Shanghai Hotel Reviews 2026: Nanjing Road & The Bund Stays
Planning a trip to Shanghai? Get insider tips on the best hotels around Nanjing Road and The Bund, complete with honest reviews and comparisons for 2026.
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Planning a trip to Shanghai? Get insider tips on the best hotels around Nanjing Road and The Bund, complete with honest reviews and comparisons for 2026.
China
Top 3 Shanghai Hotel Recommendations
Hello, I'm Tak Sajang, your travel blogger :)
When you're searching for Shanghai hotel recommendations,
❓Where should I choose to stay?
❓What's the price range like?
I want to see a genuine, honest review from someone who actually paid for it!
I bet many of you feel exactly this way.
The places I'll be introducing today are a comparison of 3 Shanghai hotels I personally stayed at and genuinely paid for myself.
I've compared these three places, covering everything from location and price comparisons to pros and cons. So, stick with me until the very end!
🚨 Today's Travel Log
This is a genuine review, written after personally booking and staying at these hotels. (Based on my stay in August 2026)
For Shanghai hotels, the location – specifically being within walking distance of Nanjing East Road and The Bund – is far more crucial than the brand name.
Based on my direct stays, for luxury, it's Grand Central,
for breakfast and triple rooms, it's Radisson,
and for value for money, I recommend Metropolo.
⭐️ Today's Travel Difficulty ★★☆
While there's plenty of information comparing the locations and prices of these three hotels,
the conclusion is simple.
Simply put: aim for a location around Nanjing East Road and The Bund.
🧭 Today's Travel Route |
✔️ Shanghai Hotel Recommendations: Why Nanjing East Road and The Bund? |
✔️ Grand Central Hotel Shanghai - My Top Pick for a Self-Paid Stay |
✔️ Radisson Collection Hyland - Breakfast Hotspot & Triple Rooms Available |
✔️ Metropolo Classiq, Shanghai, Bund Circle - The Bund, Value for Money Accommodation |
✔️ Shanghai Hotels: Price, Breakfast, and Room Comparison Table for 3 Hotels |
✔️ Shanghai Hotel FAQ |
1. Shanghai Hotel Location Recommendations
When exploring Shanghai, you'll find attractions like Yu Garden, The Bund, Nanjing East Road, and Xintiandi are a bit spread out.
Among them, the absolute main tourist hubs are Nanjing East Road and The Bund.
(Good news: these two areas are actually connected and easily walkable!)
Think of Nanjing East Road as Shanghai's equivalent of Seoul's Myeongdong – a bustling shopping street. And The Bund? That's the iconic skyscraper-lined waterfront you see when you search for 'Shanghai night view'!
If you secure your accommodation near Nanjing East Road, you'll find both The Bund and People's Square are all within easy walking distance. Plus, with simple transfers to subway lines 1, 2, and 8, getting to and from the airport becomes incredibly convenient!
So, when choosing a Shanghai hotel, focus less on the star rating or the price, and more on how many minutes it takes to walk from its location to Nanjing East Road Station and The Bund.
Especially since most travelers arrive from the airport via Maglev or subway, checking how many minutes it takes to walk from the nearest subway station to your hotel will significantly impact your overall comfort and experience in Shanghai!
2. Grand Central Hotel Shanghai - My Top Pick, A 5-Star Hotel I Paid For Myself
Out of the three, this one offered the highest satisfaction! It's perfectly situated right on Nanjing East Road, and the rooms are wonderfully spacious at about 34m2 (approx. 10 pyeong), making it incredibly comfortable for two people.
Grand Central Hotel Shanghai
Gaode Maps: 上海大酒店
📍 3-minute walk from Nanjing East Road Station Exit 4 / 15-minute walk to The Bund
✔️ Check-in: 2:00 PM
✔️ Check-out: 12:00 PM
🧳 Luggage storage available
🍽️ Breakfast can be added
🏷️ Price: Around ~$152 per night / Around ~$179 including breakfast
One child can stay free of charge
* Includes swimming pool, fitness center, sauna
Its location is conveniently right behind the Miniso on Nanjing East Road.
Delivery services are also available; I personally ordered Daedonggang Beer, and pickup was a breeze from the lobby.
The room I stayed in was their most basic option, a courtyard room, but the bathroom was surprisingly spacious with a separate bathtub, shower stall, toilet, and even two sinks!
Oh, and a little tip: if you're staying here, there's absolutely no need to pack a hairdryer!
The hairdryer here is incredibly powerful – seriously, it's Dyson-level strong! I used the one provided in the hotel and it worked perfectly.
It was so good, I honestly considered buying one myself!
There was also a **swimming pool** inside the hotel,
and breakfast could be added,
but since reviews were mixed, I didn't opt for it :)
⚠️ Drawbacks
The price was the highest among the three places,
and there's a 500 RMB (approximately ~$69) deposit per night.
You get it back at checkout, but it's good to keep this in mind.
