With Shanghai’s electric nature, it may feel as if every nook and cranny of the city is rife with an untiring spirit. Amidst the heated foreign tongue, masses of people, and the general hustle, bustle, and hurry of life, it may get a tad overwhelming, especially when you’re ready to retire for the day.
However before you fret, take a look at this paramount list of Shanghai’s top 20 hotels. Guaranteeing luxury and hospitality, look into these hotel’s charms and characters to pick the best from the best:
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on March 09, 2024.
1. Shanghai Grand Trustel Purple Mountain Hotel (from USD 71)
Starting off the list is Shanghai’s hidden gem – the Shanghai Grand Trustel Purple Mountain Hotel.With value-for-money rates and a convenient location, it’s a surprise that this 4-star luxury hotel has flown under the crowd’s radar.
Located in Shanghai’s Lujiazui Financial Zone and less than an hour away from both Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, this hotel is ideal for business travellers looking for a stay that promises excellent service and convenience.
If you are exploring Shanghai with time constraints, you’ll be glad to hear that the hotel is conveniently located to popular attractions like Century Park, Old Chinese City, the Garden of Contentment, and Huxinting Tea House.
And even if you choose not to step out of the hotel, Purple Mountain Hotel pampers you with its variety of facilities and eateries. Choose to have an undisturbed swim in the hotel’s outdoor pool and have a moreish meal of Peking-style duck in the hotel’s restaurant afterwards. Return to your commodious room and turn in for the night with Shanghai’s skyline by the window.
2. New World Shanghai Hotel (from 157 USD upwards)
If you are coming from Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport, you’ll be pleased to know that New World Shanghai Hotel is just a 45-minute and 20-minute drive away respectively. With the metro stations located within walking distance, it will be a breezy commute to Shanghai’s places of interest.
Apart from the cordial service and stylish rooms, the hotel’s main attraction is undoubtedly the 15th-floor outdoor swimming pool. Overlooking the adjacent Zhongshan Park, one of Shanghai’s largest and well-loved natural environments, indulge in a tranquil mid-day swim and relax into the scenic view.
New World Shanghai Hotel
Address: No.1555 Dingxi Road, Changning, 200050 Shanghai, China (see map)
Price: from 157 USD upwards
Contact: +86 21 6240 8888
3. Le Meridien Sheshan (from USD 105)
Le Meridian Sheshan is truly a nature lover’s paradise. Located at the shore of Shanghai’s largest lake and adjacent to She Shan National Tourist Park, the hotel takes pride in offering you a winning combination of nature’s scenic views and all the luxury of a hotel.
With rooms boasting rich hues of warm earth tones and full-length windows that spoil you with panoramic views of Yuehu Lake and the lush landscapes of She Shan, luxuriate in the hotel’s cosiness and picturesque world.
If you are feeling adventurous, She Shan National Tourist Park, which is conveniently situated beside the hotel, is reputed to be the only spot in Shanghai where you can experience the mountains’ panorama.
But if you want to laze in the hotel itself, facilities like the outdoor infinity pool is sure not to disappointment. It also provides you with spectacular views of the lake. So unwind for the day and immerse yourself in the tranquillity.
4. JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square (from USD 117)
Located at the heart of Shanghai’s commercial and shopping district, it is no wonder that the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai at Tomorrow Square is an immensely popular choice with travellers seeking to explore Shanghai. Offering complimentary shuttle services to Xintiandi and the Bund, the hotel’s close proximity to attractions like the Shanghai Museum, Former Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre, and the Bund will see you checking off attractions at lighting speed.
With complimentary Wi-Fi and a 24-hour indoor and outdoor pool, you will not tire of things to do during your stay. Being 60 stories high, expect to not only see Shanghai’s stunning skyline, but also be able to pay a visit to the highest library in the world.
Announced by Guinness World Records to be the “highest library from ground level”, the hotel’s executive library is a good place to sit and relax. The keen eye would also be quick to notice a secret passageway located behind the bookcases that leads to a viewing platform on the hotel’s 60th floor rooftop.
JW Marriott Shanghai at Tomorrow Square
Address: 399 Nan Jing West Road
5. Banyan Tree Hotel on the Bund (from USD 264)
Situated on the banks of the Huangpu River, the hotel is truly a wonderful recluse in the bustling city of Shanghai. Boasting rooms with private pools decorated by rose petals and offering breath-taking panoramas of Pudong across the river, the Banyan Tree Hotel on the Bund is venerated as one of the most romantic hotels in the city.
