Shanghai does not give itself up all at once. Step out of the metro near Nanjing Road, and you’ll feel the mix immediately: Neon grinding, the stench of fried dumplings, and throngs that roll at their own tempo. For anyone wondering “what to do in Shanghai for a week,” the reply is not a checklist but a stream of moments — some obvious (involving the Bund skyline), others hidden in alleys where a hand-painted sign says “Frensh Coffee.” Keeping things direct, this guide features a week’s worth of must‑see icons and smaller corners, without making you feel rushed, and will help you capture the city’s pulse.
1 week travel shanghai
Day 1: Classic Shanghai Icons
Morning at the Bund
Begin your Day 1 24 hours in Shanghai at the Bund. It is the local smell of the river — and the local businesspeople in shirts and ties rushing past as if Pudong’s skyline were routine. I stood there for nearly an hour, not because the view was shocking, but because I wanted to know why so many people said this was the heart of the city.
If you're wondering what to do in Shanghai for a week, don’t miss out — standing here makes you feel part of the rhythm of the city. It shares that sensation with no other city, adding that visual contrast between colonial facades on one side, futuristic towers across the water, that few others would seem able to pull off so easily.
Afternoon on Nanjing Road
Drift from there to Nanjing Road. It’s crowded, occasionally cheesy, but the energy is similar to Times Square with Chinese characteristics. I’ve even popped roasted chestnuts from a street vendor here, and the sweet smoky scent got stuck in my jacket for the rest of the afternoon.
It can be overwhelming with the crowds, so plan to practice a bit of patience. But if you’re in Shanghai only a week, it’s worth feeling that chaotic pulse once. The gaudy billboards, snacky stalls and endless tide of shoppers lend a side of the city that is busy, yet somehow addictive.
Evening Cruise on the Huangpu
If you can last until evening, then by all means, splurge ¥120–150 for a Huangpu River cruise. Trip. com sells tickets, and I’d recommend taking it at night as opposed to the day — the glow from the Oriental Pearl Tower reflected in the water is something a picture can’t totally capture.
I missed the very last metro after a late night cruise once and I had to walk back through dim streets, but the sound of the water and the neon on wet sidewalks seemed magical to be honest. Ending the first day this way — romance and realism in a single Shanghai moment.
Huangpu River cruise
Day 2: History and Culture
Morning at Yu Garden
The next day slows down. Yu Garden does get busy, yes, but slip into its inner courtyards and you hear water trickling, koi fish splashing and the conversation quiets. The Ming‑era design features wandering paths, stone bridges and pavilions that seem to set off each view like a painting.
I ducked once into a shaded corner, where an old man was sketching lotus leaves, as though someone had pressed the pause button in the middle of Shanghai’s chaos. For tourists wondering what to do in Shanghai in a week, this garden is a deep breath before the next hectic destination.
Step into a world of classical ponds, pavilions, and winding bridges — Discover the Magic of Yu Garden: Shanghai’s Hidden Gem in the Old City
PM The Bazaar and City God Temple
The bazaar outdoors is even more hectic — vendors screech “xiaolongbao! hot dumpling!” and the stench of stinky fried tofu could challenge your bravery. Lanterns, tchotchkes and snack stalls teem at every bend, plying you with a taste of the city’s everyday commerce.
Take a walk to the City God Temple around the corner and watch the crowds stream through halls fragrant with incense. I remember how we queued with families to light those joss sticks, the smoke rising thick in the air. And if you’re wondering what to do in Shanghai for a week, this section gives you a sense of how tradition and modern tourist buzz overlap here.
Discover the hidden history and lively markets around Shanghai’s old temples — Visiting the City God Temple of Shanghai in 2025 — The Details That Stayed With Me
Evening Acrobatic Show
Later, book an acrobatic show. Prices fluctuate, and at around ¥180–250, some shows can feel slicked-up for tourists, but the athleticism is real. The acrobats leap, perch and twist with heart-stopping technique, a blur of activity on the stage.
I recall gasping when a performer stacked 10 chairs high, for the entire audience held its collective breath, then erupted in applause. Ending the night in this way provides you with a different cultural memory of Shanghai, one that you won’t forget in a week.
City God Temple
Day 3: Modern Marvels
Morning at Shanghai Tower
You’ll crave contrast by Day 3. Head to Pudong. Ride the elevator up to the deck of Shanghai Tower for roughly ¥180 (Ctrip link), and your ears will pop — mine did three times. The glass floor views are vertigo-inducing, and the observation deck offers a view of the city that never seems to end.
I leaned against the railing and wondered: how many stories could a city tell from these heights? If you’re considering what to do in Shanghai for a week, this stop really makes you feel tiny but a piece of something massive nonetheless.
Afternoon Walk in Lujiazui
Then wander around Lujiazui — its skyscrapers buzzing with traffic, the place a financial maze of glass and steel. The broad plazas and luxury malls are Shanghai’s futuristic face at full scale.
