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Cheapest flights to Shanghai airports
Find the cheapest flights to these Shanghai airports from your nearest city or airport
When is the best time to fly to Shanghai?
Choose a month below to see average flight prices and weather conditions
Shanghai’s humid subtropical climate contains four distinct seasons. Winter can be cold, with temperatures that drop to freezing, although snowfall is rare. This makes the season the least expensive for travel, but only until the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year. This holiday shifts dates from year to year because it’s based on the lunar calendar, but falls around late January – mid-February and lasts for 23 days. During the Spring Festival, not only will the city be extremely busy, but also many shops and even some tourist attractions close. During the spring, comfortable temperatures and less precipitation than during summer make it a popular time for travelers to visit. Make sure you book your flights and accommodation ahead of time. Heat, humidity, and plenty of rain make summer less comfortable for tourists, so you might find some good deals if you visit in June – August. Tourist season picks up again in late September and October, after typhoon season, with drier weather and temperatures of 23 – 27 degrees Celsius.
What is the absolute cheapest flight to Shanghai?
The best deal found on momondo in the last two weeks was a flight to Shanghai from Fuzhou for $72. This is 92% cheaper than most flight deals to Shanghai. To find the cheapest price to Shanghai from your area, use momondo’s Airport-to-Airport Pricing Tool.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Shanghai?
In general, September is the cheapest month to fly from United States to Shanghai. Due to it being the ‘off-season’ during this time, you can expect flight prices to be around $527. The month of October is another great option to travel to Shanghai, with average flight prices from United States averaging around $582.
How far in advance should I book a flight to Shanghai?
The best time to book a flight to Shanghai from United States is 44 days out, which is when prices tend to be around $804. In the past 72 hours, momondo users found flights from United States to Shanghai for as low as $534.
What is the cheapest day to depart on your flight to Shanghai?
The cheapest day to depart from United States to Shanghai is on a Tuesday when prices can be found for as low as $686. When flying out on a Sunday, the most expensive travel day of the week, you can expect to see flight prices from United States to Shanghai for around $762.
What is the cheapest time of day to depart on your flight to Shanghai?
Our most recent data shows that the best time of day to fly to Shanghai is at noon. Flights from United States to Shanghai during this time can be as low as $640. In contrast, the most expensive time of day to depart to Shanghai is in the evening when prices are around $775.
What is there to do in Shanghai when it’s raining?
Users planning a flight to Shanghai during the months of June, July, or August should anticipate rain. There are still things to do in Shanghai even when it's raining, though. Shanghai Museum is a great museum to visit near Shanghai and is especially great when the weather outside is less than desirable. Shopping centers like Nanjing Road are very popular destinations for those visiting the Shanghai area. Nanjing Road is a great place to go if you’re looking to spend some time inside.
Is there a good place to hike near Shanghai?
Hikers looking for a more family-friendly day in the great outdoors would be best suited to plan their flight to Shanghai for October and November, when they can visit Century Park and enjoy all that the park has to offer.
Is there an alternative airport near Shanghai?
Finding an alternative and possibly cheaper destination airport near Shanghai is possible. If you are planning a flight to Shanghai, consider booking flights to Shanghai Pu Dong Airport (19 mi from Shanghai city center), Suzhou Airport (65 mi from Shanghai city center), Wuxi Airport (66 mi from Shanghai city center), Nantong Airport (67 mi from Shanghai city center) or Hangzhou Airport (93 mi from Shanghai city center).
Is there a cheaper alternative to flying into Shanghai?
Wuxi Airport has an average price of $617 per person and is typically the cheapest airport to fly into when visiting Shanghai. This average price does vary based on departure city. Try momondo’s Airport-to-Airport Pricing Tool to find the cheapest flight.
What are the current travel restrictions for Shanghai?
Currently, China travel restrictions include travel to Shanghai. Entry restrictions
China has restricted entry and transit to all travelers except Chinese nationals, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan passport holders, and travelers with diplomatic, service, courtesy, or C visas, or visas issued after March 28, 2020. Foreign nationals with residence permit with the purpose of work, personal matter and reunion can re-enter China. Holders of expired residence permits can apply for a new one. Foreign nationals coming to the mainland of China for necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities, or out of emergency humanitarian needs may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates.
