Shanghai best tours: 15+ Top guided & best day tours in Shanghai for all kinds of travelers

Do you only have one day to explore bustling Shanghai? Save the best Shanghai day tours suggested by Klook below so you don’t miss out on an exciting experience! Now, let’s check out 15+ best tours in shanghai including best day tours in Shanghai, best guided tours in Shanghai, and top sightseeing tours in Shanghai!

Known as the “Paris of the East”, Shanghai is the perfect destination for independent travelers. From skyscrapers, colorful old quarters, to beautiful landscapes, this city always knows how to please every tourist.

You can wander the ancient streets of Xitang, relax at the Bund or visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Activities such as visiting museums, enjoying street food, or taking a boat ride on the Huangpu River will also captivate you from the first moment.

Are you ready to explore Shanghai in your own way? Join Klook to find out the attractive Shanghai tours in the article below!

Best day tours in Shanghai: Half-Day Shanghai Highlights Bike Tour

With just a bicycle, you will glide through the bustling streets, weave between the old neighborhoods and immerse yourself in the local life, thereby feeling the blend of Eastern and Western cultures of China’s largest city.

On this tour, you will have the opportunity to visit:

• The former French Concession: A nostalgic space with a strong European feel in the heart of Shanghai, home to famous dumpling shops.
• Xintiandi: A bustling shopping and entertainment paradise with exquisite architecture.
• People’s Square, the Bund and Nanjing Road: Unmissable symbols in the city center.

Shanghai Highlights Half Day Bike Tour

A small note is that you need to be in good health to complete this 20km cycling journey. Book the Half-Day Shanghai Highlights Bike Tour now to have a new perspective on Shanghai.

Private Tour of Classic Shanghai by Bicycle

Shanghai Private Transfer to PVG/SHA Airport

With a cycling route through small streets and famous landmarks, you will experience the pace of life in Shanghai in the most intimate and authentic way. Through the architectural works, the Classic Shanghai Tour also helps visitors understand more about the cultural and historical story of the city.

Some notable stops include:

• Cité Bourgogne and Xintiandi: Stylish neighborhoods with unique shikumen ancient houses.
• Tianzifang Road: A distinctive art area with many cafes, craft shops and galleries.
• Zhou Enlai Mansion and Shanghai Old Street: Take you back to the city’s glorious history through craft shops and ancient teahouses.

Private Shanghai Classic Full Day Bike Tour

The journey lasts about 6-7 hours, including a Chinese lunch, suitable for groups of tourists who want to learn about history through a modern lens.

Private Full Day Tour of Shanghai’s Jewish Quarter by Bike

Private Shanghai Jewish Nostalgic Full Day Bike Tour

The Shanghai Jewish Quarter Bike Tour will take you around Hongkou District – Shanghai, which was once a refuge for nearly 30,000 Jews during World War II. The relics here have special historical value, making visitors moved and curious to explore.

Highlights of the trip:

• Ohel Moshe Synagogue: The Jewish Refugee Museum preserves memorabilia and images recreating the lives of Jewish refugees.
• Flameshan Park: A peaceful place in the heart of the city, where you can stroll and relax under the cool shade of green trees.
• Maoming Road, Xintiandi, Nanjing: Bustling streets with a series of cafes, restaurants and fashion stores with a nostalgic style.
• The tour lasts from 09:30 to 16:00, so remember to prepare snacks, drinks and comfortable clothes for a complete experience!

Shanghai Nighttime Bike Tour

True to the name “the city that never sleeps”, Shanghai at night is more sparkling and charming than ever. This is a new experience for every tourist, when cycling around the city under the night sky, enjoying the cool, bustling atmosphere of the city.

Half-day Tour

The journey begins at the Bund, which is ranked in the top 10 most beautiful night scenes in the world. Next, you will cycle through Tianzifang, a colorful art district. Then Maoming Road and Xintiandi are places where you can feel the nostalgia of the 1920s to the vibrant life of modern cities. The tour ends with a visit to People’s Square, a place for local people to have fun and relax.

Shanghai Night River Cruise with Xinjiang Dinner

If you want to see the sparkling Shanghai at night from a new perspective, then Shanghai Night River Cruise with Xinjiang Dinner is the perfect choice. On the cruise along the Huangpu River, you will get a close-up view of the magical skyline, with the Oriental Pearl Tower and the famous Shanghai Financial Center in the background.

Shanghai Night River Cruise Tour with Xinjiang Style Dining

Not only that, the tour also offers a unique culinary experience at the Xinjiang-style Hala restaurant. Diners will enjoy flavorful traditional dishes while immersing themselves in lively art performances. The rich flavors of the dishes combined with the relaxing atmosphere on board make the trip memorable.

(*) A small note is that the tour departs in the evening and lasts about 2-3 hours, if you get seasick, remember to prepare anti-sickness medicine in advance!