I remember once stopping in at a convenience store under a tower and finding an employee eating instant noodles by the window — a small example of how everyday life intrudes even in the glossiest fronts of Shanghai. And they are the contrasts that make exploration here an unforgettable experience on a weeklong visit.
Evening Drinks with a View
Rooftop bars, such as Flair (at Ritz-Carlton), have a cocktail with a view. It’s going to be very expensive, as in cocktails at ¥120+, but down there the city is a circuit board all lit up and buzzing below.
If you are in Shanghai for a week, this is one of those moments when the investment seems to be worth it. I recall being up at the glass edge, drink in hand, the city a living map, a glow that stays with you long after the night is done.
Shanghai Tower
Day 4: Art and the Local Hood
Morning in the French Concession
French Concession mornings are slow. Wukang Road, where old villas hang heavy on the lean of history, is shadowed by plane trees. The quiet streets and shaded sidewalks reveal a softer side of Shanghai that feels a world apart from the Bund.
Drop by a café that misspells “latte” as “latie” on its chalkboard — it’s happened. I remember drinking overly strong coffee and thinking this was less about sightseeing and more about sliding into someone else’s day, a reminder that in a week you can be a local for a bit.
Afternoon in Tianzifang
What was once an ordinary residential lane called Tianzifang is now indie shops, art studios and overpriced tchotchkes. Shrinking alleys seem to entangle themselves into a labyrinth where shikumen houses also come with tiny galleries and souvenir stalls.
But slip into a peaceful teahouse, and the vibe is redeemed. I heard two artists speaking to each other in Shanghainese one time, only I couldn’t understand a word, what I heard, the way they spoke, it was music to me. It was an instant reminder of why Tianzifang is still a in-any-list-of-what-to-do-in-Shanghai-for-a-week.
Evening at Fuxing Park
Meanwhile, Fuxing Park is riddled with old men flying kites, women dancing to scratchy speakers and couples ducking mistress for a quick photoshoot. The rose gardens and broad lawns attract local and visiting romantics alike.
It’s that mix of lives that is Shanghai human. I watched people practicing tai chi and children running back and forth as I sat on a bench, and thought: If you only had a week, seeing this slice of life balances the skyscrapers.
Fuxing Park
Day 5: Family & Fun
Full Day at Disneyland Shanghai
Shanghai Disnehyland is a full-day venture. Tickets cost about ¥435-545 depending on the season (Trip. com link), and weekends are crowded in the extreme. The park is home to headline rides such as the Tron Lightcycle Power Run and Pirates of the Caribbean, which are not found at other Disney parks.
I once stood in line for two hours and you would think I’d regret it, but the thrill made it almost worth the wait. If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Shanghai for a week, this day spent at Disneyland is a sunset that you won’t forget.
Before you buy your tickets, here’s what you need to know — Shanghai Disneyland Ticket Price 2025: Essential Costs, Discounts, and Insider Tips
Alternative: Indoor Snow Fun at Yaoxue Snow World
If you’re not into theme parks, Yaoxue Snow World also features indoor skiing for around ¥200 a session. The resort has slopes for all skill levels, from beginner to expert, and rentals of skis, helmets and jackets are available.
To come out of fake snow and back into the humid air that is Shanghai is also slang-in-the-face. For one-week travelers, the story of icy slopes and hot streets makes the journey as much worth talking about as photographing.
Evening Hotpot at Hai Di Lao
End your day with hotpot; Hai Di Lao has English menus and staff who are used to foreigners. Start with ¥150–200 per person if you want to go crazy on toppings. The chain has a reputation for being friendly, from the free snacks to the noodle‑dancing shows tableside.
Thankfully once, a waiter replied with a complementary fruit plate as a result of my overly violent pronunciation of “má là” that erupted into laughter at the table. Ending the day with steaming hot broth is a cozy memory that sticks when you’re considering what to do in Shanghai for a week.
Yaoxue Snow World
Day 6: Day Trip Options
Morning Trip to Suzhou
Suzhou is 30min away by high-speed train (¥40–70). The gardens — including Humble Administrator’s Garden — are UNESCO sites and genuinely breathtaking, if overrun. The classical design, with winding halls and reflecting ponds, has the effect of making you feel as though you have walked into a painting.
The first time I visited, drizzle hung in the air and the moss on stone walls glistened. Strolling among those sodden alleys, I understood why Suzhou is known as the Venice of the East. For the person who is mapping out what to do in Shanghai for a week, this little sidetrip provides a dose of refinement and repose.
Afternoon Journey to Hangzhou
Hangzhou is farther, one hour by train (¥70 to 100), but West Lake at sunset is worth it. And across this lake of pagodas, willow trees and slowly drifting boats — which has been likened to a living scroll painting — is the modern city of Shouyang, looking on warily from the south bank.
As the sky turned orange and gold, “heaven above, Hangzhou below,” as the locals like to say, made sense. Even spending half a day here during the course of a week in Shanghai affords enough of a taste of another city’s charms, without making you feel like you’re in a hurry.
