Where to stay · Most central

Most central neighbourhoods in Shanghai

Where to stay in Shanghai to minimise transit time — the best-located neighbourhoods for accessing major sights, transport hubs, and restaurants on foot.

All Budget Local feel Nightlife Families Walkability Most central

Top pick for most central

The Bund & Huangpu

The 1.5km riverfront strip of 1920s European-style banks and trading houses with the iconic view of Pudong skyscrapers across the Huangpu.

Shanghai Bund colonial buildings facing Pudong skyline across Huangpu

The Bund & Huangpu

Top pick

The 1.5km riverfront strip of 1920s European-style banks and trading houses with the iconic view of Pudong skyscrapers across the Huangpu.

9/10

Walk

3/10

Price

4/10

Local

10/10

Central

Shanghai Yu Garden Ming dynasty pavilions and koi ponds

Yu Garden & Old Town

Good

Shanghai's historic Chinese quarter — the Ming-dynasty Yu Garden, City God Temple, Huangpu Old Street, and zigzag bridges over koi ponds.

8/10

Walk

7/10

Price

5/10

Local

10/10

Central

Jing'an

Trade-off

Skyscraper-and-shopping mid-town district with the Jing'an Temple and Nanjing Road West as anchors — expat-heavy, polished.

9/10

Walk

4/10

Price

5/10

Local

9/10

Central

Shanghai French Concession Wukang Mansion with plane trees and cyclists

French Concession & Xuhui

Trade-off

The tree-lined former French Concession — plane-tree streets, art-deco villas, the city's cafe and indie restaurant heartland.

10/10

Walk

5/10

Price

7/10

Local

8/10

Central

Pudong & Lujiazui

Trade-off

The skyline you see from the Bund — Shanghai Tower, SWFC, Jin Mao and Oriental Pearl, financial towers, Disneyland 20km east.

6/10

Walk

4/10

Price

3/10

Local

7/10

Central

Know where to stay — now find when to go.

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