Highly recommended for couples, bring your loved one along and pamper yourselves with the deeply relaxing couple’s spa and an intimate chat on the ambient rooftop bars.
Although the peaceful sanctuary detaches itself from the noise of the city, its central location finds Shanghai’s major transportation hubs to be in close proximity so travelling and discovering the city will be without a hassle.
6. Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai (from USD 129)
Voted the best hotel in China in 2015, Mandarin Oriental Pudong is a popular choice for every traveller.
Located in Pudong’s central financial district, business travellers will be delighted to know that the Shanghai International Finance Centre and Shanghai World Financial Centre are just minutes away. Additionally, with the hotel’s complimentary shuttle service to destinations within 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) of Lujiazui and the hotel’s close proximity to metro stations, leisure travellers will also rejoice in the absolute convenience of getting around Shanghai.
The five-star luxury hotel pays attention to every detail that will enhance your stay. From the complimentary Wi-Fi that supports up to 6 devices to the daily newspaper, feel like an esteemed guest within the familiarity of a home.
Residing on the banks of the Huangpu River and offering you a fantastic view of Shanghai’s skyscrapers, the Mandarin Oriental Pudong doesn’t forget to spoil you with its lavishness.
Get ready for some fine dining in the hotel’s world class restaurants (think along the likes of Michelin-starred chef Richard Ekkebus) and pampering spa sessions in one of the hotel’s 13 spa suites – all complete with aroma experience showers and foot massage lounges.
Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai
Address: No.111, South Pudong Road, Pudong District
7. The Puli Hotel and Spa (from USD 200)
If you are looking for a hotel to rejuvenate your soul, the Puli Hotel and Spa will definitely not disappoint. Immaculately furnished with wood and contemporary flavours, Shanghai’s first luxury urban resort delights you with a lavish and hospitable stay.
The first hotel in Shanghai to house the Anantara Spa, reward your exhausted limbs from a day’s travel with the range of therapies from Ancient China that will relax and heal. Alternatively, choose to soak in nature’s essence as you enjoy the view of Jing’an Park when you take a dip in the 25-metre (83-foot) indoor infinity pool.
With amenities like a Bose wave music system with MP3 docking and imported 300-thread bed linen, the hotel sure knows how to spoil you even within the confines of your room.
8. The Peninsula Shanghai (from USD 250)
Residing on the Bund riverfront, The Peninsula Shanghai brings luxury to a whole new level (think arriving in a chauffeured Rolls-Royce Phantom). Voted as the Best City Hotel in Asia in 2015 and ranked as the number one hotel in Greater China, there is nothing to complain about – even the steeper prices are justified with the royalty-like experience.
Housing plenty of recreational facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool and the Peninsula Arcade, a shopping paradise showcasing over 25 high end brands, the hotel spoils you with the most lavish lifestyle during your stay.
With rooms that feature Shanghai’s stellar skyline of the Huangpu River and Pudong skyscrapers, the interior of the rooms are equally impressive. Furnished with rich colours and lavish ornamentation, the rooms scream glamour and exuberance.
Visitors will also be enthused to know that attractions like the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Huangpu Park, Rock Bund, and East Nanjing Road are all nearby, with Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao Airport no more than an hour away. That is, if you can bring yourself to leave the hotel!
The Peninsula Shanghai
Address: No. 32 The Bund, Zhongshan Dong Yi Road
9. Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao (from USD 80)
Looking for a hotel with the perfect location? Look no further than the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao!
Just a 15-minute drive from Hongqiao Airport and a 30-minute drive from popular attractions like the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, and Xintiandi, the hotel additionally provides complimentary shuttle services so you can visit the city’s iconic attractions without the hassle of getting around.
Although the hotel doesn’t boast free Wi-Fi, the myriad of recreational facilities and amenities are enough to keep you occupied. With a 24-hour fitness centre, indoor pool, and spa, you can busy yourself when jet lag robs you from your sleep.
Alternatively, if you feel like unwinding in the comforts of your room, the hotel delights you in its spacious rooms complete with entertainment channels and cosy king-sized beds.
Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao
Address: No. 1116 Hong Song East Rd
10. Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund (from USD 142)
Sitting on the southern end of the Bund, it is almost no surprise that Hotel Indigo Shanghai provides you with a delightfully scenic view of the Huangpu River – one which surrounds you even when you are taking a dip in the infinity pool or working out a sweat in the hotel’s gym.
