China · CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOURS IN SHANGHAI

12 City Highlights Tours in Shanghai to Build a Day Around

12 tours  ·  from $80 a head

Good city highlights tours in Shanghai fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights - The French Concession and its local park
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Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights

1.Private Shanghai Full Day City Tour with Old and New Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 995 reviews · from $115Our pick

Spend 7 to 8 hours seeing Shanghai’s strongest contrasts, from Yu Garden and the Old Town bazaar to the Bund and Pudong skyscrapers. Your private guide can reshape the day around your interests, help order lunch, and explain local customs. Choose a guide-only, car, or all-inclusive package, with guides such as Annie, Sammy, and Fei Fei often praised for warm, clear English.

“My day with Sammy was just awesome! We really had a great time and Sammy showed me a lot of beautiful sights in Shanghai. I enjoyed it very much. I learned a lot about the City and its history.”

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4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai City Tour - The Bund: Shanghai’s best opening scene
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4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai City Tour

2.4-Hour Flexible Private Shanghai City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 235 reviews · from $115

Build a four-hour Shanghai itinerary around two or three sights, then explore with a private English-speaking guide and air-conditioned car. Guides such as Snow, Kalvin, Kiki, Jenny, and Caroline adjust the pace for temples, gardens, food stops, shopping, or skyline views. Morning, afternoon, and evening departures are available.

“Caroline was an excellent guide who went over and above to make the tour work, as my tour coincided with half the streets in the Bund being closed to cars and pedestrians.”

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Shanghai: 8-Hour Private City Tour - A 30-minute tea ceremony in an old Chinese teahouse
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Shanghai: 8-Hour Private City Tour

3.8-Hour Private City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 230 reviews · 8 hours · from $135

Spend eight hours with a private English or Chinese-speaking guide and driver, visiting Yu Garden, Shanghai Old Street, Xintiandi, Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, and Shanghai Tower. Guides such as Tom, Vicky, Patrick, and Mary tailor the day to your interests, arrange photo stops, and help with local food. Tickets and lunch cost extra.

“We had an excellent day with our guide Linda. The tour was a great way to see the city and learn more in depth about Shanghai. She also helped to find a meal that my wife, who is gluten free, could have which is difficult to find on your own in China. Would highly recommend the tour!”

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4-Hour Private Shanghai City Tour with Old and New Highlights - Yu Garden: Traditional Design in a Busy District
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4-Hour Private Shanghai City Tour with Old and New Highlights

4.4-Hour Private Shanghai City Tour with Old and New Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 199 reviews · from $93

Build a private 4 to 5-hour Shanghai tour with guides such as Annie, Sammi, Lea, or Roy. Start with hotel pickup, then mix Old Town, Yu Garden, the Bund, Shanghai Tower, French Concession, or lesser-known stops. Choose a car, Uber, or metro, and add lunch or dinner if desired.

“Was a great tour with nice mix between history and more modern aspects. Roy was super guide and the transport option very convenient. Would highly recommend.”

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Shanghai: 4-Hour Private Customizable City Tour - The Bund: Shanghai’s grand riverfront introduction
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Shanghai: 4-Hour Private Customizable City Tour

5.4-Hour Private Customizable City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 4 hours · from $91

Build your own four-hour Shanghai tour with an English-speaking guide such as Annie, Sammi, Robert, or Sunny. Visit the Bund, Old Town, Yu Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Tower, French Concession, or local food spots. Choose a private car or Uber and metro, with downtown pickup and drop-off included.

“We liked the tour. Summy really loves Shanghai and helps to feel the same way.”

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4-Hour Private Customized Shanghai City Tour - Shanghai Tower: big views, extra cost
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4-Hour Private Customized Shanghai City Tour

6.4-Hour Private Customized Shanghai City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 91 reviews · from $79Best value

Meet a private Shanghai guide at your hotel and build a four-hour plan around two or three interests. Choose landmarks, temples, gardens, markets, or neighborhoods, then explore by foot, metro, or upgraded private car. Guides such as Penny, Kelly, Kathy, and Fei Fei are known for clear English, local history, practical city tips, and flexible pacing.

“Kathy our tour guide knew all the things to see and we did a lot in a very short time. Her knowledge was excellent along with her English. Pointing out key features in the Gardens that we would have missed if we just walked through added additional knowledge as we toured. The temples with her knowledge added a lot of insight.”

