Choosing where to stay in Shanghai can make an enormous difference to your trip. This sprawling city stretches from the historic streets around the Bund and People’s Square to the major transport hubs at Hongqiao and Pudong. The right hotel can save hours of travelling while putting some of Shanghai’s best attractions, restaurants and shopping within easy reach.
These four highly rated Shanghai hotels offer very different advantages. Whether you want to stay near Nanjing Road and the Bund, catch an early flight, connect with a high-speed train or relax in a stylish contemporary hotel, there is an option here worth considering.
Shanghai offers an impressive choice of modern hotels close to its major attractions and transport hubs.
1. Shanghai People’s Square Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street Treasury Hotel
Location: No. 678 Hankou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai Hotel class: 4-star Guest rating: Approximately 9.5/10 Check-in: From 2:00 pm Check-out: By 12:00 noon
If sightseeing is your priority, the Shanghai People’s Square Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street Treasury Hotel has arguably the strongest location of the four.
The hotel sits in the heart of Huangpu District near People’s Square and the famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. Nanjing Road is approximately 300 metres away, while Madame Tussauds Shanghai is around 430 metres from the hotel. The Bund, Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden and other central Shanghai attractions are also readily accessible.
People’s Square Metro Station is around 200 metres away via Exit 14, providing access to Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8. Line 2 is particularly useful for visitors because it provides connections towards both Hongqiao and Pudong airports as well as many major Shanghai attractions.
Stylish French-Inspired Interiors
Opened in 2024, the hotel has 133 rooms and combines contemporary interiors with understated French-inspired styling. Rooms feature intelligent guest-control systems, while selected rooms include minibars, refrigerators and city views.
King Koil and Plante memory mattresses are used in guest rooms, an attractive feature after a long day exploring Shanghai on foot.
Facilities
Free fitness centre
Restaurant and café
Chinese and Western breakfast options
Self-service laundry
Free Wi-Fi
Luggage storage
Service and food-delivery robots
Conference facilities
Taxi booking service
Best for: First-time Shanghai visitors, sightseeing, shopping and travellers wanting to explore the city largely by metro and on foot.
Area: North Bund, Shanghai Guest rating: Approximately 9.6/10
For travellers looking for something more distinctive than a conventional international hotel, SAVHE Hotel North Bund Shanghai is an interesting option.
SAVHE is a high-end lifestyle brand from Atour Group. Its concept takes inspiration from oriental gardens, combining water, landscaping, light and contemporary design to create a calm atmosphere in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities.
The hotel’s name is derived from a Lisu word associated with “breath”, and that philosophy carries through the design. The result is a hotel aimed as much at relaxation and atmosphere as simply providing somewhere to sleep.
A Good Base for the Bund
The hotel is within Shanghai’s North Bund area, with the Bund approximately 1.4 kilometres away and Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street approximately 1.3 kilometres away. East Nanjing Road Metro Station is around 1.1 kilometres away.
Facilities
Free fitness room
Restaurant and café
Tea room
Library
Business centre and coworking facilities
Free guest laundry
Free Wi-Fi
Robot service
Free public parking
Electric vehicle charging
Concierge and luggage storage
Recent guests have particularly commented on the comfortable bedding and food offerings, with some packages including breakfast, afternoon tea and a late-night meal.
Best for: Couples, design-conscious travellers and visitors wanting a quieter, more contemporary stay close to the Bund.
3. Mercure Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Address: Building 5, Xiexin Center, Lane 683 Shenhong Road, Minhang District, Shanghai Hotel class: 4-star Guest rating: Approximately 9.6/10 Check-in: From 2:00 pm Check-out: By 12:00 noon
Travellers arriving in Shanghai by high-speed rail should take a close look at Mercure Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station.
The property sits in Shanghai’s Hongqiao business district, close to both Hongqiao Railway Station and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Trip.com lists the railway station at approximately 1.4 kilometres from the hotel and the airport at about 2 kilometres.
Accor describes the hotel as being around an 800-metre or roughly 10-minute walk from Hongqiao Railway Station. Metro Lines 2, 10 and 11 provide convenient onward connections across Shanghai.
French Style With Excellent Transport Connections
The property contains around 180 smart rooms incorporating contemporary French styling. Its position near the Hongqiao transport hub makes it particularly useful for travellers continuing to destinations such as Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and other Chinese cities by high-speed train.
A Chinese and Western buffet breakfast is available, and recent guest reviews frequently praise the cleanliness, staff service and convenience of the location.
Facilities
Free parking
Restaurant
Chinese and Western breakfast
Free Wi-Fi
Free guest laundry
Robot service
Luggage storage
Taxi booking
Wake-up service
Best for: High-speed rail passengers, short Shanghai stopovers, business travellers and visitors using Hongqiao Airport.
4. Holiday Inn Express Shanghai PVG Zhuqiao by IHG
Address: No. 1688 Nanzhu Road, Zhuqiao Town, Pudong New Area, Shanghai Hotel class: 4-star Opened: 2025 Guest rating: Approximately 9.4/10 Check-in: From 2:00 pm Check-out: By 12:00 noon
For travellers flying through Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Holiday Inn Express Shanghai PVG Zhuqiao offers one important benefit: complimentary airport transfers.
The modern hotel opened in 2025 and is located in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. IHG states that the property is approximately 7 kilometres from Pudong International Airport and around 3.5 kilometres from Shanghai East Railway Station.
This makes it particularly useful for overnight airport stays, early departures and late arrivals. Shanghai Disney Resort can also be reached from the property, and some recent guests report that hotel shuttle services have been available for both the airport and Disneyland. Shuttle schedules should always be confirmed directly with the hotel before travelling.
Modern Facilities for a Shanghai Stopover
Because the property is relatively new, guest rooms and communal areas have a fresh contemporary feel. Smart-room features, delivery robots and self-service facilities make it particularly convenient for independent travellers.
Facilities
Complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off
Free fitness room
Free private parking
Electric vehicle charging
Restaurant and café
Self-service laundry
Luggage storage
24-hour convenience facilities
Delivery robots
One detail worth knowing is that the hotel is not directly beside the airport terminals. Guest reports indicate that the shuttle journey can take around 30 minutes depending on traffic and timing, so travellers catching an international flight should still leave adequate time.
Best for: Airport stopovers, early flights, late arrivals and travellers visiting Shanghai Disneyland.
Each of these hotels suits a different style of Shanghai trip.
Best overall location for sightseeing: Shanghai People’s Square Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Street Treasury Hotel
Best for contemporary design and atmosphere: SAVHE Hotel North Bund Shanghai
Best for Hongqiao Railway Station: Mercure Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Best for Pudong Airport: Holiday Inn Express Shanghai PVG Zhuqiao
For a first visit to Shanghai, staying around People’s Square and Nanjing Road gives you the easiest access to many of the city’s classic attractions. Travellers using Shanghai merely as a stop between flights or high-speed trains, however, can save considerable travelling time by choosing one of the airport or railway-station hotels.
Planning Your Shanghai Stay
Shanghai is much larger than it first appears on a map, so location should be one of the most important considerations when choosing accommodation. A centrally located hotel can make it possible to walk between attractions such as Nanjing Road, People’s Square and the Bund, while Shanghai’s extensive metro network makes longer journeys relatively straightforward.
Whichever hotel you choose, Shanghai rewards travellers who combine its famous skyline and shopping districts with its traditional gardens, neighbourhoods, local restaurants and riverside walks. With the right base, one of Asia’s most exciting cities becomes considerably easier to explore.
Hotel facilities, ratings, shuttle services and availability can change. Check the latest details and room conditions before booking.
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