Where to Stay in Shanghai: 3 Hotels for Different Budgets
- Arron Goh
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Wondering where to stay in Shanghai?
After visiting Shanghai multiple times, these are three hotels I’d consider depending on your itinerary — from an affordable airport stay to a convenient city hotel and a luxury option in Lujiazui.
On our first trip to Shanghai, our flight arrived around midnight.
Instead of taking an expensive late-night ride all the way into the city — and paying for a more expensive city hotel just to sleep for a few hours — we stayed at Linyin Art Hotel near Shanghai Pudong Airport.
And it turned out to be a really good choice.
The hotel was surprisingly pretty for the price, affordable, and most importantly, they offered 24-hour airport pickup with a free shuttle.
We arrived at Pudong Airport, got picked up, checked in and rested. Much easier after a late flight.
Also good for Shanghai Disneyland
Another reason to consider Linyin Art Hotel is its location.
If Shanghai Disneyland is part of your itinerary, the hotel is relatively close to Disneyland and also offers Disneyland transfers.
So I’d recommend it for:
Late-night arrivals at Pudong Airport
Travellers visiting Shanghai Disneyland
Budget-conscious travellers
A first or last night before a flight
Our experience: ⭐ Recommended
We’ve stayed at JI Hotel near Tiantong Road (天潼路) twice now.
That probably tells you enough. 😂
It’s comfortable, pleasant and relatively affordable — but the biggest reason we came back is the location.
The hotel is basically right above Tiantong Road Metro Station.
After spending the entire day walking around Shanghai, being able to take the metro back and arrive almost directly in front of your hotel is something you’ll appreciate a lot.
From here, you can easily explore areas around The Bund, Nanjing Road and central Shanghai using the metro.
If you're visiting Shanghai for the first time and want one convenient base for sightseeing, this would be my personal pick out of the three.
Our experience: ⭐⭐ Stayed twice & would return
3. Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai — Luxury Stay in Lujiazui
And finally, one that’s still on my list.
Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai is located in Lujiazui, Pudong, surrounded by Shanghai’s famous skyline.
I first noticed it while we were around the Oriental Pearl Tower area and immediately thought:
I want to stay here one day.
Unlike the first two options, this is for travellers looking for a more luxurious Shanghai experience rather than simply somewhere affordable and convenient to sleep.
You’ll be staying around the modern side of Shanghai, close to landmarks such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the skyscrapers of Lujiazui.
I haven’t personally stayed here yet, so I can’t review the rooms or service — but location-wise, it would be my luxury choice.
Our experience: Not stayed yet — dream stay. 😂
So, Where Should You Stay in Shanghai?
It really depends on your trip.
Arriving late / Disneyland: Linyin Art Hotel
First-time Shanghai trip: JI Hotel Tiantong Road
Luxury experience: Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai
Personally, if I were going back to Shanghai tomorrow, JI Hotel Tiantong Road would still be my safest choice because of how convenient the metro access is.
And if your flight arrives at Pudong Airport around midnight like ours did, spending your first night near the airport can save both money and a tiring journey into the city.
Planning a Shanghai Trip?
You might also want to read:
Shanghai is surprisingly easy to explore once you understand the metro and payment system — and those two things will make your first trip much smoother.
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