete without a trip to the Bund, the city’s most famed and photographed district. This legendary waterfront promenade is lined with elegant European-style buildings dating from the early 20th century, while across the Huangpu River sits the dazzling contrast of the Pudong skyline.

As the city’s most iconic panorama, the Bund serves as the natural starting point for any first visit. Our tip? The magic is most tangible at dusk as the city’s two faces light up simultaneously on either side of the river. The beauty of the Bund’s central location also means that virtually everything a traveler could want is within easy reach.

A quick ferry ride takes you across to the science-fiction skyline of Lujiazui, where an elevator whisks you up to the observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, which at a dizzying 2,037 feet is one of the world’s tallest buildings. Nowhere gives a better literal or figurative perspective on the vast city below.

For first-timers who want to be in the heart of the action, the W Shanghai – The Bund delivers its signature W Hotels style alongside jaw-dropping river views.

For Travelers Just Looking for a Place to Sleep: East Nanjing Road

Sometimes what you need from a hotel is nothing more than a comfortable bed, a central location, and easy access to the metro. For travelers following that approach, East Nanjing Road is perfect.

People’s Square, on East Nanjing Road, is Shanghai’s geographic heart, a huge transit hub with multiple metro lines. The Shanghai Museum, the Grand Theatre, and the city’s central park are all close by, making it a decidedly practical location. With noodles, dumplings, and hotpot seemingly at every turn, you won’t go hungry either.

East Nanjing Road is the city’s most famous pedestrianized commercial street, an incessantly busy, neon-lit strip home to large department stores and boutiques alike. Finally, don’t miss the contemporary-focused Rockbund Art Museum in the former Royal Asiatic Society building, where frequently changing exhibitions showcase the dynamism of Chinese and international art.

Sleep doesn’t get much deeper than at The Westin Bund Center, Shanghai thanks to its renowned Heavenly Bed and wellness programming. Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Central also keeps things well-located and distinctly comfortable.

For Culture Lovers: People’s Square

Culture lovers who love to measure a city by what they learn will be wowed by Shanghai. The essential starting point is the Shanghai Museum, one of the country’s finest repositories of ancient art, where galleries are filled with bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, jade, and more spanning thousands of years of civilization.

The Shanghai Natural History Museum is another must-visit as its displays bring the natural world to life to dazzling effect, especially for younger visitors, while The Shikumen Open House Museum in Xintiandi traces the evolution of Shanghai’s distinctive stone-gate housing through beautifully preserved interiors.

Further afield, Zhujiajiao is a town of winding canals, along with Ming and Qing dynasty architecture about an hour west of the city center that dates back more than 1,700 years. Guangfulin Relics Park is a remarkable open-air archaeological site in Songjiang, about 19 miles from downtown. It offers more than 20 separate attractions that make for one of the city’s most remarkable cultural experiences.

Shanghai Marriott Marquis City Centre positions visitors within walking distance of the world-class museum cluster at People’s Square, while Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Songjiang places them perfectly to visit Guangfulin Relics Park.