3 days in Shanghai: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 8 of 12 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 18:12 each day
- Start and finish
- Shanghai Tower → Suzhou
- On foot
- ≈ 53 min in total
- Transport
- 5 rides, ≈ 1 h 42 min
- Lunch
- around 13:12
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; Suzhou's gardens are loveliest in April–May.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Shanghai09:30–18:12 · 6 places · 8 h 40 min
Shanghai Tower
· 1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120
- 9 min on foot
Lujiazui
· 45 min · Free
- 18 min on foot
The Bund
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 17 min on foot
Yu Garden
· 1 h 15 min · ¥30–40 by season
- 9 min on foot
Shanghai Old City
· 1 h · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Nanjing Road
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Shanghai09:30–17:03 · 5 places · 7 h 30 min
Former French Concession
· 2 h · Free
- 19 min · transport or taxi
Tianzifang
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Wukang Road
· 45 min · Free
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Jing'an Temple
· 40 min · ≈ ¥50
- 21 min · transport or taxi
Jade Buddha Temple
· 45 min · Free
Day 3 · Shanghai09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Suzhou
· 4 h · Train ≈ ¥30–45, garden ¥70–80
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
8 of 12 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Shanghai Tower | 58 | 1 h 30 min | ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Yu Garden | 46 | 1 h 15 min | ¥30–40 by season |
| 10 | Jing'an Temple | 36 | 40 min | ≈ ¥50 |
| 12 | Suzhou | 36 | 4 h | Train ≈ ¥30–45, garden ¥70–80 |
| Other 8 places | 8 h 30 min | Free | ||
| Total | 15 h 40 min | 8 of 12 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Shanghai Tower. China's tallest building, 632 m: the observation deck on level 118, 546 m up. 180 yuan.
- 2
Lujiazui. The skyscraper district across from the Bund: the round footbridge by the Oriental Pearl and the riverside. Free.
- 3
The Bund. 1.5 km of early-20th-century buildings facing Pudong's towers. Free; lights from dusk until about 22:00.
- 4
Yu Garden. A 16th-century classical garden: rockeries, ponds and pavilions. 30–40 yuan; closed Mondays.
- 5
Shanghai Old City. The old walled Chinese city: Old Street, shops and teahouses, the City God Temple. Free to wander.
- 6
Nanjing Road. The main shopping street: 1.6 km of pedestrian street from People's Square to the Bund. Free.
Day 2
- 7
Former French Concession. Plane-tree streets, villas and Fuxing Park. Free — a district for strolling.
- 8
Tianzifang. A maze of 1920s–1930s shikumen lanes: shops, workshops, cafés. Free.
- 9
Wukang Road. A kilometre under the plane trees: villas and the wedge-shaped Wukang Mansion at Huaihai Road. Free.
- 10
Jing'an Temple. A golden-roofed Buddhist temple right above the metro station. About 50 yuan.
- 11
Jade Buddha Temple. A working monastery with a seated jade Buddha. Free; the Buddha hall about 10 yuan.
Day 3
- 12
Suzhou. A city of gardens and canals 25–40 minutes away by train: the UNESCO Humble Administrator's Garden, 70–80 yuan by booking.
Who this route is for
- A first trip of 3–4 days
- The city and classical gardens
- Independent, by train
- Hangzhou is another city, an hour by train
- Suzhou's gardens need a booking
Spring and autumn; Suzhou's gardens are loveliest in April–May.
How the three days work
The first two days are the 2-day itinerary. Day three is a morning train to Suzhou and back in the evening: about 30–45 yuan in second class.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Suzhou day trip from Shanghai
The Humble Administrator's Garden costs 70–80 yuan, by passport booking only, and opens daily at 7:30. Gardens close at 17:30 from March to October and 17:00 from November to February. After the gardens, walk the canals and old streets.
Is 3 days in Shanghai enough?
Yes, for the city and Suzhou. Shanghai Disneyland takes a whole day, 475–799 yuan by date. Hangzhou and West Lake are an hour away by train; Xitang is a water town at its best in the evening.
How to do it right
- Book the Suzhou gardens ahead with your passport.
- Buy train tickets in the 12306 app or Trip.com with your passport.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- Arrive in Suzhou for the 7:30 garden opening.
Questions
What is a good 3-day Shanghai itinerary?
Pudong, the Bund and Yu Garden; the Concession and temples; a Suzhou day trip.
How do I get from Shanghai to Suzhou?
By high-speed train in 25–40 minutes, about 30–45 yuan.
How much is the Humble Administrator's Garden?
70–80 yuan, by passport booking only.
Is 3 days in Shanghai enough?
Yes, for the city and Suzhou.
Is Disneyland worth it?
With children, yes — but it needs its own day.
How much does it cost?
About 220, 60 and 150 yuan over the three days, plus transport.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; Suzhou's canals and boats are fun for children.
Where to go after Shanghai?
Hangzhou, an hour by train, or Beijing, 4.5–6 hours.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Shanghai?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Suzhou gardens: booking and hours
- China Railway (12306)