However, what sets this boutique hotel apart from the rest is its charming and eccentric interior. Visitors will be delighted to see hints of Old Shanghai with the lobby’s antique sculptures and installations including retired rickshaws and shipyard metal reclaimed from the historic Shiliupu Dock.
Guest rooms are thoughtfully-furnished with carefully sourced Shikumen bricks, spa-like bathroom décor suggesting Pudong’s skyline and murals of the nearby Yuyuan Garden. It’s almost like the hotel is a smaller representation of Shanghai itself. So get ready to relax yourself into the comforts of the hotel individualised by Shanghai’s spirit.
Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund
Address: 585 Zhong Shan Dong Er Road
11. Park Hyatt Shanghai (from USD 210)
The tallest hotel in Shanghai, take your hotel experience to the next level with Park Hyatt’s renowned luxury and hospitality.
Whether you’re taking a dip in the hotel’s infinity pool among the clouds or getting a revitalising massage at the venerated Water’s Edge Spa, at more than 1,000 feet (305 feet) above ground, the experience is breath-taking to say the least. There is even a Tai Chi courtyard if the regular amenities are not your thing.
While Park Hyatt’s prime location and full-length windows delight you with a 360-degree panorama of the city, the guest rooms, which feature king-sized beds, walk-in dressing rooms, deep soaking tubs, and deluxe baths are equally lavish and superb.
The hotel’s breakfast spread is also worth mentioning – with its enormous variety from salmon sashimi to Shanghai’s dim sum, the hotel sure knows how to start your day right.
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Address: Shanghai World Financial Center, 100 Century Avenue
12. Astor House Hotel (from 100 USD onwards)
Residing on the south of the Bund, Astor House Hotel is the oldest hotel in Shanghai. The colossal piece of architecture was established during the Qing Dynasty in 1846,and it still retains its original polished wooden floorboards; it invites you to the old world of Shanghai.
With an ancient lift complete with lift operators manning it (alternatively, there is also a modern lift), and a display hall showcasing the hotel’s prime era and past including nostalgic items like the typewriter and telephone on display, one may be forgiven for mistaking the historically-rich hotel for a museum instead.
Despite its age, Astor House Hotel doesn’t compromise on its quality and service. Featuring spacious rooms with high ceilings overlooking the Huangpu River and complimentary Wi-Fi, the hotel is a natural crowd-pleaser.
Just 40 minutes away from Pudong International Airport, and a myriad of the city’s iconic attractions within walking distance, it is excellently located.
Astor House Hotel
Address: No.15 Huangpu Road, Hongkou, 200080 Shanghai, China (see map)
Price: from 100 USD onwards
Contact: +86 21 63246388
13. Grand Hyatt Shanghai (from USD 132)
Located in the iconic 88-storey Jin Mao Tower, Grand Hyatt Shanghai is the city’s second tallest hotel and is home to the world’s second largest atrium – one which delights you with classical Chinese performances in a venue that spans 33 floors to the building’s crown.
Showcasing Shanghai’s spirit with the tastefully furnished guestrooms and the best of the city’s cuisine in the hotel’s restaurants, the stunning view of Shanghai as admired from the floor-to-ceiling windows is a reminder of the city’s beauty.
Guests can look forward to the commodious rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, and even thoughtful designs like a closet that opens in the hallway and the bathroom.
Located in Shanghai’s business district and well-staffed with polite and attentive personnel, it is no wonder The Grand Hyatt remains a popular choice among travellers.
Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Address: Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Avenue
14. Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund (from USD 208)
Arguably one of the most glamorous hotels in town, the Waldorf Astoria with its neoclassical architecture, marble furnishings, and crystal chandeliers is truly a picturesque image.
Featuring extremely commodious rooms with a spacious bedroom and even a separate half-sized room with a work desk, the hotel is as practical as it is beautiful.
From a 24-hour fully-equipped business centre to a luxury spa complete with revitalising massages and beauty services, the hotel sure delights in taking care of every traveller’s needs. You can also look forward to a fitness centre, sauna and steam room, personal shopping assistants, and an on-site florist.
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund
Address: No. 2 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road
15. Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai (from USD 108)
Located in the heart of Shanghai’s financial district, business travellers will be happy to know that they can shuttle to their next conference or meeting. Leisure travellers will also be delighted to know that the hotel is only an 8-minute walk from Lujiazui Station of Metro Line 2, and its central location means many of the city’s major landmarks and tourist attractions are nearby.