Entry requirementsForeign nationals must complete a "Health Declaration Form" and present upon arrival. Chinese nationals arriving from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam or Zambia must have a green QR code with a must declare their health status for 14 days in the WeChat app "FANG YI JIAN KANG MA GUO JI BAN". A green QR code generated from the program must be presented before departure. Chinese nationals arriving from the following countries will need a COVID-19 nucleic acid test result issued within 3 days prior to departure to generate this code. Foreign nationals arriving from the abovementioned countries must have a Health Declaration Form issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate. The form can be obtained with a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) nucleic acid test result issued at most 3 days before departure Travelers arriving from Taiwan must have a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result issued at most 72 hours before departure. Travelers arriving from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, US or Zimbabwe must have a green QR code with a must declare their health status for 14 days in the WeChat app "FANG YI JIAN KANG MA GUO JI BAN". A green QR code generated from the program must be presented before departure. Travelers arriving from the following countries will need a COVID-19 nucleic acid test result issued within 48 hours and a negative IgM anti-body test result issued at most 48 hours prior departure prior to departure to generate this code. Travelers not arriving directly in China must repeat both tests in the transit countries and obtain a new Health Declaration Form in each transit country. Foreign nationals arriving from the abovementioned countries must have a Health Declaration Form issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate. The form can be obtained with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) nucleic acid test result issued at most 48 hours before departure and a negative IgM anti-body test result issued at most 48 hours before departure. Travelers not arriving directly in China must repeat both tests in the transit countries and obtain a new Health Declaration Form in each transit country.
Quarantine requirementsTravelers arriving at Beijing (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shenzhen (SZX) or Xiamen (XMN) are subject to medical screening and quarantine for 14 days. Airline crew with a layover at the above airports must undergo NAT inside the passenger terminal, then self-isolate at their hotel temporarily before acquiring the NAT results.
If you are planning to travel to Shanghai at this time, it is recommended that you stay up to date on current restrictions and follow proper safety measures while in public.Shanghai flight deals found on momondo
Check out some of the best fares from airports in United States to Shanghai found recently by users on momondo
Cheapest
Best
Quickest
Air China
Apr 28
SFO
San Francisco
28h 05m
1 stop
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
May 10
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
15h 50m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$534
Find similar
Air China
May 2
SFO
San Francisco
16h 45m
1 stop
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
May 5
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
32h 10m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$534
Find similar
Air China
Apr 11
SFO
San Francisco
17h 05m
1 stop
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
Apr 28
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
15h 50m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$535
Find similar
Air China
Apr 13
SFO
San Francisco
16h 45m
1 stop
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
Apr 26
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
32h 10m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$535
Find similar
Air China
Apr 30
SFO
San Francisco
16h 05m
1 stop
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
May 9
SHA
Shanghai Hongqiao Intl
28h 50m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$549
Find similar
Air China
May 1
SFO
San Francisco
16h 45m
1 stop
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
May 31
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
34h 50m
1 stop
SFO
San Francisco
$549
Find similar
Find the cheapest one-way flights to Shanghai
If you're looking for one-way flights to Shanghai, view some of our deals below provided by China Eastern
Cheapest
Best
Quickest
China Eastern
Jan 28
JFK
New York John F Kennedy Intl
23h 25m
1 stop
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
$475
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Multiple Airlines
Feb 7
SFO
San Francisco
47h 35m
3 stops
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
$492
Find similar
Air China
Feb 14
LAX
Los Angeles
40h 55m
2 stops
PVG
Shanghai Pu Dong
$525
Find similar
Which airlines fly to Shanghai?
Here you can see a selection of the most popular and cheapest airlines for flights to Shanghai
Several airlines offer non-stop flights from the US to Shanghai’s two airports. You may choose from Delta, American Airlines, China Eastern, United, Air China, and Hainan Airlines. Numerous international airlines offer flights with one or more stops into Shanghai.
How to get from the airport to Shanghai city center?
Below you will find all the airports in Shanghai along with the distance from the city center
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is one of two international airports in Shanghai and an important aviation hub serving mainly domestic and regional flights. It’s situated around 13 kilometers west of Downtown Shanghai. If you arrive at Hongqiao Airport, these are your options for travel to the city center.
Trains
Shanghai Metro lines 2 and 7 can take you from either of Hongqiao Airport’s two terminals to the city center. Get on line 2 at Terminal 2 and ride to the People’s Square in about 30 minutes or take line 10 from Terminal 1 and get off at Yuyuan Garden in about the same amount of time. The fare for either is ¥4.00 RMB.
Taxis
You can hail a taxi from Terminal 1 at the arrival hall exit, or from Terminal 2 at the south side of gate 4. Travel time to the People’s Square is about 30 minutes, and the fare is ¥50.00 RMB.
Shuttles
From Terminal 1, you can take bus 806 or 1207 to get downtown for a fare of ¥2.00 RMB. If you arrive at Terminal 2, board any of these buses: Hongqiao hub lines 4 or 9, airport line 1, line 941, or line 361 (the night bus). The fare for daytime shuttles is ¥4.00 RMB, and for the night bus, ¥16.00 RMB.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Pudong Airport mainly serves international flights, so this is where most international tourists land. Here are your transport options into Downtown Shanghai.