Shanghai Shared Bus Tour

Shanghai Shared Bus Tour is designed specifically for independent travelers with limited time, but still want to visit the city’s symbols. You just need to choose a day of the week and the tour guide will accompany you for 8 hours of exploring Shanghai.

You will begin your journey to learn about the intersection between traditional and modern culture of Shanghai from the peaceful Jade Buddha Temple to the vast People’s Square and the Urban Planning Exhibition Center, where a miniature city model is displayed.

Shanghai City Sightseeing Bus

In the afternoon, the group will visit a silk factory to learn about the silk production process and shop for quality products. Next, you can stroll in the lush Yu Garden garden and spend time enjoying a traditional tea ceremony. Ending the trip at the Bund, visitors will enjoy the view of the riverside city immersed in the romantic sunset.

Local Food Tour in Downtown Shanghai

For food lovers, downtown Shanghai is a paradise with countless attractive local dishes. Walking through the small streets in the old French Concession, you will be immersed in a space full of flavors with more than 12 delicious dishes from different regions of China.

Authentic Local Food Tour in Central Shanghai

Some of the outstanding dishes in the tour include:

• Sheng jian bao: Fried dumplings with a crispy base, inside is a juicy meat filling.
• Salty noodles: Chewy, fragrant noodles, mixed with rich, harmonious sauce.
• Curry beef soup: Warm soup with soft beef, cooked with fragrant curry.
• Traditional Chinese tea: Enjoy green tea or black tea with a cool, delicate flavor, full of Chinese tea ceremony.

4-Hour Shanghai City Highlights Tour

Although the 4-hour tour is quite short, the Shanghai City Highlights Tour will still give visitors a deep sense of the vibrant life and rich culture of Shanghai.

A professional tour guide will share with you interesting stories about each destination such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jade Buddha Temple, and the French Concession. From the skyscrapers of the Bund to the lush green space of the 400-year-old Yuyuan Garden, all contain the charm of the intersection between modernity and tradition of this vibrant city.

4-Hour Shanghai City Highlights Tour

(*) Don’t forget to bring your camera, because every corner of Shanghai deserves to be captured in the frame. Schedule your exploration now!

Shanghai Highlights and Zhujiajiao Water Town Day Tour

On the Shanghai and Zhujiajiao one-day tour, you will not only have the opportunity to explore the charm of modern Shanghai, but also immerse yourself in the ancient space of Zhujiajiao, a town famous for its poetic river beauty.

In Zhujiajiao, you will feel the slow pace of life, when strolling through the narrow alleys, or simply relaxing on a small boat gliding past ancient bridges and traditional houses hanging bright red lanterns.

Shanghai Highlights and Zhujiajiao Water Town Day Tour

Coming here, visitors will feel like they are lost in the old days and feel the tranquility, completely different from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Returning to the center of Shanghai, the group will visit famous tourist attractions such as Yu Garden, Shanghai Bund, Shanghai Tower. Book tickets now to not miss this “one-of-a-kind” experience!

Half-Day Tour to Zhujiajiao Water Village from Shanghai

Located in Qingpu District, a suburb of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao Ancient Town has existed for more than 1,700 years and has become a top tourist destination due to its beautiful landscape. The architectural works here are all unique, notably the Six Ones, Three Wings, Two Courtyards and Twenty-Six Bronzes.

Half-Day Water Town Tour to Zhujiajiao from Shanghai

A half-day trip to Zhujiajiao will take you to visit Kezhi Garden and Zhuxi Garden, which are imbued with Jiangnan art. You can also rent Chinese costumes to take “virtual life” photos at Pubei Street or while taking a boat ride on the river. Don’t forget to enjoy the attractive local specialties such as grandma’s dumplings and old town rice balls.

Chongming Island Cycling Tour from Shanghai

With its prime location and rich natural landscape, Chongming Island is known as “The Gate of the Yangtze River, the East Sea’s Business Island”, and is the world’s largest alluvial island with an area of ​​over 1,200 square kilometers.

Chongming’s cycling journey through traditional villages, lush green fields and peaceful countryside will surely bring unforgettable moments to every visitor. Amidst the beautiful scenery like in the movies, you will be immersed in the slow pace of life of local residents and listen to interesting stories from enthusiastic tour guides.

Chongming Island Whole Day Cycling Tour from Shanghai

The tour also includes a visit to the bird sanctuary, home to countless unique wild birds. Rest assured to enjoy the trip because the tour will provide full bicycles, drinking water, lunch and tour guide. It is recommended to book the tour in advance through Klook and remember to prepare a camera to capture the wonderful moments of the trip!

Hangzhou 1-Day Tour [Round-trip High-speed Train + West Lake Boat + Liuhe Temple + Hangzhou Longjing Tea Garden + Hefang Street Ancient Commercial Street]

Located 180 km northwest of Shanghai, Hangzhou is a tourist destination imbued with traditional beauty with a series of cultural heritages and thousands of years of Chinese history. Every visitor coming here should spend a whole day to enjoy the lyrical space in this “heaven on earth”.