Make sure to bring the card under the name of the person who made the reservation!
(You can also pay with Travelog, but there might be a fee!)
For reference, I booked it for around **~$138**, and went,
but if you book early, you can often find it for around ~$69.
It's definitely possible to book, so if your travel plans are set,
I recommend booking quickly.
Klook | Trip.com | Agoda |
~$166 ~ | ~$179 ~ | ~$152 ~ |
The lowest prices above are for standard Courtyard rooms.
When I booked, Trip.com was the cheapest,
but now I see that **Klook and Agoda are the cheapest**!
Prices vary by season and day of the week, so definitely compare in real-time.
3. Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai - Delicious Breakfast, Triple Rooms Available
Next up is a place that
starts right at Nanjing East Road as soon as you step out of the lobby:
Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai.
Radisson Collection Hyland
Gaode Map (AutoNavi): 上海丽笙精选海仑宾馆
📍 1 second to Nanjing East Road / 15-minute walk to The Bund
✔️ Check-in: 2 PM
✔️ Check-out: 12 PM
🧳 Luggage storage available
🍽️ Breakfast add-on available
🏷️ Price: around ~$117 per night / around ~$179 including breakfast
Unlike the other places,
this is a hotel with **triple rooms**.
It's a 4-star, but it felt like a 5-star hotel.
What really stuck with me was how incredibly friendly the staff were.
I booked a **triple room with 1 queen bed + 1 sofa bed**,
specifically a family room.
I was worried the sofa bed might be too small,
but my brother, who is around 175cm / 70kg, said he had no discomfort sleeping on it.
What I was most satisfied with was the **breakfast**.
The egg station was excellent,
and there were so many bakery items, which made it great to try a bit of everything.
The egg tarts are a must-try!
What's amazing is that right next to this hotel is **Kangdao Massage Shop**, and the prices are affordable, and the pressure was so refreshing that I was highly satisfied.
It's truly perfect to visit after a trip to Disneyland.
You have to book this in advance to get a good price,
so make sure to book before you go!
⚠️ If there was a drawback, it's that as a 4-star hotel, it didn't have facilities like a swimming pool or kids' club.
Also, while shampoo and conditioner are provided, there's no body wash,
so keep that in mind and bring your own if needed.
This was my first time comparing prices with them,
and surprisingly, I found that **Hana Tour sometimes offers better prices**.
Occasionally, it's much cheaper than Trip.com or Agoda,
Be sure to check these out!
Hana Tour | Trip.com | Agoda |
~$117 ~ | ~$145 ~ | ~$152 ~ |
Additionally, triple rooms are limited in quantity,
so they sell out incredibly fast!
For those looking for triple rooms, I recommend booking in advance
with a free cancellation option.
4. Metropolo Xincheng Hotel, The Bund - A Great Location Without a Deposit
Next up, I'd like to introduce
a hotel even closer to the Bund:
the Metropolo Xincheng Hotel, The Bund.
In English: Metropolo Xincheng Hotel, The Bund Shanghai
There are so many hotels from this brand within Shanghai,
so make sure to check the location carefully to avoid confusion.
Metropolo Xincheng Hotel, The Bund
Gaode Map (Amaps): 上海外滩锦江都城新城饭店
📍 Nanjing Road East: 10-minute walk / The Bund: 5-minute walk
✔️ Check-in: 3 PM
✔️ Check-out: 12 PM
🧳 Luggage storage available
🍽️ Breakfast can be added
🏷️ Price: ~$104 per night / ~$152 with breakfast
The biggest charm of this hotel is actually the building itself.
It's an Art Deco building constructed in 1934,
designed by Palmer & Turner, the renowned architectural firm behind the Peace Hotel (formerly the Cathay Hotel).
Back then, it was known as the 'Metropole Hotel' and even affectionately called the 'Little Peace Hotel'.
Having been operating as a hotel in the same spot for over 90 years,
the lobby and hallways exude a strong sense of modern Shanghai charm.
It's absolutely perfect for anyone planning to see the Bund's night view.
Since it's only a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the Bund, it was ideal for a leisurely stroll out in the evening.
Disposable amenities (like toothbrushes, razors, etc.) aren't in the rooms
but are available at the front desk for you to take as needed.
I actually found this environmentally conscious approach quite convenient.
⚠️ Things to note
While the rooms do have windows, the view was of the adjacent building, so it wasn't an open panorama.
Also, due to the nature of an older building, the rooms tended to be a bit dim.
Nanjing Road East is a 10-minute walk, making it the furthest among the three hotels, so
keep this in mind if you plan to focus your trip on shopping there.
On the bright side, there's no deposit required, which made payments and refunds incredibly hassle-free.
This time, I also compared prices on the hotel price comparison platform,
Kayak.
And I discovered an important fact!
The prices for Agoda and Trip.com, when accessed *through* Kayak,
were cheaper than going directly to their sites.