Trains
Shanghai Metro line 2 will get you from the airport to People’s Square in 62 minutes, for a fare of ¥7.00 RMB. You may also take the Maglev from the airport, get off at Longyang Rd. in only 8 minutes, and then take Metro line 2 into the city center in 18 minutes. The Maglev costs ¥50.00 RMB and the Metro costs ¥4.00 RMB, so you pay a total of ¥54.00 RMB, and your total travel time is 26 minutes.
Taxis
A taxi into Downtown Shanghai from Pudong Airport will cost you approximately ¥200.00 RMB, and the trip will take about 45 minutes.
Shuttles
You can take Pudong Airport shuttle bus 2 from the airport to City Terminal, or the night bus 361, to the same destination. The travel time is the same, at around 60 minutes, but the night bus costs ¥30.00 RMB, while the other is only ¥16.00 RMB.
Car Rentals
If you’re planning on renting a car while visiting Shanghai, it’s definitely worth checking for deals on car rentals with momondo.
Popular routes to Shanghai
Most frequently searched flights to Shanghai along with the cheapest price and shortest flight duration
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How to get around in Shanghai?
The best way to get around in Shanghai is to use their affordable and efficient public transit. The bus and subway systems are relatively easy to navigate; both have signage in English and Mandarin, and the subway even has announcements in English. At convenience stores and any metro station, you can buy a Public Transportation Card (jiao tong ka), load it with credit and travel on buses, the metro, and even some taxis.
Public Transportation
There are 15 subway lines with connections all over Shanghai, stopping at or nearby the main attractions and commercial areas. They run from 5:30am to midnight daily, and fares range from ¥3.00 RMB for the first few stops to ¥10.00 RMB for the most distant ones. Shanghai’s bus system is extensive as well, although the buses may be crowded, and you will need to keep a close eye on your valuables. The bus fare is ¥2.00 RMB.
Bicycles and scooters
For those who have a romantic notion to join the crowds on a bicycle or scooter, we recommend that you think twice before doing so. Shanghai’s traffic is chaotic, and drivers rarely offer courtesy to cyclists, or pedestrians for that matter. However you choose to make your way on the streets of Shanghai, it’s best to keep your wits about you.
What are the visa and passport requirements when flying to Shanghai?
U.S. citizens traveling to China must obtain a visa prior to arrival and have a passport with at least 6 months’ validity remaining. The lack of either will result in a fine and immediate deportation. You can apply for a 10-year multiple-entry visa, useful for repeated travel to China. For foreign nationals, please check < "http://visa.ywpw.com/ChineseVisa/nonUSCitizen_en.html" target ="_blank">this link for information.
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Top car rentals in Shanghai
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Get an overview of the top hotels in the most popular neighborhoods of Shanghai
Additional info and tips about visiting Shanghai
Things to do and places of interest in Shanghai
Shanghai is a dazzling, fast-paced city of bright lights, lofty skyscrapers, a blend of diverse architectural styles and bustling markets. Here are a few sights you should add to your itinerary.
- For Instagram-worthy pictures, head for the Bund at sunset, and capture the iconic view of the Huangpu river with a backdrop of Shanghai’s towering skyscrapers.
- Northeast of old Shanghai, you’ll find the spectacular, 1559-dated, Yù Yuán, the Garden of Happiness, which covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters and consists of an outer and an inner garden. The Exquisite Jade Rock, said to have been from Song Emperor Huizong’s private collection, is certainly worth seeing.
- Visit the Jade Buddha temple in the Anyuan Lu district of Shanghai. Here you can admire the splendid Hall of the Kings of Heaven (Tian Wang Dian) noted for its statues of the 4 heavenly kings, and two Shakyamuni sculptures. Carved from white jade, one of these extraordinary statues is almost 2 meters high.
- Wander through the Shanghai Museum which contains a comprehensive display of the advanced cultures of bygone eras, including the Ming and Qing dynasties. Bronze statues, jade artefacts, ceramics, ancient coins, and traditional costumes are exhibited across the museum’s 4 floors.
- Stroll through the charming French Concession. This once French-occupied neighborhood boasts leafy streets packed with boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and bars.
- If you want to pick up some fun souvenirs, check out the street market just outside of the turnstiles of the Science and Technology subway station (on the Pudong side). It’s one of the cleanest and most tourist-friendly of Shanghai’s famous street markets, and you’ll find some great buys here!
Tips and tricks for visiting Shanghai
Wondering about tipping etiquette in Shanghai? Strictly speaking, the government forbids it, though it still happens in some of the swankier restaurants. Tipping never happens in smaller restaurants and taxi drivers are likely to hand your change back to you.
When greeting people in Shanghai, it is customary to present them with your business card. If possible, have some cards printed with Chinese text on the reverse. When you are introduced to a local, take out your card, bow slightly, and present it with both hands. They will probably respond in a similar manner.