The stunning stops for you to freely check-in on the tour include:

• West Lake: Cruise on the calm lake, admire the surrounding mountains and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
• Luc Hop Pagoda: One of the three ancient towers over a thousand years old in Hangzhou with unique architecture.
• Longjing Tea Garden: Experience China’s number 1 tea culture and visit the vast green tea plantation.
• Hefang Old Town: Stroll along the bustling commercial street, shop for handicrafts and enjoy specialties.

[China Railway Tour] Hangzhou West Lake Cruise + Liuhe Pagoda + Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation + Antique Commercial Street Hefang Street 1-Day Tour

In addition, visitors should note the gathering time at the high-speed train station to ensure the schedule. With the option of an English/Chinese/Japanese-speaking tour guide, you will have a better understanding of each destination through the Hangzhou 1-day tour.

Suzhou One-Day Tour [Round Trip by High-Speed ​​Rail + Liuyuan Garden + Century Store “Tong Dexing” + Hanshan Temple + Ancient Commercial Street “Shantang Street”]

In the Suzhou One-Day Tour, the group will travel by high-speed train from Shanghai to the traditional city. In Suzhou, you will enjoy the peaceful space, both historical and modern through the following locations:

• Liuyuan Garden: A World Heritage Site famous for its exquisite landscape and classical architecture.
• Tong Dexing Restaurant: Enjoy the famous Suzhou noodles at one of the oldest restaurants.
• Hanshan Temple: The ancient temple with its resounding bell tower, was the inspiration for the famous poem “Night Anchor on the Wind Bridge.”
• Shantang Street: The old town is steeped in history with its unique architecture and cuisine.

[China Railway Tour] Suzhou Lingering Garden + Hanshan Temple + Shantang Street Day Tour

Tourists should pay attention to the opening hours of attractions and ticket prices, as well as bring comfortable shoes to easily move between attractive destinations.

Suzhou 1 Day Tour + Shantang Old Town Night

Starting from Shanghai, you will admire the peaceful beauty of Suzhou with its ancient gardens and temples, before ending the journey at Xitang Old Town, which preserves the rustic beauty of a thousand-year-old village.

In Suzhou, the Leaning Tower of Tiger Hill, considered the Oriental version of the Tower of Pisa – Italy, will amaze you. The highlight of the whole trip is Xitang Ancient Town, a place recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Strolling under the night sky here, visitors feel like they are lost in a picturesque landscape painting, where the past and present blend together in each old alley. Each ancient stone bridge curves, the rowing boat glides gently, reflecting the shimmering red lanterns on the water surface, creating a strangely peaceful and romantic feeling.

Suzhou & Xitang Ancient Town Night View 1-Day Tour

1-Day Tour to Wuzhen Water Town (Dongzha)

Famous for its charming canal and ancient architecture, Wuzhen Water Town has become an ideal meeting place for visitors to explore the beauty of the Jiangnan river region. Entering the town, you will feel like you have gone back in time to the old Oriental life.

During the trip, you also have the opportunity to admire many exquisite works of art at the Hundred Beds Museum, Jiangnan Wood Sculpture Museum and countless classic-style workshops and shops. In particular, when sitting on a boat slowly drifting through the narrow canals, looking at the ancient wooden houses located close together, you will definitely “pocket” those lifetime photos.

One-day tour of Dream Water Town Wuzhen (Dongzha)

Beautiful Wuzhen is always open, welcoming visitors all year round. You can book a tour alone or join a group to save costs.

Shanghai is not only a vibrant and modern city, but also imbued with traditional Chinese culture. With a harmonious combination of the past and present, Shanghai day tours will take you through outstanding scenic spots and experience the passion for discovery.

Have you chosen the right Shanghai tour for you and your family?

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Shanghai you can refer to

• Shanghai Museum Half Day Tour
• Shanghai Disneyland Admission Ticket
• Huangpu River Cruise（Qingjiang Line）
• Yu Garden Admission Ticket in Shanghai
• Shanghai Tower 118th Floor Observation Deck Ticket
• Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park Ticket
• [World Highest Skywalk] Shanghai Jin Mao Tower 88th Floor Exclusive Skywalk Experience
• Oriental Pearl Tower
• CMHK | HK 7 Days unlimited data + 200 HK Local Mins + 1GB Mainland China and Macau data (HK Airport Pick Up)
• [Thailand Pick Up] Dtac GO INTER SIM Card Zone 1(Asia, Australia, USA, exclude Thailand)
• [Unlimited Data] 4G Portable WiFi for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau from Uroaming (HK Airport Pick Up)
• 4G WiFi (HK Airport Pick Up) for Hong Kong/Macau/China (No Speed Limited) from Song WiFi

Read more: Shanghai travel blog — The fullest Shanghai travel guide for first-timers.