1The Bund (Waitan)
Art Deco European bank buildings facing the Pudong skyline — the most dramatic urban contrast in the world. Best at dusk.
Photo: 钉钉, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Pudong Airport (PVG) · China
3-Hour Layover in Shanghai: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Shanghai?
Entry
144-hour transit visa-free for 54 nationalities through Shanghai. Also the 24-hour transit visa-free for airside stopovers.
Into town
Maglev to Longyang Rd + Metro Line 2.
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from PVG arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Shanghai: Where to Go
The sights in Shanghai worth leaving the airport for.
1
2French Concession (Tianzifang)
European-era tree-lined streets with boutiques and cafes. Tianzifang alley maze is the most photogenic part.
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Yuyuan Bazaar & Garden
Ming Dynasty private garden surrounded by a traditional bazaar — xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant next door.
Photo: Szalai.laci, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Itinerary ideas for Shanghai
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
You are here3 hours in Shanghai
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
6 hours in Shanghai
4–5 hours in the city (stay close)
See the 6-hour planPhoto: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Insider tip
The Maglev (world's fastest commercial train at 430km/h) is the most fun airport connection on earth. Worth taking once even if the metro is cheaper.
Photo: User Alex Needham (own photography) on en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Getting to Shanghai City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Maglev to Longyang Rd + Metro Line 2 | ¥50 + ¥10 | 20 min + 30 min |
| Taxi / DiDi (direct) | ¥170–250 | 45–80 min |
Photo: kyle tsui from Washington, DC, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Eat Like a Local in Shanghai
Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant in Yuyuan — the originator. ¥48 for a bamboo steamer of 6.
3 hours in Shanghai
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Pudong Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Shanghai and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Shanghai?
144-hour transit visa-free for 54 nationalities through Shanghai. Also the 24-hour transit visa-free for airside stopovers. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 3 hours enough to leave Pudong Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight.
How do I get from Pudong Airport to Shanghai centre?
Maglev to Longyang Rd + Metro Line 2. Taxi / DiDi (direct).
Getting out of Pudong Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Trains & buses from Shanghai
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Planning a longer stay in Shanghai?
Read our full destination guide — hotels, attractions, visa tips, and more.
Shanghai Destination Guide →Also useful for your Shanghai trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Shanghai
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from PVG.
Flights to Shanghai from 158 cities: fares and airlines →
Air China route mapChina Eastern route mapChina Eastern Airlines route mapChina Southern route mapChina Southern Airlines route mapJuneyao Airlines route mapShanghai Airlines route mapSuparna Airlines route mapAeroflot route mapAir Astana route mapAir Canada route mapAir Europa route mapAir France route mapAir India route mapAir Macau route mapAir New Zealand route mapAir Serbia route mapAirAsia route map
Airport lounges at Pudong Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Shanghai travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Shanghai works
01
Check you can leave
144-hour transit visa-free for 54 nationalities through Shanghai. Also the 24-hour transit visa-free for airside stopovers.
03
Back in time for your flight
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Ready for Shanghai?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Shanghai runs from about 10 hours in Dec to 14 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.