Of course, this wasn't the case for all hotels,
but for Metropolo here, booking via Kayak was indeed cheaper.
Hana Tour | Klook | Kayak |
~$110 ~ | ~$131 ~ | ~$104 ~ |
✅ Even for the same hotel, prices can vary by tens of thousands of won (or dollars!)
depending on where you book.
Daily rates also fluctuate significantly, so once your itinerary is confirmed,
be sure to compare prices on Kayak before making your reservation!
5. Comparing Three Shanghai Hotels
To get straight to the point:
If you have a flexible budget, Grand Central is the top choice.
If you need breakfast and a triple room, go for Radisson Collection.
For value for money and proximity to the Bund, it's Metropolo.
All three places have their pros and cons,
so make sure to compare them and choose what best suits your taste.
I definitely recommend doing a price comparison no matter what!
Grand Central | Radisson Collection | Metropolo Xincheng, The Bund |
5-star | 4-star | 4-star |
Nanjing Road East Station: 5-min walk The Bund: 15-min | Nanjing Road East: 1-second walk The Bund: 15-min | Nanjing Road East: 10-min The Bund: 5-min |
~$152 ~ | ~$117 ~ | ~$104 ~ |
No triple rooms | Triple rooms available | No triple rooms |
Deposit: 500 CNY | No Deposit | No Deposit |
Pool, Gym, Sauna | Massage shop in adjacent building | Gym |
6. Shanghai Hotel FAQ
Q. Which area is best for booking a hotel in Shanghai?
I recommend Nanjing East Road or The Bund, both within walking distance.
These two areas are right next to each other, making it easy to walk between them. Plus, you can comfortably reach People's Square and Yu Garden with convenient transfers on subway lines 1, 2, and 8, which also makes getting to and from the airport a breeze.
Q. Where can a group of three travelers stay?
Among the three places we compared, only the Radisson Collection Hyland offers triple rooms.
The other two hotels primarily operate with double rooms, and their triple rooms are limited and tend to book up quickly.
Q. What's the deal with Shanghai hotel deposits?
The Grand Central Hotel Shanghai has a deposit of 500 CNY (approximately ~$69) per night, which is refunded upon checkout.
The Radisson and Metropolo hotels don't require a deposit, making payment straightforward.
Q. Where can I find the cheapest Shanghai hotel bookings?
It varies every time, depending on the date and day of the week.
Even for the same hotel, prices can differ across platforms like Klook, Trip.com, Agoda, Hanatour, and Kayak,
Sometimes, booking through Kayak can be cheaper, so I highly recommend comparing prices in real-time.
✅ Today's travel journey complete!
Shanghai hotel recommendations: ultimately, it's all about the location, not just the brand.
Even if you only secure a spot within walking distance of Nanjing East Road or The Bund,
your Shanghai travel itinerary will become so much smoother.
If you're looking for luxury, I recommend the Grand Central,
and if breakfast and value for money are your priorities, go for the Radisson.
I hope this Shanghai hotel recommendation guide helps you a lot with your accommodation decisions,
and I suggest booking quickly, opting for a free cancellation option! :)
>> Shanghai Hotel Real-time Price Comparison
I'll be back with more useful tips in my next travelogue.
Feel free to leave any questions in the comments, and have a wonderful trip!!
Thanks for reading today!
📝 Check out the next travelogue
📍 Grand Central Hotel Shanghai
505 Jiu Jiang Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China 200001
📍 Radisson Collection Hotel, Hyland Shanghai
505 Nan Jing Dong Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China 200001
📍 Jinjiang Metropolo Hotel Classiq - Bund Circle Shanghai
180 Jiang Xi Zhong Lu, Huang Pu Qu, Shanghai Shi, China 200002
No, it's mentioned that the hairdryers in the guest rooms at the Grand Central Hotel Shanghai are very powerful, so you don't need to bring your own. The article described them as 'Dyson-level powerful,' expressing great satisfaction.
The triple room at Radisson Collection Hyland Shanghai is a family room consisting of one queen bed and one sofa bed. It was mentioned that an adult male, 175cm/70kg range, slept comfortably, so it is perfectly suitable for adults.
Metropolo Jinjiang Hotel The Bund is an Art Deco building constructed in 1934, designed by the renowned architectural firm Palmer & Turner, which also designed the Peace Hotel. Due to this, it was known as the 'Metropol Hotel' at the time and referred to as the 'Little Peace Hotel'.
Grand Central Hotel Shanghai requires a deposit of 500 CNY per night (approximately ~$69), which is refunded upon checkout. When paying the deposit, you must present a card in the name of the reservation holder, and a fee may be incurred if paying with a Travelog card.
The article's author highly recommends Grand Central Hotel Shanghai as their top choice for travelers who prioritize luxury. This hotel had the highest satisfaction among the three, offers comfortable room sizes of 34m2, and provides a luxurious 5-star atmosphere.
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