Additionally, families who are travelling with children will be relieved to know that the family-friendly hotel provides complimentary Wi-Fi and a sofa bed upon request. In addition, children aged 12 years old and younger are eligible to stay for free when occupying the parent or guardian’s room.
With recreational facilities including a spa, swimming pool, and gym, and the hotel’s four gourmet restaurants and three bars promising amazing cuisine and refreshing drinks, indulge in a worry-free stay over at the Grand Kempinski.
Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai
Address: 1288 Lujiazui Ring Road
16. Twelve at Hengshan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Shanghai (from USD 144)
Just 10 minutes’ walk from everything in the French concession, Twelve at Hengshan is definitely recommended if you are keen on exploring the area. Situated on the tree-lined Hengshan Road, the hotel exudes elegance, a relaxed vibe, and tranquillity.
Located just 3 minutes away from Hengshan Road Metro Station, the modern hotel conveniences every traveller who needs to get around town. In addition, the hotel provides free in-room Wi-Fi and numerous recreational facilities including a spa, swimming pool, business centre, and fitness corner.
17. Courtyard Shanghai Xujiahui (from USD 62)
If you are hoping to pay Shanghai Disneyland a coveted visit this holiday, then the Courtyard Shanghai Xujiahui is the place to stay. Located within walking distance of Metro lines 1, 9 and 11, it easily connects to Shanghai Disneyland and other attractions like the National Exhibition and Convention Centre.
It is one of the most identifiable from Shanghai’s crowd of buildings – just look out for a traditional “golden palace” design crowning the hotel.
On top of the Roman-style indoor swimming pool and a 200-square-metre (2,153-square-foot) state-of-the-art fitness centre, the guestrooms are also clean and the beds cosy.
Families can also look forward to the hotel’s special packages including daily buffet breakfast (where children under 12 years old eat for free), in-room Wi-Fi access, and a rollaway bed. In addition, elderly people above 62 years old can also save up to 15% on room rates.
18. Holiday Inn Shanghai Hongqiao (from USD 64)
Possibly one of the most affordable of the lot, Holiday Inn Shanghai Hongqiao shows no compromise when it comes to comfort, hospitality, and convenience.
Located within walking distance of Qibao Subway Station and in close proximity of attractions like Qibao Ancient Town and Shanghai Zoo, guests can look forward to saving time on travel. Not to mention that the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station are just a 5-minute drive away.
Extremely helpful with English-speaking staff, the hotel is home to an array of recreational facilities, including a 24-hour fitness centre and a tranquil spa. Guestrooms are commodious and well-furnished, and the flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi help keep you entertained.
19. Royal International Hotel Shanghai (from USD 237)
Located just 10 minutes away from the airport and offering a complimentary shuttle service to the hotel, the Royal International Hotel is the perfect place to put down all your baggage and relax into the comfortable beds after an arduous flight.
Incredibly family-friendly, the hotel offers free babysitting services for children above 3 years old, and has amenities like bed extensions and baby beds. With recreational facilities like the Kid’s Club, leave it to the hotel to keep your kids entertained for a change.
Interestingly enough, you can also hang up a “do not disturb” sign or switch on the “do not disturb” light to have absolute privacy and retire for the day.
20. The Waterhouse At South Bund (from USD 200)
As its rustic exterior may suggest, this esteemed hotel was formerly a warehouse in the 1930s. Located on the banks of the Huangpu River, The Waterhouse at South Bund truly gives surprise after surprise.
Apart from its extremely modish interior housed within its original façade, the hotel delights visitors with an interesting experience of peeping on other guests. With every room coming with peepholes in the walls and the door, it’s an unusual replication of the old Shanghai residential alleyways – where curious neighbours often peeked into other houses.
While the hotel’s main aim may not be luxury, it shows no compromise with its opulent guestrooms, destination restaurant, rooftop bar, and an enormous all-purpose event space. The central location and cordial service are also reasons guests love this hotel.
The Waterhouse at South Bund
Address: No.1-3, Maojiayuan Road Off South Zhongshan Road
Get ready for Shanghai
Shanghai is indeed a wondrous city carrying endless possibilities, so make sure you do your trip justice by having restful nights to recharge. Good accommodation can make all the difference to your stay. The aforementioned hotels do not stop with the basics of providing a room, but extend into warm hospitality and complete luxury. There’s almost no reason this time to not pay Shanghai a visit. And, sleep well when visiting China’s exciting Shanghai!
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