Where to Stay in Shanghai: Best Areas for First-Time Visitors (Plus My Hotel Review)
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are based on my own experience.
One of the hardest parts of planning my Shanghai trip was deciding where to stay. Every travel guide seemed to recommend a different neighbourhood. After spending far too much time researching, I eventually chose Jing’an. Looking back, I genuinely think it was the right decision.
If you’re visiting Shanghai for the first time, here’s a breakdown of the best areas to stay, who they’re best suited for, and my honest review of the hotel I chose.
| Area | Best For | Vibe | Things to Consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jing’an (⭐ My Pick) | First-time visitors | Modern, clean, excellent transport, shopping, restaurants | No skyline views like The Bund |
| The Bund | Iconic Shanghai views | Famous skyline, luxury hotels, close to attractions | More touristy, heavy traffic, generally pricier |
| French Concession | Cafés & slower travel | Walkable streets, boutique shopping, beautiful atmosphere | Slightly less convenient for major sightseeing |
| People’s Square | Convenience | Central location with multiple metro lines | Centre of the tourist area so it can get very crowded |
📍 Jing’an (Where I Stayed)
Out of all the neighbourhoods I researched, Jing’an kept coming up as the best all-round option. After spending a week there, I completely understand why.
Jing’an is one of Shanghai’s most modern districts. It has a great mix of shopping centres, cafés, restaurants and local neighbourhood streets, so it never felt like I was staying in an area built purely for tourists.
One thing I also noticed while researching was how often travellers recommended Jing’an over areas like The Bund. A lot of people described it as cleaner, less crowded and a better place to actually base yourself, rather than somewhere you’d simply visit for a few hours.
Another reason I was happy with my decision was how affordable it was to get around. Didi rides in Shanghai are surprisingly inexpensive, so I never felt like I was missing out by staying a little further from attractions like The Bund. Instead, I got the convenience of a quieter neighbourhood while still being only a short ride away from everywhere I wanted to visit.
If you’re visiting Shanghai for the first time, I think Jing’an strikes one of the best balances between convenience, comfort and value.
Once I’d decided on Jing’an, the next question became which hotel to book. After comparing dozens of options, I eventually settled on Pullman Shanghai Jing’an because it offered the best balance of location, facilities and price. Here’s how it stacked up after spending a week there.
🏨 Where I Stayed: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an
Pullman Shanghai Jing’an: Quick Summary
Area: Jing’an
Room booked: Classic King Room
Hotel Category: ★★★★★, Accor brand
Best for: First-time visitors, travellers planning day trips, anyone who values convenience over skyline views
Standout features: Great value for a 5-star hotel, sauna, indoor pool, Pilates Cadillac in the gym, exceptional customer service
Things to consider: The rooms are comfortable but dated, with carpeted floors and fairly ordinary views
Overall verdict: Practical, comfortable, affordable, good-value base for exploring Shanghai
Thinking of staying here?
📍 Location
The hotel is a short walk from Shanghai Railway Station, which was especially convenient when I did a day trip to Suzhou. Staying close to the station made the early morning departures much easier.
For sightseeing around Shanghai, I mainly used Didi. Didi pickups were also incredibly easy because of the hotel’s dedicated driveway and lobby entrance. I never had to stand on the side of a busy road trying to find my driver. Didi rides are affordable in China so I never felt limited by not staying directly beside the main attractions.
🛏️ The Classic King Room
I stayed in a Classic King Room, which was clean, spacious and comfortable enough to return to after a full day of sightseeing.
There was enough room to properly unpack and move around without feeling cramped. However, the interiors are noticeably older, with dated decor and carpeted floors. I would manage your expectations if modern hotel interiors are important to you.
I found the soundproofing in the rooms to be good. I got a room close to the lifts but I still didn’t hear anything and got a good night’s sleep.
Though the view from my room was nothing particularly memorable. But this may vary depending on the floor and room category.
🧖 Pool, Sauna and Gym
One of my favourite parts of the hotel was actually the sauna. After walking well over 20,000 steps most days and eating my way through Shanghai, it became part of my daily routine. It was the perfect way to unwind and sweat out the oilier meals from the day.
The hotel also has an indoor swimming pool, which is a nice option if you want to relax without leaving the property.
The gym was another pleasant surprise. As someone who does Pilates, I genuinely did not expect to find a Pilates Cadillac in a hotel gym. You will need to book it through reception, but it’s a unique feature I haven’t seen in many other hotels.
🤝 Customer Service
The customer service was one of the biggest highlights of my stay.
I did a lot of online shopping while I was in China. And by a lot…I mean I had a fairly ridiculous number of parcels delivered to the hotel.
The staff accepted every delivery and stored everything safely until I was ready to collect it. Some of the packages were tiny, including one that contained a single earring, but the staff still took the time to search through the storeroom until they found the correct parcel. Despite the number of deliveries, the staff were always patient and happy to help. For some smaller deliveries, the hotel also used a robot to bring the order directly to my room. It was a small but surprisingly fun feature that made the stay even more convenient.
Things to Know Before You Book
No hotel is perfect, so here are a few things I’d keep in mind before you book.
🏙️ Don’t choose this hotel for the view
The view from my Classic King Room was fairly ordinary. This may differ between floors and room categories, but if waking up to an impressive Shanghai skyline is a priority, you may prefer a hotel along The Bund.
🛏️ The rooms have a more classic feel
The room was clean, spacious and comfortable. But the décor is dated and the floors are carpeted. If you prefer new hotels with sleek, contemporary aesthetics, this may not be the right fit.
🚆 The location is about convenience, not sightseeing on your doorstep
Major attractions such as The Bund and the French Concession are not directly outside the hotel. You will generally need to take the metro or a Didi, although I found both easy and affordable throughout my stay.
Who I Think This Hotel Is Best For
I think this hotel would work particularly well for:
- First-time visitors looking for a convenient base
- Travellers planning day trips so they need to be close to public transport
- Guests who value facilities such as a sauna, pool and gym
- People who prioritise helpful service and practicality over modern interiors
- Travellers who are comfortable using Didi or the metro to explore the city
It may be less suitable for anyone looking for:
- Bund or skyline views
- Newly renovated, design-led rooms
- Major tourist attractions within immediate walking distance
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay at Pullman Shanghai Jing’an.
The room itself was comfortable rather than luxurious, but what stood out to me was the overall value. I stayed during the Christmas peak season and still found the hotel to be reasonably priced for a 5 star hotel, especially considering the range of facilities and consistently helpful service throughout my stay.
It worked well as a base for my first visit to Shanghai because I could spend the day exploring, take affordable Didi rides wherever I needed to go and come back each evening to unwind in the sauna.
If Jing’an is already on your shortlist and you’re looking for well-located, good-value hotel without compromising on facilities, Pullman Shanghai Jing’an is a solid choice.
If Pullman Shanghai Jing’an sounds like the right fit for your trip, you can compare the latest prices below.