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Shanghai: 4-Hour Guided City Highlights Tour - The Bund, Shanghai’s best visual introduction
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Shanghai: 4-Hour Guided City Highlights Tour

7.4-Hour Guided City Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 4 hours · from $96

Meet your English-speaking guide at your hotel for a private four-hour tour in an air-conditioned car. Visit the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Jade Buddha Temple, and French Concession, then adjust the route for places such as Shanghai Old Street or Pudong landmarks. Guides including Kalvin, Jenny, Judy, and Snow are praised for flexible pacing and personal local stories.

“A very fun tour with beautiful sights and fun history. Our guide, Jane, was extremely knowledgeable and super charismatic. She gave us a great tour. Also, our driver, Mr. Shen, provided us with a very smooth and air conditioned ride. Would definitely recommend.”

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All Inclusive Amazing Shanghai City Highlights Private Day Tour - Start with Yu Garden’s old Shanghai details
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All Inclusive Amazing Shanghai City Highlights Private Day Tour

8.All Inclusive Amazing Shanghai City Highlights Private Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · from $200

Spend about eight hours with a private guide and driver, shaping your Shanghai day around places such as Yu Garden, the French Concession, Shanghai Tower, Jade Buddha Temple, and the Bund. Guides including Mary, Alana, Snow, Xin, Vicky, and Caroline have been praised for clear English, local insight, patience, and flexible planning. Lunch, hotel transfers, private transport, and three attraction tickets are included.

“Alana was our guide for the day in Shanghai. She was wonderful and very thoughtful. We have had many guides and she was one of the best.”

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Shanghai Airport Layover Tour with Amazing City Highlights - Old Town and the nine lucky bridges
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Shanghai Airport Layover Tour with Amazing City Highlights

9.Shanghai Airport Layover Tour with Amazing City Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · 8 hours · from $165

Meet your private driver at the airport, then explore Shanghai with a dedicated English- or German-speaking guide. Roy, Michael, Annie, and others tailor the route to your flight time, covering Old Town, Yu Garden, the Bund, Nanjing Road, French Concession, and Shanghai Tower when time allows.

“It was great experience for people only have short time to explore. In one day we manage to cover all highlight, and have good understanding of local life and cultures, highly recommend, and great thanks to our guide Annie.”

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All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour : Old and New Highlights - The Bund begins with Shanghai’s best city view
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All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour : Old and New Highlights

10.All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour : Old and New Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 8 hours · from $223

Spend eight hours seeing Shanghai’s best contrast: the Bund and Yu Garden, French Concession lanes, Jade Buddha Temple, and Shanghai Tower’s observation deck. Your private English-speaking guide, such as Lily, Feifei, Ruby, or Sammi, travels with you by air-conditioned car, includes lunch, and can adjust the day around your interests.

“This trip was very well organized and secure. I felt like I was in good hands with Ruby around and navigating around Shanghai downtown felt like a breeze thanks to her. We managed to see the best of Shanghai in this day trip and we would definitely visit again!! Ruby’s insightful knowledge of the history of the city and its iconic sites made us appreciate the city even more!!”

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Shanghai: 8-Hour Guided Tour of Old and New City Highlights - Yuyuan Garden and the quieter side of old Shanghai
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Shanghai: 8-Hour Guided Tour of Old and New City Highlights

11.8-Hour Guided Tour of Old and New City Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 8 hours · from $155

Spend eight hours with a private English-speaking guide and driver exploring Shanghai’s old and new sides. Visit Yuyuan Garden, the Jade Buddha Temple, the former French Concession, and the Bund, with time to adjust the route. Guides such as Jane, Jenny, Snow, and Kalvin have helped guests shape the day around their interests.

“Kiki was amazing! She explained everything and she was very knowledgeable about the places we visited. She went above and beyond! Thank you for this amazing time in Shanghai!”

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All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour by German-Speaking Guide - The Bund puts Shanghai’s story beside the river
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All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour by German-Speaking Guide

12.All Inclusive Shanghai City Tour by German-Speaking Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 8 hours · from $233

Spend eight hours with a private German-speaking guide and driver, visiting the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, Jade Buddha Temple, and Shanghai Tower. Caroline may lead your day. Your guide can adjust the plan, and lunch, admissions, hotel pickup, and downtown drop-off are included.

“I had an amazing experience I truly recommend An amazing landscape a lot history and the food was a delight surprise”

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