Half-Day Option: Zhujiajiao Water Town
Closer in, if rather less atmospheric, Zhujiajiao water town can be managed in half a day, with boats gliding under old stone bridges. Its tiny alleys and traditional houses are a peek at the way Shanghai looked centuries ago.
Do not buy snacks at the first stands — they’re twice the price. I didn’t heed that advice once and paid ¥30 for a candy that later I saw in a different store for ¥10. Still, sailing around on a boat where the stone arches stretch overhead kept the expense feeling minor, and let’s face it, on a weeklong itinerary a midday trip like this adds a bit of a backwater experience.
Humble Administrator’s Garden
Day 7: Secret Corners and Chilling out
Morning at People’s Park
There’s a marriage market in People’s Park on weekends. Mothers and fathers attach résumés of their children to umbrellas — height, job, sometimes even blood type. The umbrellas themselves fill the pathways, transforming the park into some unorthodox open-air résumé fair.
It’s an odd spectacle to wander through, watching parents negotiate and compare notes. You’ve asked yourself what to do in Shanghai for a week, this is one of the strange cultural experiences you’ll never forget.
Afternoon at Jing’an Temple
Close by, Jing’an Temple perfumes the incense smoke with the dull scent of Starbucks coffee from the shop across the street. Golden roofs gleam over a jammed street, and inside, statues rise behind swaths of incense.
I once sat next to the incense burner and watched tourists stumble with them, not knowing how many times to bow. That silent interlude, suspended between devotion and perplexity, seemed to me an opening into Shanghai’s multilayered personality.
Night, in Places Like Xintiandi or Yongkang Road
Complete your journey at Xintiandi. Yes, it’s commercial, but to sit outside under the lanterns with a drink is a nice way to say farewell. The cobbled streets and courtyard shikumen houses twinkle prettily at night.
If you want more affordable nightlife, then there are the bars on Yongkang Road, spilling their music into the street. One night, I found myself talking to locals over dirt-cheap beers until midnight, and I learned, sometimes the best experiences aren’t on itineraries.
Jing’an Temple
Practical Tips
Accommodation
Hotels in and around the Bund are pricy, but, obviously, smack in the middle of things. The French Concession is filled with boutique hotels - not all speak foreigner, so call beforehand - CTrip usually notes this). Budget travelers will appreciate People’s Square for its convenience. I recently stayed in an elfin guesthouse near Huaihai Road; the owner, without speaking a word to me in English, hand wrote me an English note on directions to the closest metro — the sort of detail to consider as you plan what to do in a week in Shanghai.
Transport
The underground is as clean as a whistle, there’s signs everywhere in both languages and you pay just ¥3–6 to board. I’ve been there once — I missed the last train on Line 2 and caught DiDi, which cost about ¥45 to get back to my hotel near Jing’an. On that nighttime ride I saw another side of Shanghai: Kunming Road was deserted, with delivery scooters whizzing past and shopkeepers drawing the shutters of their stores closed.
Payments
Apps including Alipay and WeChat Pay will now take foreign credit cards, but take also some cash for street vendors. Once, when my card verification declined at a corner stall, the vendor dusted off a coin jar from his counter with a smile, almost ceremonially, and gave it to me in change. You will probably have at least one little hiccup like this in a week here but that’s all part of it — working out what to do in Shanghai off the beaten path.
Food Budget
Prices differ — breakfast baozi are ¥5–10 but scores of others weigh in at more than ¥500 in high-end restaurants. My cheapest meal was ¥8 for a stand of noodles around People’s Square; my priciest, the ¥600-ish dinner on the Bund that appeared better than it tasted. A friend once told me the highlight wasn’t the fancy Bund dinner but late-night scallion pancakes near Fuxing Park for ¥12 — evidence that Shanghai flavor is not proportionate to cost, and in a week you can swirl between both extremes.
FAQs: What to Do in Shanghai for a Week
What is the best season to spend a week in Shanghai?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (Sept–Nov) are most comfortable; summers are brutally humid.
Is one week enough to cover both Shanghai and day trips?
Yes, but limit yourself to 1–2 side trips, otherwise the city itself feels rushed.
Can foreigners use metro and apps easily?
Metro is foreigner-friendly, and both Alipay/WeChat now accept international cards. TripAdvisor threads confirm smooth use by tourists in 2025.
Do I need to book attractions in advance?
For Yu Garden, Disneyland, and Tower decks—yes. Queues can stretch hours otherwise.
What local dishes are unmissable?
Xiaolongbao at Nanxiang (near Yu Garden) is iconic. Locals also recommend hairy crab noodles in autumn.
Where should first-timers stay?
Bund for views, French Concession for charm, People’s Square for budget convenience.
Is Shanghai expensive?
Compared to Beijing, food is cheaper, but nightlife and hotels can add up.
How late does the metro run?
Usually until around 11 p.m., but check the line—Line 2 cuts earlier on some stretches.
Can I drink tap water?
No, always use bottled or boiled water.
Any scams to watch out for?
Beware the classic “tea ceremony” scam near the Bund, where strangers invite you to overpriced tea shops.
