Qingdao 3-Night, 4-Day Itinerary 2026: Must-See Sights & Costs

I've brought you a 3-night, 4-day travel itinerary for Qingdao,

including must-visit spots and delicious restaurants!

I've attached Gaode Maps links for each course,

so save them and enjoy your trip! ❤️

Day 1

📌Qingdao Airport Gaode Map

First, we'll head from the airport to a hotel in the city center.

The taxi fare was about ~$29.

I stayed at the Yihai Garden Hotel near May Fourth Square.

It's close to MixC Mall, and you can even watch a laser show from your room,

so I'll definitely rebook it for my next Qingdao trip!

>Check Yihai Garden Hotel Prices<

📌Meidaer Gaode Map

For lunch, we'll eat at Meidaer, famous for its fried eggplant.

I recommend ordering it with mapo tofu!

This place is always popular with both tourists and locals,

so make sure to visit early!

📌Lotus Garden Gaode Map

After our meal, we moved on to the Lotus Garden Cafe, which isn't far.

It's a garden-style cafe with a strong Chinese ambiance,

perfect for taking photos!

📌St. Michael's Cathedral Gaode Map

📌Yin'erhang (Silver Fish Harbor) Gaode Map

Next up, St. Michael's Cathedral and shopping at Yin'erhang (Silver Fish Harbor)!

We only explored the exterior of the cathedral, and then headed to

Yin'erhang, which is apparently a hot spot for China's Gen Z, for some shopping.

📌 Zhanqiao Pier Gaode Map

I only had a leisurely stroll around **Zhanqiao Pier** and simply took in the sights.

Visiting in summer meant it was incredibly humid, and with so many people around,

I couldn't bring myself to go further inside.

📌 Luyu Gaode Map

After returning to the hotel for a quick rest,

we grabbed dinner at Luyu, located inside MixC Mall.

Personally, I actually preferred a place called 'Wiku' over Luyu.

📌 May Fourth Square Gaode Map

As it started to get dark, we made our way to **May Fourth Square and the Olympic Sailing Center**,

enjoying the stunning light show along the way!

It's just a 10-15 minute walk.

We then headed back to the hotel to catch the rest of the light show from there, and that wrapped up our day!

Day 2

📌 Youxiangju Gaode Map

Get ready for **Youxiangju, the xiao long bao hotspot that even Chef Lee Yeon-bok raved about!**

Seriously, these were the most delicious xiao long bao I've ever tasted!

I highly recommend ordering the shrimp flavor!

📌 Guest House Gaode Map

After our meal, our next stop was **the Guest House**.

This fascinating **Guest House** (Yingbinguan) was once the grand residence of the German Governor,

and here you can explore stunning old furniture and original living spaces, offering a glimpse into its storied past.

Just below it, you'll find **Comic Street**, making it a perfect follow-up to your Guest House visit.

Why not take a relaxed stroll and soak in the vibrant atmosphere?

📌 Xiaoyushan Park Observation Deck Gaode Map

Xiaoer Mountain Observation Deck was amazing for offering panoramic views of

Qingdao's old town with its charming red roofs, and the beautiful sea all at once.

It takes less than 5 minutes to climb up, so even if you're not in top shape, you can totally do it!

📌 Beer Museum Gaode Map

Next up, the Beer Museum – Qingdao's iconic must-visit spot!

You can explore the fascinating history of Tsingtao Beer,

witness the actual brewing process, and

even enjoy some beer tasting!

📌 Wuye Shige Gaode Map

Wuye Shige is famous for its delicious lamb skewers.

It's a very popular spot, so I recommend visiting around 5 PM,

which is a slightly off-peak time.

📌 Taidong Night Market Gaode Map

Taidong Night Market is surprisingly vast, with food and shopping

stalls stretching on and on.

In the center, there's a Beer Exchange where prices fluctuate in real-time,

just like stocks – it's quite fun!

Day 3

📌 Waipojia Gaode Map

For our third day, we planned a slightly more relaxed

itinerary compared to the previous two days.

For lunch, we dined at Waipojia, a fantastic Chinese home-style restaurant

located in MixC Mall.

After our meal, we indulged in some shopping at MINISO,

which is in the same building.

There were so many adorable Chiikawa goodies! ❤️

Besides MINISO, there are tons of other great shopping spots like Pop Mart, Sanrio Shop, and Top Toy.

📌 Buryaseong Gaode Map

Buryaseong is undoubtedly the most dazzling place in Qingdao!

It's quite a distance from Qingdao city center, taking about 50 minutes by taxi

and 1 hour 20 minutes by subway.

However, you'll be treated to a vibrant Chinese-themed interior and a diverse range of experiences, including a mermaid show,

traditional performances, and roly-poly doll performances, to name a few!

It's a great spot to visit at least once, especially since you can even experience being a 'wanghong' (social media influencer) here!

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Day 4

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📌Yunsun Haitian Gaode Map

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On our last day, after checking out,

we headed to the **Yunsun Haitian Observation Deck**.

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Yunsun Haitian is an observation deck where you can take in panoramic views of Qingdao's sea and city center

all at once. After soaking in the sights, we headed straight to the airport – a perfect end to our adventure!

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Budget

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💸 Qingdao 3-Night, 4-Day Trip Budget (Per Person)

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✈️ Flights ~$157

This was the price I booked before the fuel surcharge reduction.

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🏨 Accommodation ~$159

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🚗 Transportation (Taxi Fares) ~$66

I exclusively used taxis, didn't take any subways or buses.

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🔎 Sightseeing/Attractions ~$40

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🛍️ Shopping & Insurance, etc. ~$58 / ~$38

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➡️ Total Budget: ~$517

This is per person, so for two people, you can roughly double this!